Marysvale (Utah)

Utah municipal governments perform numerous functions, including the maintaining of law and order, guarding public health and sanitation, managing public services and promoting community development. Marysvale town government has focused much energy on maintaining a municipal water system. The community updated or rebuilt this water system in 1956 and 1975. The Marysvale town board has also provided fire protection. The board installed a siren in 1943 and later installed fire hydrants and purchased a fire truck. The town board organized a volunteer fire department in the 1950s. Other community improvement projects include street maintenance and the installation of curbs, gutters and street lights. The board has maintained a city dump for residents to deposit trash, and has organized community cleanup efforts.

The Marysvale town government has played a particularly active role in supporting the development of the community's youth and in providing for community recreational activities. The board has maintained various public facilities such as a park, dance hall, and race track. The town board has sponsored Little League and Pony League baseball, sponsored a man power program, organized fund raisers, and financially supported many community activities. The town board has supported or sponsored numerous holiday celebrations such as Easter, July 4th, July 24th, and Christmas. Traditionally, the town has been appropriately decorated for each Christmas season and the board has sponsored decorating contests and arranged for Santa Claus to visit every family with a gift of candy.

The town board voted not to participate in zoning and community planning programs (1968). However, the town board has been active in managing zoning related issues such as issuing building permits and monitoring subdivision development.

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

The town board appoints a number of town officers and defines their responsibilities. By 1943 officers appointed by the Marysvale town board included a town clerk, a town treasurer and a town marshal. Town marshal was a full time paid position, and his responsibilities included collecting water bills, maintaining the water system, policing water usage, and in addition, collecting dog taxes, caring for the cemetery, being a health officer, and managing stray animals. The town board had so much difficulty retaining a marshal that they later divided these responsibilities. In 1947 the Marysvale town board appointed a superintendent of water works, a superintendent of the park, and a supervisor of streets. The town board appointed a town traffic marshal in 1954 (discontinued in 1956). In 1975 the offices of marshal and water master were combined again, and the town board appointed a fire chief in 1980.