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Show AAf. S IbegDEms new tierm s Veml's Mr. Mayor; K says "Mr S" above the door, but "Good morning, Mr. Mayor," is more eommonly heard in Sam Snyder's clothing store on Vemal's main street. In the clothing business for 21 years, Snyder has been involved in city government for the past 14, seven and a half years as a city councilman and the last six and a half years as Vernal's mayor. This month he begins another term. "I think anyone m business should t serve in some type of city govera-.. govera-.. meat position," Snyder Said. "I've become knowledgable of situations in the community and more tolerant of people." Snyder got his start in Vernal's government when he realized he was making criticisms and not doing anything about the problems the growing community was having, he said. "So I decided to helpsolve some of the problems," he added. "At times it's frustrating, and at other times it's very .rewarding." Some of the rewarding aspects of the , job include his appointment to the . Governor's Advisory Council on Community Affairs, on which Snyder .has served for three years and has . recently been re-appointed for another four-year term. The statewide committee com-mittee made up of mayors and county ( commissioners from different parts of the state meets once a month and meets with the governor every other month. "It brings more people together to solve common problems," he said. Some of the problems the committee . has dealt with include zoning, land use planning, and taxation. "Some of the recommendations we make to the J governor are adopted as policy. It's very rewarding." Another opportunity Snyder has had this year was attending the groundbreaking ground-breaking ceremony of the IPP project including, he said, what will probably be the largest open pit mine in the world. This Thursday the mavor will meet with U.S. Senator John Warner, Virginia, who will be in the area to discuss energy problems with city and county officials. Saturday Snyder will participate in a panel discussion with people involved in energy-impacted areas held in Denver, Colo. "This position has put me with people I never would have had the opportunity to meet." Snyder commended. "And in some cases I've become real good friends with these people." The job of the city government has expanded since Snyder first took office. "When I was on the council in 1968, the town was small and the problems were small. We maybe spent three to five nours a month in meetings." Now it's more like 25 to 30 hours a month for the mayor who attends the regular meetings every first and third Wednesday, Wed-nesday, special meetings and committee com-mittee meetings. The problems then involved revising the city zoning laws, Snyder said. "We weren't growing too fast, and we reviewed the direction Vernal was going and made changes. "With a city and county planner, now the job of city planning is a lot easier." Syder said. "Our new challenges are basically our old challenges," he said of his new-term new-term in office. "With the new council and the knowledge we have now, we can solve a lot of our growth problems." "A lot of things come awfully slow, and that's frustrating. I don't know how-many how-many traffic studies we've been through to get more traffic lights," he said. "Installation should start Jan. 18 on one for 950 W. Main. "We need to finish the sewer project, get the water treatment plant on line for thecity. and we've got to make sure it's done right" Snyder said. Bonnie Snyder, the mayor's wife, has become more active in her husband's business since his political offices, but is not active in the city politics herself. "I don't think I could stand up under the pressure he has taken," Bonnie said. "And I don't usually know all of the details of an issue to offer advice, but I have become a good listener." The whole family has been involved in Sam's position, Bonnie added. "We all delivered handbills, even our five-year five-year -old grandson." Andtne snyder's son Jon, an accounting major, has been involved in managing the store for the past three years. "With Sam as mayor I've had the chance to see him grow in so many ways," she commented. "He is more considerate of people and their feelings." "It's frustrating sometimes," Bonnie said, "to hear people talk who think they can solve problems that the council has been working on for years. And you just can't reach all of these people and explain the situation to them." "It's fun too. We get invited to some lovely affairs," Bonnie said, "and I've enjoyed meeting a lot of nice people. There are a lot of them out there." IMHHBHHBnMMHBnHMMHMMnBMI V.,. ''- ' . - J J,B-nr-, - t-'-m i . ' : ' rrr-iT ' """""v"'' I " - ..... mi v .-f-., . " . s v -"" . X MAYOR SAM SNYDER and his wife Bonnie, owners of Mr. S Clothing, find that managing a business and holding an office in the city government go hand in hand. "1 think anyone in I business should serve in some type of citv I government position." Mayor Snyder said. I |
