Mayor Bert Wilson looks back

“I never made a decision that I felt was not good for the city,” said Mayor Bert Wilson in an interview with the Lehi Free Press on December 11, 2017. Wilson expressed a deep love for Lehi and its residents.

When queried about challenges he encountered as a new mayor in 2010 Wilson said, “When I took over in 2010 the budget was tight. Now Lehi is better off financially than ever before. There was nothing above Timpanogos Highway but Cabela’s and Micron. One commercial building now pays more in property taxes than the whole area did in 2010.”

Wilson praised Lehi City’s planning and engineering staff, “They are the best in the state, in my opinion.”

Wilson said, “Lehi is a place where people want to live. People build here because Lehi is a family-oriented community with many good jobs and thriving economy.” He added that it has been a privilege to serve and he always hopes that new and old families will continue to love living in Lehi.

Listed below are projects and city improvements that were completed during Wilson’s administration.

New Infrastructure

• 79 lane miles of road and 10 new traffic signals
• Over $2 million in new road infrastructure in downtown Lehi
• 3 new substations (Littlefield, Spring Creek, and Westside) and one upgraded substation (Bull River).
• Acquisition of Rocky Mountain Power facilities within city limits.
• 30 Miles of power lines.
• The city’s first power transmission line.
• 100- acre feet of new pressurized irrigation reservoirs
• 2 P.I. wells and 2 culinary wells.
• 78 miles of irrigation mainline.
• 3 million gallons of new culinary water storage.
• 4 P.I. booster stations.
• New culinary booster stations for Traverse Mountain.
• 35 miles of new storm water mainline.
• 49 miles of new sewer mainline.

Capital Projects

• New fire department: Station 83
• Six new parks (Spring Creek, Sunrise Summit, Snow Springs, Ivory Ridge, Dry Creek, and Willow) with specialized amenities like a splash pad and pickle ball courts.
• Improved Point Meadows Park with a skate park and new playground equipment.
• Purchased land for Mellor-Rhodes Park and Peck Park.
• Renovations to amenities at many different parks.
• Infant cemetery with a specially commissioned sculpture to provide comfort to grieving families.
• Cemetery office building.
• Expanded the Cemetery Veteran’s Wall.
• Completion of the Murdock Canal Trail.
• Improvements to the Historic Rail Trail.
• Slide Tower replacement at the Legacy Center.
• Rejuvenation of Historic Main Street (2013)
• Center Street Realignment (2016)
• Upgrade the Center Street Transmission Line (2017)
• Rehabilitation of the sewer system, including lining 5,000 mainlines and spray lining over 300 manholes.
• Address flooding issues at 400 E., 300E. 500 W. and 600 N.
• Replacement of the water slide at the outdoor pool (2013).
• Added parking and renovated existing parking, improved landscaping, and added a pavilion at the outdoor pool (2016).
• Replaced pool floor at the outdoor pool with a newer, more cost-effective liner. (2012).
• Replaced scoreboards and backstops at Vets Ball Park.

Facilities

• Annual improvement to the Veteran’s Memorial Hall/Hutchings Museum financed by historic grants.
• Administration building expansion,
• Public Works Building
• Programming room at the public library,
• Renovation of the bank building on Main Street for the Literacy Center
• Outdoor Pool Building Renovation (2014).
• Power Generation Facility (2017-2018)

Public Safety

Fire Department

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• 28 new employees in 8 years, for a total of 64.
• Implemented a wildland deployment program.
• Joined Task Force 5 (state taskforce).
• Expanded the Fire Marshal’s office.

Police Department

• On average, added 3 new officers a year.
• Expanded the K-9 team by 3 dogs.
• Implemented a neighborhood preservation unit and traffic enforcement division.
• Transferred the SWAT team to Utah County to better utilize our resources.
• Began using body cameras to provide transparency and evidence.

Leisure Services

Recreation

• Increased Legacy Center programming participation by 19% from 2009-2017.
• Increased youth sports participation by 65% from 2009-2017.
• Implemented the Slim-to-Win program in 2012.

Library

• Remodeled the library, including new paint, carpet, shelving, and a new programming room and sound system (2016).
• Added and RFID system.
• Installed automatic check-in devices.
• Began offering e-books and e-audiobooks through Overdrive.
• Increased programming staff and participation.
• Implemented additional technology, including Digital Library Assistant, MobileCirc, and SirsiDynix Symphony system (digital catalogue).