Mayor predicts a bright, safe future

By Sun Advocate

With Price’s prosperity tucked tightly under his wing, Mayor Joe Piccolo has set his sights on making his city tops in safety, as well, in the coming year.
A group of about 30 Price City employees gathered in the auditorium Friday to hear the State of the City address and to honor some of their own for outstanding performances throughout the year. Before the mayor stepped up to share his message the city’s first lady paved the way.
“Right now we (Price) are 97 years old ,” Barbara Piccolo said. “What we have to make sure of is that we leave strong shoulders for our children to lean on, like the strong shoulders that came before us.”

She emphasized the progressive direction the city has taken under her husband’s “mayorship” and concluded that the administration needed to “move forward with an eye on the future and an ear to the past.”
As is custom in such moments, Mayor Piccolo started off his presentation with an expression of gratitude and acknowledgment of his colleagues.
He thanked his wife for standing by his side during the past year and gave a nod to officials present in the auditorium: Price councilmen Richard Tatton and Rick Davis, Police Chief Aleck Shilaos and Emery County Sheriff Lemar Guymon.
The mayor also gave the crowd a little present when he said that he would not bog his speech down with endless statistics on city departments and was providing a printed booklet that would do the job for him (please see page 2 for a sampling of facts and figures
However, before he even jumped into the overview of 2007 he had an additional acknowledgment to make.
Human resources specialist Dana Young was called to the podium to be introduced as Price City Employee of the Year.
“Dana exemplifies someone who always offers a helping hand,” the mayor said as he handed her the plague.
She responded to the recognition by telling the crowd she loved working for the city so much she wished he had started working 20 years earlier.
While Piccolo, for the most part, delivered a buoyant message it began on a sobering note.
“Last year our community showed courage in the face of adversity,” he said referring to the Crandall Canyon disaster. “As the tragedy of Aug. 6 unfolded our community banded together.”
With an air of reverence he then listed the six lost miners by name saying that they still lay entombed at the bottom of Crandall Canyon. He then spoke about the situation that occurred 10 days later.
“On Aug. 16 tragedy turned to catastrophe,” the mayor said of the day three rescuers lives were also lost.
Despite the sadness sparked by the memories, Piccolo infused a bit a light into the moment when he recognized Castleview administrator, Jeff Manley, for the way he managed the situation that arose on that day.
“He handled the tragedy with dignity for those families who lost loved ones by allowing them to be part of the process,” the mayor said.
Wresting further light from the painful moments in Price history, Piccolo said the tragedy also served as a catalyst for his main objective in 2008.
“I’ve developed a new desire to see a new safety culture in Price City,” he said.
His introduction of the zero tolerance policy for accidents and injuries lead to yet another recognition award, this time it went the street department for being the safest department of 2007.
While there were no more awards to be given, Piccolo was not done showing pride in his city’s employees.
“We had four of our employees who volunteered to help a very advanced aged resident of Price at the person’s home,” he said. “We also had a policeman who recently stopped and helped someone who was freezing to death on the side of the road and stayed with them making sure they were going to be alright.”
No state of the city would be complete without some financial overview, which came in a very succinct remark.
“I feel it necessary to report that we are financially sound, more so than any years in the past since I’ve been in office,” Piccolo said. “We can pay our bills and we are soundly in the black.”
Before leaving the podium he reiterated his emphasis on a safe new year. “Let’s strive for zero accidents and zero incidents,” he said.
And as he stepped away he gave the crowd one more salute.”On behalf of Barbara and myself we say thanks,” he said. “I am grateful to be your mayor.