CEDAR CITY — High school students from Cedar City pledged before City Council and administrators to uphold both the U.S. Constitution and Utah Constitution Wednesday as they learn first-hand about government in Cedar City Youth Council.
As the nine students nervously approached the podium, their program adviser Shannon Avance introduced them to the room explaining that the goal of the youth city council program was to give students a head start when preparing for their future.
“They get to learn a little bit about leadership,” she said. “And it looks good on their college applications and resumes.”
In an effort to better connect with the community through service, Cedar City Youth Council Mayor Kaleigh Bronson said, the group will be collecting clothing items to donate to the Iron County Care and Share.
“We are also preparing for legislative day in January,” she said. “Where we go to the capitol building and experience live mock trials and debate.”
Despite the blast of cameras and wall-to-wall, standing-room-only audience, Bronson managed to stay cool under the pressure and represent her group in a professional way.
When Bronson finished filling in the crowded room on the happenings of Cedar City Youth Council in the community, Cedar City Recorder Renon Savage stepped before the well-dressed bunch and asked each of them to raise their right hand before swearing to uphold the constitutions of their country and state.
Following the swearing in, each student was given the opportunity to introduce him or herself to city officials and shake each of their hands before resuming their seats in the crowd and making way for Cedar City Event Planner Bryan Dangerfield to approach the council.
Dangerfield brought news of bid pitched by Cedar City to the organizers of the 2016 Tour of Utah to be the overall start headquarters for the race and the stage 1 finish on Aug. 1.
The bid is solid, he said, and should not only create revenue for the city, but enhance the city’s brand on a much larger scale.
If Cedar City wins the bid, this would be the third time since 2013 that the city has played host to the Tour of Utah race.
An anticipated 3,000 hotel rooms would be filled for a week’s time, Dangerfield said, and if all goes well, and the request submitted is accepted, attendees would be able to lock in an $80 room rate for the duration of their stay.
“It is one of the largest international cycling races in North America,” according to the bid proposal presented to the City Council Wednesday night. “(And) by virtue of the outdoor race route, many of the beautiful assets the county has to offer are shown during the event, from Cedar Breaks to Cedar Canyon.”
There would be some costs to the city to participate, Dangerfield said, but with the help of sponsors and other resources, the city’s portion should only be around $20,000.
The amount of revenue stimulated as a result of sales taxes, transient room tax and fuel tax would far outweigh the expense in the end, he said.
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