Crest Staley sworn in; mayor praises staffing gains, infrastructure and water policy

Crest Staley was sworn into office at a Washington City ceremony and used his first public remarks to highlight recent investments in public safety, infrastructure and water policy.

Staley repeated the oath to support the U.S. Constitution, the Utah Constitution and the laws and ordinances of Washington City, then addressed residents and officials gathered at City Hall. He framed continuity and collaboration among elected members and staff as the foundation for recent accomplishments and future plans.

"When you have something that's working well, there's not a need to change it or fix it," Staley said, recalling his prior oath four years earlier and urging continuity in successful practices. He named several council colleagues and credited the elected body and municipal staff for what he described as effective, stable governance.

Staley attributed much of the city's progress to its administrative team, singling out City Manager Jeremy Redd and City Recorder Tara Pence for supporting the council's work and for improving public access to records: "If you go on to washingtoncity.org, not only can you watch our meetings live and archived, but you can click on the minutes and go right to that agenda items," he said.

Public safety was a recurring theme. Staley said nearly 80–90% of general fund revenue is spent on public safety and credited police and fire personnel with lifesaving responses this year. He said Washington City had 31 police officers prior to 2022 and now has 40 sworn officers — "that's nearly a 25% increase," he said. He also said the fire department grew from 15 full-time and 24 part-time employees (plus a chief) before 2022 to 23 full-time and 29 part-time staff with an added battalion chief, and that the city added two engines and two brush trucks while partnering with Hurricane Valley Fire District on a ladder truck and another station.

On utilities and public works, Staley highlighted two rebuilt power substations and a third under construction with associated transmission-line work. He praised recent transportation projects — including two new interstate interchanges on I‑15 and the Southern Parkway, improvements on Main Street and work on SR‑7/George Washington Boulevard — and cited the complete rebuild of Washington Dam Road and the extension of Washington Fields Road to serve the RS Southwest Logistics Center.

Staley described economic development momentum along the I‑15 corridor (Exits 10–13), saying updated general plan and zoning changes have attracted hotels, restaurants and retail that, in his view, help sustain sales-tax revenue for city services. He also said the city had expanded legal staff, replaced a judge and added a justice court judge and that finance and HR staff have helped maintain budgets and investment strategies.

Turning to resource protection, Staley said Washington City has led on drafting ordinances to protect scarce water resources and credited Brett Henderson with early work on that policy. He closed by praising the youth council and community traditions and expressing optimism about the city's future.

The remarks were ceremonial and celebratory; no motions or votes were recorded during the session.