New mayor lists his priorities for Taylorsville

Jerry Rechtenbach emphasizes public safety, economy and neighborhood revitalization.

By pamela Manson

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Feb 20 2013 05:39 pm • Last Updated Feb 22 2013 03:57 pm

Taylorsville • Mayor Jerry Rechtenbach said Wednesday that public safety, economic development and neighborhood revitalization are his top priorities for the west-side community.

"We must focus on public safety because that is the key obligation of government," Rechtenbach said in a State of the City address. "Once we are satisfied that we have done that properly, then we must focus on economic development as a means of preserving quality of life in the city and stabilizing our base."

And because businesses like to locate in well-kept areas, the city has put together a team to revitalize neighborhoods, he said.

The Taylorsville City Council selected Rechtenbach last month to serve the remainder of Mayor Russ Wall’s term through the end of the year. Wall resigned to take a job as Salt Lake County’s director of public works and regional development.

Rechtenbach was a City Council member for nine years before his appointment as mayor. He wants to make sure police have more of a presence in the city’s nine elementary schools to promote values, accountability, anti-bullying and self-esteem. He also wants to organize neighborhood community councils, develop site plans to bring new tenants to commercial centers and improve websites so most city business, such as entering a plea in justice court, can be done from home.

The mayor said Taylorsville is in good shape fiscally and that revenue from sales tax has been trending upward, at approximately 5.5 percent a quarter, for five consecutive quarters.

"The city of Taylorsville has made significant strides in recent years and months," Rechtenbach said. "I firmly believe that working together as a team, with our citizens and businesses as partners, the best is yet to come."

pmanson@sltrib.com

Twitter: @PamelaMansonSLC

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