Mayor’s Message – Lyle Holmgren

May 2025

Much has occurred in downtown Tremonton over the past several weeks. Most notably, the honeylocust trees have been removed along Main Street. Trees have also been taken down from Midland Square. These significant changes signal the beginning of years of planning and research aimed at revitalizing our downtown commercial district. For decades, city leaders, downtown merchants, and residents have sought ways to rejuvenate this area. In December 2012, Tremonton City submitted a proposal to the American Institute of Architects for a Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) to assist the community and its citizens through town hall and other public meetings in addressing key issues facing our city. Among several concerns, revitalizing the downtown district was a top priority.

Given the many questions in our community regarding why the city is implementing these changes, the city council and I aim to keep the public informed as we progress through the construction and revitalization of the downtown area.

Midland Square
In its final report to the city in 2013, the SDAT team determined that Midland Square, located directly at the center of Main Street, could serve as a catalyst for merchants to attract more shoppers. However, they argued that the current design of the square was not conducive to bringing people together. With its uneven surface, overgrown trees, and three-foot cement walls, much of the area was neither functional nor practical. The SDAT team recommended that the city redesign the landscape to make it more usable. These improvements will include the construction of restrooms, access to electrical power, new lighting, and other infrastructure enhancements to better facilitate smaller-scale activities and events such as live performances, patriotic events, the arts, and similar functions.

In 2022, Tremonton City received a Rural Communities Opportunity Grant (RCOG) of $405,720 and allocated additional funds from the city’s general fund for the project. According to the contract terms, these RCOG funds must be dedicated to Midland Square to improve the economic viability of downtown, attract new small businesses to Tremonton’s Main Street, and ultimately increase retail sales, sales tax revenue, and job opportunities. The project is required to be completed by December 2025, and it will be.

Update: A contractor has been selected. Construction will begin following final approval from the City Council on May 6.

Veterans Memorial
Over a year ago, when we first began discussing the revitalization of Midland Square, the public and many veterans became misinformed. Some believed that the city would desecrate or relocate the Veterans Memorial from its current location. Those rumors were false. Moving the memorial to another location was never part of the plan. The city has collaborated with veterans to allocate additional space on the west side of the square for them to establish city-approved new memorials honoring veterans from the Bear River Valley. As work on Midland Square progresses, the concrete flatwork around the current Veterans Memorial will be replaced to match the new concrete flatwork throughout the square. The flagpoles will be realigned to accommodate the new military branch, the United States Space Force, established in 2019. The “All Gave Some – Some Gave All” monument, the soldier statue, and plaques with veterans’ names will not be moved from their current location.

Main Street
Recently, our city manager, Bill Cobabe, shared some notable ideas about revitalizing downtown. He remarked, “Instead of viewing downtown as a problem, we need to see it as an opportunity.” To coin a phrase from 4-H, revitalizing downtown is a significant opportunity “To Make the Best Better.”

Last year, the city commissioned a survey to better understand community support for improved sidewalks, lights, dining, and beautification on Main Street. Participants were asked about their support for renovating and improving Main Street. Eighty-two percent of the participants in the survey were either supportive or very supportive of the revitalization of Main Street. This Revitalization will involve at least two phases.

Phase I: With the trees now removed, our city engineer is collaborating with the council and staff to develop plans for installing water and power infrastructure. These improvements will be placed in the city’s right-of-way beneath the sidewalks. Subsequently, we will install concrete sidewalks, modern streetlights, and greenery in the historic downtown area, extending from 2nd East and Main to 2nd West and Main. Phase I will soon go out to bid, and construction will begin shortly thereafter.

Phase II: The Main Street Steering Committee, in collaboration with the city council and city staff, is working to develop a form-based code for the historic downtown area. A form-based code is an approach to zoning that is more specific and prescriptive regarding a building’s form, and its intent is to promote a lively and consistent theme in the downtown area. This demonstrates the city’s commitment to prioritizing the appearance of storefronts along Main Street. Over time, as building modifications take place, those improvements must align with the theme and style of the form-based code approved by the city. The city may also provide grant funding for merchants and store owners to enhance their store façades. This is a work in progress, and improvements will come in time.

When we reach a stage in the city’s form-based code process that requires public input, the city will hold town hall meetings for this purpose. Tremonton’s Main Street will continue to evolve, but our goal remains to enhance downtown and make it as vibrant as possible. Phase II will be completed as planners refine the process, the city council codifies the form-based code, and funding becomes available.

For many months, our city staff, City Council, and the Main Street Steering Committee have been working on plans to enhance our downtown area. Although it may take time to complete all the renovations mentioned here, funding has been secured for Midland Square and Phase I of Main Street. It’s an exciting time for Tremonton!