Summary: Kathryn Schramm

Kathryn S. Schramm, incumbent, seeking re election to the Highland City Council.
I readily admit that I do not have all the answers but I desire to use my talents and love for the people in this community to continue serving, as is stated in Chapter 1, Page 1 of the Highland City Development Code:
“in a manner that will promote the health, safety, morals, convenience, order, prosperity, and general welfare of the present and future inhabitants of Highland. . . .”
Qualifications to Serve:
$ Highland resident 35 years; 5 years prior to incorporation
$ Wife to Paul 44 years; mother of 7 ; grandmother to 25+
$ Instructor; bookkeeper; program preparer for Alpine School District Community Education
$ 21 years in local and Area Council PTA.
$ President and V-President of AFHS Marching Band Parent Booster Organization
$ 4-H Leader/Supervisor 18 years
$ Election Judge 28 years
$ Voting District officer
$ State and County Convention Delegate

Some Accomplishments while in office:
$ City website up and running
$ Encouraged development of affordable housing particularly for senior citizens
$ Initiated changes to the development code where ordinances were in opposition
$ Helped reform community elections process


My Stand on Some Current Issues

Transportation

9600 North and 9850 North
I am NOT IN FAVOR OF WIDENING 9600 North or 9620 N contrary to the false statements that were recently circulated to the residents living on both sides of these streets. The cost for the city to purchase all the homes that are too close to the street if it were widened, is prohibitive. I am in favor of adding sidewalks and cross walk markings to promote the safety of children walking to and from school.

I believe 9850 N (part of Highland’s East/West corridor) was left off the General Plan Update
because it is an inner city road not a regional one and therefore it was not on the North East Utah County Regional Corridor Plan to which Landmark Company referred . I seconded the motion, to put ( see CC minutes of May 29, 2007).9850 North into the Transportation Element of the General Plan Update, which carried 3-2.

Highland City should endeavor to finish this leg to meet the completed segment west of Mitchell Hollow where it joins 6800 West.

4800 West
Highland residents who live on this heavily traveled road way (where Lone Peak High School and the LDS Temple are located) have been in limbo for years. They can’t stay and they can’t go. It’s a terrible situation that has been created by an always impending threat of widening which hasn’t yet taken place. Unfortunately not all decisions have been made with the proposed widening in mind. I think the council should continue searching for other options to relieve the traffic woes on that street.

State Road (S.R.) 92 or 11000 North
This road is under Utah Dept. Of Transportation (UDOT) direction. The people here are under the same ax as the residents on 4800 West. Many have already suffered the effects of widening several years ago. A special meeting is being hosted by UDOT to evaluate potential alternatives for the SR-92 corridor and they want to hear from Highland residents regarding the solutions being considered.
A Public Open House will be held On Wed Sept. 19, 2007 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at IM Flash Technologies (Micron), 1550 East 3400 North Lehi, at Building 10 Cafeteria
Taxes
It is my goal to not raise taxes for frivolous reasons. I don’t consider a library to be a frivolous thing. A high quality library staffed by talented and trained personnel will create programs to serve the needs of all ages from birth to death. A library is a place of gathering for residents.

On Aug. 15, the Council could have voted to acquire the $200,000 needed to start up the library in ways that would not have increased taxes. I tried several times but lacked the necessary seconds or voted support to achieve that goal. In the end, it was a bitter-sweet experience. In order to acquire a full service library slated to occupy one wing of the new city hall, I had to vote to increase taxes. Of the approved tax rate of .001420, .000197 is allocated to the library.

I am unalterably against raising taxes further to pay for a recreation center or giving authority to a board to raise property taxes for such a building.

Affordable Housing
When the 3 incumbents ran in 2003, Highland was still using the convention system and groups of people met to write a statement of their beliefs or a platform. One such plank dealt with providing housing for senior citizens so they could go on living among friends and family in Highland. I have participated in making that a reality by making a motion to accept the Mansion Homes at the high density of 7.5 units per acre. This arrangement was limited to the Town Center in support of the concept of a walk-able community.

Due to increased property values, these can no longer be considered affordable senior housing. Currently some very attractive possibilities for senior housing located in other areas of the city have been presented for the City Council’s consideration. I feel that the Council needs to be willing to seriously consider many other avenues such as basement or accessory apartments.



Thank you to all those who have helped me with this campaign and to the many people who have encouraged me to run again and all those who think I can still represent you and your needs.