Candidates for the town's mayoral and council posts say they're pleased with planned repairs from the recent Maple Mountain fire and that the town should stay the course as far as its services are concerned.
Some of the candidates say the town needs to seriously plan for the next decade, including discussing the installation of a citywide sewer system.However, all candidates stress that the town has a very limited budget, and any long-term and big-budget improvements would give Mapleton little choice but to raise taxes, bond or look for state grants, something all said they are loath to do.
Party caucuses in September have left incumbent Mayor Everet Predmore with no opposition, but the city will have Progressive Party candidates Cecil Hutchings and Norman Barker opposing Citizens Party candidates Tom James and Walter Walser for City Council positions.
Mayor
Everet Predmore, 69, is a certified real estate appraiser and has served as mayor for the past four years. Predmore said the town has addressed immediate problems like water availability and roads and has answered them.
"What we need to do is keep improving in those areas and what has been previously done. Also, we need to get youths more involved in government affairs." Predmore also said the town should make improvements in its cultural activity programs, parks and emergency service buildings.
City Council
Cecil Hutchings, 67, is retired. He has served on the Mapleton Board of Adjustments the past eight years. Hutchings said the city needs to continue its zoning policies to accommodate future expansion and growth.
"Any community that is growing faces the same problems of zoning, which doesn't satisfy everyone. It's difficult for many citizens of a small rural community to face the facts of inevitable growth and the need of change as the population expands to our area."
Norman Barker, 65, is retired. He helped organize the town's Fire Department and served for 25 years until retiring in 1985. Barker said the town's biggest concern is making sure it has solid leadership, though it also may need to look to long-term expensive improvements.
"The largest future concern that needs to be addressed is a sewer system. If we are forced to put one in, the cost would be so great that I'm not sure we could afford it."
Tom James, 59, is the owner of a manufacturing facility in Orem. He has served on Mapleton's Planning Commission and as chairman of its Citizens Party. In addition, his wife, Roberta, has been a City Council member. James said the town's largest concern is making sure it has leadership.
"We need to be able to work together to create the type of community that we cannot only be proud of, but feel a part of."
Walter Walser, 70, is retired. Though he has no prior city government experience, he said his biggest qualifications are his experience as a civil engineer and his knowledge of the town and its residents. Walser said the town's future concerns include continuing water development and supply and maintenance of the town's services to accommodate future growth.
In addition, there is a strong possibility that Mapleton needs to form a sewer development district, so the town should research well and be informed on the sewer issue before any drastic measure is undertaken, he said.