PLEASANT VIEW -- As the city goes through the process of hiring a new city administrator, two residents are questioning the need for such a position in the first place.
"How is the city running without one?" said Art Bingham.
He suggested the city hire an assistant for City Recorder Laurie Hellstrom or Community Development Director Bruce Talbot rather than hire an administrator with pay and benefits to replace J.J. Allen, who left for a job in Clearfield.
"The last month since Allen has been gone, what's beginning to happen is chaos," said Mayor Doug Clifford.
"My argument is that, as mayor and council members, you are in charge of all the money in the city," Bingham said.
"We have elderly citizens with limited finances. We can't afford adjustments in city taxes. I would love to see the park on Pleasant View Drive updated. There are other things that would be neat in the city."
Clifford said the position has been budgeted and called it "very needed."
"Do you not want to put more time into your position?" Bingham said.
Clifford said he has another job and that only three mayors in Utah are full time.
Bingham suggested the council and Talbot be paid more for their work rather than add the expense of a city administrator.
"It's not a question of money. There are assignments you have to do," Clifford said. "I really don't want to drag this up again if I don't have to. It's an old argument and we've gone through it."
"When I moved here about a year ago, I was very concerned that my taxes tripled from what they were in Harrisville," said resident Celso Chaparro.
"I was astounded -- three times for just a little bigger house. You should look at every possibility to save money for the (residents)."
Chaparro said he thinks the city's finances are being poorly managed.
Councilman Michael Humphreys took issue with the comment and said city finances are managed well. He also pointed out that not all of the costs on a tax bill are from Pleasant View city.
Clifford said comparing Pleasant View to Harrisville is like comparing apples to oranges.
"The garbage is twice as much as Harrisville. Why?" Chaparro said. "I mean no disrespect."
"Come down and crawl through the numbers. We could have this argument every meeting," Clifford said.
"It is definitely difficult to manage all the issues we have in the city. Economically, we are picking up again. Exciting things are happening down in our EDA (economic development area). I think we are starting to see things come around. You pay 9 percent to the city for a tax bill."
Clifford said the average in a tax bill paid to Pleasant View is less than $200. He said he spends roughly 20 hours a week working as mayor, in addition to his other job.
"If we want to continue to grow and try to develop what we have already started with commercial development on 2700 North, then it's going to take work. It just takes people to do it," he said. "I'm not full time. I don't plan to be full time. I'm not paid for it."
Clifford said the time he spends is a sacrifice and if the complaining residents can't see that, they should run for mayor.
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