Petersen and Watts debate employee pay, business relations

LOGAN – Logan Mayoral candidate Craig Petersen has been on the Cache County Council for 18 years and he acknowledges that county employees are paid less than those in Logan City.

At a debate hosted by KVNU’s For the People Monday, Mayor Randy Watts praised the city’s employees. Watts said that in spite of tough economic times, employees have received a pay increase in six of his eight years in office.

“Sincerely, I feel that the employees have known that as the mayor of Logan I have taken my job seriously. I have made promises to them that I will take their job seriously,” Watts said. “What I expect is that you be prudent and get your work done.

“I want to make sure there’s accountability in the work that you’re doing but in return I owe you a responsibility to make sure we can find you dollars. And I think that I’ve accomplished that.”

Watts said among the measures taken that have helped find the money for pay increases have been a wellness program and risk management. The city also went to a $5,000 deductible in health insurance for city employees.

During the debate Petersen was asked what he would like to do most during his first six months in office. Petersen said there needs to be a cultural change or policy change.

“I believe that Logan City could become more friendly to citizens as they do business with Logan City,” Petersen said. “I believe, and this is backed up by a large number of comments, that Logan City could be more business friendly. I hear concerns that Logan tends to frustrate instead of facilitate.

“It doesn’t have to do with safety issues. It has to do with paper work, policies, logistics and so forth. Those are things, I think, that can be dealt with fairly quickly.”

Mayor Watts disputed that claim and said he considers employees the city’s greatest asset. He also said 44 brand new businesses have come in to Logan during the last eight years. Petersen responding by asking, “How many have left?”

To listen to the first hour of KVNU’s Logan City Meet the Candidate Night, <a href=”http://610kvnu.com/assets/podcaster/324/2013_10_22_324_15460_2867.mp3″ target=”_blank”>click here</a>.

To listen to the second hour of KVNU’s Logan City Meet the Candidate Night, <a href=”http://610kvnu.com/assets/podcaster/324/2013_10_22_324_15459_2867.mp3″ target=”_blank”>click here</a>.

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