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Nibley councilman works to preserve 'rural atmosphere' By
Stefanie Snow Having served on the Nibley City Council for 16 years, Hansen says he feels he has learned how to better listen to the concerns of the community. Hansen was born and raised in Nibley and says this gives him a unique position on the council of knowing the city's history. "I'm the only one on the council that I consider a real Nibleyite; everyone else is a move-in," he says. Aside from a two-year absence to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweden, Hansen has lived in Cache Valley all his 64 years. He graduated from Utah State University in 1967 in elementary education and cultural arts, and went on to receive a master's degree in elementary education. Hansen taught fifth and sixth grades at Wilson, Woodruff and Ellis schools for a total of 33 years, retiring in 2000. Now that he's retired he divides his time among the city council, babysitting his four-year-old granddaughter and managing the 10-acre farm he says is "just for fun." Having been raised on a farm, Hansen says he is one of a few on the council who has the goal of preserving Nibley's rural atmosphere. Amid council debates as to what "rural atmosphere" really means, he says he would like to see more open space that is simply left undeveloped. The idea of open space is an integral part of Nibley's city general plan, which Hansen says is an overall view of how people would like to see Nibley develop. He says development of farmland is unfortunate, but inevitable because farmers can make more money by developing than keeping a farm. I don't like it because when I grew up there were 400 people [in Nibley]," he says. "I knew everyone. But we really don't have a choice. Nibley has the opportunity to take land and make it fit the general plan." Recent debates about using a state grant to purchase USU property for a city park on Hollow Road have led to extensive efforts to gather the opinions of Nibley residents. Hansen believes the council will agree to buy the land, despite "ridiculous complaints" of those opposed, but will remain divided on what to do with the space once it is purchased. "I think that when Nibley has the opportunity to buy land they ought to buy it, but should leave it as natural as possible," he says. Hansen's responsibilities on the council include planning and zoning, emergency preparedness and work on the general plan. Both the city council and the planning and zoning committee meet twice a month and he attends each meeting, sometimes staying until late in the evening to resolve issues such as the Hollow Road debate. Hansen and his wife have two children who live nearby with their families, and he says he has a great relationship with his grandchildren now that he's retired. An avid Denver Bronco's fan, he enjoys computers, collecting coins and guns, and riding snowmobiles. He takes any opportunity he can to be involved and to know what's going on, prompting him to volunteer for such activities as the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and various boards and committees in the community. "Too many people have no idea what goes on in the political process," he says. "I'm one of the ones who is usually too outspoken, but I've learned to be fair and listen."
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