VOTERS'
GUIDE: Hyde Park candidates target economic development,
availability to citizens
By Clay Moffitt
November 5, 2005 | HYDE PARK -- Incumbent
Hyde Park mayor David Kooyman made economic development
the focal point of his campaign, while challengers in
the election accused current city officials of not representing
the citizens, at the candidates' debate Thursday.
Hyde Park city council candidate Richard Brodock said
the mayor and city council did not show any concern
when he and a group of citizens stated objections to
tax increases in a city council meeting in 2001.
"We are the people who elected these people in; I
thought they were supposed to be our voice," Brodock
said.
Kooyman was not able to attend the meeting because
of a shareholders' meeting for his business, but had
Hyde Park legal representative Kevin Allen represent
him in the meeting. Allen said although the mayor and
city officials may not grant the requests of the citizens;
they still listen to concerns and evaluate what they
feel is the best decision for the city.
Brodock said if elected he will personally contact
the citizens on matters before voting. He has begun
the process already by contacting approximately 100
Hyde Park residents by phone on certain issues regarding
the election.
Allen also said Kooyman is in favor and in the process
of attracting more businesses to Hyde Park along the
highway to bring in more tax dollars to the community.
"It's absolutely true that the way to sustain a city
is through the commercial zone," Allen said. "If you
take a look at River Heights city, it's unfortunate
that a few years ago they lost their access to the highway
and so now the only thing they went from being the most
financially fit city in the county to the least financially
fit because they were not able to bring in commercial
area."
Council candidate Bryan Cox said he agreed commercial
development in Hyde Park is critical to the city's financial
situation, but the current city officials haven't made
Hyde Park an attractive place to businesses.
"Hyde Park has never went and rolled out the red carpet
and had a committee to bring in new businesses. In fact,
the two businesspeople I have spoken with have said
it's absolutely difficult to work with Hyde Park city,"
Cox said. "And from what I've been told by one of them,
he wouldn't do it again."
The proposed road to be built on 700 East in Hyde
Park, connecting Smithfield to North Logan and also
providing an alternative route out of the Greystone
subdivision in Hyde Park, was another major issued discussed
at the meeting.
Allen said Kooyman is in favor of the proposed road,
but in opposed to the road having a 40 mph speed limit.
Michael Butkus, Kooyman's opponent in the race for
mayor, said he does not see any benefit from the proposed
road. "I see only negative impacts, I see traffic coming
in through from Smithfield to North Logan and then to
Logan at their own convenience," Butkus said. "If we're
looking for a solution to a problem -- there is a better
choice. The 9th East choice is much better."
In addition to the proposed road, Butkus said the
sports leagues and programs in Hyde Park need to be
revamped and he has some ideas to institute allow more
children the opportunity to play if they so choose.
Carol Johnson, who is running for city council, said
her campaign would focus on maintaining the values of
Hyde Park, while responding to the city's growth. "Growth
is evitable, growth is everywhere, we just have to deal
with it. We have to plan for it; and not try to clean
up after it," Johnson said.
Also Johnson said she does not want to see alcohol
permits be issued in Hyde Park.
Council candidate Robert Balls was not in attendance
and did not have a representative at the meeting.
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