Home Government Mayor's Office Elections Council Candidates April A. Mortensen
My name is April Mortensen and I am running for Logan Municipal Council, my Great Grandfather came to Cache Valley from Denmark and helped build the stairs in the Temple, St. Johns, the Needham house, and the house my Father grew up in. My family the Mortensen’s are a family of craftsman and have a lot invested in this valley.
My Father was a painting contractor and I worked with him and his crew for a number of years, painting is my trade, we painted many houses and buildings, among them the Historic Tabernacle in Downtown Logan. I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Utah State University and graduated with honors from the Political Science Honor Society.
While in college I helped write a bill that was presented to Governor Bangerter from the Intercollegiate Assembly. I met and spoke with a number of influential men in the political arena: Tip O’Neil, Wayne Owens, George Stephanopoulos, Newell Daines, all men with a passion for this great country.
I was involved with the International Student Association, rubbing shoulders with students from around the world with all different viewpoints and concerns. My daughter and I made over 600 Danish Pastries for the ISA Spring Banquet. I completed an internship with the Cache Metropolitan Planning Organization, I was the Chairman of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee over Landfill siting for 4+ years. While in this position we fought vigorously for curbside recycling, green waste and a better future for the trash of this valley with the new technology available.
I believe that we are at a critical point of growth for Cache Valley and Logan City and that the Municipal City Council members are the gatekeepers for the future of Logan City and the Valley as a whole. We need to build for the future, while not destroying our past; our parks, our tree’s, our historic Downtown and buildings, wildlife, agriculture the very unique and rich variety of this Valley and Town.
The Unique and Charming features of Downtown Logan need to be preserved for the enjoyment of its citizens, our children, our grand-children.
Safeguards need to be put in place by Code and by Ordinance to hold high density housing developers and financers accountable for their projects and the after math of the problems they create and leave behind. Too often they walk away and the homeowners, local businesses, school district, neighborhoods and local law enforcement are left to pick of the pieces and deal with the fall-out. (parking nightmares)
Grave thought should be given to zoning changes, variances and exceptions that were followed by existing property owners. The potential for a new tax base and the dangling of a potential million- dollar project should not out-weigh Due Process, Notice, Fairness and Uniform enforcement of code and ordinance.
Density housing when not built appropriately is destabilizing neighborhoods and causing a 50% transient rate in some local schools; putting too high a burden and cost on the shoulders of our School District and neighborhoods.
We need to attract new higher paying and higher quality businesses and jobs before building substandard density housing with no consequences to the builders, developers and financers. This is putting the cart before the horse, so to speak.
Preservation and sustainable living are more desirable than destruction and destabilization. When Crisis hits lets be the City and the Valley that not only survives but thrives. Cache Valley and Logan City are a unique, beautiful and desirable place to live, let’s keep it that way.
LET’S BUILD FOR THE FUTURE WHILE PRESERVING OUR PAST, NOT DESTROYING IT
MORTENSEN FOR LOGAN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
vote4april@gmail.com
1. Protection of EXISTING green spaces, parks, wildlife, historic features, and buildings 1st. New Growth 2nd.
2. Protection and preservation of EXISTIhomeownersers and local businesses 1st. New Growth 2nd.
3. Attract employers of higher density employees and higher wages 1st. Density Housing 2nd.
4. Uniform enforcement of code and ordinance, difficult YES! Impossible, NO! No 2nds.