Pleasant Grove council appoints Dustin Phillips after secret-ballot vote

The Pleasant Grove City Council on Tuesday appointed Dustin Phillips to fill a council vacancy after a secret-ballot nomination and voting process.

At a special meeting that included interviews with 16 applicants, the council conducted an initial round of secret ballots to narrow the field. City staff announced the initial tally as a 2-1-1 split, with Dustin Phillips receiving two votes and two other finalists — Peter Steele and Matthew — receiving one vote each. After a second round of voting, staff announced, "We have 3 votes for Dustin Phillips." (Wendy, meeting staff.) Scott, the city administrator, confirmed that Phillips will be sworn in at the council’s next regular meeting.

City staff had laid out the selection rules before voting: each council member casts one secret vote, the mayor does not vote, and tie-breaking procedures (including a coin toss in a two-one-one scenario) are governed by state law and city ordinance. Scott explained the process to the assembled candidates and public before ballots were collected.

Council members thanked all 16 applicants during closing remarks, noting the unusually large and qualified applicant pool. Several council members encouraged those not selected to continue serving on commissions and boards. Mayor and council comments emphasized gratitude for civic engagement and urged applicants to run in future elections.

The appointment follows a full evening of candidate interviews in which applicants described priorities including public-safety improvements, sidewalks and trails, infrastructure, and managing growth. Scott said the swearing-in will occur at the next regular council meeting.

Actions taken: the council approved the special meeting agenda at the start of the session by motion and then conducted the secret-ballot nomination and selection. The council adjourned at the meeting’s close.