Issue 43.17
The City of St. George has officially invited you to apply for the position of CITY MANAGER. (DETAILS MAY BE FOUND ON CITY WEBSITE.) The final filing date for this recruitment is December 4, 2017. It is anticipated that the position will be filled by early February.
My dear friends and fellow citizens….. I have been prompted to suggest to you that seeking a “Fathers Blessing” would be an appropriate course of action to be taken on behalf of the City of St. George. WHY? You may ask. I can only tell you that the Mayor and City Council will be charged with the responsibility of selecting a New City Manager. An action not required in over 40 years. This I believe to be a humbling and momentous event as the City is faced with a special challenge in a time of need. I believe it appropriate to seek direction and comfort when faced with a crucial decision that is sure to impact your life….. In this case the Life of the SG City.
Some may scoff at such a suggestion, yet others may appreciate and understand the full import of reaching out….. Seeking a “BLESSING” upon our wonderful city and its people is not unheard of. After all, have we not already been “BLESSED”? To live in a thriving city, growing in the middle of a desert, sustained, by limited amount of water.
Faith has brought us to this point and Faith will enable us to continue to grow and prosper. A Father’s BLESSING may very well be the ticket to help the Mayor and City Council to find the right combination of education, work experience and training that will enable the individual being sought to fill the position of City Manager.
I cannot tell you exactly why I have been led to suggest a need for a “Blessing”, except to say I am genuinely concerned….. Especially concerned as we find ourselves in the midst of electing a Mayor and two Council Members at the same time that we are being challenged to find a suitable replacement for what many believe to be, the most vital and important position in city government. This is all happening at a time when the city is focused on immediate budgetary adjustments in the public safety sector, and the ever present challenge of growth and development of city owned property.
The city continues to function in a very efficient manner made possible by having a steady hand on the wheel of progress and daily living needs. My friends, there is no question in my mind, but that the City would benefit greatly by receiving a “Father’s Blessing” in this critical period in our city’s history.
Growth and Development is not taking a holiday in SG City. On October 25th Dixie State University will hold groundbreaking ceremonies for the 155,000 square foot facility to be known as the Human Performance Center on Dixie Campus. Next month up on the Old Airport Site, Dixie Technical College will open its doors on new 100,000 square foot professional building that will join the Dixie Tech Emergency Response Training Center, 11,000 square foot structure on the newly name Tech Ridge Drive to complete the permanent campus. The remaining city owned property will be subject to continued evaluation to determine the greatest benefit for the entire city. January 2018 UDOT will begin construction of the widening of Bluff Street from SG Blvd extending to Snow Canyon.
Folks, when you see, what is taking place in the older downtown section of the city, from the old airport site going east to 700 East and Bluff Street improvements to facilitate the movement of traffic, coupled with proposed General Plan amendment to develop the property east of River Road and north of the Southern Corridor (1,188 acres) you can see the immensities of the challenges facing SG City.
YES! I truly believe the city will benefit greatly by receiving a “Fathers Blessing” to help guide us in determining the future of SG City. Please remember to VOTE on November 7th, 2017. Thank you, ED BACA