City Council - Regular Meeting

Good morning. Good evening. We'll begin shortly. Good evening, family, friends, residents of Haramman. I'm Nathan Trapesky, city manager for Herman and also a resident. On behalf of staff in the city of Herman, I want to welcome you to this

special occasion, the formal inauguration of Mayor Palmer and city council members Tara Anderson, Teddy Hodges, and Matt Basham. Today we celebrate the commitment made by these individuals who have been elected by the people of Herman to take the often difficult job of representing the community making difficult popular decisions often popular that impact and benefit all of us as residents. They all share a passion for the community and a commitment to service. We are honored to have each of you here. I think this is a larger crowd than we'd anticipated. Um, but we'd like to recognize uh there are far too many people here to recognize everyone, but I'd like to recognize councelor Jared Henderson, uh, Herman City Council, uh, former councelor Sherry Or who just, um, stepped off, and the many other elected officials from both the state and our neighboring communities. We are thankful that you are here. Um again we want to thank the family and the friends who are here and also just residents of Heramman who are excited and interested in government. Thank you for taking this time to be with us this evening. And then special thanks to the family who are about to share your loved ones with us for four years. Uh your Wednesday nights are no longer yours. So appreciate and then there's there are other meetings they didn't tell you about. So, thank you for coming. Uh, we will try to be mindful of your sacrifice as well. Uh, the program this evening will proceed as follows. We will have a presentation of the flag by the Heramman Police Honor Guard. The national anthem by Malia Aston, Emily Berbert, Shelby Wallace, Barton Sloan, Benji Snediger, Pat Carney, Nate Bartlett, Alyssa Oendorfen,

Orty. I've tried, I practiced, I promise. And Megan Migley. And with a name like Chesky, I get that often, so I know how she feels. I'm sorry. She told me like six times. Uh and then after their singing, we will have representatives of the Herman Youth Council lead us in the pledge. I invite you to please rise for the presentation of the colors. Sometimes present colors.

[singing] at the dawn early. So proudly [singing] we [music] at the twilight [singing] gleaming stripes and [singing] bright stars through the perilous [singing] we [singing] the bombs bursting. [music]

in air gave proof [singing] through the [music] night that our flag was still there. Oh, [singing] say that star spangled [music] yet [singing] for the land [music] of the free. the free and [singing] the love. [singing]

[applause]

Um, please repeat after me. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Order colors.

Post colors. Forward. I will now invite Judge Lisa Garner, our municipal court judge, forward to administer the oaths of office. Uh we're actually going to do these individually uh for pictures. So we will start with Mayor Elect Palmer. Raise your right hand.

I state your name. I, Laura Palmer, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will will support, obey, and defend that I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State Constitution of the State of Utah, and that I will discharge the duties that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity. of my office with fidelity. Council [applause] [applause] elect Teddy Hodes.

After me, I state your name. Teddy do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support obey and defend I will support obey and defend the duties of my office Councelor [applause] [applause] elect Matt Basham.

I state your name. I Matt Bash do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support, obey, and defend. that I will support, obey, and defend.

And I will of my office with fidelity, the duties of my office with fidelity. [applause] Councelor elect Anderson

after me. I state your namely swearnly swear I will support obey and defend that I will I discharge of my office

[applause] [applause]

We will now have remarks from our newly sworn in elected officials. We will start first at at the request of the mayor. He's going to go last. So, we'll start first with Councelor Hodges, uh followed by Councelor Basham, Councelor Anderson, and then Mayor Palmer. [snorts] Thank you. Thank you guys for being here. Um, thank you to my lovely wife and spouse. Obviously, um, like, uh, Nathan [snorts] said, we can't do this without our family and these individuals in here, a lot of them in my room in this room are now my family. Um, I have my in-laws here and my beautiful girls, and they know how precious my time is, and I try to spend the most with them. Um, thank you for all the elected officials. We have state representatives. We have other mayors. We have other council members. We have our wonderful first responders. Um, I have a short statement I prepared. Um [snorts] [clears throat] 16 years ago, my family and I brought forth the house to this valley. [snorts] Conceived in the hope of a quiet life and dedicated to the proposition that Haramman is an exceptional place to raise a family. We found a community defined by its mountain ridges, its wide open spaces, and the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors. Now, we're engaged in a great season of growth, testing [snorts] whether the city, or any city so rapidly conceived and so quickly built, can long endure its own success. [snorts] We meet

tonight here at a threshold of change. We cannot come, we have come [snorts] to dedicate ourselves to the stewardship of this city, not a finished product, but a living, breathing home for thousands. [snorts] It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate this office through words alone. The brave neighbors, the struggling families, and the devoted public servants, including the visionary planners and the surveyors who mapped these streets when they were yet but dust and dreams. [sighs]

They have already laid a foundation of deep st of deep and strong foundation. We stand today on their shoulders and their foresight. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here tonight. [snorts] But it can never forget what we do. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated to the unfinished work which they have fought for Haramman's future have thus so far advanced. It is rather that we be here committed to the great task remaining before us. That from the growing streets, we take increased devotion to the continuation of our responsible growth, to the prosperity of our local economy, and to the continued protection of our neighborhoods. That we here highly resolve that these who have endured hardships shall not have struggled in vain. that this city under God shall have a new birth of community and that the government of the residents, by the residents, and for the residents shall never perish from these mountains. Thank you. [applause] I've never seen so many people in this room. looking forward to seeing all you at our first city council meeting. Not with complaints or anything, but just, you know, it's an honor and it's a responsibility to stand before you today as a newly sworn in city council member for Airman City. Thank you to the residents, the friends, the families, and all those who supported my journey to be standing before you today. Thank you to outgoing council member Sher Or for your eight years of service. Thank you so much.

[applause] I told you those are going to be some hard footsteps to uh to follow, but I got some great advice into uh making some of my own. So, thank you so much. I would also like to uh thank Heather Garcia. no matter the outcome of our election, we were going to have great representation for Haramman. So, I appreciate um Heather. Heather's passionate about the city of Haramman and she continues to serve on our uh planning commission and she is a great asset to our city. Haramman is really, really important to me. I live here. I have family that lives here, close family, friends. My parents live here. I promise you that I will always do what's best for her. I will strive for perfection, but if you know me, I'm probably going to make a mistake. I'm not scared about the calls that I'm going to get from a angry resident or two. I am a little I'm a little nervous about the call I would get from my mom as she's a resident here of Heramman as well. Today, Heramman is in a fantastic place. Um, it's a great place to raise our families. One of my jobs as a council member is to help keep it that way as we continue to grow as a community. It's a city council who is the legislative body for the city. We're responsible for setting the ground rules and coming up with the vision. While that's an important piece of the

pie, it's our city staff that make it happen. I cannot express to you guys how fantastic our city staff is. They are the best in the business and we are lucky to have you. Thank you for all the extra time, all the extra effort that you put in to make Haramman such a special place to live. I was asked uh last week by Todd, our city attorney at lunch, what what are you looking most forward to? And I told him, I'm looking forward to be part of a group, a council, a city staff, and a community who all move as one to try to make our community better. And I think we have something a little unique here in Herman. I might be a little impartial, but I am a sports referee and I'm I'm pretty impartial. So maybe maybe this is a really really accurate statement. This is a special place. It's it's rare to where we can have a a council and a staff and a community that's all moving towards a common goal. And I hope that moving forward that will continue and we can accelerate the momentum that we feel. So moving forward, we will continue to make this a better place to live for us and for our our posterity. Thank you. [applause]

Um, thank you so much for being here. It is lovely to see you all here and um to be able to have your support and show your love for our community um or your love for Heramin by participating in government this way and participating in this evening. Um, my story with Heramman begins about 17 years ago and I moved here with two little toddlers who are now a senior in high school and a sophomore at college and and I have two more um now than I had when we we moved here. And it's been neat to be to be here and to see my family grow, see the community grow, and over the years become more and more involved with the um community. Um maybe about six years ago, um I um was looking at getting more involved in the community and with some community service organizations. And um along the way I met the mayor and also um was able to develop some of my um planning skills um with community planning, urban planning and um start out on the planning commission. And then from the planning commission um came a desire to apply for the appointment for that was open for city council in May. And it's um neat to see what happens. Taking advantage of opportunities was one of my core beliefs. And I'm just happy I've been able to have these opportunities to learn and grow and serve serve more um in our city and in our surrounding cities as well. Um it's been a little bit of a whirlwind and I've enjoyed it. Um through this year I've been able to get a running start and get my feet wet and learned a lot and learned how much more there is to learn. Um, I'm grateful for um our community partners and for our city staff for all they've done to help me um begin on this journey um serving in the city council in this particular

way. And I look forward to um developing those partnerships more and continue to learn and grow so that I can be a better representative and better serve you too. But um I've learned a lot and I'm ready to move and ready to continue um going forward. Um, I look forward to um continuing our strong Haramman vision to continue with community engagement with building our community with having an emphasis on long range planning and being ready for challenges that are coming down the road and opportunities. um to be ready to be good partners with our um neighboring cities and businesses and um community partners that we have in our city and to continue to strengthen our economy through um community development and taking advantage of those opportunities too. Um we can continue with the great work we're doing. Um, one of the things I've really appreciated um, in the the last eight months is to get to know even more of you and to take your emails and your phone calls and to be able to see um, issues that are happening in our community from your eyes. And I hope that continues. I'd encourage you to continue to be an active participant in our community and to use city council as a resource and the the servant leaders that we are to be able to communicate your concerns. I am grateful for my family and for all their support that some of our um mother daughter and mother son nights have been city nights and city events and some of our date nights have been city events lately and um for their willingness to let me pull them into this journey and this adventure. I'm grateful for my friends and colleagues who have supported me. Um, for the fabulous team that our city council is. I'm excited to work with you all. Um, I'm grateful for the support that I've felt from our Heramman community. I look forward to

your involvement. I look forward to our conversations. I look forward to working together. And I'm just excited to serve and to represent you in this way. Thank you. [applause]

[applause]

Wow. Thank you for being here, everybody. Uh Teddy and I were talking four years ago when we did this. I think we had about 20 people in this room is all um we've come a long ways. I'm so grateful for all the partnerships, all the relationships of everybody in this room. Every one of I looked around and I greeted you on the way in. your impact on me, on our community has just it's been felt. It's noticed. It's appreciated. Um I've been told to stick to my notes so we don't go long. So I've just prepared some remarks. So um but truly thank you everybody for being here. I'm truly and deeply grateful and humbled by the trust of our community that our community has placed in me to serve a second term as your mayor. Um, I look back about 5 years ago when we decided to take this journey. I remember sitting with my wife as we were deciding next steps in our careers and as my wife made the comment to me, find a way to make a difference. And I hope at this point in the last four years, I've been able to make a difference. I hope I that every single one of you in this room has felt that I tried to make a difference in this community, in your lives, and whatever it may be. So, to my family, thank you. My parents who drove 2 hours through, if you know, Highway 6 over Spanish Fort Canyon, my parents made that drive for me today. So, it was not good. I tried to get him to turn around because I'm worried about him going home tonight. But, I'm so grateful for them. started with my dad who truly taught me to serve and my mom who taught me to love unconditionally. So, thank you. So, to my family, thank you. Public service is never a solo endeavor. It takes patience, sacrifice,

and an incredible mount amount of grace at home. Your love, support, and your belief in this work make it possible for me to show up every day for Herman. And I'm endlessly thankful for you. Not just you, Christie, but my kids, Cohen, who doesn't know life without me being the mayor, really. So, um, to my fellow council members, past and present, thank you. Sherry, current council, thank you. Steve Shields, if you're out there, thank you for your collaboration, your willingness to debate tough issues with respect, and your shared commitment to doing what's best for our city. We don't always agree, but we have always worked hard together to move Haramman forward, and that matters. To our city staff, as Matt had said, you are the backbone of this community. Your professionalism, your dedication, your care for every resident every day. It shows. Herman's success is because of you, and I'm proud to serve alongside such an exceptional team. And most importantly to the residents of Herman, thank you. I'm sorry. I've got to give a shout out to my I've got a new little buddy I met this year. Cooper. Cooper is my This is my buddy. This is Cooper. Cooper, thank you for being Come here. [applause] I wasn't planning on this, but Cooper showed up. Cooper is scared to death of crowds, but Cooper and I have become best little friends.

Yeah. And we're so grateful. He lives over by Teddy, but he showed up on Halloween trick-or-treating at my house. got out. And Cooper, I'm proud of you for being here today, bud. I'm grateful to know you, bud. Thanks for being here. [applause]

But thank you to all the residents for your engagement, your feedback, your trust. This re-election isn't a given. It's a responsibility I carry with gratitude, determination, and a relentless desire to serve. You are the heart of the city, and every decision I make is for you. I also want to recognize the countless volunteers who give their time, talents, and passions to make Herman better. Through organizations like Friends of Heramman and other so many other volunteer efforts, residents have stepped up in meaningful ways to strengthen our community, support one another, and turn good ideas into real improvements that benefit all of us. Over the past term, we've achieved remarkable things. We've strengthened our financial position, invested in infrastructure that supports growth while protecting quality of life. We've expanded parks and trails. We've enhanced public safety. We welcome new businesses, and we welcome several more coming that bring opportunity and vitality to our neighborhoods. But these aren't just accomplishments. They are proof that when a community works together with teamwork, thoughtful planning, and a shared vision, we can build something that lasts. We can build a city that families are proud to call home. So, looking forward, the work is far from finished. In this next term, we will continue to focus on smart, responsible growth, maintaining excellent city services, strengthening public safety, improving transportation and infrastructure, and ensuring Herman remains welcoming, connected, and full of opportunity for all. I believe deeply in this city. If you've seen me out there, I love being out in this community. Whether it's the schools, every event I can possibly be out, I love being out there. and that is my favorite part of this job.

But I believe deeply in the city and in the people who make it extraordinary. I'm excited for what's ahead, committed to listening, and ready to keep working together to make Heramman even stronger. Thank you for the honor of serving as your mayor. Let's keep building the city we love because when because when cities lead, Utah thrives. Thank you for being here. [applause]

[applause]

Thank you, mayor, members of council, residents. We're going to uh at this time invite you to join us in the north lobby out here for some refreshments and an opportunity to uh meet your your newly sworn in elected officials. Thank you. [applause] [applause]