st. George —The community of Colorado City will ring in the new year with an official mayor that residents haven’t had since July 2022.
Longtime mayor Joseph Allred submitted his resignation on July 15, 2022, said town manager Vance Barlow. Allred did not give a reason for his resignation other than to “pursue other opportunities.”
Since Allred’s resignation, Donald Richter He served as acting mayor of a small town on the Utah-Arizona border, but did not run for re-election.
That all changed on December 12, 2022, when four newly elected councilors and one appointed councilor took office.
John Chatwin, Dalton Barlow, Alma Hammon and Howard Ream were selected for elected council positions. The appointed council position went to Jerusha Darger.
Barlow became deputy mayor and Ream became mayor.
Nathan Burnham and Thomas Holm remained on the City Council as their terms were not re-elected.
Ream and Hildale Mayor Donia Jessop told the St. George News about the importance of cooperation between the governments of the two Short Creek communities heading into the new year.Both mayors work in the same building.
“It’s essential that we work together,” Jessop said. “We are all working together. We are all working hard to make this a beautiful community. We are working together to make this a safe place.”
Ream stressed the importance of moving forward for the community, not the past.
“We want to focus on some positive things that are going on right now,” Reem said.
Ream grew up in the Short Creek area, but moved primarily to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he worked on construction sites. He recently returned and is currently in the Mojave Community.He works as a facilities manager for the College’s North Campus and has over 20 years of experience in utilities and facility maintenance.
Happily married with children and grandchildren, Ream loves spending time with her family riding bikes, fishing, hiking, camping and “enjoying the great outdoors.” I said.
He graduated from Southeastern University, majoring in Leadership, and graduated with honors from his class of 2020.
He also volunteers at The Log Cabin, a youth community center in the Short Creek area. Officially named the Common Grounds Center, the facility is a great supporter and resource for the community, the mayors said.The Center is under the direction of a non-profit organization Grace Raines.
Some of his goals as mayor are to provide a safe and healthy environment to support his family and to have healthy communication with his counterparts across the state by partnering in higher education. He also wants to bring economic growth and provide a place for the industry to grow within the community.
Short Creek has seen more economic and industrial growth in recent years. It also saw the expansion of the current business and the introduction of multiple other businesses within the community.
Ream said he is determined to leave the past behind and look to the present and the future, because Colorado City today is not the Colorado City of the past.
“It has been a monumental year for the City of Colorado and my appointment as Mayor of Colorado has been a highlight of my life. I have the opportunity to represent the city council.”
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