Election 2009: Payson offers diverse city issues

PAYSON — Mayor Burtis Bills, 60, says it would be easy to step aside and enjoy his art and grandkids, but he believes his leadership is needed.

Bills has served one term as mayor and was on the City Council for two terms through both prosperous and financially troubling times.

Economic development continues to be a top priority for Bills, a retired art educator who taught at Ben Lomond High School and Payson High for 32 years.

The mayor says retaining and recruiting commercial and retail business will stabilize Payson's budget and economy.

Richard (Rick) D. Moore, 47, is making a second bid for mayor as a write-in candidate.

Moore, a licensed heating and air conditioning contractor and business owner, has served in a variety of civic and recreational capacities. Issues he wants to see addressed include spending, economic development and jobs.

"We desperately need a bigger tax base," the lifelong Payson resident said.

Moore also said he'd like to see zoning updated where new businesses are locating, as well as more officers and equipment for the police department.

Robert Baird, 31, a dentist who holds a master's degree in finance from Temple University, said he wants to bring his business knowledge to the council. The city pool and city-owned Gladstan golf Course aren't profitable, Baird said, and he wants to stay in front of community growth.

Incumbent Councilman Brent Grotegut, 37, has 15 years' experience in the accounting field. Prior to serving on the City Council, he was on the Planning Commission.

"I feel that the biggest issues facing our community is caring for and improving our city facilities," Grotegut said. "Residents are concerned with the condition of our roadways and storm-water facilities."

Efforts to improve them have been too slow, he said.

Michael Hardy, a candidate for City Council for the first time, graduated from the University of Utah and the University of Michigan Business School. Hardy is a commercial banker and president of the Payson Area Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the Planning Commission as vice chairman and on various civic committees.

"Payson needs to aggressively market itself, control expenses (and) increase revenues through economic development, which will bring badly needed sales-tax and property-tax revenue and jobs (to) Payson," Hardy said.

Incumbent councilman and businessman Scott Phillips, 46, is a 35-year resident of Payson and serves on the city finance committee. Phillips previously served two years on the Planning Commission.

He is running again on a platform of discipline and strong leadership, saying the city is facing the tightest budget in years.

City issues include pressurized irrigation and water pressure, Payson's aging water and sewer lines, roads and storm-drain issues and how to fund improvements, Phillips said.

e-mail: rodger@desnews.com