[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 164 (Friday, November 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2183-E2184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING SOUTH SALT LAKE MAYOR RANDY G. FITTS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIM MATHESON

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 30, 2001

  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mayor Randy G. Fitts 
for his tireless efforts in representing the City of South Salt Lake.
  Mayor Fitts served on the City Council of South Salt Lake from 
January 1978 to December 1989, and has been Mayor since 1992. He will 
retire on January 7, 2002, and his leadership and diligent work have 
been greatly appreciated.
  Throughout his tenure as a public servant, Mayor Fitts focused on 
issues that would increase the quality of life for the residents of 
South Salt Lake.
  Some of the projects he worked on include completion of the Jordan 
River Parkway, and the renovation of the historic Columbus School, by 
transforming it into a senior citizens

[[Page E2184]]

center, community center, recreation center, and library.
  Mayor Fitts proved to be a fiscal conservative, as well, with South 
Salt Lake receiving high bond ratings and awards from the Government 
Finance Officer's Association. He also succeeded in preventing the 
implementation of property tax increases.
  Always active in regional efforts, he has served on many public 
boards and councils along the Wasatch Front, dealing with important 
policy issues such as transportation and public safety.
  He is currently Vice-Chair of the Wasatch Front Regional Council, and 
a member of the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee.
  He has also been President of the Salt Lake Valley Conference of 
Mayors and President of the Salt Lake County Council of Governments.
  Mayor Fitts showed great courage and leadership in providing early 
public support at a critical time for light rail. Fortunately, Mayor 
Fitts had the vision to realize the importance of bringing mass transit 
to the Salt Lake Valley.
  This vision continued after the North-South line from Salt Lake City 
to Sandy was completed. Three light-rail stops are located in South 
Salt Lake, and Mayor Fitts has sought to integrate the lightrail system 
into the community in a way that is both socially and economically 
beneficial.
  The 3300 South Transit-Oriented Redevelopment Project is a key 
component of this integration. This project seeks to utilize high-
density housing, commercial offices, as well as retail and community 
services around the light-rail station.
  This project will stimulate economic growth while at the same time 
encourage further use of mass transit, thereby helping to prevent 
further sprawl in the Salt Lake Valley.
  This project received the 2001 Best Achievement in Planning for 
Transit Oriented Development from the Utah Quality Growth Commission, 
as part of South Salt Lake's Light Rail Corridor Master Plan.
  In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mayor Fitts is well 
known for his sense of humor and wit. While he took his job seriously, 
he did not take himself too seriously. Which has always been the mark 
of an effective leader and public servant.
  Therefore, I am proud to join with his many admirers in extending my 
highest praise and congratulations to Mayor Randy Fitts for his 
dedicated public service to the City of South Salt Lake. I extend my 
most heartfelt good wishes for all his future endeavors.

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