By Katelin Rodgerson
SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake County’s mayor said the state’s largest county needs to encourage job growth, expand educational opportunities, and foster healthy families.
Ben McAdams, giving his “State of County address, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, said setting these goals for Salt Lake County in 2014 will help the county work toward a future residents choose.
“We either act to shape the future we choose, or react to the future that chooses us. The future we choose is one where [Salt Lake County is] a thriving metropolitan network that still has a small town feel,” McAdams said.
The mayor said Salt Lake County will emphasize community values by working to keep spending in check, not allowing bipartisan party labels to discredit any suggestion and maintaining the economy. The future the county chooses, said McAdams, also includes making sure areas for community activities are well cared for.
Salt Lake County will use a $12.5 million budget to update the Clark Planetarium at the Gateway, the Jessie E. Quinney Ballet Center, parts of the Jordan River Trail and other community areas.
“The future we choose is one where the opportunity to succeed is available to all our kids, if they are willing to work for it,” McAdams said.
The mayor mentioned a bill that will be presented to expand access to pre-school with the goal to have students reading on grade level by the third grade. In addition, Salt Lake County will deliver better customer satisfaction through personalized service. McAdam said he hopes to streamline interactions with government by using the phone number, “311″ to eliminate confusion and inconvenience.
The mayor called the experience of one resident waiting on hold with 911 for 13 minutes last year unacceptable.
McAdams ended the speech with the promise to work toward quality education, clean air and good jobs for county residents.
– See more at: http://universe.byu.edu/2014/01/15/mayor-encourages-salt-lake-county-residents-to-choose-their-future/#sthash.Uk49Dah4.dpuf
