Ken Phippen decided to run for Farr West City council because he was ready to take the next step and be a full participant in a position that can help make decisions. He has been an actively participating in the City meetings as a citizen and later as a planning commissioner. He says, “It is important to me to see that every household has access to a well-functioning internet/telephone system. It would be very beneficial to have "quick access” emergency situations.”
Upon election, the first item he would like to address would be to open up the processes, and share with the citizens what is going on. Not just the results, but the reasons behind the decisions. Transparency is important to him.
When City government creates obstacles to land owners that simply want to develop their property within common sense laws that won't harm their neighbors or neighborhood, he feels that the City is stepping beyond its proper role.
He plans to vote for an updated general plan that included: an economic development plan, transportation master plan, capital improvement (common facilities) plan, and parks and recreation master plan. However, he would not have voted to deny the conditional use and site plan for the Assisted Living facility, which the council denied and which lead to a law suit.
Three significant votes that incumbent candidates have voted on in the past are in Mr. Phippen’s opinion: more than a year of building moratoriums, raised property taxes and hiring a consultant for thousands of dollars to advise us that we need more rooftops.
Mr. Phippen was born and raised in Brigham City, as was his wife, Tina. The couple, who have lived in Farr West for more than 9 years, have two children and five grandchildren. He has worked at ATK for 32 years, most currently as a software engineer.
