Scott Ferre – 2023 Candidate Information

Questions and Answers

Why are you running for city council and what motivated you to get involved in local government?

I am running for city council primarily out of motivation to serve the city I have come to love. I moved to Eagle Mountain 10 years ago and believe in the amazing potential of this city. I am interested in helping the city with growth and development while preserving the areas for outdoor activities that brought me here to live. Overall, I am happy with the direction of the city and the actions of current leaders. I would like the opportunity to contribute and sustain that momentum.

What relevant experience or skills do you bring to the role of city council member?

I come from a long background of construction and project management. My career over the last 25 years has been to develop businesses heavily reliant on machinery and automation to provide services to automobile owners. As the function of the business is dependent largely upon the equipment and services supplied by the company I represent, I have been involved in all stages of business development. I am involved from project conception to meeting with city officials, the execution of the project and finally to providing service, maintenance, and supplies to those same customers for many years. I work well with others and maintain a positive and productive workspace. I will use this experience to bring a long-term approach to all decisions I make as a councilmember. I am approachable, I communicate well, and I am a problem solver.

What do you see as the most pressing issues facing our city, and how do you plan to address them?

From my perspective the most pressing challenges to our city are directly related to growth and growth management. Traffic is a problem that will continue to worsen as our population grows. While UDOT, Lehi City and Saratoga Springs largely dictate what will happen with roads and access, we can take steps as a city council to attract businesses that provide goods and services that will reduce the need to commute to east Utah County. I will work with those businesses seeking to establish store fronts in our city to streamline the development process. The more goods and services important to the residents of our city we bring within our community, the less traffic will be a concern. This will also expand our tax base to pay for community development and bring more attractive jobs to the area.

How do you plan to engage and involve the community in decision-making processes?

The most important way to engage the community is to make sure those that get involved and voice their opinions know that what they say will be respected and heard. While I have strong beliefs and principles, I am always willing to listen. I also readily acknowledge that I do not have all the answers and and will always consider what others bring to the table to improve my own positions and decisions.

What is your stance on fiscal responsibility and budget management? How do you plan to balance the city’s financial needs with the expectations of residents?

I believe that government should be bound by the same rules that govern households and businesses. Meaning government entities local, state and federal, should live within their means and operate within a balanced budget. Sometimes this will require tough decisions that may be unpopular, but with tough decisions the public should expect and receive transparent explanations as to why government leaders made said decisions. The city’s financial needs and the expectations of the residents should be one and the same. The purpose of the city government is to serve the residents of Eagle Mountain so all financial needs of the city should benefit the residents of Eagle Mountain.

What is your position on sustainable and environmentally-friendly initiatives, such as renewable energy, waste management, or green spaces?

I believe that we, meaning all citizens of earth, have the responsibility to wisely use resources and limit in all possible ways how we negatively impact the environment. I believe that as technology advances that reduces harmful byproducts from our necessary activities, we should use them if they prove to have a net positive effect. I do not believe we are at the point technologically speaking that we can replace all traditional energy sources with renewable energy and am strongly opposed to government mandates requiring conversion. I am in favor of encouraging businesses and residents to supplement their energy sourcing with solar and geothermal energy. I am against wind farms as I believe they do more to destroy the environment than preserve it. I am in favor of conserving water use and encouraging landscaping practices that reduce water consumption. I believe it is practical to plan for increased percentages of electric vehicles. However, high use of electric vehicles will strain the power grid and therefore the expansion and strengthening of the power grid should be a high priority. I am strongly in favor of preserving natural areas and creating green space areas for public enjoyment. Before I moved to Eagle Mountain I lived in West Jordan very close to the trail system along the Jordan River. I spent many hours running, walking and biking the trail system. My hope is that we can continue to build on what has been started in Eagle Mountain with trails, parks, open spaces and the natural surroundings we already enjoy.

How do you plan to address affordable housing challenges in our city? Are there specific policies or initiatives you would advocate for?

I believe that our community will be best served in the long term to build a wide range of housing. When residents grow and develop professionally, so will their disposable income. The more opportunities to spend that disposable income in Eagle Mountain, the more it will benefit small businesses and will also contribute to the tax base. Affordable housing is important, as are mid-level and high-end housing. I favor developing a full spectrum of housing types starting with affordable homes. Housing is subject to economic forces as are any other good or service. Scarcity will inflate prices and likewise, excess inventory will degrade the product over time. The key is to strike a balance between entry level housing and higher value homes and developments. Evolving demographics should be considered when new developments and projects are proposed. Infrastructure should also dictate timing and locations of proposed development.

What is your stance on economic development and attracting businesses to our city? How do you plan to promote local entrepreneurship and job growth?

I have worked with small businesses my entire career and have seen how cities have made life difficult and sometimes detrimental to small businesses. The best way we can attract business is to foster a positive and easy working environment for businesses seeking to establish locations in our city. Our interest as a city council should be in the success of those businesses and we do our best to accommodate what they need for success in terms of how they build and equip their operations. If the city government is easy to work with, communicates well with entrepreneurs and proposed projects are rapidly processed with approvals, reviews, comments, permitting and inspections during construction, then we will be a magnet for successful and valuable business ventures.

How do you prioritize public safety and community well-being? What ideas or strategies do you have for enhancing public safety and building stronger neighborhoods?

Public safety will do as much to attract business and residents as how we plan and build out businesses and neighborhoods. A good, paved trail network will help keep kids safe from traffic when traveling to school or common play areas. Cory B. Wride Memorial Park is a wonderful success that should serve as a model for future plans. When the time is right I will support the development of a family oriented recreation center, whether developed with public or private funds. Planning for an Eagle Mountain Police Force in the future should be a high priority. I will support initiatives for natural and man-made disaster training, planning and workshops for residents. Wildfire is a danger to many residents in our community and should be addressed in the form of prevention, containment, and strict penalties for violators of fire restrictions.

How do you plan to collaborate and work with other council members and community stakeholders to achieve your goals?

My entire business career has been centered around working with entrepreneurs, professional trades, equipment manufacturers and others to bring about the completion of a project. I work well with others planning and executing projects. Planning and collaboration take on many forms in various ways depending on the objective. I work well in a fluid and changing environment and am confident I will work well with those that will be involved with any aspect of what we do as a city council in collaboration with the mayor’s office, city staff members and other individuals involved with city management.

Can you provide examples of situations where you have successfully built consensus or resolved conflicts in a diverse and potentially divided community?

This is something I do daily managing projects and construction. I have found the best course of action is to be proactive and discuss conflict before it becomes a crisis. I rarely start a discussion to address a problem without having contemplated possible courses of action and solutions. I find that even if the solution presented is not the one adopted, starting with a plan in mind always diffuses conflict and starts discussion on a productive footing. It requires the ability to see problems from the point of view of others involved so that common ground may be established quickly and built upon for the eventual solution.

What is your vision for our city in the next five to ten years? How do you plan to involve residents in shaping that vision?

At the end of a decade, our city will likely double in population. That will require more many more businesses and services. It will require our own police force. At the end of a decade, we should have more parks and open spaces for enjoyment. I look to successful communities like St. George and Mesquite Nevada that have embraced youth sports and built outstanding facilities for tournaments and events. My goal is to attract those types of developments that will also bring more retail options, hotels, and many other businesses that support large events. I see a professional district to support the retail side of business. I believe our future is bright and I am extraordinarily excited to see the progress of our city. My goal is to make Eagle Mountain a destination and not just a bedroom community.