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CREATION
Marysvale is located at the bottom of a narrow ravine on U.S.
Highway 89 as it passes through Piute County. The spot was first
noted in 1848 when an exploration party led by Parley Pratt camped
there for the night and reported it to be a "Merry Vale." The first
settlers arrived in 1864, and by the following year sixteen families
had moved there with the intent to settle and farm. In 1866 troubles
incident to the Black Hawk War forced all settlers to evacuate the
area. Mining activity brought both prospectors and settlers back to
Marysvale in 1868, and in 1913 the town was incorporated in order to
provide a government to manage community affairs.
FUNCTIONS
Utah municipal governments perform numerous functions, including the
maintaining of law and order, guarding public health and sanitation,
managing public services and promoting community development.
Marysvale town government has focused much energy on maintaining a
municipal water system. The community updated or rebuilt this water
system in 1956 and 1975. The Marysvale town board has also provided
fire protection. The board installed a siren in 1943 and later
installed fire hydrants and purchased a fire truck. The town board
organized a volunteer fire department in the 1950s. Other community
improvement projects include street maintenance and the installation
of curbs, gutters and street lights. The board has maintained a city
dump for residents to deposit trash, and has organized community
cleanup efforts.
The Marysvale town government has played a particularly active role
in supporting the development of the community's youth and in
providing for community recreational activities. The board has
maintained various public facilities such as a park, dance hall, and
race track. The town board has sponsored Little League and Pony
League baseball, sponsored a man power program, organized fund
raisers, and financially supported many community activities. The
town board has supported or sponsored numerous holiday celebrations
such as Easter, July 4th, July 24th, and Christmas. Traditionally,
the town has been appropriately decorated for each Christmas season
and the board has sponsored decorating contests and arranged for
Santa Claus to visit every family with a gift of candy.
The town board voted not to participate in zoning and community
planning programs (1968). However, the town board has been active in
managing zoning related issues such as issuing building permits and
monitoring subdivision development.
ADMINISTRATION
A town board president (or mayor) and four trustees provide
leadership for Marysvale. The town board president, who is elected
by general municipal election, is the chief executive officer. He
presides over town board meetings and supervises all other city
officers. He signs all city ordinances and official contracts on
behalf of the city. The town board functions as a legislative
governing body for the community and is responsible for all aspects
of community management, such as appointing officials and setting
their salaries, levying taxes, establishing a budget, maintaining
public services and utilities, and regulating activity within the
community.
ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY
The town board appoints a number of town officers and defines their
responsibilities. By 1943 officers appointed by the Marysvale town
board included a town clerk, a town treasurer and a town marshal.
Town marshal was a full time paid position, and his responsibilities
included collecting water bills, maintaining the water system,
policing water usage, and in addition, collecting dog taxes, caring
for the cemetery, being a health officer, and managing stray
animals. The town board had so much difficulty retaining a marshal
that they later divided these responsibilities. In 1947 the
Marysvale town board appointed a superintendent of water works, a
superintendent of the park, and a supervisor of streets. The town
board appointed a town traffic marshal in 1954 (discontinued in
1956). In 1975 the offices of marshal and water master were combined
again, and the town board appointed a fire chief in 1980.
TOWN BOARD PRESIDENTS (MAYORS)
J.E. Oscarson 1943-1945
George J. Brox 1946-1953
John P. Fullmer 1954
Edward A. Hansen 1955-1961
Marion Ackerman 1962-1973
Pratt Seegmiller 1974
Walter Kennedy 1975
Brent O. Gottfredson 1976
Wayne G. James 1977-1981
Ken Wilson 1981-1985
Don Julander 1986-1989
Ronald Bushman 1990-1997
Gary James 1998- |
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