Candidate Answers – Jared Gray

Question 1: Roads. Roads will be a big issue during this election cycle. With the new High School and the development in City Center, what do you feel would be the best way to alleviate the road problems facing Eagle Mountain? #1. Roads. Well this is a multi part question to me, and it can’t be given Justice in only a few sentences. Our existing roads need better infrastructure, and we need better access to destination locations in this city. Maybe a bypass or collectors. Much more on this topic, and I built roads for a living, so my knowledge is extensive on this topic. Question 2: Property Rights. What are your views on property rights, and how do you plan on balancing the property rights of current residents with the property rights of prospective developers? #2. Property rights. Property rights are important to me. I will defend rights of property owners (both existing and future) by staying within the law first of all, but making sure our zoning and future zoning plans are what is best for our city and residents. Question 3: Founding Fathers. Do you have a favorite founding father? If so, who is it, and what is a favorite quote, or ideal that founding father had that you try to emulate? (Notice I did not define founding father, I am leaving that up to your interpretation.) #3. Founding fathers. Different then most, I was running around this area before it was even a thought of a city. One of the major land owners was Grant and Rose Smith. There are streets and subdivisions in our town named after them. When I think of Eagle Mountain, they come to mind. And in my youth working for Grant, he was like a father figure to me who I looked up to and admired. The Smith’s are founding fathers of this Cedar Valley going back multiple generations. Question 4: Schools. Do you feel the education system is adequate in Eagle Mountain? If so, what are we doing well, if not, what needs to be changed. #4. Schools. The question to me say is our schools adequate. If they are or are not, they are governed by our district, and a council member can’t do much more than any citizen could by being involved. As we grow we will continue to need more schools. (If the question had to do with the number of schools) As for quality, we have lots of choices here in Eagle Mountain with both public and charter schools. So I’d say if someone wasn’t satisfied with the quality, they have options, and that’s what I’d call adequate. Question 5: Family. Can you give me a brief description of your family, and what it means to you? #5. Family. I have been married for almost 19 years to my wife Heidi. We have 4 children, Kaitlin 17(graduate of West lake with honors) Cameron 15 (playing football at West lake) Kortney 13 (on Frontier dance company) and Kelsey 11 (has been involved in school plays) Although I’d love to take all the credit for how good they are, it’s been a team effort with Heidi being instrumental in our success. We love being together, and support each other in all our passions. Question 6: Why Run. Can you tell me why you are running for your position? #6. Why run. I have a deep desire to serve. I speak often of being in the service of our fellow man. I love to volunteer and just help where I can. I’m currently on the Parks and recreation board, the cemetery board, I help at youth council when I can, and I’m the president of the Pony Express Events. I like being involved. And I feel I have lots of qualifications and experience to offer our city in a time of need. Question 7: Biggest Issue: What do you see as the biggest issue in Eagle Mountain, and what do you plan on doing to help solve the issue? #7. Biggest issue. There are lots of issues, but really what I think this council needs to focus on is staying on task. What that means to me is live within a budget, not over spend, being conservative. Also continue improving roads. Both existing and future roads. And making sure we are developing in the best and smartest ways possible. Question 8: Biggest Good: What do you see as the best thing that Eagle Mountain has going for it, and how do you plan on protecting it for future generations? #8. Biggest Good. The best thing about Eagle Mountain is the people. It’s such a new town, everyone is an equal no matter how you got here. It’s not a good old boy mentality that excludes new or young people. It’s a beautiful place. Lots of amenities for such a young city. Question 9: Open Space: Many residents like the open feel of Eagle Mountain. Do you feel we have enough open space, to much open space, or to little open space? What policies will you try to implement to support that view? #9. Open space. We need to make sure we protect our open space. Each development is required to have open space, and we must abide by that and protect that. And we also must be able to maintain it as well, to make it the most and best use. Open space is important, and should be useable or maintained to a standard. Question 10: Development: What are your goals for the City in regards to Development? #10. Development. I’m a great candidate for this question. My background is in construction, and Real Estate. I’ve sold and built developments and understand the process front to back both in constructing and end users. So my goals would be balanced. We need to protect the integrate of existing developments, while allowing property owners to use their land to the highest and best use within the zoning laws and codes. That means we need to be smart and have a plan in place to guide how the future developments come in. I’d love to see more bigger lots and smart buffering. Question 11: Cory Wride Memorial Park: What are your views on Cory Wride Memorial Park, and the cities current plan for the park? #11. Cory Wride park. I’m going to keep this short. Proper rolls of government. Government in my mind is to protect the people first, and provide clean and safe utilities. (Sewer, water, and waste disposal) Beyond that, we need to be careful. Parks are important, and it’s ok to do things for the people to provide certain amenities, but we must be cautious, and have a sustainable budget in mind, before we get outside the “proper rolls of government.” Having said that, Cory Wride park has already been approved and started, so my goal would be to make sure it’s built within a budget as we could afford it. Bit by bit until it’s deemed sufficient. Question 12: Master Plan: The City is currently in the process of updating it’s master plan. What do you think the master plan should look like, and what do you think of the current changes being made. #12. Master plan. I’ve covered this in other questions, but we need to be smart about our plan. Good buffering, proper zoning, and access are my concerns. Question 13: Programs: What is the best program, that you know of in Eagle Mountain? How does that program make Eagle Mountain better, and how do you plan on making the program stronger? #13. Programs. We have been “privatizing” a lot of programs in Eagle Mountain. I think that is great because of what I’ve said about the proper rolls of government. I love the programs, arts, events, baseball, soccer, kestrel etc. We have great programs, and passionate people who will make them great! Question 15: Down Time: What do you do with your down time, what leisure activities do you like to participate in? #15. Down time. I love the out doors. I fish, hunt, and ride horses. If I have free time, I’m usually on a horse, looking at wildlife, up in the mountains. I also love sports. And I like being involved in service activities. I love being around people and friends. Love just talking. And being with my kids on an adventure is awesome. Question 16: Why Eagle Mountain: Why have you chosen Eagle Mountain as your place of residence? #16. Why Eagle Mountain. I grew up in Lehi, so at first (back in 1998) to find my wife! (She was in Eagle Mountain) then like most, it was affordable. But now, almost 20 years later, because it’s the best. We have the best of all worlds, and lack very little. Close to big city’s with jobs and airports, yet far enough away to be quite with open space and clean air. It’s perfect here. Community.