Heber City Mayor Kelleen Potter gave her State of the City address in a live broadcast on March 10, 2021. Beginning with a short video, she displayed a quote from the Salt Lake Tribune that stated, ‘For the second year in a row, Heber ranked No. 1 for growth among the country’s smaller ‘micropolitan areas,’ with populations between 10,000 and 50,000.” 2020 estimates put Heber’s population just above 18,500. By 2050, projections have over 30,000 people living within Heber City’s limits.
Mayor Potter started out by discussing Heber’s history. She told the story of Chief Tabby and settler Joseph Murdock, who signed a treaty of friendship in 1867.
An overview of Heber’s current financial state was presented and several challenges were mentioned. These included Covid and the significant increase in cost of living. According to Potter, the MLS showed only two Heber City active listings under $600,000. “This is a significant challenge. As housing prices continue to increase faster than salaries, we have to consider what happens in the future when our workforce can’t afford to live here,” she said.
Potter also discussed dealing with growth, traffic, and the demand for homes in Heber City.
In addition, the mayor explained some issues and solutions for the North Village area, parks and the cemetery, and local trails, the airport, and the bypass.
She quoted Stephen R. Covey, saying, ‘The best way to predict your future is to create it.’ “Our solutions to these problems are not reactive. We’re not waiting for things to happen to us, but we are being proactive and planning for the future,” she stated.
The mayor mentioned several requirements the City would like to include for developments annexing in from the North Village. These include cluster development, more open space, dark sky requirements, parks and trails, and a required donation to help preserve the North Fields.
Mayor Potter also announced a new citizen leadership program to teach about how the City functions. The program is planned to start in the fall, with more information to come.
“In following the earliest Heber example set by our original local and move-in, Chief Tabby and Bishop Murdock, we must continue to welcome newcomers, find common ground in our shared humanity and deep love of the Heber Valley, and work through our differences to coexist in peace and prosperity,” she stated.
A video of the entire speech is available at https://www.heberut.gov/321/State-of-Heber-City.
