Steve Jones has lived in West Jordan since 1984 and he’s fought his own share of battles with the city council.

That’s how he first started getting involved with city government. 

For most people it seems that to engage with city government, they have to feel wronged to participate. Boundary changes, high density housing next door or a troubling neighbor are just a few of the reasons people start getting involved. 

“Some topics are very emotional to some people — that’s part of our system,” Jones said. “They’re citizens, they should be able to speak their mind, and be able to get their feelings and emotions across.”

But he cautioned, being “proactive rather than reactive” can lead to better outcomes.

For Jones, his passionate topic was a storm drain problem that flooded his neighbors for close to 30 years. 

While the change wasn’t immediate — it took persistence and several times of going to city council meetings — Jones was able to see the storm drain fixed. 

By going to the meetings, he learned a lot about how the city government works, gained an appreciation for the complexity of issues and the council got to know him. 

Through council meetings, former Councilmember Chris McConnehey met Jones and the Bingham Creek Library’s Acting Manager, Ann Marie Barrett. He was on the city council for 12 years up until January, when new Councilmember Chad Lamb took his place representing District 1 after previously serving as an At Large representative.

“When people like Steve Jones show up, the council listens and wants to help and respond,” McConnehey said. “Every pair of ears will be on you.”

When he started on the council 12 years ago, he didn’t have any children, now he has five. His family has outgrown their home in District 1, yet they stayed so he could finish his term and help usher in a new strong mayor form of government in the city.

McConnehey is a strong advocate of being involved in the community because of people he looked up to when he was growing up. Now, he is an example for his children and gets them involved in any way he can.

He described the city government like the heart and lungs of the city.

“You shouldn’t have to think about it all the time” for it to work, he said.

McConnehey said that since it’s impossible for council members to be everywhere all the time, they rely on residents to speak up about problems or concerns happening within the city. And the best time to do that is during city council meetings — where his children could be spotted sitting with him on the stand occasionally.

“The simple problems have already been addressed by the city staff, the things that are going to the city council and the mayor’s office are usually the things that are an issue of prioritization or more nuanced or difficult to solve,” McConnehey said. “The things we’re dealing with are a lot more complicated and nuanced, there’s a lot that needs to be considered and weighed.”

Attendance at the council meetings “could always be better,” McConnehey said. Each meeting only has a few attendants, but it’s crucial for the council to get a better understanding about what’s happening in the community.

“This is their community, they have the ability to determine how it grows,” McConnehey said.

Online options to watch the city council meetings are available, too.

Barrett, even as a Draper city resident, often attends West Jordan council meetings since she works in the city.

“When we’re working in a Democratic situation, there needs to be compromise within the boundaries of the law,” Barrett said. “They’re trying to create a good environment for as many people as possible.”

“We all benefit from being more aware about what’s happening in our community, it’s only going to be to our good.”

Reaching out to council members, joining committees and just staying up to date on what’s going on in the community, Lamb said, are great ways to stay active.  

Kids can even be active through city programs like the Jr. Fire Academy. 

“I think a lot of people do want to get involved but they don’t know where to turn to,” Lamb said. 

“You don’t just have to sit back and wait for stuff to happen, you can be more proactive.” λ