Honest, straightforward, and direct are adjectives Cheyne McDonald uses to describe himself. “I don’t dance around things. I get to it and handle it with the best possible decision.” Balance is his focus.
Business Minded
Cheyne McDonald owns two successful lube and mechanic businesses in St. George. He approaches the city council and the issues Ivins faces from a business perspective.
"It's Critical to me to not spend more than is taken in or bond more than can be repaid. There needs to be a balance. We need to spend wisely and tax only when necessary while still providing a high level of service for our residents." - Cheyne McDonald
"By looking at issues from a business perspective, you are better able to leave emotion out of the decision-making. The decisions made will be what’s right for the majority." - Cheyne McDonald
Family Friendly
Cheyne McDonald is committed to keeping Ivins a family-friendly community.
“One of the things that is sad to me is that the more we have grown, the less family-friendly we have become. I would love to see more family-friendly subdivisions instead of just retirement friendly. People in every stage of life are necessary for the health of a community.” - Cheyne McDonald
Parks:
One way to promote a family-friendly community is to allow city parks the ability to be lit until 10 pm.
● Parks are an excellent place for youth to hang out and play. If we don’t provide safe places for
them to congregate, it can affect a community in a negative way. This is especially true
during the winter months when the sun goes down earlier.
Night Sky Balance:
Cheyne McDonald is also committed to striking a balance between protecting the visibility of the
night sky and the safety of pedestrians, especially children, in the early mornings and nights.
● I do not believe in sacrificing the safety of our children, drivers, and walkers over the night
sky requirements. During the winter months, kids walk in the dark to bus stops and to
school. Lighting is important so tragedies don’t occur.
● There are ways to maintain minimal light pollution while still providing safety for our
children. Balance is essential and we have to have safety.
Growth
Responsible growth is important to Cheyne McDonald, who has lived in Ivins for most of his life and has seen it transform from a less desirable community to one of the most sought-after communities in Southern Utah.
● It’s critical we have obtainable housing in Ivins. He would like to see a minimum of 50% owner-occupied housing with new construction. There’s a problem when corporations come in, buy up housing, and rent it back to the community at high rates.
● There is a way to have obtainable housing within Ivins city limits. Experts need to be consulted to find out the best way to do it.
● The tricky part about growth is that it depends on property owners - what they want to do with their property and when they want to do it. Several years ago, the city created holding zones of 5-acre lots (RA5) made up primarily of desert and farmlands. The city needs to update the city’s master plan to include the potential for these holding zones so neighbors have a better idea of what will be going on next door. There needs to be a balance between residential and commercial.
● I would like to see the possibility of a community recreation center.
● We need appropriate commercial that is clean and quiet.
Additional Points
Cheyne McDonald wants the support staff and first responders to be paid appropriately:
● Our police department isn’t paid enough to live in Ivins. It’s challenging to have someone who lives in Hurricane (where the cost of living is lower) commute to Ivins to protect our community.
Cheyne McDonald gives kudos to the current city staff. The city hasn’t had a truth in taxation increase in more than a decade:
● The staff is amazing at making recommendations for prioritization. Health, safety, and well-being are the priority items. If issues don’t fall within those categories, they are the ones that are kicked down the line.
● Commercial property is important in keeping taxes low for residents. It costs money to run the city and its programs. Without commercial properties contributing to Ivins, the cost would be shouldered by the residents.
Cheyne McDonald cares deeply about Ivins and its future:
● I want to see Ivins continue to be family-friendly and will support policies and ordinances with that in mind while respecting personal property rights and maintaining safety.