Well it’s over; Hyrum Market and Hotel, yes Hotel has been approved at last. Check the definition of hotel if you’re still in denial of what is being built here. Read theminutes from the meeting when they come out; the only reason it passed is because it fits perfectly Hyrum code's definition for hotel. 

I have so much I want to say and it will forever eat at me that I didn’t say it last night. With the against side only being given 9 minutes total to speak, and having been a person who took 3 minutes to speak at the last meeting; I felt selfish standing again.

I’ll write what I would have said now for anyone who cares to read!!!!

I’ve been asked to sing the Star Spangled Banner at our Hyrum Rodeo this year. I have reflected a lot on that song and the men who were literally fighting to the death to provide a home where the people actually had a say— freedom at last!! That song, our National Anthem, represents all of the soldiers who sacrifice their lives to protect our freedom; my beloved father and dear husband included in that list.

Certain City Councilmen and our Mayor have made the argument multiple times, “This land touching the backyard of six neighbors has been zoned this way for over 25 years.” Make note that the back of these lots was actually zoned C-2 in 2008 with multiple of our current Hyrum councilmen sitting in the same chairs then as they are now. They are  part of the reason we are in this situation now. I am incredibly grateful for their sacrifice of time and energy to make the decisions that they do. They are underpaid, I wouldn’t want their job, and I appreciate them. However, our beautiful homes have been here for more than 100 years; the REZONING was wrong then and it still is now!!

Here’s the real problem. The freedom that blood was shed to provide has been taken away. If “we the people” want to rezone land we have to pay a fee and petition to get over 75% of properties within the rezone area to agree for it to be considered by the city AND that can only be done IF there is no building application already submitted for said land. Even though we got over 650 signatures between written andonline petition in just one month, those voices don't matter for change. 

If the government wants to rezone land they can hang up a piece of paper on the town hall wall within 48 hours of a meeting to rezone and place a tiny announcement in the newspaper saying they’ll be holding a meeting. No petitioning of the people required or seemingly desired. Hyrum City has a recorder who has gone above and beyond by providing a website where she posts agenda, and that is a blessing! But again, who sees any of these three means of notification? Who saw them in the case of the land now being developed?

Ask the people who have lived in Hyrum longer than I’ve been alive how many of them knew that this land was ever rezoned? Land that had a home on it since 1894. No residents knew about the rezoning meetings and "we the people" only get 30 days to dispute rezoning. Thats the reality here and while that is “legal” that is not right.

If I could have spoken last night I would have asked the City Council to do what is RIGHT and listen to the people now— even if it did mean being sued by the developers!!! The developers are both real estate agents— what did they have to lose in comparison to the surrounding residents? It would have been terribly unfortunate that they wouldn’t get to exercise the freedom to develop the land they bought commercially, but what is their loss? Some genuine tears and more precious time in selling the land and finding a new place to develop? What are the residents who surround this development now losing?? Including the 300 plus children who walk to school and ride their bikes in this neighborhood? 

I am asking local government and government everywhere to stand up for what is right, not what is legal. Do more to notify the people: put it in the newsletter, email, give a robocall— MORE than what is now “legal.” I can think of many things in this country that are legal that are still absolutely wrong.

Notifying the people of what is going on should be the highest priority. There are plenty of people sitting in city office chairs who have time to do this during the day— it may not be a city councilman, mayor, or recorder but believe me when I say— there are plenty of people sittttttting around in government chairs during the day!!! Delegate that job and make notifying the people your number one priority or stop starting your meetings with a pledge to a flag you don’t actually respect, because that flag represents the voice of the people. 🫡 

-Amber Wiedmeier

May 16, 2025