February 2020 | Vol. 02 Iss. 02
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‘WE CAME FROM NOTHING’
MAYOR REFLECTS IN FIRST STATE OF THE CITY SINCE RE-ELECTION By Kirk Bradford | k.bradford@mycityjournals.com
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I do solemnly swear that I will support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Utah, and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity.” During last month’s city council meeting, Millcreek celebrated its third trip around the sun performing the annual Oath of Office ceremony. The newly elected members Mayor Jeff Silvestrini, District 1 Councilwoman Silvia Catten and District 3 Councilwoman Cheri Jackson all recited the oath above. Following the ceremony, Silvestrini started the year’s first meeting thanking many people who have played a role in the recent election. He expressed his gratitude to his wife, Leslie, for the love and support she has provided and her willingness to make room in their lives for his position as mayor. “She’s my confidante, strategist and even sometimes my financial manager.” Following that short acknowledgment, Silvestrini began the State of the City address. “I love this place so much, it’s hard to talk about without getting choked up,” he said. He talked about the beginning stages of Millcreek’s foundation and incorporation, from starting out in a room that was half the size of the current City Council Chambers. Silvestrini smiled at the memory three years prior of purchasing the city’s first copy machine with his wife and the work she provided as an unpaid volunteer as Millcreek’s only city recorder the first six months. “We started from nothing, with no money, but it was a heck of a lot of fun,” said Silvestrini. “The state requires you
Mayor Jeff Silvestrini gives Millcreek’s third annual State of the City Address. (Kirk Bradford/City Journals)
establish a budget immediately after incorporation and I will say that it was a little more than just throwing darts. We had a feasibility study and the numbers from similar or surrounding areas. So piece by piece, things slowly came together.” Detailing their small budget and its progress over three years to its current budget of $25.5 million, Silvestrini said,
“Our budget is balanced. We have a fund balance and we are on a solid foundational footing. To save money, the city left the municipals district and police districts. The Millcreek police force went from six officers to 57 officers without any increased taxes to the citizens.” Silvestrini also discussed the various projects completed Continued page 5
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