Mayor Lyle Holmgren – Mayors Message March 2024

Over the last two months, there has been much debate about the city’s proposed improvements to downtown generally and Midland Square specifically. For many, the changes to the square are uncalled for, some want the farmers market moved to Shuman Park, others worry about the fate of the Veteran’s Memorial, and others enthusiastically look forward to the changes.

It is easy to be confused with all the opinions expressed on social media and by the news media about the square and the historic downtown area. A healthy debate is good. Hopefully, it will lead to a more informed public. But to make an informed decision, we need trusted information. I am hoping I can satisfactorily explain why we are proposing changes to Midland Square.

Why Refurbish Midland Square?

Ed McMahon, Chair of Main Street America’s Board of Directors, who actively promoted the Main Street Movement across the U.S. said, “Dollar for dollar, pound for pound, Main Street is one of the most effective economic development programs ever created.”

As far back as 1988, the city council recognized that downtown Tremonton needed revitalization. (Summary Report of Downtown – 1988) In one survey, the public was asked what things they would like to change in the city. They responded, among other things, wanting more businesses that added vibrancy to the downtown.

In December 2012, Tremonton City submitted a grant proposal to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to get assistance from the Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT), a team of architects who help cities and towns address key issues facing their communities. The issues the city identified included economic development, connectivity, and downtown economic revitalization.

For Tremonton, the SDAT team began by creating a steering committee comprised of local veterans, merchants, the chamber of commerce, and city staff in the study. Then during the summer of 2013, they sponsored a rare but very well-attended public meeting at Library Park where they were able to gain public input from over 500 Tremonton residents.

Several themes consistently emerged from these conversations with the public. People were more or less pleased with all aspects of their community – except for the downtown. They were quick to identify downtown’s deficiencies, particularly its lack of desirable consumer-oriented businesses such as restaurants and retailers. There was agreement among participants that the downtown district had “good bones” and was vitally important to the city’s health.

“About downtown revitalization”, the SDAT team later reported, “This 3 ¼ mile corridor – essentially defining the City’s central business district and the focus of much of Tremonton’s commercial sublease space and public amenities – was in marked decline.” They went on to report, “With a high vacancy rate, many buildings in a state of disrepair, a significant amount of underutilized and vacant land, and, yet, a persistent traffic congestion problem, Main Street bore the hallmarks of a historic town center that had been abandoned by residents, visitors and landlords alike.” That was in 2013. Historic downtown Tremonton has not improved much, if at all. Many merchants today are still struggling to keep their doors open. (Full 2013 SDAT Report)

In 2017-2018, Downtown surveys and public open houses were hosted to gather input of what residents desired a thriving downtown to look like which led to our 2020 Main Street Urban Design Plan so when I became Mayor in 2022, I made it a top priority of mine to improve the economic viability of our historic downtown district. We started with a farmer’s market and the council hired a Main Street manager. Then in 2022, I was approached by the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity to apply for a Rural Communities Opportunity Grant. The application was enthusiastically accepted by their board, and we were eventually awarded $405k, the full amount we applied for. The purpose of the grant was, along with the infusion of RDA money earmarked for downtown revitalization, to redesign Midland Square and use the town square as an economic catalyst and integral part of revitalizing the downtown district.

The SDAT committee, also stated, “Midland Square holds excellent potential for merchants to realize added shoppers due to this public space located directly on Main Street. To increase activity at Midland Square, the city should add improvements that allow this public space to be programmed for activities and events.”

The concept of updating Midland Square was not something that was hatched because we had a grant and needed to come up with a reason to spend it. On the contrary, this has been an identified economic concern of several councils and the city’s residents for more than a decade. The grant made possible the funding for the city to finally act on improving the economic viability of downtown.

History of Midland Square

In 1995, a devastating fire destroyed the Midland Hotel and two other buildings on that block. Once the property was cleared of debris, there were interested parties who wished to purchase the property from the owners to build a tire store. The owners declined that offer because they wanted the property to become a town square. The property was ultimately sold to the city. Then, in the late 1990s, the Tremonton City Council appointed the Beautification Committee, comprising local citizens to oversee the creation of Midland Square.

Sometime in early 2000, Colleen Johnson, President of the Tremonton Beautification Committee, contacted A.C. Christensen to ask if he would become a member of that committee. His assignment would be to see if a Veterans Memorial could be erected at Midland Square. Until then, the veterans from the 19 communities in the northern part of Box Elder County had not been recognized on any memorial. It was determined that Midland Square would be an ideal place for such a memorial.

By October 2000, the names of more than 2,400 veterans, including many who lost their lives in service to our country, were collected from those 19 communities. There were people who had served in every war from the Civil War through Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as those who served during peacetime. The memorial features a larger-than-life bronze statue of a soldier and four bronze relief portraits of the four Borgstrom brothers who were all killed within six months of each other during WWII.

What are the Proposed Changes?

The proposed changes to Midland Square include making the area more usable by removing overgrown trees, the 3-foot walls, adding additional hardscape, and relocating the bell tower to another part of the city. Gateways (arches) describing Midland Square are planned for the front and on the southeast entrances into the square, electrical hookups around the square, two pergolas with swings, and a shade structure area with bathrooms.

How will this Impact the Veteran’s Memorial?

I find it all very sad that the veterans feel that the city is dishonoring them or the memorial by proposing improvements to the square, as there will be no changes to the memorial itself. From the beginning, the city has cooperated with the veterans on improvements to the memorial and ways to make it better. To make it a place of honor. It is important to note, however, that Midland Square, including the property where the veteran’s memorial lies, belongs to Tremonton City.

From its beginning, the memorial has been referred to as the North Box Elder County Veterans Memorial at Midland Square. Even President Thomas S. Monson, in his dedicatory prayer on August 18, 2001, dedicated the memorial as the “Veterans Memorial at Midland Square”.

The city has maintained the memorial from the beginning, updating the names of veterans on the plaques. When the names became weatherworn and unreadable, the city purchased new plaques and paid to have all the original names along with any additional names of veterans engraved on those plaques. Even now, we are compiling a list of names of veterans to add to the plaques. (Veterans page and forms) We planted trees for shade when requested by the veterans. When the armed service flags were worn at the memorial, the city purchased new ones for the veterans. The city designed and paid for the “Candy Bomber” mural west of the memorial honoring Colonel Gail Halvorsen. The city also commissioned a “Gold Star” Monument at the cemetery, honoring Gold Star families from the valley. The city coordinates with the American Legion Post 76 for the Memorial Day program in remembrance of those who died in service to our country and places out the Field of Remembrance at Midland Square around every Memorial Day to honor our fallen hero’s.

The memorial is a place where we can go to honor veterans from Northern Box Elder County. It is a place of remembrance. It is not going anywhere, nor will it be changed. Veterans have expressed concerns over the possible expansion of the memorial someday. This is something that can be worked out if the need ever arises.

I imagine children, young adults, families, and others going there to find relatives who served our country. I see it as a place where schoolchildren go to listen to the veterans explain on Veterans Day or the 4th of July, why “We Should Never Forget”.

So, to say the city does not respect or support our veterans is completely contrary to how the city feels.

Communication is the Key

It is my hope that we can come to a solution that will work for all. Communication is the key though. If we don’t communicate, I am afraid division will fester and none of us want that.

At the memorial, on the monument honoring those who gave their lives for our country, is the phrase, “All Gave Some, Some Gave All”. Kathy and I have three sons who have served our country. Two who served in Iraq and one who passed away while serving in the National Guard. Our family is honored to do our part. Service to our country is important, but so is service to our community. Like many of you, I feel that I must do what I can to try to improve our community — we all bear that responsibility.

Our attitudes are so very important. Of all the things affecting our lives every day, we can really only control our attitudes. With the wrong attitude, we can easily turn blessings and opportunities into failure. With the right attitude, we can turn challenges into opportunities, and opportunities into success.