Police Chief Controversy

The recent decision by the La Verkin Chief of Police to move his family out of the City of La Verkin has created a lot of discussion and frustration both within the City Council and the community at large.  I consider Chief Watkins and his wife dear friends and while as a resident of the community I do not agree with his decision, as a friend, I understand the reasoning behind this choice.

That said, I feel strongly that the Chief of Police should reside within the community he or she oversees.  If a determination is made by the City Council that the Chief of Police may be exempt from living within the community, it is still critical that he or she lives within a radius where response during an emergency may be made within the response time outlined in City Policy.  It is my understanding that this time frame currently is 20 minutes for an On-Call employee.  The council has also determined that the Director of Operations and the Chief of Police are exempt from the guidelines of the vehicle use policy as they are determined to be on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

I know there are many derogatory comparisons to Southern Utah towns and the iconic community of Mayberry, but one thing I remember from my childhood watching this show: You could trust that Sheriff Taylor would make everything okay.  He presence alone could bring calm to an otherwise chaotic situation.  His sure guidance helped his deputies better perform their jobs and gave reassurance to the characters that populated this fictional community.  While Mayberry is a fictional community, it is enduring in Americana because it showcases basic truths that we do want to see in our own Police Chief: a calming presence during a crisis and sure leadership for the officers under him or her.

Currently, La Verkin does not have a mechanism to require the Police Chief to reside in the community.  Neither the current employee contract or La Verkin Code contain a residency requirement for the Chief of Police.  I have never understood why the La Verkin Code requires a contract for the Chief of Police.  La Verkin Code defines the Chief of Police as an at-will employee of the municipality, appointed by the mayor with the approval of the council.  As an at-will employee, the Chief of Police could be removed from his position without cause by a vote of the council.  Currently, the La Verkin Code additionally provides that compensation for the Chief of Police will be established by contract.  That contract currently allows for a severance package of three months salary if termination is prior to the end of the contractual period and without cause.  It is my understanding that in Washington County a contract for the police chief is unusual, especially in a community the size of ours.

Furthermore, Utah State Code allows for the establishment of residency requirements for all appointed officers of the municipality.

In my opinion, it would be in the best interest of the residents of La Verkin to implement the following:

• The current municipal code be amended removing the requirement of a contract for the chief of police and allowing compensation to be established as part of the budgeting process.
• The City Council should look at establishing by ordinance residency requirements for its appointed officers.
• The vehicle use policy should apply to all City employees who have been assigned a City vehicle.  City vehicles should be for the use of the employee in doing their job and not for personal use.
• The City should review its on-call procedures and establish a policy for those times when a director will not be able to meet the response requirements as outlined, to include appointment of a designee to respond in emergencies with the authority to make decisions.  

View current La Verkin Code regarding the Chief of Police by clicking HERE.
View State Code regarding residency requirements by clicking HERE.
View other State Code regarding appointment of employees by clicking HERE.

Supporting Business

“Mom & pop stores are not about something small; they are about something big. Ninety percent of all U.S. businesses are family owned or controlled. They are important not only for the food, drink, clothing, and tools they sell us, but also for providing us with intellectual stimulation, social interaction, and connection to our communities. We must have mom & pop stores because we are social animals. We crave to be part of the marketplace. ” 
― Robert Spector, The Mom & Pop Store: How the Unsung Heroes of the American Economy Are Surviving and Thriving

This week I met a couple who had moved to Southern Utah with the hope of relocating their successful business to a warmer climate.  This conversation made me wonder how often the City loses the opportunity to gain a solid business partner due to poor communication or because of lack of information for the business owner.

While serving as an alternate member of the Planning Commission, I have often heard expressed the frustration that the City is falling behind in its response to development within the City.  The Planning Commission has been working on a zoning map for the SR 9/SR 17 corridor.  This process includes outlining specific areas for development (see map below) and then identifying the types of businesses the Commission feels would work best in those areas.  This is a process of discussion where not only are types of businesses outlined, but also definitions of businesses types need to be clarified.  When the Planning Commission completes this process, the City should have a clearer vision of what its business districts will look like, providing clustering of compatible businesses and allowing for a walkable and welcoming environment for residents and tourists.

In addition to developing a vision for development,  I would like to see a strengthening of our Economic Development Committee.  Currently the City's website contains a series of videos developed to promote La Verkin and attract business to the City.  (You can view these videos by clicking HERE.)  While these videos are well done, they need to be updated.

Many years ago, I asked for information I could provide to my sister that she could use to present to her management why they should locate a franchise in La Verkin.  At that time, there was no such packet of information available.  I have casually asked about it a few times since, but have never been provided with any information.  In order to attract businesses to the community, the City needs to be prepared with this information.  The City can also use this information to identify businesses that would be most compatible with its vision for development and then work to recruit those businesses to locate in our community.

But just as important as bringing in new business, the City can provide support to its residents as they work to develop and implement new businesses or expand existing businesses within the community.  I was very impressed with the resources available through the Dixie Business Alliance.  This organization is a great resource for communities and individuals in Washington County helping prospective businesses with available properties throughout the county and support services for entrepreneurs.  The City should strive to maintain a partnership with the DBA, including providing access and information of its resources for current and prospective business owners.

Most importantly to me, I feel the City should promote its local businesses.  Each year as I have sent a mailing regarding the 4th of July activities to the City's licensed businesses, I have been amazed at the variety of businesses we have in the City.  I would like to see more promoting of these businesses through the use of a business spotlight in the City newsletter to promotions on the City's Facebook page and website.

La Verkin was recently recognized as a "Utah Governor's Business Friendly Community".  This is a positive step and one that needs to be built upon.