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Q&A - City Screets

Q. If elected for mayor, what are your plans the city’s insufficient roads? Every year more and more people travel our roads and every year they fall further part. It’s a huge safety issue for our drivers and our children trying to get to school. I live on 700 West and that road is a nightmare not being finished the whole way, and all the settling that’s going on with it. 400 West is a Motocross track. 920 West is the same and virtually a one lane road by between 400 South and 650 South. 650 South is the scary with all the children and no sidewalks that are finished the whole way and being a narrow road.

A. Our city streets are a huge concern. We have allocated over 2 million dollars to streets and still can’t keep up. SR9 and SR7 are funded, and maintained by UDOT. Other streets in the city are paid for, repaired and redone through tax payers. We are working on them. The tax base is increasing and that will help to fix more roads this next year.

I totally agree with you. All of those roads need work. The City Council appropriated funds last year and hired engineering for 700 West and 2800 West. We also added 920 West to the top of the list for this year. Easements with land owners take time. When the road is not dedicated at the time the land owner builds their home. It is more difficult to get the roads in later.

Many of the homes on 920 West have their property lines to the road. The value of their right of way must be negotiated. Several homeowners on 920 West do not want to improve the road. They prefer not having the improvements thinking it will keep the lighter traffic. But the reality is the more homes that go in, the more traffic.

Which brings us to Public Safety. Repairs are necessary on every street you mentioned. 400 West is a complete mess. The water drainage has caused the settling. I have lived in the fields 27 years and that road has been redone three times. Water runs under the road when it is being irrigated. Hurricane City is planning to redo the road and it is on the plan. 650 South sidewalks are not on the plan to complete the entirety. However a few subdivisions that are currently building, will upgrade the sidewalks in front of their road way.

Our City Council have discussed all of the roads in Hurricane and working to repair them. 54 square miles of town is an undertaking. But we are working with developers and our tax dollars to keep Public Safety as a priority. I know the allocation of funding road ways is slow coming. But it is coming. Thanks for reaching out. I will spread the vision as Mayor with the council when elected. You and I share those same concerns. I ask for your vote November 2nd and ask for you to talk to 10 of your neighbors. Please share my website and ask them to reach out as well. Thanks, Nanette

Labor Day 2021

Many don’t really understand why we celebrate Labor Day.This national holiday was placed into law on July 28, 1894. When manufacturing work started to outstrip agriculture, citizens unitedly organized strikes, rallies, and protests against poor working conditions. The average American worked 12-hour days, seven days a week, just to make ends meet. Even 5-year-olds were often put to work in mills, factories, and mines! Harsh working conditions included little access to fresh air, unsafe environments, and long hours with no breaks. Workers exercised their constitutional rights to petition the government for redress of grievances.

We celebrate Labor Day as a free people with our right to work, prosper, and be protected from abusive corporations. I will always helpHurricane city be a right-to-work place. I support businesses and employees alike. All jobs should begin with honorable business owner providing a needed service in our community. I encourage an entrepreneurial environment to continue job growth so our children can live and work locally.

What a blessing to live, work, raise a family, and recreate in the best town in Utah: The City of Hurricane!

Exciting Peach Days!

I hope you enjoyed Hurricane's 23rd Annual "Peach Week!" The free BBQ , the David Archuleta concert, free peach cobbler, musical performances, the street booths, the quilt displays, the parade, ALL of it was great. It was great to see you there and we are looking forward to next year!

Pioneer Day July 24th - A Time to Celebrate Our (Water) Heritage

I am blessed to be a Utahn and honor my pioneer heritage during the special month of July. Hurricane Valley was founded by the best of the best. We owe so much to our visionary pioneer founders for developing access to our water. Without their efforts to provide water in our valley, they couldn’t have established their lives here and we certainly wouldn’t be here today. 

The Hurricane Canal Project brought water onto the Hurricane Bench allowing people, like my great grandparents, to settle here. They were rewarded land in Laverkin and Hurricane for helping to build the canal. My great-grandfather was the first ditchrider. He made sure the water was flowing properly down the canal. 

Today, the canal is no longer the lifeblood of Hurricane after the Canal Company added the water pipeline. The last ditchrider before this change was my mother’s brother, Bill Wright. So, you could say bringing water to our valley is in my blood.

This past year has been the worst water flow since recording this information began in the late 1800’s.

All Southern Utah only has one water resource: The Virgin River Basin. Hurricane City—along with the rest of Washington County Water Conservative District—has helped develop ways to access as much of this essential resource by building wells, holding tanks, and reservoirs. Like our ancestors who engineered the plan that became the Hurricane Canal allowing this desert valley to blossom, Hurricane City is following their example. The city built two wells and developed access to two springs. Our city currently gets most of its water from Toquerville Falls. We are currently in the process acquiring land to build one more well this year and have plans to develop another well in the next few years.

Since the Virgin River Basin is currently our only water source, questions about future availability are legitimate. The district has made a huge effort to conserve and has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote conservation. They are looking into several options to develop more resources as well. Here are the most likely:

1. Reverse Osmosis (RO). This is not the development of a new resource but an option to reuse water. It requires a long time to process and takes hundreds of acres of drying bins as well as the need to haul away extracted salt. I have reviewed the cost data for this option and it’s very expensive. RO is projected to double the cost for water.

2. Water Waste Reuse Plants. Like the RO option, this is not a development of a new water resource but for reuse. This option costs even more than RO but affords use for recreational and agricultural purposes.

3.The Lake Powell Pipeline. This option is currently being pursued. It would provide access to the 88,000 acre-feet of water from Flaming Gorge. The rights to these water shares are owned by the Washington County Water Conservancy District who is in the process of an environmental study. The report will show how to access the water and how it will affect the environment. This process is long and tedious and still has a few phases to complete before a decision can be made to move forward. Future phases after the study include applying for and receiving permits, litigation, design, and financing. I believe the most important part of the discussion needs to be who is paying for it and how much will it cost.

4. Management Conversion. This is the last and least-appealing option. It includes turning over agriculture land and its available water, as well as water from recreational land, to the water district to manage. Here’s where I take a stand and interject, “Over my dead body!”

Washington County currently uses just over 28,000 acre-feet of water per year. The Virgin River Basin provides about 33,000 acre-feet of water available each year (based on lowest-water-year projections like this year). Washington County also has over 100,000 acre-feet of water in the aquifer underneath our city. The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute report states that when Washington County is fully developed, use will increase to 125,000 acre-feet of water per year.

To maintain our small-town charm, we should NOT try to develop our area with the highest population density possible resulting in over-stressing our water resources. We need to stick to our current zoning plan to maintain our amazing small-town way of life.

July 5, 2021 - Our Future is as Bright as the Fourth of July Fireworks

Skies across America lit up in grandeur with fireworks, reflecting our freedoms and patriotism within our hearts. We celebrate our forbearers who sacrificed all and those that defend the country we love today. In the 245 years since the signing of The Declaration of Independence, The United States has become the global leader. Freedom created a nation, to which millions have flocked. When I pass by our flag, or think of the servicemen/women, and our emergency responders who protect and defend us daily. My heart is full of gratitude for all they  sacrifice to to give each of us the opportunity to live and achieve The American Dream. We should celebrate them.

Greatness from the past will be lost if we don’t move forward in faith with our future. A current Wall Street Journal article (To Be Young and Pessimistic in America, Abigail Shrier, May 14, 2021) points out the challenges young people face in America. Depression, suicide, and anxiety affect our children in staggering numbers within every economic group. I have witnessed the same affects on youth in our community. Many of our youth receive counseling for mental health issues. Some have attempted suicide, and too many have actually succeeded. Some youth are on suicide watch. This is a severe problem.

Reports show that spending time online with social media can be destructive to the mental health of our youth. There is a reason for their overriding pessimism: they are continually exposed to how wonderful the past was and how frightening the future is. This information is coming at our youth from every direction. Parents, grandparents, news and social media, other relations, and educators, often express that America is on a path towards destruction.

Faith is an essential human need. Faith is liberating. Fear is paralyzing. Without faith in the future, there is no reason to move forward. Finding the good in what we have to live for, and look forward to, is essential.

Saving our future, means giving hope to our future. We must express faith and trust that our youth will become our leaders. We must share our excitement in, and anticipation for, their bright futures, rather than a dreadful day ahead.

I challenge myself and anyone else who will listen to do thre things:
1) Take time to think about and honor our amazing American history.
2) Write in a "gratitude journal" about the blessings that living in the United States of America have brought you and you family over the past generations.
3) Share your faith in our country's future with young people you can influence. Our future is bright!

As I started the Hurricane Youth City Council in April 2020 during the pandemic, I was amazed to see nine local young people rise  to the occasion to serve, learn, and be part of our great community. Expecting results was all it took. They preformed beautifully and will be amazing leaders in our future.

Indeed, the future of Hurricane is bright!

July 3. 2021 - A Tribute to Past Hurricane Mayors - Hurricane Parade

June 28, 2021 - Independence Day and what it means to me...

For me, the 4th of July celebration has always included a parade, BBQ ribs, a baseball game with family, and a slice of watermelon. However, the real reason I celebrate are the freedoms we enjoy every day. These liberties were born through the beautiful Declaration of Independence, and solidified by The Constitution of the United States of America.

George Washington said, “The power under the Constitution will always be in the people.”

We cannot have apathy. We must stand up, and lead out. Thomas Jefferson said it best, “We in America do not have government by the majority— we have government by the majority who participate. All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”

Enjoy your July 4th!

June 25, 2021 - I voted NO on the Hurricane fireworks ban. Here's why...

Mayor Bramall has called a state of emergency fireworks ban in Hurricane City. The city fireworks show will still be held at Sand Hallow State Park on July 3rd. When fire restrictions are lifted based on state fire levels, the ban will go away. I agree, everything is the driest we have ever experience in a hundred years. Do we really want fireworks done at all? Everything is so dry!

I believe 99% of our citizens would obey the ordinance already in place if we ask them to only do legal fireworks in the three locations that were allowed in Hurricane City. I believe when you give people correct information and let them govern themselves. They make good choices.

The same number of citizens will break the law regardless of the ban or just as an ordinance. A violation can carry a class B misdemeanor with a fine of up to 1,000 and up to 6 months in jail.

I agree we need to protect our citizens and take care of the health and safety of our community. I voted no for the ban because I thought we should do it in a way that is not taking away others rights. It is hard to celebrate Independence Day when we take away freedoms.

June 18, 2021 - I voted NOT to change zoning. Here's why...

Last night in our city council meeting, I was the only council member not voting to change zoning for more population density in Hurricane. I’m in favor of our current zoning laws. We do not need to increase density in our city. Our citizens want to be heard and my vote reflects their desires for Hurricane. I support development, but not against the wishes of our citizens.

We also voted and approved a balanced budget. We are very careful about on how we spend our tax dollars. I am excited  we budgeted enough money to finish the Equestrian Park/ Rodeo Grounds on 1100 W. as well as lights for the picket ball courts at Dixie Springs Park. These projects will be up for bid after the fiscal year starts in July.

Hurricane City lives and stays within the budget. We are fiscally responsible. I attended the Hurricane Valley Chamber of Commerce meeting where our  city planner, Stephen Nelson, spoke about our master plan. I agree with his vision on how we are trying to make life better for residents that live and work in Hurricane.

Last year, 572 residential single-family/town homes and 84 apartments were completed. We also grew by 35 new commercial buildings. Potential growth could be as high as 150,000 residents! I represent citizens at every council meeting to keep zoning as it currently is and not change zoning or our master plan.

Our updated General Plan was placed into effect by the council in March 2021. It includes land use, resources, and economic development. It includes processes for improving the community well-being while strengthening the economy including activities, dining, parks, and the character of our small town charm. We are about 22% developed. Hurricane is the county’s third third largest city by land mass. made up of 54 square miles. Hurricane has partnered with St. George economic development to have our master plan be more proactive instead of reactive.

You are likely aware of the area housing shortage, specifically affordable housing. Based on numbers from Workforce Services, we are short 750 units. Only 80% affordable for the medium workforce.

Utilities and services are also a concern. Land to operate on, and water resources are being developed currently in our city and also through the Washington County Water Conservancy District to meet our growing needs. Our services need to be adequate for growth.

I remain committed to representing our citizens and their voices as we manage the challenges growth brings to our city.