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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Life's Pressures Touch All - Character Traits of Council & Community on Parade Before the World

Council Meeting of September 4th cast a beam of light…..illuminating those in attendance and city government. Excessive pride in individual accomplishments may be seen to be unseemly and unattractive…..but when it reveals the true character of a community…..one has to pause and say…..this is good, and I am proud to be a small part of it.

And so it was at this council meeting…..The mayor assumed his role as head cheerleader and was happily joined by those present…..and hopefully by those watching on television……Nothing to be ashamed of…..or embarrassed about, just plain and simple pride when hearing the pledge of allegiance and opening prayer…..and today when hearing the beautiful singing of a Barbershop Quartet extolling the virtues of community pride.
Proclamations were read which featured the upbeat side…..The Lions Club and its 80th Roundup which has helped to provide a quarter of a million dollars to needy organizations. When you attend the upcoming Rodeo you are sure to feel the hard reality that the Rodeo began in 1934….. by the concrete seating arrangement…..but this discomfort will be made to go away by the Patriotic Atmosphere you are sure to enjoy…..We Can All Take Pride In Living In This Great Country.  American Pride can be felt and enjoyed when you attend the Lions Rodeo. God Bless America!
On the more sobering side of Proclamations was acknowledgement of Suicides……The State of Utah leads the nation in this unwanted distinction and you may be startled to know that in the last 7 years……suicides doubled. Utah ranks 5th in Youth Suicides….. Ages 10 to 17. The City stepped forward on this issue proclaiming “Suicide Prevention Week”. (Sept. 7 thru 13th) . Imagine…..39,000 Suicides reported last year.  Suicide is everyone’s business.  
The City also acknowledged “Recovery Day Celebration” for those suffering from addiction by granting a fee waiver for use of Town Square for the Southwest Utah’s Recovery Day Celebration.
My friends, we as a community may not be perfect but it is heart- warming to know that that we, as a people do not give up…..We continue to exercise hope and care for those in need.  Kudos to those who practice kindness as they go about their daily lives…..Helping to identify St. George as…. City with a heart.   
On the Business Side of the agenda:
The Council was asked for approval of a final plat for Jiffy Lube at River Road. I thought this to be most revealing of the Character of Individuals alluded to earlier. This being the third consecutive meeting that Council Woman Ariel was declared absent….. Gave greater attention to Councilman Almquist as he had the presence of mind to recuse himself from voting…..stating he contracted to install landscaping for Jiffy Lube site. Councilman Almquist walked away from the remaining 3 Council Persons…..I thought this the honorable thing to do.  What was interesting was the comment made by Councilwoman Randall who seeing Councilman Almquist walk off stage said something to the effect…..This Puts The Pressure On, Doesn’t It?.....This gave birth to the title of this article and caused me to focus on the Character of our Council.
For you see, I recall that Councilwoman Randall and Arial had voted NOT to approve the permit to build Jiffy Lube on the initial vote. So when I heard Councilwoman Randall say, “Hey its Built” and then proceeded to vote with Hughes and Bowcutt to approve the final plat…..I chose to believe that Councilwoman Randall acted on her belief that it was in the best interest of the City and not merely an act of support (Payback) to Councilman Almquist….. Who had endorsed Randall as a candidate for City Council…..I recall a representative of Jiffy Lube saying before the original building permit was issued that the company had spent $450,000 just acquiring the property. I chose to believe that Councilwoman Randall took the High Ground in displaying her true character……and voted to do what she believed was the right thing. I hope she did the right thing for the right reason.     
It is fair to state that Jiffy Lube Landscaping exceeded expectations for a commercial business of this type. It is pleasing to the eye and blends well with the Virgin River.  
Thank you, Ed Baca

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