The Bountiful City Council held a special meeting last week to select a new city council member to fill Jesse Bell’s seat. Bell passed away in August. Thirteen applicants came before the council and gave a short statement on why they would be the best choice. Then council members took the opportunity to ask questions of the candidates. In a tie-breaking vote by Mayor Kendalyn Harris, Beth Child was selected to fill the spot.

Child said she’s always been interested in service in the community. “I’ve made a career of volunteerism. I am serving on the Bountiful Community Service Council, South Davis Communities that Care Coalition and tutoring students writing college entrance essays.”

In 2018 her kids were on the youth council and there was an opening on the city council, she said. “My kids said, ‘you always make us do everything,’ so I applied. I came in second to Kate (Bradshaw). That started my journey to get involved in the city council.”

In 2021, Child ran again. “I came close to Cecilee (Price-Huish),” she said. “It was an amazing experience to knock on doors and learn more about cities in a different way.”

When Jesse passed away, Child said the mayor called and asked her to apply. “I’d done the work and I was excited to serve.”

Beth Child has lived in Bountiful since 2000. She is looking forward to serving the community she loves. Photo courtesy of Beth Child.

Child said she has several things she wants to be involved with as a council member. “I want to continue working on the general plan. It will drive Bountiful for the next 20 years. We need good policies to help growth in the city.”

The trail projects are also important, she said. “The city has been doing a lot of good work on that.”

Child believes the younger generation needs to step up and get involved in service. “We need to increase volunteerism in Bountiful,” she said. “We already have great volunteers in the area but we could have more.”

The younger people don’t know the need, said Child. “We should increase visibility, market and use word of mouth.”

There’s a lot of good going on in the community, she said. “We need to link up people to their interests.”

Child said she likes where the city is headed on revitalizing Main Street. “We need to draw more people downtown. They’re going to Farmington or Salt Lake. I feel there is more we can do to get them to spend money in Bountiful.”

They’re coming in for recreating which is fun to see, she said. “Now we have to find a way to encourage them to spend some more money in Bountiful.”

Child said she would also like to find ways to make the “B” area safer. “I live up that way and things happen up there.”

Writing good policy is key, said Child. “That will guide Bountiful into the future. We have to make the most of zoning for business. We will experience growth and we need to guide that in a good direction.”

Child was sworn in at the council meeting on Tuesday. “I’m looking forward to getting up to speed,” she said. “I want to be a listening ear for people. I’ll be serving in the trenches getting to know their needs and concerns. I want people to know they’ll always be heard.”

Child grew up in Holladay and moved to Bountiful in 2000. “We love Bountiful,” she said. “I want to protect what we have here. It’s so great I want to move forward and improve what I can. My door is always open.” λ