The Willard Round-up Car Show will be coming to town on September 1st and 2nd! Friday, September 1st will start with a poker run/cruse for anyone wanting to participate. There will be a Hot Wheels race for adults and kids. Included will be lots of great food and pop, and none other than JC Hacket providing the great oldies’ music.
With tons of cars, trucks and bikes, along with a few other things thrown in to look at, it’s a great way to spend a Saturday morning milling around. There is a raffle with a ton of different sponsors and supporters that have donated. With over 50 unique awards and plaques given out at the show, we want everyone to come out and have some fun.
Willard fire responded to a grass fire on I-15 Northbound at mile marker 355 that burned approximately 1 acre. It was started by a mechanical problem of a passing vehicle. Just remember to be careful out there as hot and dry as it is.
With the Primaries over, we are looking forward to the upcoming election in November for City leaders. We have posts that the candidates wrote, and would like to continue to share their ideas for the City.
WILLARD Municipal Primary:
Mayor - Top two going to election, Kenneth Braegger and Del Fredde.
City Council - Top four going to election, Gary Hart, Josh Braegger, Bradley Robb and Fred Ward.
We want to thank Kevin Moss, Al Dubovik and Jay Thackeray for throwing their hats into the ring.
Josh Braegger, current council member 2014-2018 term wrote:
I have lived in Willard all of my life minus a few years in Colorado when I was a young child. I work at Tramcor Corp in Farr West, Utah, where I am forklift operations manager. I have four kids and a very understanding wife. I am currently serving on the county flood control board.
I am also on the Perry/Willard waste water board, where I am the mutually appointed board member for both cities. There are still several issues to be solved at this facility. I have been doing my best to keep both cities informed and keep our councils on the same page. Trying to do what is right for the citizens of both communities, and the taxpayer’s money. There are good people on the board and we are now working together to resolve previous issues.
I was over parks the first three years of my term. I was able to help get the grant money for the Willard Nature Park from the state settlement with Chevron on the Willard Bay spill. The park should be completed this year. It will have a fishing pond, debris basins, trails, playground, benches and pavilions. This will be a great addition to our town and is being paid for with grant money. It's been a pleasure to work together to get this done.
Willard has several issues right now: growth, water, development, paying for a sewer system that many didn't want, and lack of tax base. We have some big decisions ahead. I will continue to be responsible with our money and do my best to keep Willard a great place to live and call home.
Thanks for all the support! Josh Braegger City Council candidate
Del Fredde:
I have served on the Willard Council for 7 years. I have served on the Planning Commission as Chairman for three years. I am Chairman of the Willard Perry Wastewater Treatment Plant Board. I am a Trustee of the Box Elder Mosquito Abatement District. I have lived in Willard for the past 55 years. I have the time required to manage our City. I will listen to you and value your comments. I will plan for our future and protect Willard's rural atmosphere. I will use Willard's tax dollars wisely. I desire Willard citizens input about our future. I will spend the necessary time to manage our City and will keep you informed of our issues. I will always work towards a balanced budget and live within its means. I have the experience and the desire to serve Willard City.
Thanks, Del Fredde (Mayoral Candidate)
Gary Hart:
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE ALL CAPS. BUT SINCE I WAS 19, I HAVE WRITTEN IN CAPS, I FEEL IT IS A WAY TO GET MY POINT ACROSS AND SHOW I AM SERIOUS ABOUT MY CONVICTIONS, AND NOT YELLING AS TODAY’S INTERNET WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE. I AM RUNNING FOR WILLARD CITY COUNCIL. I HAVE BEEN ON THE WILLARD CITY PLANNING COMMISSION FOR OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. I HAVE OWNED MY OWN POWDER COATING BUSINESS FOR THE PAST 15 YRS. I HAVE MANAGED STORES IN THE FAST FOOD BUSINESS FOR KFC AND WARRENS DRIVE INN. MY FAMILY PUTS ON THE WILLARD ROUND-UP CAR SHOW EACH YEAR. THIS YEAR’S PROCEEDS ARE GOING TO THE VETERANS HOME. I LIVE IN THE FIRST PUD WILLARD CITY APPROVED ... SO I FEEL I HAVE SOME GREAT FIRST-HAND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE DO AND DON’T WANT IN WILLARD. WITH ALL THIS, I FEEL I HAVE SEEN AND LEARNED HOW TO BALANCE COSTS WITH IMPROVEMENTS AND STILL STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME AND ABOVE WATER, IN MANY DIFFERENT FIELDS. WHICH I FEEL HAS GIVEN ME SOME GREAT INSIGHT AS TO WHAT WILLARD IS NEED OF AND HOW TO GET US THERE. THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE:
· GROWTH IN THE RIGHT WAYS, COMMERCIAL BUSINESS IN THE RIGHT PLACES, WOULD HELP US TO AFFORD IMPROVEMENTS AND GROWTH INCREASED WATER STORAGE IS A GREAT CONCERN NOT JUST FOR GROWTH BUT FOR ALL OF US
· GROWTH IN THE RIGHT WAY ALSO MEANS NOT TRYING TO PUT 400 SHACKS ON TWO ACRES OF LAND WITH TINY ROADS TO GET IN AND OUT OF THEM. WE NEED SAFE ROADS FOR NOT JUST THOSE DRIVING, BUT WALKING, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN
I WAS BORN IN STAR VALLEY, WYOMING. I HAVE LIVED IN OGDEN AND WILLARD ALSO. I HAVE BEEN HERE IN WILLARD FOR 12 YEARS ... THIS IS HOME, THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE FOR THE REST OF MY DAYS. SO I AM VERY CONCERNED WHERE WILLARD GOES IN THE FUTURE.
WILLARD IS ONE GREAT SMALL COMMUNITY THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE KEEP THAT LOOK AND FEEL EVEN WITH GROWTH.
IF I AM ELECTED I WILL STRIVE TO DO WHAT THE PEOPLE OF WILLARD STAND FOR.
THANK YOU
GARY N. HART ( City Council candidate)
Kenneth Braegger:
I am running for mayor (currant mayor). I was born and raised in Willard and have fifty plus years as a Willard resident. I own and operate a construction company. I have served two years on Willard City Council and six plus years as mayor.
Issues facing Willard: Growth is one of the biggest challenges face Willard today we not only need to control growth to get good quality developments in Willard but we need to encourage growth to be able to meet debt service needs of our sewer system.
Along with growth is the need for increased water storage, I believe we can work with developers to increase water storage without the need for Willard to go into additional debt for that storage. l also believe that we need to look at the possibility of reworking our spring water source in the canyon to regain the flow we once had out of that spring. l believe that this also could be accomplished without the need of the City going into debt.
We also need to continue to work with and find opportunities to bring commercial business into Willard for an additional tax base. This would make it possible to do park, trail, and road improvement without the need to raise taxes.
Then there is still sewer agreement issues between Willard and Perry that we need to continue to work in a positive direction to come to an agreement that works for both communities
If elected I will continue to work to the best of my ability to do that which is best for our community and to keep Willard moving in a positive direction.
Sincerely Kenneth Braegger
Bradley J Robb:
Current City council member (running for City council)
I have lived in Willard for just over ten years. I am a fleet manager at Hill AFB. In my short time serving the City of Willard I have found that there is an endless amount of work to be done. If I had to say what my platform is, I would have to say civic responsibility. I feel like the city has been very good to my family for the ten years we have lived here, public service is one of the many ways to give back. The biggest future problem I see in Willard is the management of growth, I realize that most people are not fans of growth, but the reality is that Willard cannot sustain itself solely on the current tax base. I believe there are three options to increase revenue:
1. Residential growth.
2. Commercial expansion.
3. Increased taxes.
My proposal would be a combination of options one and two. I believe that smart residential growth, meaning planning for infrastructure needs that come with residential growth, plus the tax base that a viable commercial addition could bring would help Willard to stay as close to the small town feel that we all enjoy.
Water storage is the number one problem that Willard is facing right now. At the current storage capacity, we only have enough additional water to build approximately 30 homes. Without adding storage we are left with option three, increased taxes. Willard is a great place to live, but we definitely have some big decisions to make.
Bradley J Robb
We want to thank all those that let the citizens know what they would like to see happen to the City.
We must all be very cautious with school starting in the next week. There will be more kids walking to and from school. We need to be on the lookout, especially around buses. The buses start running about 7:00 am and go until about 4:00 pm.
