CEDAR CITY — Water, public transportation, government transparency and the Iron County Jail were key topics at the Southern Utah University debate Wednesday evening, highlighting the challenges faced by a rapidly growing and evolving community.
Hosted by the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service, the debate allowed candidates Ken Robinson and former Cedar City Mayor Maile Wilson-Edwards to discuss their positions on the issues. Both are competing for the Iron County Commission seat “C” in June’s primary election.
Wilson-Edwards used the debate to highlight her lifelong residence in Iron County and her two-term tenure as Cedar City mayor. She argued these experiences gave her local and state connections that her opponent did not have, providing her with a unique edge in understanding and resolving community issues.
Robinson pointed to his 20-year career at IFA, starting as a college student and eventually becoming the manager, as evidence of his ability to work with the public and foster strong community relationships.
The Iron County Correctional Facility
The Iron County Commission recently approved a 0.3% sales tax increase, expected to generate an additional $4 million annually. They are also poised to vote on a $95 million bond in the coming months, with the additional revenue earmarked for repaying the loan.
Both candidates were asked how they would vote on the proposed bond if they were currently serving as commissioners.
Wilson-Edwards noted that the decision-making process for the new jail is already well underway. She emphasized the need for better planning and transparency, expressing concerns about the current commission’s approach.
“We needed to take a step back a while ago,” Wilson-Edwards said. “While I agree we need a new jail, there should have been a feasibility study and a solid business plan in place.”
Robinson agreed that the decisions for the new jail have already been made and echoed Wilson-Edwards’ concerns. He acknowledged the outdated condition of the current facility and the need for a new one due to community growth.
“The current facility has outlived its life expectancy,” Robinson said. “Given the community’s growth, a new facility is essential, and I strongly support this initiative because of the pressing need it addresses.”
Public transit
The debate shifted focus to public transportation, identified by the moderators as needing significant expansion to accommodate the growing community. They proposed imposing an additional fee on real estate developers to help fund the project and asked the candidates for their opinions.
Robinson highlighted the importance of public transportation and argued that developers should contribute to its funding. Wilson-Edwards, drawing again on her experience as a mayor, discussed the complexities of public transportation funding and stressed the need for thorough cost-benefit analyses and feasibility studies before implementing such a project.
Transparency in government
Moderators raised concerns about the lack of information available online regarding the current county commission. They questioned the candidates on whether there should be more transparency and how they would achieve that goal.
Wilson-Edwards discussed her efforts in regularly communicating with residents during her time as mayor and advocated for similar practices at the county level.
“Absolutely, there needs to be more transparency. This was an item, when I got in for mayor that was something I talked about,” Wilson-Edwards said. “We need transparency in government. We need to find ways to reach out to our citizens. As an elected official it is your job to reach our citizens so there needs to be more information.”
Robinson agreed on the need for greater transparency in government agencies, particularly regarding budget implementation and spending.
“I do believe there needs to be better transparency in the government agencies and how they’re implementing their budgets and how the money they are spending,” Robinson said. “There’s a lot of agencies or departments inside the county that people aren’t familiar with so it would be beneficial for the common citizen to know where their money is going.”
Both candidates suggested using diverse forms of communication, including social media and local newspapers, to ensure citizens are well-informed.
Utah Inland Port Authority
The Utah Inland Port Authority is a state agency tasked with improving Utah’s logistics system and expanding access to commerce. Its objectives include promoting sustainable logistics, fostering economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life for Utah residents.
During the debate, candidates were asked how they would collaborate with the port authority to benefit Iron County.
Robinson emphasized the importance of the port authority, referencing his experience working with Union Pacific and the city to construct a rail spur for a facility he managed. He emphasized that global rail access is crucial for local businesses and highlighted his ability to work with different entities and understand local business needs.
Wilson-Edwards focused on her established relationships within the community and with port authority officials. She mentioned her long-term collaboration with Danny Stewart, the local port authority representative and former economic director for Cedar City.
Wilson-Edwards also shared an example of working with Stewart on a business relocation issue during a holiday, illustrating her problem-solving abilities. She also addressed the challenges related to the Inland Port, such as infrastructure and tax financing, and expressed confidence in her ability to manage these issues effectively.
Water
With water a critical issue in Iron County, the candidates were asked about statements they have made on the campaign trail and if elected, what they will do to ensure this resource is protected.
Wilson-Edwards highlighted her extensive efforts as mayor, including feasibility studies for wastewater treatment and impact fees related to water rights.
She argued that a multi-faceted approach involving various entities and counties is essential to address the water problem effectively.
“We need to look at all options,” Wilson-Edwards said. “Water rights are private property rights, and we need to work with our citizens to find solutions.”
Robinson discussed the importance of maintaining individual water rights and the need for recharge systems to address the county’s water depletion rate. He suggested a prorated system for water rights to ensure fairness while also protecting future generations.
“I have met with the state office and the Iron County Water Conservancy District and talked about their water management plans and gone over those plans with them to see how best they will be implemented,” Robinson said. “And to make sure we’re not imposing the government’s will upon those individual water rights. It is very important we maintain the individual water rights of the people who bought them.”
Public transit in Iron County
The debate shifted focus to the issue of public transportation, identified by the moderators as needing significant expansion to accommodate the growing community. They proposed imposing an additional fee on real estate developers to help fund the project and asked the candidates for their opinions.
Robinson highlighted the importance of public transportation to the community and argued that developers should be held responsible to help fund it.
Wilson-Edwards, drawing on her experience as a mayor, discussed the complexities of public transportation funding. She noted that while imposing a fee might seem like a straightforward solution, it is important to consider the long-term implications of any actions taken.
She again stressed the need for thorough cost-benefit analyses and feasibility studies before implementing such a project to ensure sustainable funding and avoid overburdening taxpayers.
Personal campaign issues
Twice, the candidates were asked during the debate about statements they had made on the campaign trail or their websites about various issues.
Robinson was questioned about his stance on public lands, specifically referencing his campaign website where he mentions “an assault on public lands.” He elaborated on the actions he is alluding to and his strategies to counter them.
“There are many entities outside of Iron County and the state of Utah trying to restrict or limit access to public lands,” Robinson said. “My objective is to work with our state legislatures to maintain our access to public grounds. I’ve started building those relationships and had many good conversations to ensure our access continues.”
Wilson-Edwards was questioned about her plans to support both local businesses and big corporations, perceived by many as potentially conflicting interests.
She emphasized the need for proactive engagement and planning to ensure their coexistence.
“Truly I don’t necessarily see they are conflicting,” she said. “ I think there is a place for mom-and-pop businesses. I also think there is a place for industry in our community,” Wilson-Edwards said. “If they are strategically placed, if we have planning, if we have infrastructure done, they can live in harmony and they do. We need both to have a thriving diverse economy here so we can have jobs for our residents. So your children and my children can have jobs in this community.”
Another issue the moderators raised was Robinson’s statement about water rights, referencing comments he has stated about decisions he believes were made at the state or federal level with little local input.
“Similar to my previous answer as you look at junior water right vs. a senior water right we need to make sure that even though it may be a junior water right the person who bought that or the person who sold that sold that and bought that in good faith and we need to make sure those are honored,” Robinson said.
He argued that the state’s approach is not a valid solution. Instead, he advocated for a system where both senior and junior water rights would be reduced proportionally. This way, everyone would retain some of their water rights, preserving their value for those who bought or plan to sell them.
Robinson again expressed his preference for a prorated system over the current state engineer’s plan, which involves eliminating junior water rights in reverse order of their issuance.
Wilson-Edwards was questioned about her statements that she had a track record of securing funding for “safety-enhancing projects.” She cited the reconstruction of the Coal Creek overpass bridge as an example of her tenacity and persistence in securing UDOT funding for a project initially deemed a low priority.
“When I originally went to UDOT about it they said, ‘You’re not a priority, under no circumstance is that a priority.’ Well, this is an area where tenacity, persistence and my personality comes into play, I met with UDOT over and over,” Wilson-Edwards said. “I called them. I put together, with the help of the city, we put together a case. … Well, a project that went from not even on the priority list has now not only completed but funded with UDOT.”
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