As they say, “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.” I realize everyone doesn’t have a Twitter or Facebook account, but many do. I occasionally check in on social media and have noticed there seems to be wide divergence of opinions. I respect individuals’ rights to express their opinions and will not criticize them for doing so. People are not perfect and that includes public servants. All you have to do is look at me to confirm that. Although no one is perfect, those you have elected to keep North Ogden a great place to live expect be held accountable for their decisions. However, I would ask that you trust that our motivation as your current City Council is to do the right thing. It takes courage to make the tough decisions and every decision will not work out as planned.
Every organization faces challenges that can only be solved by seeking innovative solutions. If we don’t deprioritize perfection people will not think out of the box for fear of failure. If we truly want to be “One North Ogden” it’s important that we are willing to take some risks and work together to improve the quality of our community.
Speaking of decisions that that didn’t quite work out, I want to update you on the status of the garbage trucks that were leased to try and save the city money. Many of the staff worked hard to make things work and I am proud of those who had the courage to try something different. When it became obvious that quality service could not be provided, due to unanticipated circumstances, the decision was made to reengage Republic Services. Two of the three trucks that were leased by the city to collect trash have been returned. The city is still seeking a buyer for the third truck. We did take a small loss on the trucks we turned back. Some have asked if this transaction would affect their property taxes? The answer to that question is no as the solid waste department is a separate fund.
Conrad Hilton said, “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” Your City Council and staff will continue to keep moving and we will learn from our mistakes. We will not quit in our quest to better serve you and to become “One North Ogden.” You may not be able to believe social media, but you can believe this! Although we are not perfect we will do our best to be courageous, avoid serious mistakes and make long-term decisions that will enhance our quality of life. Have a great September!
Mayor Berube