(Left to right, New council member Richard Seeley stands next to Tanner Richardson, Mayor Terry Willis, Tina Urbanik, Richard Root and Layne Miller

By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News

Only one item appeared on the discussion agenda when the Price City Council met on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Despite the low number of items, the sole point was significant, as the city council sought to fill the vacant seat left by Terry Willis’ inauguration as mayor.

Opening the meeting, Mayor Terry Willis provided a safety second reminder that discharging firearms within city limits, including bows, was prohibited. She also spoke on the dangers of dry firing a bow,” Dry firing a bow is dangerous and will cause serious damage to the bow and may cause serious injury to the person dry firing. Exemptions for controlled activities, including educational purposes and safety instruction, do apply for discharging a bow within the city.

Five citizens looked to claim the vacancy on the body, as Rick Davis, Brady Tubbs, Russell Seeley, Wayne Jackson and Jim Piacitelli all applied for the opening.

Davis, a former employee of Utah Power and Light and an Air Force veteran, was the lone applicant with previous city council experience. ” I have been a city council member before, and I believe that with the knowledge and the experience that I gained as being a city council member will help me and the council make the right decisions as we go forward,” stated Davis in his introduction.

“There are a lot of different issues here that we’re going to have to tackle in the very near future, and it’s going to cost a lot of money to do this. And so hopefully, with that being said, I can win this election.

Next, Tubbs approached the council as a current member of the State Legislative Board for Unions and the vice local chairman of Local Union BLET (Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen) 888. “I’m here because I deeply care about this city, not just about what it is today, but what it will become. Price City is built on families, small businesses, and the future generations rely on the decisions that are made in this room,” expressed Tubbs.

“Some of my goals as a council member is (sic) transparency to the community, open communication, and addressing the concerns of the community. I believe in self-accountability. I believe in accountability for each council member and the mayor, also. With my position on the Union Pacific, my goal is to have some influence with the railroad to help Price City to improve projects that are necessary to complete the potential land and water developments. And finally, I will commit to give an honest effort to make ethical decisions.”

Seeley also approached the council with prior experience with the city, serving as a city engineer from 2009 to 2020 before accepting his current position with the Division of Drinking Water. In his opening, Seeley remarked,” I have extensive experience with local government, including with Price City. Before Price City, and even now, I work on a daily basis with local governments all over the state. I have experience with development contracts, developers, infrastructure, especially public works projects, roads, water lines, sewer, storm drains and everything in between. My real expertise is in water, drinking water especially, but also wastewater and stormwater. Like I said, water rights and water resources. So I bring a wealth of information and experience to this position.”

Wayne Jackson, a 20-year veteran of the United States Army, has been a mainstay at Price City Council meetings and a fixture of the public comment period. 

“I put in for this slot because I figured I know I’m probably one of the most qualified,” said Jackson. “I know how to give orders. I know how to take orders. I have many suggestions, as the board knows. I’ve sent emails all the time. I’ve only been here two and 1/2 years, so I’m the newbie on the block, but I have the experience that I think the city council is looking for. I have it. I have the knowledge, and I’m willing to work.”

Piacitelli entered the application with a background in social work and higher education, working as a professor at Southern Utah University and Snow College while also holding experience as a substance abuse counselor and patient advocate, among other positions. He is a self-described fiscal conservative.

“Ever since I applied or considered applying for the council, I have attended all the workshops and council member meetings to familiarize myself with the council and the current problems they’re facing,” said Piacitelli. “We all have to encourage everyone to be more engaged. To see something, say something, and do something. And I’d also like us to be known as the most welcoming of communities.”

Moving away from introductions, the candidates spent the next hour answering questions from the city council on topics including civic participation, experience with safety in the workplace, experience with budgeting, specifically public sector budgeting, and their approach to addressing and handling controversial and complicated issues.

Following the questioning, the council members gathered to reach a consensus on who would fill the vacant seat. “I’m leaning toward experience as well as in certain areas, especially for our water, our electricity, for our infrastructure. That’s really important,” said Council member Tina Urbanik.

Council member Richard Root echoed this sentiment,” We’ve got some really big decisions going on currently, especially our last meeting, we approved purchasing the pipe, the seven miles worth. So that’s what I’ve been kind of really looking for, is somebody with some good experience with the water and sewer as well as the roads.”

Following their remarks, the first round of voting opened, resulting in a 4-0 unanimous vote to select Seeley as the newest member of the Price City Council.

“I appreciate the vote of confidence from the other city council members,” said Seeley, speaking to Castle Country Radio. “I hope to embrace communication with the community. Even though we have difficult decisions ahead, I hope that we can all work together to find solutions for everybody.”

Watch the full meeting here: