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Mayor’s Message November 2013 November is a great month to remember all the things we have to be thankful for in our lives. I count being a resident of Murray City as a blessing. We have wonderful, safe neighborhoods, countless opportunities for educational experiences, many recreational choices, and a thriving business community. We recently received notification that Murray City has been recognized as one of the top 100 best places to live in the country. We were one of three cities from Utah who were recognized, along with Salt Lake City and Provo. All of the features I mentioned are part of the criteria for this award. This is not something that is applied for, but is based upon an independent review from Livability, a group who generates lists of America’s best places to live and visit. I have been grateful for the opportunity to serve as your Mayor and for the trust you have placed in my hands. It has been an exhilarating experience to be part of the positive changes that have taken place through the years. Thank you for your indulgence as I have taken the chance to walk down memory lane in the Mayor’s Messages this year. This month I wanted to share some of the big events that took place in 2010. In our continued effort to focus on preparation, 125 City employees completed the Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) in 2010. We continue to offer this program to residents who are willing to help in case of emergency. A second landfill gas project was completed at the TransJordan Landfill, which provides an additional renewable power resource and was funded in part by the Federal Recovery and Reinvestment Act. With all the effort that was put into improvements to the Ken Price ball field, we had a second opportunity to host the Babe Ruth World Series. The great volunteers who participated were another reason we were again asked to host this event. Work was underway for the FrontRunner and a platform-to-platform stop with Trax at the Intermountain Medical Center. An initiative to create a Quiet Zone along the route was coordinated by our staff and resulted in an elimination of train whistles through populated areas of the valley. We worked on improving the visual appeal of the City by participating in the America in Bloom program and you joined me in the cleanup effort. The Big and Little Cottonwood creeks flooded in the spring, and again, you joined in to help your friends and neighbors who were impacted. We also helped those looking for affordable housing by beginning a partnership with NeighborWorks that continues to be very successful. It is great to look back and see what we accomplished together! Thank you for being the core of what makes a great city – concerned and caring residents. I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.