WASHINGTON CITY — Two new members of the Washington City Council and a returning councilman were sworn into office Monday at the city offices.
Councilman Jeff Turek returns for a third term on the council while newcomers Kolene Granger and Troy Belliston took the oath of office for the first time.
“Now the real work begins,” Belliston said after taking the oath.
Belliston said he was apprehensive, yet was ready and excited for the opportunity to serve as a member of the City Council.
Coming from a background in the construction and development industries, Belliston said, he believes that perspective will prove beneficial for the city.
“I think it helps to have that point of view,” he said.
New Councilwoman Kolene Granger said she will be diligently looking for ways to help improve the city in ways that will last long after she is out of office.
“I’m anxious to get something done in planning that will move our city forward and have us have the kind of city we want 50 years from now and 100 years from now,” Granger said.
Granger also said the people of Washington City can approach her with whatever issues they may have to discuss.
“I like to listen, and I listen a lot,” she said.
Belliston and Granger are filling seats vacated by single-term council members Kress Staheli and Ron Truman who did not run for re-election last year.
Elected for a third term, Turek said he is looking forward to continuing to help the city pick up the pace economically. He is also looking forward to promoting the city’s overall development as it continues to grow.
“I think these are some exciting things on the horizon that I look forward to being a part of,” he said.
However, there are challenges ahead for the city, Turek said. A particular challenge he mentioned was the ongoing issue of traffic congestion surrounding the Green Springs Drive–Telegraph Street intersection near Interstate 15 Exit 10.
“Our traffic is an issue at our Exit 10,” Turek said.
Officials with the Utah Department of Transportation have met with the City Council and staff in the last year to discuss ways to alleviate traffic at Exit 10.
One option that has been proposed is to create an off-ramp at milepost 11 connecting to Main Street, but it is just one of multiple options presently being looked at by UDOT, Mayor Ken Neilson said.
The first City Council meeting of the new year is set for Feb. 13.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @MoriKessler
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.