Oakley residents will likely experience a transformation of the city center over the next few years after the City Council last week approved a site plan to develop the area into a walkable hub for community events and commercial spaces.

Steve Smith, a local businessman spearheading the project, estimated he had submitted at least 10 site plans to city officials over the past three years. The process isn’t over yet. Now, Smith’s development team is entering negotiations with the city attorney to create a formal development agreement, but last week’s vote indicates the City Council supports and plans to move forward with a redevelopment of the downtown core.

“My objective here from day one has been to create something that is both functional, economically feasible and sustainable and provides a great service to the community,” Smith told city councilors.

Smith’s proposal has changed dramatically over the years as Oakley city councilors, planning commissioners and residents expressed concerns over various aspects of the project, including traffic, safety along the S.R. 32 corridor and a potential loss of open space.

However, Smith’s most recent site plan altered the project to only focus on the properties sandwiched between Center Street and Weber Canyon Road, which he referred to as the North Block. He had previously proposed developing the South Block below Center Street as well, but his team dropped that aspect of the project in November.

“I really like this plan,” Smith said. “I think it accomplishes what everybody’s looking for.”

The now-approved site plan includes a building with almost 20,000 square feet of commercial space on the east side of Center Street. The building will house multiple businesses, including a hardware store, post office, bakery and pharmacy. It will also be the location of an expanded Ken’s Kash with 12,000 square feet of space.

The Oakley Town Hall will sit in the middle of Center Street, with a food pantry and small retail space slated for the western edge bordering S.R. 32. There will also be a privacy wall near the food pantry, which Smith said was one of the top requests residents made throughout the team’s public engagement sessions. He added that he wants to hire local artists to paint a mural on the wall to make it more visually appealing.

Another building with space for retail businesses will be to the north of the food pantry along S.R. 32. Smith said half of the building will be dedicated to a two-story restaurant with outdoor patio seating on the second floor. The rest of the structure will house offices and commercial space.

“It could be a dentist’s office. It could be an attorney’s office. It could be an art studio,” Smith said. “Any of those things make sense in terms of serving the community, and we would certainly want to be very reflective of the services that could come in and be right here in Oakley.”

Smith said his team hasn’t settled on anything specific for the restaurant, which will be close enough to the Oakley Diner to share utilities and freezer space, but he said he hopes it will become a location for “authentic pizza and pasta.”

“We don’t want any of what we would call ‘national brands’ here,” Smith said. “We want local artisans, specialty shops and reasons for people to come to Oakley. That’s the kind of thing that would be most attractive to us, and we think would actually invite people in and keep them coming back.”

The northwest corner of Weber Canyon Road will have another smaller building for retail stores and a soda or coffee shop. The shop will have a drive-thru, but it will only be accessible from the city center, not Weber Canyon Road, after city councilors and residents said they were anxious about traffic congestion and pedestrian safety.

Smith said his team also removed a connecting road from Weber Canyon Road to Center Street, which would have run through the city center’s middle. He said he was concerned that people would use the road as a thoroughfare to replace S.R. 32, making the development more dangerous for shoppers and other drivers.

The developers changed the site plan so the open space previously located in the middle of the city center is now on the outskirts near the Oakley Diner. Smith said that helps with potential traffic congestion, too. The acre of open space also includes a pavilion, and Smith suggested the city could close the parking lot and use the pavilion to host community events.

Smith’s team removed housing from the city center plan as well, telling city councilors that including housing units made the project too complicated, especially when considering overnight parking.

City councilors said they were impressed with Smith’s willingness to listen to officials’ and residents’ concerns to draft a plan everyone could support in its early phases. They unanimously approved the site plan, but that doesn’t mean construction will start soon.

First, the city and Smith’s legal team need to create a development agreement, which will likely include a timeline for phasing the project. The Planning Commission will then hold a public hearing, review the development agreement and forward it to the City Council with a negative or positive recommendation.

The City Council will hold its own public hearing, giving residents a second opportunity to weigh in on the agreement, before making a final decision.

Smith previously said he expected negotiations over the development agreement to last a few months, and he told the City Council last week that it would take at least a year for an architect to finish the city center blueprints.

The post Oakley City Council approves city center site plan after three years of negotiations appeared first on Park Record.

Oakley residents are concerned about a proposal for a commercial horse stable, riding arena and event center on Boulderville Road, but the couple spearheading the project have said the facility will only be open to a select team of young riders, not the general public.

“We are looking to build a private barn and riding facility for a small group of riders, primarily kids, who have trained together for years,” Kim Raduenz told the Eastern Summit County Planning Commission last week. “We have been bounced around from barn to barn over the years as different leases change or different facilities close, and we’re building this so that we have the stability that we need to operate as a team.”

Raduenz proposed the facility along with her husband, Tim, and their 12-year-old daughter, Parker, who is a rider on the team in question. However, the property on Boulderville Road is zoned for agricultural and residential use, leading to the family’s request for a conditional use permit to authorize commercial operations on the property.

A county staff report on the proposal indicated the family wants to build a 24,000-square-foot indoor riding arena and a 6,900-square-foot stable, which would have approximately 1,000 square feet designated as a living area for a future farmhand. Another 2,400-square-foot building would be used for equipment storage, with a second 1,600-square-foot auxiliary building reserved for hay storage.

“This is a private facility. This will focus on riding, riding lessons and horse care,” Raduenz said. “This is about creating a safe space for the kids to grow and learn and ride. … For most kids, this is their primary activity and their primary community. This is where they spend their time. This is where they set goals. This is where they build their confidence.”

Raduenz said the family does not intend to host weddings, receptions, family reunions or other large events at the event center. Instead, she said events would be invite-only and limited to activities related to riding, such as horse clinics or small shows.

Planning Commissioner David Darcey asked Raduenz about the scope of the facility’s customer base, saying he was worried about noise and traffic disrupting nearby neighbors. But Raduenz said the family’s application listed a maximum of 25 riders per day, with only 12 “visitors,” who will most likely be the parents of riders taking lessons.

“I can tell you that, operationally, we’ve all been riding together for three-plus years, and that amount of people is rare, if ever,” Raduenz added. “We’re just trying to give ourselves the ability to play finely by the rules and not dip our toe outside of anything.”

Raduenz said the process of filing an application with the county was difficult because the facility the family wants to build occupies an in-between space in the county’s code. It doesn’t qualify as a private use because money will exchange hands to pay for boarding fees, but it also doesn’t qualify as an agricultural property because it won’t be producing food.

Amir Caus, a county planner, said a conditional use permit with commercial operations on the property was the most efficient solution for the Planning Department as a result.

Planning Commission Chair Alex Peterson expressed frustration with the Summit County Code and asked county staff if it would be possible to explore amendments to govern riding facilities. He said he wanted to support riding because of its cultural significance and history along the Wasatch Back, but he said the commercial designation didn’t feel like the right fit, especially because the permit would be tied to the land, not the Raduenz family.

“It’s what happens with the property afterward, once it’s been approved for commercial use, and the next attempt at commercial use is not just a riding team, it’s somebody actually running a rodeo grounds next to these properties,” Peterson said. “I feel like that’s the fear that’s being expressed.”

Neighboring property owners had similar anxieties about the project during a public hearing, telling the Planning Commission that they believed the training facility would change the character of the agricultural community.

“This would bring a huge reduction in the peaceful enjoyment and quality of life for nearby residents,” said Tina Lazenby, who lives to the west of the property. “This area was established as an agricultural and low-density community, not a commercial entertainment corridor. Approving this commercial event center would set a very concerning precedent and erode the neighborhood’s rural character. It would also undermine the intended purpose of agricultural zoning.”

Shawn Horman, who also lives in the neighborhood, said the Raduenz family had been proactive in contacting nearby property owners about their proposal, but he said what was told to neighbors is different from the application presented to the Planning Commission. Horman said neighbors were told the family would build a residence, a stable for 10 to 12 horses and an indoor riding arena with shelters.

“There’s a lot of mentioning of intention, and that’s great, but if there’s a conditional use permit given, intentions can change over time,” Horman said. “This is what they originally told us. Now, it’s something different, so it’s hard to picture that it won’t change, even though they say their intentions are certain.”

Neighbors generally expressed concerns about noise and traffic, with multiple speakers pointing out the increase in cars and the potential for parents and spectators to park on the side of the road. They also said they were nervous the noise generated by events and group activities would negatively affect livestock on smaller properties nearby.

But Augusta Clark, the horse trainer in charge of the program, reiterated that the team does not want to host rodeos or public events. She called Raduenz “the greatest rule follower” and said the commercial designation is to make sure the facility can legally charge families for boarding their horses on the property.

“It is a commercial property in the sense that we are teaching lessons there,” Clark said. “If we were to not make it commercial, then you would err on the side of, ‘Well, is this even legal to teach lessons there?’”

Clark also emphasized the importance of having an indoor riding arena available to her students so they can still train in the winter, saying most of her riders are trying to “get to the top of the sport,” which means they need consistent access to a physical space.

“We are genuinely, from the bottom of our hearts, trying to build something that is beautiful, aesthetic to the environment, sensitive to the environment, but more than anything, sensitive to those who live on the street because I, too, have been in the position where what I thought I was moving into changed,” Clark said.

Planning Commissioner Bridget Hayes pointed out that most speakers’ concerns were tied to the event center, and she asked if the Raduenz family would be comfortable removing the event center from the conditional use permit. If so, the family could still receive a permit for the stables and riding arena for students to train.

“The events were never intended at all to cause an issue, and we want to be good neighbors,” Raduenz responded. “Let’s just get rid of it, and if we want an event, we’ll come back for a (special event) permit. … It’s the least important thing to us of this entire thing.”

Deputy County Attorney Helen Strachan recommended revisiting the application in two weeks to remove any language regarding the event center from the conditional use permit and facility’s operating plan to ensure the two are in alignment.

The Planning Commission will discuss the proposal — and hold an additional public hearing — on May 21 at the County Courthouse in Coalville.

The post Residents concerned about size, traffic impacts of proposed riding arena on Boulderville Road appeared first on Park Record.

The Oakley City Council intends to create a master transportation plan to guide future development and traffic calming measures in conjunction with the S.R. 32 Corridor and City Centers Plan.

The S.R. 32 Corridor and City Centers Plan was a collaborative effort among Oakley, Kamas, Francis, the Utah Department of Transportation and Summit County to establish a holistic vision of development and connectivity in the Kamas Valley. However, the drafted plan, which was publicized in November, is mostly a recommendation rather than a blueprint for a large-scale construction project.

“This study came about because the plan for State Road 32 was an expansion,” explained city planner Stephanie Woolstenhulme. “None of the communities were in support of that, so we were looking at different ways to make it possible to keep State Road 32 functioning as a two-lane highway.”

The S.R. 32 plan analyzed land use, transportation and economic factors to determine strategies to better traffic flow and improve infrastructure while still retaining the Kamas Valley’s rural character and the unique identities of each municipality. It also included recommendations for each municipality regarding growth and development in the city centers, a project the Oakley City Council has already been exploring in its negotiations with local businessman Steve Smith.

Woolstenhulme said the plan and the feedback the city received from residents “wasn’t that surprising” in terms of the major areas of concern along S.R. 32. Community members mostly remarked on speeding and pedestrian safety, as well as a desire to protect agriculture and open space.

Specifically, Woolstenhulme said the S.R. 32 Corridor and City Centers Plan recommended retaining open space between Democrat Alley and the state road. However, Democrat Alley was also mentioned in the plan as a potential location for a future bypass to avoid S.R. 32 altogether.

Other traffic calming measures included three roundabouts in Oakley, which the City Council seemed to favor over stoplights. The roundabouts, as proposed in the plan, all intersect with S.R. 32, with one located on Boulderville Road, the second on Cow Alley and the third on Bench Road.

“We didn’t dive too deep into this because it’s obviously a very hot topic and we don’t want to alarm the public, but we need to help people understand that in order to keep State Route 32 where it is, we do have to start considering these other transportation measures,” Woolstenhulme said.

She suggested the City Council work with staff to create its own master transportation plan outlining how the municipality wants to approach future infrastructure improvements and changes.

“We need to understand what that overlay looks like as far as land acquisition, as far as the space needed for (roundabouts), as far as if they would work and if they would really add to our community,” Woolstenhulme said. “We don’t want something that is just for traffic. We want it to enhance the overall feeling of projects coming in and out of Oakley and in our city center, too.”

Woolstenhulme said adopting a master transportation plan would give UDOT the greenlight to initiate feasibility studies on installing roundabouts on S.R. 32. It would also give the city direction in approving other developments and guiding the growth of the area.

“Knowing what we want ahead of time allows us to be proactive in the process early rather than trying to snatch up properties that we need or, heaven forbid, kicking somebody off their property or anything like that,” Woolstenhulme said.

The City Council favored exploring its options sooner rather than later, citing ongoing safety concerns, especially for pedestrians.

“With this whole thing being a skeleton for future growth possibilities, I think transportation is the backbone of it,” said City Councilor Amy Regan. “To have that conceptualized is probably the most important part of this right now.”

The City Council voted to accept the results of the S.R. 32 Corridor and City Centers Plan in addition to creating a localized master transportation plan. City councilors also stated a desire to start internally exploring the feasibility of installing roundabouts in the city before contacting UDOT for an official study.

There was no approximate timeline given regarding when a draft of the master transportation plan will be available.

The post Oakley to develop localized master transportation plan to guide future growth appeared first on Park Record.

A fire in Oakley on Monday night spread to the roof of a building and spurred an emergency response from four local fire departments.

The South Summit Fire District was notified around 8 p.m. of a structure fire in Oakley. It was classified as a “working incident,” and the Wasatch Fire District responded to assist.

The Wasatch Fire District said in a social media post that the fire was quickly knocked down in the interior of the building, but it had already spread to the roof and attic.

“This was particularly challenging due to the high vaulted ceiling, as well as the roof being a corrugated metal,” the department said. “It had snowed recently, which made the roof a slip hazard, as it was also steep.”

The Park City Fire District and North Summit Fire District were then contacted as additional assistance to help access the roof. Ultimately, firefighters were able to get the blaze under control.

The cause is still under investigation.

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The master plan to develop Oakley’s downtown core has changed at least three times in the past six months, but the City Council appears poised to move forward with the project after an overwhelmingly positive response to the latest — and dramatically downsized — blueprint.

Steve Smith, a local businessman spearheading the Oakley City Center development, submitted his overhauled plan last week. The revised document scrapped half of the previously proposed project, eliminating all development south of Center Street other than the revitalization of the Brooklawn Creamery.

The development team said the change was the result of feedback from the community regarding the scope of the project and a general lack of “appetite” for development on the South Block. Plans for the North Block have also been reduced based on comments from residents and city officials.

The updated blueprint now shows the Oakley Diner in its current location on the northwest corner of S.R. 32 and Weber Canyon Road. To the east is space for another restaurant and a mixed-use building, with four apartment units on the second floor and room for four retail stores on the ground floor.

The post office is south of the Oakley Diner on S.R. 32, and a park occupies the center of the North Block.

A food pantry and space for Amazon storage lockers are slated for the corner of Center Street and S.R. 32. The town hall is to the east, sandwiched between the lockers and a building reserved for Ken’s Kash Market and a hardware store.

There are entrances to the City Center from Center Street, S.R. 32 and Weber Canyon Road, but the development team said the roads and easements were specifically designed to increase pedestrian safety and decrease vehicular traffic.

Developers also told the City Council that they had removed some of the previously planned retail options after questions about Oakley’s ability to sustain the number of proposed businesses, as well as concerns from community members over rapid growth in the Kamas Valley.

The design presented to the Planning Commission in August featured a convenience store, car wash and gas station with 16 pumps on the west side of S.R. 32, as well as a diner, grocery store, post office, town hall, food bank and retail spaces on the opposite side. The blueprints additionally outlined apartment buildings and a series of parking lots with more than 400 total spaces.

City councilors immediately told the development team they preferred the revised master plan to any of its previous iterations. They had relatively little feedback for the developers compared to past meetings, with only one city councilor mentioning a desire for walking paths that aren’t only “curb-adjacent sidewalks” along the three main roads.

Further details, including how the city will transfer land to the developers to begin work on the project, will be ironed out in conversations between the development team, the city planner and the city attorney. The three parties will then draft a development agreement, which the City Council will revise.

The Planning Commission and City Council both plan to hold public hearings on the development agreement as the project progresses. However, the City Council said it doesn’t expect the drafted document to be available until January at the earliest.

The post Oakley City Council supports latest city center development proposal appeared first on Park Record.

Oakley voters delivered a decisive rebuke on Tuesday, ousting Mayor Zane Woolstenhulme in an overwhelming defeat and ending his shot at a second term.

Challenger Steve Wilmoth, who has served on the Oakley City Council for nearly a decade, earned almost double the incumbent’s total, according to unofficial election results. Wilmoth earned 435 votes, or more than 67%, compared to Woolstenhulme’s 210 votes, or about 33%. The wide margin reflects a shift among residents, many of whom appeared frustrated with the direction of the Oakley City Center project in recent months.

“I was taken aback and disappointed by the election outcome. What I’d hoped would be at least a two-mile race has turned into a mile run,” Woolstenhulme said in a statement. “I’m committed to serving diligently to the end of my term. I congratulate Steve Wilmoth and other newly elected members of the City Council and will do all I can to support them.”

The incumbent added that he is honored to have served as mayor and is proud of what the community has accomplished over the past four years. He said that would not have been possible without a transparent, collaborative effort.

“Oakley’s future is bright! For my part, I will always be willing to serve the community in any way that I can,” Woolstenhulme said.

Wilmoth admitted he also expected a closer race. But he said he didn’t feel nervous because his campaign was built on ensuring residents feel like their voices are heard. He spent Election Night bowling with his wife and friends, focused on being present in the moment rather than the results.

Leading up to the vote, Wilmoth spent a lot of time meeting with residents to hear their concerns. He hosted “town hall” style neighborhood meetings and went door-to-door. Wilmoth also praised and thanked everyone who supported him and stepped up, especially after the death of his father in the midst of the campaign.

The city center project was a top concern for voters, and the candidate’s approach to the topic appears to be a major defining point in the election.

While Woolstenhulme strived to make progress on the city center and hoped to complete a development agreement if re-elected, Wilmoth’s approach encouraged taking more time to ensure a proper plan is in place. 

The message voters delivered on Election Day was that they wanted to see change. Wilmoth said residents may differ in what they actually want in the project, but the overall ideas and visions are similar.

The mayor-elect said he feels humbled by the support he received. His biggest fear is letting residents down, and Wilmoth said he won’t allow that to happen.

He recognized there is a lot of work to do to help manage growth and preserve Oakley’s small-town character, address the town center redevelopment and infrastructure upgrades, and foster civic engagement. Wilmoth will spend the next few weeks preparing a plan for how to start when he enters the mayor’s office.

“I think we can do it,” he said.

Wilmoth recognized that change is inevitable, so he likes to embrace it. After “moving the cheese,” he hopes community members and staff feel refreshed and renewed with a new administration.

There will also be two new city councilors: Christopher Dillman and Amy Regan.

Dillman was the top vote-getter with 442 votes, or 39%, while Regan garnered 385 votes, or 34%. Voters did not elect Kerbee Leavitt to the City Council; Leavitt received 303 votes, or almost 27%. 

Dillman’s campaign focused on cautious growth in Oakley and bridging a disconnect between city officials and the community. Regan, meanwhile, hopes to preserve small-town charm while addressing growth and infrastructure needs.

Regan said she is grateful for the support of her friends and neighbors in Oakley. She was able to meet with many voters to hear their concerns and said going door-to-door was helpful.

Wilmoth said he is excited to work with Dillman, whom he knows through the Oakley Rodeo Committee, and is looking forward to the perspective Regan will bring to the City Council. He welcomed the chance to bring new people with new ideas to government, especially with important issues such as the city center project at the forefront. 

“We’ll keep this small town rolling in the right direction,” Wilmoth said.

All election results are preliminary until certified in mid-November.

The post Oakley voters elect new leadership amid debate over growth, town center appeared first on Park Record.

An Oakley man accused of strangling his wife has been sentenced to at least 10 years in prison.

Kevin D. Wilde, 64, was originally charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Summit County’s Third District Court after attacking his elderly wife and fleeing the state in July 2024. All four felony charges included domestic violence enhancements.

However, Wilde entered a guilty plea in August, agreeing to a first-degree felony conviction for aggravated sexual assault in return for all other charges in the case being dismissed.

The punishment for the aggravated sexual assault charge is lengthier than it would have been for attempted murder, which has a minimum sentence of three years in prison, leading to the guilty plea compromise and dropped charges.

Summit County Third District Judge Richard Mrazik on Friday sentenced Wilde to at least 10 years with a possibility of life in prison, according to court documents. Wilde is also required to pay approximately $2,386 in restitution in addition to complying with a continuous protective order preventing him from contacting his wife.

Wilde was found in Montana about 24 hours after the couple’s adult son reported the assault to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies at the time said incapacitating injuries delayed the woman’s ability to communicate the assault.

Charging documents stated Wilde asked the woman to engage in sexual activity on the afternoon of July 22, 2024, and he became upset when she declined. He then pushed her down a flight of stairs leading to their basement, prosecutors said.

Wilde reportedly assaulted the woman and strangled her with both hands. The woman was able to stand up after Wilde stopped. She picked up a crescent wrench and told him to leave. However, Wilde overpowered her and began “striking her on [the] head and face.”

Prosecutors said the woman fell again, and Wilde continued to beat her.

“[She] believed he was trying to kill her and that she was going to die. She tried to remain motionless during the assaults … until she believed he thought she was dead,” court documents said.

The woman heard Wilde go into their kitchen and suspected he was washing blood off the wrench as well as himself before he left. Wilde took the woman’s phone, and she summoned help using Facebook Messenger.

Deputies observed deep lacerations to the woman’s face and blood covering her upper body when they arrived. Her right eye was also swollen shut. She was transported to a Salt Lake hospital, where medical staff discovered nasal, cheek and dental fractures.

A bag with a large amount of cash, clothes, charging cables, toiletries, medical devices and clothing Wilde was believed to be wearing during the attack was found on the kitchen table. He was not at the scene when law enforcement arrived, and his location was unknown until his arrest in Montana about 24 hours after the alleged assault.

Summit County investigators tracked Wilde using bank transaction information and license plate recognition technology. A tip led them to believe he traveled through Idaho toward Montana, where he was eventually arrested.

The post Oakley man sentenced to at least 10 years in prison after strangling wife appeared first on Park Record.

Longtime Oakley City Councilman Steve Wilmoth’s dedication to public service is rooted in gratitude and a passion to preserve the community’s unique character as it faces future growth.

Wilmoth has spent 24 years in Oakley and nearly a decade on the City Council. Voters have backed him during two previous elections, and now he’s asking for their support in his run for mayor.

“I love my town, I really do,” he said. “I think our town separates itself from everybody else because of the people. We have such amazing people in our town who are willing to help.”

Wilmoth was born and raised in Roy in Weber County and attended Weber State University. He started with a lumber company back in 1987 and married his wife, Carla, in 1992. 

The couple originally wanted to move to the Wasatch Back, but Wilmoth recalled there weren’t enough jobs then and it wasn’t affordable to commute. Wilmoth worked his way up the career ladder, advancing into management, with work taking him from Utah to Colorado in the late 1990s.

He spent a few years in the Centennial State before he received a call asking him if he knew where Heber City is. Wilmoth said it was the perfect fit.

Oakley had everything: a rural, small-town life nestled in the beautiful mountains. Wilmoth was immediately charmed by the home he toured, and the couple has lived there ever since.

Wilmoth now manages a lumber yard in Heber for Sunpro, a local company. He credits his experience managing people and business for shaping his leadership style both professionally and in his public service. Wilmoth added that he is known for his candor and prefers to speak unscripted, lending to his desire to speak from the heart.

Wilmoth and his wife experienced a tragedy 11 years ago that led the community to come together to support them, igniting his love for Oakley. Wilmoth said he feels blessed to live where he does.

In 2016, an Oakley city councilor resigned and a vacancy needed to be filled. Wilmoth said several people told him he should put in for it. He didn’t really want to be involved in politics, but his wife encouraged him to consider it.

“She told me, ‘You’ve always said you don’t know how you would ever say thank you to everybody in this town that helped us out through our trying time. … Maybe this is what you’re supposed to do,’” Wilmoth recalled. 

A handful of other residents asked to be appointed, but Wilmoth was ultimately selected. He ran for his first full term in the 2017 election and for reelection in 2021.

Wilmoth has prioritized community engagement during his tenure, striving to encourage residents to speak up and become involved so their voices are heard. He’s an advocate for involving the public in decision-making and strives for transparency in City Council operations. 

The city councilman said he has an open-door policy and wants to foster an environment where there’s respect for differing viewpoints. Wilmoth isn’t afraid to say what he doesn’t like, but said he’s always open to hearing feedback and other perspectives. He added that it’s important for there to be discussion and thoughtful dialogue between officials and residents regarding the issues in the community.

“What we need to fight for is what we want in our town. To me, politics doesn’t have a lot to do with it. It’s (a town of about) 1,700 people trying to figure out how to get together and come up with one common goal,” Wilmoth said.

His City Council work has focused on managing Oakley’s growth while preserving its small-town character. Wilmoth has tackled infrastructure projects like improvements to the town’s water system, addressing housing and development issues, as well as treating city resources with care. Lately, the city center concept has also been a major topic of discussion. 

Wilmoth said he isn’t opposed to the development, but he wants to see a phased approach with a proper plan to ensure the project’s success. 

He added that he wants more collaboration from residents, too. He recognized the city won’t be able to achieve what everybody wants, but officials still value their input to help shape Oakley into what the community wants it to be.

Now, at the end of his second term, Wilmoth said he decided to run against incumbent Mayor Zane Woolstenhulme to ensure there was a contested election. Wilmoth said he’s committed to serving with integrity — win or lose. He also believes his experience on the City Council and direct management style will be an asset to Oakley in the coming years.

If elected, Wilmoth would view his role as mayor as a conductor who helps guide the City Council and pubic through decisions. 

His top priorities would be the town center redevelopment, infrastructure upgrades, especially for sewer and roads, and fostering civic engagement. He advocated for smart, gradual growth and wants to preserve the small, rural, quaint town that residents value. Wilmoth also wants to promote the spirit of volunteerism and pointed to the Oakley Rodeo — he’s the man behind the fireworks — as an example of ways to become involved.

Wilmoth said Oakley is special because it’s beautiful, unique and full of passion.

“I’ve lived a lot of places in my life. … I’ve never lived anywhere like Oakley, never. I love it. I’m sure people just roll their eyes when I say that, but I truly do,” Wilmoth said.

Voters will elect either Wilmoth or Woolstenhulme in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The post Oakley City Councilor Steve Wilmoth’s run for mayor is rooted in gratitude, community spirit appeared first on Park Record.

Civic service runs in the Woolstenhulme family. Grandfather Elmo, father Ken and brother Wade all served terms as mayor of Oakley, so it was natural for the eldest Zane to continue the legacy four years ago.

Woolstenhulme, the town’s incumbent mayor, is a fourth-generation resident. His great-great-grandfather was one of the first settlers in the Kamas Valley, and Woolstenhulme’s great-grandfather raised the family in Oakley — a tradition continued by his grandfather, father and himself.

“I have memories of the very first mayor of Oakley. I was a little kid at my grandma’s house, and she used to feed him breakfast once in a while,” Woolstenhulme said. “I’ve always had a keen desire, innate, if you will, to serve.”

The Woolstenhulme family has an extensive history of community involvement, and the mayor recalled growing up and helping with city service projects, as well as the Fourth of July Rodeo. Woolstenhulme’s father, uncle Dutch and Gerald Young were instrumental in transforming the event into what it is today.

When Woolstenhulme wasn’t attending school, he was helping out in Ken’s Kash, which his dad bought when he was around 12, and on the family farm. 

Woolstenhulme graduated in 1977. He attended Ricks College (now Brigham Young University-Idaho) before transferring to Brigham Young University in Provo and serving a mission in Toulouse, France. 

Then Woolstenhulme returned home. He married and transferred to the University of Utah in 1981, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Woolstenhulme started working as an accountant in the administrative data processing department at the university. 

No matter where he was living or what he was doing, Woolstenhulme always returned home to help with the family business. 

Woolstenhulme learned about a job opening in the South Summit School District in 1988, which is around the time the district was considering building a new high school. He was hired on as the business administrator and helped facilitate the construction project, as well as additions to the elementary and middle schools.

From about 1989 to 2008, Woolstenhulme served on the Oakley Planning Commission. He worked on the Serenity Ranch project, which later became Elk Meadows Assisted Living and Memory Care, and subsequently Chateau Recovery, and the Oakley School, now Newport Academy. He was also involved in plans to develop a concept or master plan for the town’s center.

Woolstenhulme is most proud of his work on the North Bench Farms subdivision because the Planning Commission was able to negotiate with the developer to donate 13 building lots to the Mountainlands Community Housing Trust for affordable housing in the area through the self-help-build program.

He was instrumental in running Ken’s Kash for a decade while his parents were in Perth, Australia. Woolstenhulme said that experience gave him an appreciation for local businesses, especially in a small community. 

But in 2008, Woolstenhulme’s father became very ill. Woolstenhulme had already taken a job with the Logan City School District, so the family decided to sell the business, and Woolstenhulme moved to Cache County.

He maintained his home in Oakley, though, because he always planned to return.

Woolstenhulme accepted a position with the Ogden City School District in 2014. He said his professional career is helpful as the chief executive officer of Oakley, where the budget is about one one-hundredth of what he manages for the school district.

When he returned to Oakley in 2019, Woolstenhulme was appointed to the Planning Commission and became chairman. He recalled the center of town appeared in disarray, and Woolstenhulme helped resurrect the plans for the city center. People either loved or hated it from the start, but they could see the importance of “doing something.”

Woolstenhulme recognized criticism that there wasn’t a request for proposal for the property, saying officials were not legally obligated to, and that the developer already owned much of the land. He added he never heard from any other interested parties.

His theory of managing growth is that the city needs to have a plan in place that lays out the expectations for people moving in. Woolstenhulme said Oakley has a strong General Plan, which was adopted in 2021 before he took over as mayor, that articulates the community’s vision for the future. The code protects agricultural rights and property rights while guiding the rules for development.

“I can remember riding the horse through town with my cousins. We talked back when we were kids, ‘We should put a big, high fence around this town,’” Woolstenhulme said. “But if the town is not growing, it’s dying.”

Woolstenhulme cited the following accomplishments during his first term as mayor: a new well, expanded open space and trails, more recreation, increased law enforcement, improved rodeo and increased investment, progress on the city center, and facilitating a draft plan for capital improvement projects. 

If reelected, Woolstenhulme wants to complete a development agreement for the city center, create a finance plan to start addressing the infrastructure needs highlighted in the capital improvements plan, such as water and sewer, and promote housing affordability through efforts such as zoning, density and different types of construction. His approach is to develop a plan for the future with informed, deliberate decisions that are data-driven, not from the gut.

“We reverence the past, we embrace the present, and we are planning for tomorrow,” he said.

Woolstenhulme is running against current Oakley City Councilor Steve Wilmoth for mayor. Voters will pick one on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The post Mayor Zane Woolstenhulme strives to continue steady stewardship of Oakley appeared first on Park Record.

Kerbee Leavitt’s deep family roots in Oakley fuel her passion for preserving the town’s close-knit, rural character.

Her campaign for Oakley City Council is focused on honoring the community’s tradition, protecting its agricultural heritage and championing a community where everyone’s voice is heard.

“I’m by far not a politician, but I am a mom, a hard worker and someone who cares deeply about this community and its people,” she said. “I believe that we should put faith, family and community first.”

Leavitt was raised between Oakley, in her grandparents’ house, and outside of Preston, Idaho. Her family heritage is steeped in the area’s agricultural and ranching traditions. Her grandfather, former Mayor Ken Woolstenhulme, was instrumental in making Oakley what it is, having been a lifelong farmer, businessman and cowboy. He had a strong influence on Leavitt, who fondly remembers walking around town and attending the Oakley Rodeo celebrations growing up.

After graduating from high school in Idaho, Leavitt attended cosmetology and beauty schools. She earned a few certifications and eventually became an instructor. She opened her own salon in Nevada and worked across several states, like Texas, for major rodeos and companies. Leavitt said her time traveling around to different Western communities exposed her to what does, and doesn’t, work for small towns.

Leavitt returned to Oakley for a visit in 2014. Her grandmother was developing Alzheimer’s, so Leavitt stayed to help provide care. That later inspired Leavitt to transition her career to nursing, which she maintains alongside event planning. Leavitt has an active role in organizing rodeos and community events, including support for military veterans and first responders. 

She married her husband in 2016, and the couple has two children they are raising in Leavitt’s grandparents’ house.

Leavitt previously ran for City Council in 2023 and said she was motivated to take action and give back to the community. She emphasized the importance of volunteering, which is why she’s campaigning for a second time. This time, though, she’s more committed and focused.

Her platform is centered around preserving Oakley’s rural character, family lands and traditions rather than development. Leavitt advocates for limited growth and said she’s opposed to large-scale apartment developments. Leavitt said in Oakley, it’s an affordability problem rather than a supply one.

For example, her vision for the city center project would be careful and community-oriented. She said she doesn’t want to sacrifice Oakley’s heritage, even if it would generate revenue for the city. She said there needs to be a give and take.

While there’s a level of convenience that would come from having a hardware store or car wash in Oakley, Leavitt said it may not be worth it if it threatens the rural community — especially when Kamas is a few miles away. Officials could consider alternatives to increasing revenue, such as events that bring tourism, instead. She was in favor of improving the grocery store.

“I want to hold true to our values and our traditions. I want to make those that came before us — that put that gas station there, that put that grocery store there in the first place — make them proud,” Leavitt said. “Make it into something that benefits the town and the community without overdoing it to where we lose our center of style. … If we’re going to keep Dutch’s and Ken’s names on it, I think we need to do them justice and do them proud. I think it’s always good to take a step back, pause, and say, ‘OK, how would they do it?’”

If elected, Leavitt’s immediate goals would be to improve transparency and participation. She wants residents to feel like they’re being heard and wants to refine the public input process so people aren’t discouraged from being involved. She emphasized the importance of civic engagement and increased community dialogue.

Leavitt also wants to examine what infrastructure improvements, such as sewage, are needed. She’s also interested in exploring opportunities for grants and donations for funding capital improvement projects rather than raising taxes or taking on debt.

She pledges to be a dedicated, hardworking council member grounded in community values. Leavitt said she would commit to finding the best solution for residents if elected.

To Leavitt, Oakley means home, family and patriotism.

Leavitt is one of three candidates running for Oakley City Council. The others are Amy Regan and Christopher Dillman. Voters will elect two on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The post Kerbee Leavitt seeks to preserve rural heritage on the Oakley City Council appeared first on Park Record.