Business View City & Municipal | August 2022

123 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 7 incorporates single family and multi-family housing all into one development. We’ve had two developers utilize that zoning designation, with nearly 900 lots. We are seeing a massive drive in housing. We really have for several years and it continues to grow. We’ve probably been doing more annexation in the last two years than we’ve ever done. We’ve annexed over a couple hundred acres of land that are all being rezoned and developed. So housing is a big part of what we’re doing right now.” That sort of growth requires foresight for the future and caring for the foundation of what’s already there. Giles confirms, “In the last four years, we’ve redone all of our master plans: transportation, water, sewer, storm water, and our general plan. We’ve identified key infrastructure projects. We’ve got one started right now. It’s a large sewer line upgrade going from a 12 inch to a 24 inch line and developing a new well.” Smithfield has recently added another intersection to help traffic flow at the grocery store and a roundabout by the rec center is slated for construction next year. “There’s a lot going on,” Giles says with a smile. Because they are serviced by two canyons, they also have to be prepared for both wildfires and storm water issues. “We’re always worried about runoff or storm water slides and then retention and detention throughout the city… everything runs downhill,” Giles explains. “We’re also worried about wildfires.” That wildfire mitigation is part of their planning process, too. Smithfield organizes volunteer days to clean up the foothills and the undergrowth in the canyons. Volunteers are easy to come by. The workforce, on the other hand, has been a bit more of a challenge. Giles acknowledges, “We are seeing that squeeze with employees and having a harder time recruiting and retaining employees. We’ve done a lot of work to retain our employees through salary increases and benefit increases. We’re always looking for ways to develop new SMI THF I ELD C I TY , UTAH