Eagle Mountain City 2021 Municipal Election Information
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On April 7th, 2021 Fionnula Kofoed the City Recorder for Eagle Mountain posted details on the upcoming 2021 municipal election. City Council members receive $1,100 per month for compensation, while the mayor receives either $70,000 if they are a full-time mayor, or $27,700 if they are a part-time mayor.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN CITY 2021NOTICE OF MUNICIPAL ELECTION
In accordance with UCA 10-3-301, notice is hereby given that the following positions are to be voted upon in the Eagle Mountain City 2021Municipal Election:
Mayor 4-year term
Councilmember 4-year term
Councilmember 4-year term
The candidate filing period begins June 1, 2021, and ends at 5:00 p.m. on June 7, 2021,(UCA 20A-9-203).
Primary election to be held August 10, 2021 (if necessary).
General election to be held November 2, 2021.
Dated this 7thday of April 2021. Fionnuala B. Kofoed, MMC City Recorder
The mayor shall have the following powers and duties:
A. Shall be the chief executive officer of the city, and the executive powers, authority and duties of the city are vested in the mayor;
B. Shall serve as the representative of the city for any agency, board, committee, task force, special district, local district, or interlocal entity unless the position is specifically appointed by the city council or delegated by the mayor;
C. Shall execute all properly approved contracts, leases, franchises, agreements, bonds, deeds, ordinances or other documents binding the city unless such authority is delegated by the mayor, or as otherwise delegated by state code or city code;
D. Shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the city council, any statutory office;
E. Shall make recommendations to the city council regarding the city’s policies and procedures found by the mayor to be necessary for the proper administration of the city, which policies and procedures shall be approved by the City Council;
F. Shall keep the peace and enforce the laws of the city;
G. Shall remit fines and forfeitures and may release any person imprisoned for violation of any city ordinance;
H. Shall report such remittance or release to the city council at its next regular session;
I. Shall perform all duties prescribed by law, resolution or ordinance;
J. Shall ensure that all laws and ordinances and resolutions are faithfully executed and observed;
K. May, at any reasonable time, inspect and examine the books, papers, records or documents of the city, or of any officer, employee or agency of the city;
L. Shall report to the city council the condition of the city and recommend for council consideration any measures as deemed to be in the best interest of the city; and
M. Shall, when necessary, call on the residents of the city over the age of 21 years to assist in enforcing the laws of the state and the ordinances of the city. [Ord. O-05-2021 § 2 (Exh. A)].
A. Subject to compliance with the requirements of this section, the mayor of Eagle Mountain City shall be paid compensation according to the compensation schedule in subsection B of this section. The amount of compensation paid to the mayor shall be dependent on whether or not the mayoral compensation is the primary source of income or the secondary source of income of the mayor of the city. Upon filing a declaration as a candidate for the office of mayor, the mayoral candidate shall execute and file with the city recorder a verified statement on a form to be provided by the city recorder, affirming that the income to be received by the mayoral candidate from the city for service in the office of the mayor of Eagle Mountain City will constitute the primary source of income of the mayor-elect as mayor or a secondary source of income for the mayor. After assuming the office of the mayor of Eagle Mountain City, the mayor may change the designation of the mayor’s compensation as the primary or secondary source of income of the mayor but only after notice, public hearing and ordinance of the city council as provided by law.
B.1. Mayor’s annual compensation as primary source of income: $70,000 plus $600.00 per month transportation allowance.
2. Mayor’s annual compensation as secondary source of income: $27,700 plus $600.00 per month transportation allowance.
3. The mayor shall be entitled to all city-sponsored benefits on the same basis and employer contribution as other city employees.
C. Employer contributions required by federal or state law to be paid by the city or otherwise paid by the city shall not be deducted from the compensation payment amount provided herein. If the mayor elects to participate in other voluntary benefit plans sponsored by the city, the costs of the voluntary retirement or other benefit plans for the mayor shall be deducted from the amount stated in subsection B of this section as the mayor’s compensation.
D. The mayor and each member of the city council shall be entitled to reimbursement for authorized expenses personally advanced on city business or for the purposes of the city. [Ord. O-05-2021 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. O-30-2019 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. O-09-2007 §§ 3, 4, 6. Formerly § 2.10.010].
The mayor is also the Presiding officer of the City Council and sets the agenda.
2.15.020 Presiding officer.
The mayor is the presiding officer of the Eagle Mountain city council in the preparation of the agenda for meetings of the city council in compliance with the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act. Agenda materials, supporting documents and staff recommendations for a city council agenda shall be submitted to the office of the city recorder no later than noon on the day 48 hours prior to the required date and time for distribution to the mayor and members of the city council of the agenda and supporting materials for regularly scheduled city council meetings. [Ord. O-01-2012 § 1; Ord. O-24-2006 § 1].
2.15.030 Agenda.
The mayor shall include any matter requested in writing by not less than two city council members on an agenda which shall be added to the agenda at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the city council following the written request. [Ord. O-01-2012 § 2; Ord. O-24-2006 § 5].
Current Mayor
Mayor Tom Westmoreland
The Mayor is the chief executive officer of the City and administers the budget. He sets the agenda and presides over City Council meetings, but casts a vote only in the event of a tie. It is the Mayor’s responsibility to execute bonds, notes, contracts and written obligations as required on behalf of the City. The Mayor acts as the City’s chief ceremonial officer and represents the City in its external affairs. The Mayor also makes appointments to council advisory boards and commissions.
City Councilmember Responsibilities and Compensation
City Councilmember Responsibilities
The City Code does not have much in way of definition of what the City Councilmembers’ responsibilities are. The majority of the City Council section of the code defines the procedures and how City Council meetings are to be held. But the city website does say this about the city council, “The Eagle Mountain City Council has five members. Council members are elected at large, serve four-year terms, and are responsible for the exercising of the City’s legislative powers.”
A. Each member of the city council shall be paid monthly compensation in the amount of $1,100 and shall be entitled to receive other benefits that are provided by the city or incidental to the city council member’s duties such as a computer (tablet), conference fees, professional memberships, etc.
B. Each member of the city council shall be paid an additional monthly compensation in the amount of $200.00 for nonreimbursed incidentals that are necessary to fulfill their duties, such as local travel, home internet, personal phones, etc.
C. The mayor and each member of the city council shall be entitled to reimbursement for authorized expenses personally advanced on city business or for the purposes of the city. [Ord. O-30-2019 § 3 (Exh. A); Ord. O-09-2007 §§ 5, 6].
I was born in Puerto Rico to a Puerto Rican father and a mother from a small town in Iowa. Life was always interesting in the Rivera household. My father was in the Air Force so I lived in many places growing up, including Wyoming; Oklahoma; Azores, Portugal; and Aviano and Naples, Italy. I graduated from high school in Naples, Italy and moved to Provo to attend BYU on a Kimball scholarship. In 1989, I graduated cum laude with degrees in International Relations and Spanish. I met my husband, Lincoln, my senior year. We married, finished school and moved to Canada where my husband taught in the high school where he grew up. We lived in Canada for ten years and had four children. We moved our family to Utah so Lincoln could pursue a career in Systems Administration. We lived in Provo for a few years, and then sixteen years ago, we purchased a home in Eagle Mountain. I became very interested in city government because at the time the city was in crisis. I became very involved in the community, volunteering at the schools and library and then running for city council in 2005 for the first time, losing by less than thirty votes. Undeterred, I continued attending council meetings and learning all I could. I ran again in 2007 and was elected. After serving for two terms, I took a break and focused on other endeavors, including my new grandson and working for the city library.
Running for city council again was a difficult decision for me. When I completed my term, I felt I was done. However, with Mayor Pengra and Adam Bradley not seeking reelection, I felt the city needed my experience. My understanding of city code, city government processes, and budgets will be invaluable. Communication is also important, and I have a strong track record of being responsive to residents. I was the council member that everyone counted on to always answer emails and phone calls. When residents had specific concerns about a site or a park, I met them on site to discuss their concerns and work for solutions. As your council member, I commit to be responsive to your emails and phone calls, meet with you and discuss your concerns when asked, and hold quarterly town hall meetings to keep you informed, hear your concerns, and discuss solutions. I have raised my family in Eagle Mountain, and I want to serve you.
Council Member Melissa Clark was born and raised in Minnesota, where she learned the value of work and taking care of the land during summers on her grandparent’s dairy farm. Her parents also taught her to give back through service. Community service and a strong work ethic has been a major area of focus in her life. She now uses that experience while serving on the city council.
Through years of volunteer service that began at the nursing home where her mother worked, Council Member Clark has learned to be an advocate and voice for people who have lost theirs. Her scope of volunteer service includes government, church, and non-profits. In Eagle Mountain she served on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and co-founded the Eagle Mountain Arts Alliance, a non-profit local arts agency. She has also served as a delegate and chair for Eagle Mountain Precinct 05.
Hailing from a long line of small business entrepreneurs, it is important to Council Member Clark that government supports the ideas and determination of small business owners and doesn’t bog down the process with unnecessary red tape.
As a former early-childhood educator, she is dedicated to the children and youth of community and is an advocate for children with special needs and at-risk youth.
Married to Nathan, the Clarks have four daughters. They have lived in Orem, Provo, and Elk River, Minnesota before choosing Eagle Mountain to be their forever home. Council Member Clark loves to bake and sing show tunes. When she is not busy being mom, she finds herself digging through old records and working on their family tree.
I was born and raised in West Valley City, UT. At a young age I discovered a love for technology and media. I enjoyed playing Volleyball in junior high and high school, and worked part-time throughout high school while still remaining accomplished in school. After high school, I spent two years as a missionary for my church in Milwaukee, WI where I met my wonderful wife, Adelle. We dated when we returned home and were married in 2008.
I studied both Information Technology and Digital Media, culminating in graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in Digital Media from Utah Valley University. While working for a small IT company for nearly a decade, I transitioned from implementations into software development. I currently develop .NET software for a small company that handles inventory management for Ford and Lincoln dealers across the country.
My hobbies include: playing video games with my boy, playing guitar, shooting, and politics.
My wife, Adelle, and I have lived in Logan, West Valley, and Kearns, before settling in Eagle Mountain in July of 2014. We have one little boy, Levi.
Adelle and I were drawn to Eagle Mountain because of the tight-knit community feel as well as the suburban/rural planning-style which offers both the conveniences of everyday life and the opportunity of being removed from the big city. I am pleased to serve as a council member and to work with residents, other elected officials, staff, and applicants to help keep our city the amazing community it is.
My philosophy is to ensure the smallest, most efficient government possible while ensuring each city department is able to function the best it can within its purview. When something can be done better and cheaper in the private sector, it should be.
One of the driving motivators for me is the desire to guarantee Eagle Mountain remains a robust community that continues to value open space, a variety of unique lifestyle options, and follows a feasible, but unparalleled way of life; we are and should be a vibrant self-sustaining community with a small-town feel. Eagle Mountain is not West Valley, Provo, or any other city in Utah, it begs to differ. Eagle Mountain is unlike any other community in Utah and I want it to remain that way as the city transitions through the inevitable growth and change we are already experiencing.
Always feel free to contact me with suggestions, concerns, or even just to get to know me better.
I have lived in Eagle Mountain for six years but it has always felt like home to me. My childhood was spent in Lehi enjoying all that it had to offer including city celebrations and swimming at the Lehi and Saratoga pools. I spent a lot of time on the backroads of Lehi, Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain sledding, riding bicycles and motorcycles and learning to drive. During my adult years, I have lived in American Fork; Provo; Amarillo, Texas; Portland, Oregon; Cedar Hills; and now Eagle Mountain. I have liked discovering the unique features of the places where I have lived and each holds fond family memories. I am now enjoying Eagle Mountain with my four children, two sons-in-law, and my six grandchildren that live here.
I spent most of my young adult years raising my four children and working for a local manufacturing company. My career has been challenging at times but has also provided many wonderful opportunities, experiences and relationships. I have enjoyed being a part of the leadership team, working through challenges, and feeling satisfaction in the shared success of our endeavors.
As my children have gotten older, I have been able to branch out and return to school in pursuit of a degree in political science and sociology. As much as I have enjoyed my classes and learning in general, the highlight of my education was my internship with the state legislature. It was inspiring to see politicians and state employees working so hard to do what they could in 45 short days to make our state a little better. When the session was over, I committed to do what I could to make a difference here at home and decided to run for city council.
I didn’t expect to enjoy campaigning but it was a lot of fun to work with my family and have an opportunity to get to know residents from all areas of the city. I appreciate the friendship and support you have shown to me and look forward to serving you on the city council. I want to work with you to make our city the best it can be and welcome your concerns and suggestions. I am excited to be part of a city with so much potential and opportunity and I am eager to have an impact on its growth and development.
Mike Kieffer is an IT geek by hobby and trade, with a BS in Information Systems & Technology. He is a proud father of 10, a grandpa, an author, a journalist, and internet publisher. His motto is to “Elevate, Inspire and Inform”, and he is politically conservative and a Christian. Mike has a passion for technology, writing, and helping others. With a wealth of experience, he is committed to sharing his knowledge with others to help them reach their full potential. He is known for his jackassery or his form of self-expression that encourages boldness, creativity, and risk-taking. It can be a way to push the boundaries and challenge traditional norms, leading to creative solutions and positive change.