Glendale (Utah)

Utah municipal governments perform numerous functions, including the maintaining of law and order, guarding public health and sanitation, providing for elections, managing public services, and promoting community development. The Glendale council initially focused on developing culinary water. At the time of incorporation, Glendale liquidated an already existing water company and set about building a new water works. Within the first five years, the city improved roads, put in street lights, and improved the cemetery. Maintenance of roads and water works have been primary functions of the Glendale council. The council has worked with the Glendale Irrigation Company to manage irrigation water. The council collaborated with the nearby Orderville city council to plan a sewer system that would serve both communities. The Orderville and Glendale councils also jointly created the Long Valley Fire Department. The two councils have also worked together on summer recreation, holiday celebrations, police protection, and maintenance of a city dump.

Glendale residents have supported clean up efforts and holiday celebrations sponsored by the council. The Glendale council has been mindful of the town's youth and has supported their activities, organized sports teams, and built a ball field. After the Glendale Elementary School closed (1969), the council helped turn the abandoned building into a civic center which has been used for pre-school and senior citizen activities. In the early 1990s Glendale named streets and numbered homes to accommodate 911 service. The council selected and trained a planning commission. Since 1998 the Glendale city council has worked with other Kane County agencies and communities on issues relating to the Grand Staircase National Monument. As a gateway community, Glendale maintains a Monument information booth.

A mayor and city council (originally called a town board), provide leadership for Glendale. The mayor, who is elected by general municipal election, is the chief executive officer. He presides over council meetings and supervises all other city affairs. He signs city ordinances and official contracts on behalf of the city. The council functions as a legislative governing body and is responsible for all aspects of community management, such as appointing officials and setting their salaries, levying taxes, establishing a budget, providing for elections, maintaining public services and utilities, and regulating activity within Glendale.

The city council appoints a number of town officers and defines their responsibilities. The original Glendale town board appointed a clerk, a justice of the peace, a health officer, a town marshal, and a water superintendent. The council appointed a fire marshal in 1975 and a beautification committee in 1977. Glendale has sometimes hired a general maintenance man. In 1994 the council appointed a board of adjustments and in 1999 the council created a planning commission.