Happy Holidays

It is amazing to witness the holiday transformation within my home, neighborhood, and throughout West Valley City. The City Center including City Hall, Valley Fair Mall, and the surrounding streets have been adorned with various lights and decorations that add to the vibrancy of our community. JCPenney's has recently completed some simple, yet striking improvements to their exterior as the Mall redevelopment moves along. Construction didn't hamper the excitement surrounding the annual Christmas Parade which was made possible with the partnership of Chamber West. The highlight of the parade was of course Santa Claus at the end of the parade and not the City Council at the beginning. One final noteworthy festive holiday contribution from the City and City residents is the Trees of Diversity exhibit on display at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center. The submissions are a delightful walk down the various interests and accomplishments of West Valley City. The Utah Cultural Celebration Center also hosts a couple of free concerts this holiday season including Miss Margene's Musical Theatre on December 14 at 7:00 pm and Bonnie Harris will preform her legendary Christmas Concert on December 21 also at 7:00. These are a couple of great ways to celebrate the holidays and make a few new family traditions here in West Valley.

Study Meeting Report on Immigration & Customs Enforcement

This week at the City Council Study meeting agents from the federal Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) department spent roughly an hour briefing the Council and executive staff on the duties and priorities of the local office and answering questions. As a City this was beneficial as we were able to get a first hand account of some of the problems and procedures that we jointly face in the struggle against underground illegal activities. The agents were very candid about the challenges and frustrations that they face. This firsthand information will help West Valley City in developing effective strategies, procedures, and partnerships to assist the federal government with their charge of National Security. With this proactive step in reaching out to ICE, West Valley City continues to spread the message that criminals are not welcome here.

Congress of Cities

Last week I represented West Valley City by attending the National League of Cities Congress of Cities in San Antonio, Texas. The conference major speakers and presenters included a senior White House advisor and a Wall Street Economist among others. Gathering at the Convention Center was a great opportunity to meet with leaders from around the country and discuss vital issues. The Congress of Cities provides a wealth of information and I was exposed to numerous rejuvenating programs and efficient policies . It featured more than 30 workshops focused on economic development, safety, policy and programs. The seminars I attended this week included “Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures: Building Community in Today's Economy” and “Doing More with Less: Getting Better Results for Children and Families” among others. I also participated in the First Tier Suburbs Committee where I have applied to be on their Steering Council. Additionally, I gathered materials on numerous best practice solutions and innovations and have shared them with executive staff for informational purposes in constructing a leaner budget and conducting quality investment. The conference kept me very busy, but I was able to take a few strolls down the famous San Antonio Riverwalk to muster ideas about the future potential of the Jordan River and West Valley City's River Marketplace.

Congressional Delegation Visit

This week a small West Valley delegation traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with our Congressional delegation. The purpose of these meetings was to provide updates on current projects and priorities and well express our needs in relation to ongoing legislation and appropriations. We gave our thanks to the various members for their support of issues in the past and all were pleased at the amount of progress and leadership that West Valley City has shown through this economic recession. We provided them with an update in regards to the Trax and the City Center Plaza, as well as progress on the Valley fair Mall, and 3500 South. Additionally, we expressed our desire (especially with our newest Congressman) to foster open lines of communication and a productive working relationships. We understand that the federal government is facing many challenges and as a City we want to be good partners for better government.

Happy 10th Anniversay WV Family Fitness Center

Recently the West Valley City Family Fitness Center celebrated its ten year anniversary. Ten year anniversaries are usually celebrated with gifts of tin or aluminum, but the the only medal I was concerned with on the night of the celebration gathering was gold, as in a gold medal in the Fitness Center Pentathlon. The event was well attended and I spoke with many members of the community that have utilized the Fitness Center since the grand opening to keep in shape. I am amazed at how well everything in the Fitness Center has been maintained. There is still a brand new look and feel to the equipment and facilities and it even still has that new building smell, in certain hard to find empty spaces. it has been a great addition to our community and is often looked to by other municipalities and recreation agencies as a good model to emulate. In fact soon a small delegation from New York will visit the center to get some ideas to take back to their home state in hopes of building a similarly successful center. At the end of the celebration the City Council team was victorious in the pentathlon and I took home a medal in commemoration of the good times had by all.

Homecoming

Friday night was Homecoming night at Hunter High School's football game vs the Cyprus Pirates. This was an important game for both schools and many people turned out to support both area high schools. The stands were packed shoulder to shoulder with people as the game began and I was surrounded by family from various generations of high school past. I represent the family cut off point, as I had grandparents, parents, and numerous cousins that are all proud Cyprus graduates, yet I was the first one to break that tradition, being that I was in the first full graduating class of Hunter High. Since then I have family excel in Hunter athletics, academics, and student government and thus have started many new traditions. Ultimately in this game the Wolverines proved to be too much for the Pirates to handle, and the younger generation was able to console the older. I make mention of all this today, because it was an enjoyable time for everyone and a good example of the community coming together to exhibit some civic pride. Next week is a sequel of sorts as Hunter will travel to Granger in another West Valley City area homecoming bowl game. I am sure that this game will also be accompanied by a similar feel of friendly community rivalry, unity, and pride.

Transit Hub

Thursday we were pleased to join with Utah Transit Authority officials to officially open the City Center Intermodal Transit Hub under beautiful clear warm skies. This station will not only be the connecting point for numerous Bus and BRT service, but is really the first step in establishing a West Valley City Center. Future plans call for this to also be adjoining a Trax station and will also connect to an even larger City Hall Plaza that will feature different artistic amenities and be a regional gathering place. The transit is also excepted to provide a boost to the City Center redevelopment plans that will offer some taller buildings and a more urban and walkable downtown experience. After the official welcoming and recognition of those that made this project possible, those in attendance enjoyed a Mexican food treat and mingled in the plaza.

Busy Busy Week

There have been many interesting and important things happen this past week in conjunction with my West Valley City duties. In order to keep this post manageable in length I will resort to using a 'Top Seven' list to highlight these events. As always please feel free to contact me if you are interested in receiving more information on any of the following. My email address is simply corey@coreyrushton.com. Here is the list in no particular order:

1. Municipal Primary Election Day. Congratulations to all those candidates that advanced to the General Election with gratitude to the rest of the candidates that worked so hard with the best interest of our City at heart. I had the pleasure of conducting the Opening Ceremony at City Council meeting last night, and I chose to share a favorite poem of mine titled "The Poor Voter on Election Day" by John Whittier. If the poet's name sounds familiar it is because the first Hunter area school was named after him.
2. Energy Efficiency Block Grant. The City received over 1.1 million dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to upgrade and convert some city lights, traffic signals, and HVAC to more modern and energy efficient models.
3. Bond Closing. As Chairman of the City's Redevelopment agency I spent an afternoon signing dozens of documents in sextuplet to pre-close on a 9 million dollar bond that will be used to kick start the financing within the City Center Valley Fair Mall redevelopment. I was excited about the extremely good rates that we received on the bonds due to realtionship between the current bond market and West Valley City's strong financial condition.
4. Jordan River Canoe Trip. I spent Saturday morning with a couple of elected officials and City staff canoeing down the West Valley City section of the Jordan River. While on this trip we experienced "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" aspects of the current state of the Jordan River. The knowledge gained on this trip will be very valuable in my role as City representative and co-chair of the Blueprint Jordan River Committee as well as the developments planned along the river at the UCCC.
5. Street Light Purchase. After years of negotiation the City has reached an agreement with Rocky Mountain Power to purchase their street light system within the City. As owners of the street light system we will now be able to save approximately $500,000 annually as we will be on a cheaper pay schedule.
6. Partnership with Salt Lake City to combat crime. With an inter-local agreement Utah's two largest cities have partnered in a cooperative effort to fight problems associated with drugs, prostitution, and gangs. Working cooperatively with Salt Lake City and partially financed by a COPS Methamphetamine Grant we anticipate that the shared information and resources will help put an end to much of these types of illegal activity instead of just scaring criminals back and forth between cities.
7. New Animal Shelter Grand Opening. This certainly falls under the last but not least category as the new facility on 4400 West and 3500 South is a modern and beautiful state of the art facility, that is dedicated to Community Preservation and Animal Service efforts. I was also pleased to see so many animal lovers, workers, and advocates at the Grand Opening.

Labor Day Picnic

Today, Emily and I enjoyed spending much of the afternoon out at Copper Park in Magna at the annual Labor Day picnic. The park was packed with participants that came to see the vast display of unique autos at the car show and indulge in some of the various game and food options. It was especially nice to so many people from West Valley City at the park and I spent a lot of time talking with them about all of the good things that are shaping up in West Valley. I also answered a few common questions like, "When is the construction of 3500 South going to be completed?" Overall I received some good feedback from West Valley residents and enjoyed getting to know them and their neighborhoods better. With this being Labor Day I am especially pleased at how West Valley City Economic Development is taking great strides to attract and retain quality businesses and employment centers. With a number of redevelopment options currently on the table, I expect West Valley City to be at the forefront of economic recovery with good jobs and business opportunities.

Jordan River

As the easternmost boundary of West Valley City, the Jordan River is great resource for our community. I currently serve as a co-chair of a intergovernmental committee that is exploring options to enhance and preserve the Jordan River by bringing the various government entities to a common table. Recently the following editorial, written by myself and fellow co-chairs of the committee, was published in the Salt Lake Tribune:

Courage, collaboration are keys to Jordan River's future

By Jenny Wilson, Corey Rushton, Chris Mccandless

Sarah and Michelle are neighbors in a growing Salt Lake County neighborhood. Most early summer mornings, long before their families have stirred, the two friends head to the Jordan River Parkway. It's their place for an hour of uninterrupted power walking.

"It's so quiet in the morning, and so beautiful," says Sarah. With no cars to worry about, Michelle adds, she can enjoy the sunrise and watch the rippling of the Jordan River's quiet current. "Awesome," she says.

While the women walk, a stream of joggers passes by. An occasional bicyclist rolls along. All offer living proof of the passion Utahns have for the Jordan River. Wending its way from Utah Lake on the south to the Great Salt Lake on the north, the Jordan shows promise as a prime urban waterway -- easy to reach, easy to use and easy to love.

This is why Envision Utah, elected officials and interested citizens remain committed to the discussion, careful planning and compromises involved in implementing Blueprint Jordan River, last year's extensive public process to create a common vision for the river corridor's future and improve it in ways that will benefit all residents.

Based on the ideas of more than 2,000 Utah residents who attended a series of community forums, the blueprint offers an inspiring vision for the Jordan: one of the largest urban wildlife corridors in the country; a completed Jordan River Parkway; designation of recreational facilities, including, potentially, a whitewater kayaking course and equestrian area; and redevelopment of blighted sections into lively neighborhood centers.

Realizing this vision would put river partners Davis, Salt Lake and Utah counties on par with other communities that have turned urban rivers into beloved destination spots. Think of San Antonio's Riverwalk, the South Platte in Denver or, just a few hours to our north, the greenbelt along the Boise River.

Just imagine the Jordan's bright future.

Some time has passed since Envision Utah released the Blueprint Jordan River report (highlights of which you can find at www.envisionutah.org), but the project is rolling along. For the past six months, elected officials from the 18 jurisdictions along the river and other community leaders have met regularly to craft an appropriate governing mechanism for the project that will ensure improved coordination, local control, community involvement and dedicated funding.

Over the past four decades, previous efforts to reclaim the Jordan have foundered because they failed adequately to include elected leaders with the authority to push the projects through. Further, there was no dependable funding mechanism up front. Finally, past efforts allowed for parochial concerns and piecemeal thinking to derail a chance to accomplish something truly great for this region.

Fourteen communities along the river have adopted resolutions supporting the Jordan River Blueprint and others are in the process of doing so. And while officials are wise in raising a tough recession as an issue in funding the blueprint, it must be underscored that this is a long-term project with an eye fixed on a recovering economy.

A vibrant Jordan River corridor will give residents a place to enjoy the outdoors with family, create opportunities for education about nature and improve water quality on the river and at the Great Salt Lake. Improvements will raise property values and attract tourists and new businesses. All of this can be done thoughtfully and while keeping benefits to the entire region in mind.

This is the best opportunity ever to turn the long-held vision of the Jordan River's promise into reality. It's time for citizens and elected officials to make it happen.

Safe Driving

As School is now back in session and an influx of young drivers take to the roads, I have been reminded about the importance of safety while driving. Recently upon boarding an airplane to embark on a little vacation, I reminded a nervous Emily that air travel was statistically a superior method of safe travel when compared to automobiles. Then upon the flight I read a magazine article about the ever increasing dangers of texting and cell phone use behind the wheel. Once we arrive at our destination we happened across this car with a 20 foot tall nail driven through the hood the in that read, "Drive Drunk, Get Nailed." The combination of these experinences seemed noteworthy as we all strive to have extremely safe roads and neighborhoods.

Neighborhood Night Out and Service Project

National Neighborhood Night out events have been taking place this week in communities across the nation and especially here in West Valley City. The City is often award recognized for the scope and quality of 'Night Out' events. This year the festivities were kicked off by more than a thousand people at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center who enjoyed food, exhibits, and live entertainment from a former Las Vegas comedic musician.

Tuesday was when most of the City's 30 plus neighborhood block parties took place. These block parties range in attendance from the more intimate teens to the rocking couple hundred. I was able to attend seven block parties that evening starting at the Jordan River and working my way west. At these various parties I was able to discuss challenges faced by neighborhoods while eating pizza and hot dogs, debating sports, enjoying musical performances, and posing for pictures. It is interesting how many of these block parties have incorporated a featured trademark or tradition. One neighborhood sported an array of exotic cotton candy. Another boasts of their homemade Root Beer, while yet another uses the party as a card game tournament. Emily and my sister Bobbi hosted our neighborhood that was highlighted by a children's parade. Displaying a crate paper and sticker decorated bike or wagon was a proud moment for both the kids and the parents.

Yesterday I recruited a couple other members of the City Council to participate in a local service project. We removed graffiti and restored a cinder block wall along 4100 South (see photos). The project was greatly assisted by the City's Graffiti Officer that was hired last year to monitor, remove, and help prosecute graffiti. We were lucky to finish the painting just ahead of the winds and weather that rolled in. Projects like this are great not only because they help to beautify our City, but it helps us to be more effective City Representatives. When you work side by side with your colleagues in service projects it helps you better see eye to eye at City Council meetings.

Friday and Saturday the Police Department will host the annual Safety Fair at the Valley Fair Mall. Last night I was able to talk with Officer Wright (better known as Officer Friendly) about the successes of 25 plus years of the fair. This year there will be displays, demonstrations and various police equipment as well as as an abundance of personal and home safety information. There will be child fingerprinting and tips to help halt the growing crime of identity theft. There are also extensive prizes ready to be awarded in the Crime fair coloring contest.

I have been pleased far beyond my expectations on this weeks events as I realize that the work that is done between neighbors in the community is far more valuable than the usual measures of government intervention used to combat problems.

WestRidge

I just finished enjoying another wonderful lunch up at the WestRidge Grill and wanted to comment about the evolution of that area. The golf course has matured into a challenging and fun course to play over the years. League play has filled a couple night a week and golfers seem to increasingly enjoy the value of golfing at WestRidge. This summer the Grill has taken some bold strides in offering different lunch specials that attracts golfers as well as locals looking for a good bite to eat. The chefs have added a flair to the offerings of sandwiches, wraps, and salads that can be had for under $7 with a side and drink included. These lunch specials have been a great addition to the WestRidge quality and value mantra.

Across the street the Usana Amphitheatre continues to rock and roll with some of the biggest acts in the music industry. It has far and away became the premier place for summer concerts in the state and has been heralded by critics, patrons, and bands themselves for the outstanding and quality productions that it has hosted. There are still a few big shows scheduled for this summer and I am sure that the thousands of people that descend on this portion of West Valley City to be entertained will not be disappointed.

Boring, but important...

I wanted to report on a couple of items that have taken a tedious amount of work over an extended period of time and are now complete or nearly complete. The first one is the successful completion of Fiscal Year 2008 Citywide Audit. Over a number of years West Valley City has contracted with the firm of Jensen & Keddington to preform a complete financial audit. This year the City went a step further with the creation of an Audit Review Committee. This committee was made assembled with some outside financial experts as well as community members. I served as one of the City Council appointees to this committee, and in doing so participated in extensive review of West Valley City's financial practices and received detailed answers to my specific inquires. West Valley has been recognized often for the integrity and manner of the annual audit and this year was able to quickly remedy the few minor deficiencies exposed by the audit process. This places West Valley City on firm ground as we proceed into the new fiscal year.

The second noteworthy item is that it appears we have come to consensus as to the hard surface parking ordinance. After sorting through the various staff recommendations and considering community input it looks as though well maintained additional gravel parking will be allowed and the original ordinance from years back will be amended. West Valley City staff has been charged with rewriting the ordinance and it should be available for final adoption in the coming weeks.

Finally, I am shocked that during these first initial months of my website featuring the United States Government Quiz only two entries have posted a 100% score. Additionally, one of those perfect scores was submitted by my father who was a Social Studies teacher for many years and thus probably shouldn't count. Maybe when the summer is over and school is back in session I will see the scores start to rise as well. Give it a try if you haven't already.

Pioneer Day

This was a very eventful and memorable Pioneer Day for West Valley City and for myself. In the morning I joined with the Mayor and Councilmembers on the 'Catch the Vision' West Valley Float in the Days of '47 Parade in Salt Lake City to commemorate the pioneers reaching the Salt Lake Valley. The float featured a wagon train as well as a trax train to highlight the City's progress over the generations. It was especially meaningful to me as it made me reflect on my Rushton ancestors whom were among the last to leave Nauvoo because they were directed by Brigham Young to "See that all of the sick and the poor got across the river." Later Edward Rushton was amongst the first settlers to cross over the Jordan River and establish a homestead in what is now West Valley City. The parade was enjoyable and it was exciting when we came across the various pockets of West Valley City residents along the route cheering and proud of the float and of their community. Many people should be thanked for the excellent manner that our City was represented in this parade, but none more than the versatile Kevin Conde who wears many hats for the City and excels at making events go off without a hitch.

Later that evening Emily and I attended the Days of '47 Rodeo. This is the inaugural year for the Rodeo at its new home, the E Center. I was pleased at the attendance and the great response received from the Rodeo participants as they expressed their approval of the the venue, area, and City partnerships. In attendance at the Rodeo that evening was Thomas Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He seemed to really enjoy the antics of Whiplash the Rodeo Monkey. Whiplash later presented President Monson with an autographed photo of himself. I was curious as to how a cowboy monkey signs autographs, but overall the show was great. I was thrilled at every instance as it seemed as though the City was well represented and did a stellar job a participating in our State Holiday.

Project Updates

Recently as a City Councilmember I have been asked a lot of questions in relation to the specifics of any number of construction and/or redevelopment projects within the city. I would like to give a brief update on the status of a couple projects today.


The first project is the remodeling and redevelopment at the Valley Fair Mall. The first aspect of this large project was the successful introduction of Costco to the mall campus a few years ago. This addition has helped to increase the overall profile and shopping traffic of the mall. The first phase on the mall itself is nearing completion with the noted addition of a few well known restaurants and some additional retail space around the perimeter of the site. Interest in these restaurants have been high and I expect the mall to continue to grow as a dining destination. The second phase of the mall redevelopment which will soon be underway will consist of over 50,000 square feet, with the main feature being a spacious plaza and gateway to the mall complex. The plaza will be landscaped with trees, flowers, and water features and will be a great gathering place and focal point to our city center. The posted picture is an artists rendition of what the completed plaza should consist of.







I am also happy to announce that the improvements to 5200 West are now underway and I am looking forward to watching the progress on this project as it will add some safety to this street. To this point it has been a very complicated process, as almost every property on the street had some special circumstances that needed to be factored in. 5200 West has long been a favorite street of mine as it is long and straight, lined with mature trees as well as some good friends and relatives. It is also boasts a variety of beautifully landscaped and unique homes and well as a very special church near one end. It is my understanding that only two churches of this style were ever built and it to me it just looks like a good fit to the neighborhood. As there are a lot of different aspects to these road and sidewalk improvements I was amazed at the variety of projected costs associated with each submitted bid. For example how is it that Company 'A' charges $110 per replaced mailbox while Company 'B' expects $235? After sorting through the various numbers and bids of this project the best value and lowest responsible bid was awarded and the construction has begun. Consequently, this road is closed and only accessible by local traffic, so it is best avoided for now. My niece Jordan and I walked down the road and took a few early construction pictures posted below.






As a final note: Thanks to everyone who helped celebrate my birthday yesterday and to all those who in one electronic form or another wished me the best.

West Valley City Bond Ratings

Recently a small delegation representing West Valley City traveled to San Francisco to present the City's finances to firms associated with municipal bonds and the credit market. The good news and forecasts that came from these meetings resulted in a strong financial outlook for the City amidst of the current economic slowdown. I currently serve as a City Council representative on the West Valley Audit committee and after recently reviewing in detail the corresponding citywide audit, I remain confident that we continue to weather the current economic slide and emerge from the recession and leaner and more efficient City. Also with this good credit rating news we will be able to continue to reduce City debt and save money on financing costs of City facilities and infrastructure. With this we will also need to be prepared to capture new jobs, development, and businesses opportunities on the next wave when local and national economies begin to expand.

According to Business Wire, Fitch Ratings affirms West Valley City's Bonds as follows:

Sales Tax Revenue: 'AA-' Stable Outlook

Lease Revenue Bonds: 'A+' & 'A' Stable Outlook

You can read the full article at http://www.businesswire.com/

WestFest Unveiling

This past weekend was the annual WestFest celebration. In addition to the crafts, food, and carnival Saturday mornings festivities was kicked off by a family 5k run followed by a parade. After nearly a month of cool and wet weather, the skies were clear, blue, and sunny for the fun. I waited at the finish line for Emily to complete the race and was proud to see her finish a full five minutes ahead of her self-projected time. Afterward I pulled together a makeshift pioneer outfit and climbed aboard the brand new West Valley City parade float that celebrates the wagon train heritage to our Trax train future. It is difficult for me to imagine what life was like for my Rushton and Moesser ancestors that decided to make this part of the valley their home years and years ago. The float will also be showcase at the upcoming annual 24th of July parade in Salt Lake City. The evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the ten o'clock night sky.

Update Op-Ed

Recently I wrote the "Update" message for the West Valley Journal. There were a number of items and issues that I would have loved to address, but due to space limitations I wrote the following that was themed towards the challenges of a maturing urban city. It also encompasses my thoughts towards many eminent policy decisions from Animals to Zone Changes:

Progress as Promised

A message from Councilmember Corey Rushton

As you take a look around West Valley City you may have noticed the increasing blooming of orange construction cones and fences. The amount of growth and development in this once desolate and lonely region of the valley has been remarkable. It is hard to believe that over fifty years ago it was extremely difficult to obtain a home loan in this area because lenders thought that it was too remote of a location and would eventually be abandoned. However, it has been said many times and in many different ways that change does not necessarily assure progress, but progress implacably requires change. Progress and change is at the root of most issues and challenges we face as we continue to grow and mature as a city with its own identity.

I would like to point out three significant ways in which West Valley City is maintaining a small town sense of community and responsibility in the midst of a rapidly growing urbanized region. First, unlike many government entities, we have a balanced budget and have been consistently paying down city debt. Second, our city has done a great job in attracting and retaining businesses, in addition to having major employment centers. We are fortunate to have roughly the same number of jobs in West Valley City as we have working age adults. Finally, the FBI released crime statistics last week for major U.S. cities, and I was pleased to see that we experienced a decline in violent crimes last year. Considering the state of current economic challenges, I feel that we as a city are in a strong position to make continual strides of improvement.

In addition to all of this, I am thrilled at our city’s unmatched efforts in bringing people and communities together. The great inventor and innovator Henry Ford once noted that, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” I also invite everyone to take inventory and reflect on how we can continue to bring our community together and enjoy the progress within your own lives and within West Valley City.

Anniversary

This past week Emily and I celebrated the anniversary of our wedding. For the Opening Ceremony of our City Council Meeting I made the following remarks about achieving marital bliss:

Because this is wedding anniversary I have reflected on the importance of having a good marriage and since the Mayor has been such a good example in being in a successful marriage I asked his wife about their secret to having a long and happy marriage.

She told me that, “It all dates back to an experience on our honeymoon”, explained Mrs. Nordfelt. “We visited the Grand Canyon and took a trip down to the bottom of the canyon by pack mule. We hadn't gone too far when my husband's mule stumbled. I heard my husband quietly say 'That's once.'

We proceeded a little farther when the mule stumbled again. This time my husband the Mayor quietly said, 'That's twice.'

We made it to the bottom of the canyon when the mule stumbled and they fell to the ground. My husband promptly removed a revolver from his pocket and shot the mule.

I stood there shocked at what my husband had done and then started to protest over his treatment of the mule when he looked at me and quietly said 'That's once.'"

This little story garnished a few bits of laughter and was of course a joke, but it is very true that Mayor Nordfelt is a great example of how to be an effective elected official as well as beloved family man.

New Website

Welcome to my new website. This website is provided in english and spanish to better provide for all of our community. Check back often to see updates and news especially on this blog as I'm going to try to update it frequently with news, issues, and more to keep everyone in the loop. Thanks for visiting my site and let me know any questions, comments, concerns, of any kind that you may have so that I may serve you better.