This year’s elections will have a major impact on the future of Coalville.  It is important to get to know what each candidate’s position is on important issues before you make your selection.

Meet The Candidates

Many Coalville Citizens have stepped up to run for the open Coalville City offices.  There will be a primary election held on August 10th to narrow the choices for each position.  When the dust settles from the primary, there will be two choices left for the mayor’s seat and four individuals on the ballot for the two city council seats.

Candidates who have filed for the open positions are listed below in alphabetical order by first name.

Mayor: Lynn Wood, Mark Marsh and Tyler Rowser

City Council (two open seats): Brandon Brady, Chris Horne, Drew Robinson, Gibeon Robbins, Kelly Ovard, Louise Willoughby, Stefanie Bowen and Steven Richins

An Active Bunch

Over the course of the past few years, most of these candidates have taken the opportunity to give input on issues facing Coalville City.  Following are quotes from each candidate whose statements could be found in  Coalville City Council Meeting minutes or recordings. Some candidates spoke at multiple meetings, but only one quote was selected for each candidate. Links are embedded to the official meeting minutes or recordings the quotes are taken from ensuring each candidate’s statement can be read or listened to in its entirety as well as in context with the meeting’s flow.

Mayoral Candidate Quotes (organized by meeting date):

On March 12,2018 a public hearing was held at the NS High School Auditorium for the Coalville City Council to consider and possibly approve The Wohali Partners LLC Annexation Petition, allowing the Wohali Property inside Coalville City’s boundaries.  The following quote is from that meeting:

Tyler Rowser (acting in his role as a member of the city council) – “Councilmember Tyler Rowser questioned whether the snow removal would be just to their gate or if they would go to the interchange.  Jim Boyden said they would consider whatever the city required…Councilmember Tyler Rowser questioned if the City didn’t annex the property if the development project would die.  Jim Boyden stated no it wouldn’t…A motion was made by Council Member Arlin Judd to accept the Wohali Partner’s LLC Annexation petition.  Councilmember Adrianne Anson seconded the motion.  The Ayes won the vote.  Motion Carried.  Roll Call:  Council Member Judd – Aye, Council Member Anson – Aye, Council Member Robbins – Nay, Council Member Rowser – Aye, Council Member Blonquist – Nay” 3/12/18

A link to the complete minutes for that meeting can be accessed here: March 12, 2018 Coalville City Council Meeting

On November 18, 2019 a public hearing was held at Coalville City Hall for the Coalville City Council to review, discuss, receive comment and possibly take action on the proposed Wohali Master Planned Development, Property Zone Amendment and Preliminary Plan (Wohali’s 1st application – higher density).  The following quote is from a letter read into that meeting:

Mark Marsh – “Growth will always impact our city, our schools and most of our family lifestyle.  With this growth comes the opportunity for tax dollars to help school systems, our city government and infrastructure and more opportunity for businesses in our small community to grow and prosper with the increase flow of traffic to our businesses.  I have faith in our elected officials within our city government that they will do what is best for our community and for these people that are exercising their right with their private property to do as they had planned.” 11/18/19

Minutes to this meeting are not currently available on the city’s website. However, a link to the audio recording from that meeting can be accessed here and this quote can be listened to at 2:58:30: November 18, 2019 Coalville City Council Meeting Audio

On June 22,2020 a public hearing was held at Coalville City Hall for the review and possible adoption of the 20-21 budget.  The following quote is from that meeting:

Lynn Wood – “We’ve talked about the need for a General Plan amendment.  We really need to know what our public vision is.  There’s just a lot of supposing going on.  We need to know…we need good data to work with.  I think it’s very important to bring our community together…we desperately need a project that is going to promote better understanding and better cooperation and fewer misunderstandings between our City leaders and our public.”  6/22/20

A link to the complete minutes for that meeting can be accessed here: June 22, 2020 Coalville City Council Meeting

City Council Candidate Quotes (organized by meeting date):

On December 9, 2019 a continued public hearing was held at The Ledges for Coalville City Council to review, discuss, receive comment and possibly take action on the proposed Wohali Master Planned Development, Property Zone Amendment and Preliminary Plan (Wohali’s 1st application – higher density).  The following quote is from that meeting:

Gibeon Robbins- “How many people have you seen stand up here tonight?  How many “no’s” have you heard against it?  This is the people’s town, it ain’t your town.  It’s about what the people want.  It ain’t about how much financial gain you’re going to get from it…we don’t want this!  We don’t want it!”  12/9/19

Minutes to this meeting are not currently available on the city’s website. However, a link to the audio recording from that meeting can be accessed here and this quote can be listened to at 3:00:21: December 9, 2019 Coalville City Council Meeting Audio

On July 27, 2020 a continued public hearing was held at The Ledges for the Coalville City Council to receive continued public comment and input on the Proposed Wohali MPD and Phase 1 Preliminary Subdivision Plat (Wohali’s 2nd application – lower density). The following quotes are from that meeting:

Chris Horne- “I tried to look at some of the cons and some of the reasons why people have stood against it instead of for it and one of the things I think it comes down to is the, some of the cons people might have against Wohali, especially at this point in the development are, in my opinion, are just opinions.  And the pros have a lot of benefits to bring to our community and are massive and we’ve already talked about the new ordinances that they’re going through, well everything lines up.  Water, it lines up with water.” 7/27/2020

Drew Robinson- “And we also border the Boyden family in a couple of different spots.  They’re good people.  They’re not just looking to sell their property and make millions and get out of here.  They’re personally invested in this project like Adrianne said.” 7/27/20

Kelly Ovard- “The ordinances need to be updated quickly.  We keep talking, well let’s get through this Wohali.  Well, Wohali is going to go on for 15-20 years until it’s done.  We need the ordinances updated now.  We cannot support two or three golf courses in our City like Park City… And it’s clear to see in the ordinances where things have changed over the last few years, it just catered to Wohali.” 7/27/20

Louise Willoughby- “This is a new application and I think the citizens deserve to know that everything in this application has been researched and that everything will be decided on a good, solid, foundational code and principals.  As far as property rights, you’re giving them property rights, as it has been pointed out, with 125 homes and a golf course…This is about Code and it’s about interpreting Code.  As you can see, there’s numerous ways to interpret the Code.  We still have elements that have not been addressed.  There is still missing information that has not been shared.” 7/27/20

Stefanie Bowen- “I heard it said at a meeting months ago that what we have at North Summit is good enough.  Since when, is that what we want for our kids?  Since when, is good enough, good enough?  We have a Developer here that can bring so many good things to our kids.” 7/27/20

A link to the complete minutes from that meeting can be accessed here: July 27, 2020 Coalville City Council Meeting

Brandon Brady- no statement was recorded in the available minutes of city meetings.

Steven Richins- no statement was recorded in the available minutes of city meetings.

Want To Know More About Each Candidate’s Position?

The candidates have organized their own informal “Meet the Candidates” night which is scheduled for July 16, 2021 from 6-8PM at The Ledges Event Center.  All candidates have been invited to participate and the public is encouraged to come and talk with these individuals and ask any questions you have.  Following are a few questions to get you started:

  • What is a citizen’s role in government?
  • What is an elected official’s role in government?
  • Did you support/sign the citizen referendum regarding the Wohali rezone?
  • What is your stance on growth in Coalville?
  • What are your thoughts on individual property rights?
  • How do you feel about current Coalville City Codes?
  • What is your vision for Coalville’s future?
  • What do you love most about Coalville?
  • What do you most want to change about Coalville?
  • What do you know about Coalville’s water situation?
  • If you were to receive a large grant to use for Coalville anyway you wanted, what would you do with it?