Jeff Peterson knows Coalville is a friendly, family-values kind of town built on legacies — his own family ties going back at least four generations.
Peterson sees a lifetime of personal history when he looks around, including the electrical business he started half a decade ago and a stint as chairman of the Coalville Planning Commission around 2013, as well as a community on the cusp of change.
The lifelong resident is running for an open seat on the Coalville City Council with the hope of protecting the small-town spirit he’s grown up with by guiding growth without letting it define the area. Peterson wants to bring a “common sense” approach to city government and would ensure Coalville’s residents are the ones benefiting.
“I’ve been blue collar pretty much all my life, and I know what it’s like to get my hands dirty,” he said. “I’ve been here for 50 years roughly. I was kind of born and raised here, went to school here. My mom went to school here. My grandma went to school here.”
Peterson served on the Planning Commission before large development projects like Wohali came up. He mainly focused on updating city codes, giving him a keen understanding of the rules, as well as property subdivisions.
The then-planning commissioner eventually stepped down due to work obligations, though his interest in local politics never waned. With the potential for so much new growth, Peterson was keeping tabs on the City Council meetings to keep up to date with what’s happening in the city.
He described what he witnessed as a “circus.”
Peterson felt like there were a lot of topics the City Council was bringing to the table that weren’t helping the community, or issues that generated internal animosity.
For example, the City Council spent weeks debating whether to approve an ordinance outlining the responsibilities of councilors in comparison to the mayor, particularly regarding the distribution of appointment powers and operating procedures. The mayor retained the authority in the end.
Instead, Peterson said he wants to focus on things that matter. Like growth. If elected, he would be committed to keeping the character of Coalville while allowing for growth that’s done in a way that benefits residents rather than developers.
“I just want to try to keep it as small and rural, but still allowing it to grow. Because it’s going to grow. We’re too close to Park City for it not to,” Peterson said.
His platform is rooted in focusing on what’s best for the community and its residents, and allowing them to have a voice through their elected representatives. Peterson’s background in construction would also be an asset for the City Council with the amount of new development coming up, he said.
Being a business owner also means having thick skin and knowing how to communicate with a variety of people, according to Peterson. He said he’s able to stay level-headed through disagreements rather than taking things personally, has the ability to see both sides, and would look at issues with a forward-thinking approach.
Managing growth and working with developers would be Peterson’s No. 1 priority if elected. He wants to ensure there’s infrastructure in place before new homes are built.
“What’s going to benefit Coalville? What’s going to may not benefit Coalville now, but it’ll benefit it in the future,” Peterson said. “I’m trying to help kind of put the city’s money where it’s best going to be used, and not towards something that we’re not going to use for 40 years.”
Additionally, Peterson wants Coalville to invest in improving its sidewalks, particularly to the south of its boundaries. Updates on Main Street are needed, too. Peterson said he wants people coming to Coalville to have a great impression of the community.
Collaborating with the new mayor is also important. Peterson said city officials need to determine what topics they want to focus on and how best to spend money. One area he said officials need to consider more is affordable and senior housing as well as rentals, so locals aren’t priced out of the area when new development comes in.
Peterson said North Summit County hasn’t been as impacted by new growth as Park City or even South Summit, but it’s on the horizon. He’s in favor of slow, planned development that longtime residents can become accustomed to, rather than an influx of new homes all at once.
“When people stop talking is when a community goes downhill,” Peterson said. “That’s really what I’d like to keep. It’s just where people are just neighborly. … Be neighborly towards each other, versus standoffish.”
Peterson is among several candidates seeking one of two Coalville City Council seats on the November ballot. The other individuals who declared their candidacy are Steven Richins, Andrew Nelson, Matthew Boyer, Colleen Goodman and Chris Tomczyk.
A primary election will be held on Aug. 12 to cut the candidate field in half before the general election. Ballots were mailed on July 22.