"We've always considered ourselves a Davis County family," Commission Chairman Page said last week. "It's been a great opportunity to serve over the past nearly 14 years.
"I think we have accomplished a lot," she said, emphasizing it wouldn't have been possible without help from county employees, department heads, and residents of the county.
"It's been a grand run," Commissioner McConkie agreed. "We've been able to do some tremendous things to benefit the citizens of Davis County.
"I'm going to miss the community and the association. It's been a great trip. I wouldn't have missed it for the world," he said.
Page announced in mid-February, via an exclusive interview with the Clipper, that she would not be seeking a fourth, four-year term.
McConkie, meanwhile, had hoped to complete one more term. However, what some believe was a backlash from a proposed 134 percent county tax hike, four years ago, reduced to 24 percent, led to Republican Party convention delegates opting to go another direction.
Taxes, in fact, will mark the duo's last major official act of their careers. "I feel we're doing the right thing for the right reason," McConkie said, in voting for a 37 percent tax hike Dec. 19.
"I'm going to be on a fixed income too," come Jan. 2, he said, expressing empathy for senior citizens, some of whom spoke out against the tax increase proposal at the county budget hearing earlier this month.
The average $60-a-year hike will go to fund the expanded jail, including personnel and operations, for expanded services to meet the expected burgeoning senior citizen population and for flood control repairs and improvements.
But most of the time, commissioners dealt with other issues, some large and small, that impacted all of the residents or just a few.
For example, the Commissioners' Cup, inaugurated some years ago, uses all golf tournament proceeds to help kids, from scholarships to safe after-high school graduation parties, and much more.
"Big ticket" items both commissioners have been involved with have included backing and re-backing of the Legacy Highway and mass transit rail options, completion of the Davis Conference Center, after more than seven years and prior dead-end efforts; opening of Safe Harbor Domestic Violence Shelter by a non-profit group but with strong commission backing; opening of the Davis Children's Justice Center, jail expansion and voter bond approval and near completion of the South Davis Recreation Center; creation of a combined South Davis Metro Fire District, to name some of the major events.
"The cities' relationship with the county is much better than it was 13 years ago," McConkie said. That highlights the fact most or all of the above projects couldn't have come to fruition without support, financially and otherwise, from city governments.
"There have been some great accomplishments, but they didn't come without struggles," he continued.
"We haven't always agreed, but we have worked together well," incoming Commission Chairman Alan Hansen said, adding, "Thank you for your tutelage and good guidance."
"I can't believe the paperwork these two have collected over the years," said Linda May, commissioners' office manager. She compiled two large scrapbooks that were presented to Page and McConkie.
tbusselberg@davisclipper.com
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