While the recession has taken a toll on Tooele, the city’s finances remain sound and there are signs of a better future ahead. That was the message Tooele Mayor Patrick Dunlavy shared with the city council and the public in his annual State of the City address Wednesday night.

“We have fewer employees and our budget has been reduced,” Dunlavy said. “We have become better at what we do.”

Dunlavy said fiscal restraint has been the key to success during the recession.

“There are those who have criticized me for being too conservative,” Dunlavy said. “But I can stand here today without hesitation and say to each of you my being conservative was absolutely essential in our ability to deal with this extreme recession and not have it negatively affect each of you as it relates to public services.”

Dunlavy pledged that as the economy improves, he will remember the lessons learned from guiding the city through the recession. Those include keeping the budget conservative. Dunlavy said as he and the city council examined the budget during the recession, the decision was made to keep what was essential and continue to provide necessary services to the public. Major capital projects were delayed and reductions in the budget made where appropriate.

“I’m proud of the fact that I put the citizens of this community above special interest groups or large capital projects the city cannot afford or be able to maintain,” Dunlavy said.

The city also chose not to raise taxes or fees on its citizens. As a result of fiscal restraint, the city is in a good position to move forward as the economy returns to normalcy, Dunlavy said

The mayor also stressed that his administration has tried to emphasize the needs of all the people of Tooele.

“There is an impressive quote by a very successful leader that goes something like this, ‘Government should be for the people, by the people,’” Dunlavy said. “And I’ve added it should never be by big political parties or big companies or big developers.”

Dunlavy touted city projects completed during his first term as mayor, including the $7 million extension of 1000 North from Main Street to SR-112, expansion of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, a new well and storage capacity for water at England Acres Park area, upgrades to parks including the addition of shelters and barbecue pits and child play areas, and the preservation of open space, particularly along the city’s southeast bench.

In the coming year, the city is seeking grants and alternative funding for a new police station, a new fire station, completion of phase II of the wastewater treatment plant, and the development of Skyline Park.

“We have applied for grants and are looking at other methods of financing these projects,” said Scott Wardle, Tooele City Council chairman. “These needs are very real, but we have to find a way to pay for them if we are going to build them.”

Dunlavy also said the city has already had contact from a number of companies that are looking to locate in Tooele as the economy starts to stabilize.

“The future for Tooele is exciting,” Dunlavy said. “We have maintained our position as an important player in economic development. Companies looking to grow and create new job opportunities are still looking to us to meet their needs.”

Conspicuously absent from the mayor’s address was any reference to lawsuits. Both the Tooele vs. Tooele Associates and the Tooele vs. Grantsville lawsuits are awaiting court decisions. Downtown revitalization, one of the Dunlavy administration’s positive accomplishments, was not mentioned and neither was combating increased crime, a prominent campaign issue.

“The city has accomplished much under the mayor’s leadership,” said Scott Wardle, Tooele City Council chairman. “Being conservative in financing has put us in a good position and we have been able to maintain services without raising taxes.”

Tim Gillie: tgillie@tooeletranscript.com