Courtesy Vineyard City

Earlier this month, Julie Fullmer, the third mayor of Vineyard, and her predecessor, J. Rulon Gammon, took a walk through the city.

The two shared stories about Vineyard’s beginnings and where the city is today. Gammon’s advice to Fullmer was to “keep moving forward.”

Nearly 25 years ago, Gammon, placed a handwritten letter about the incorporation of Vineyard into a time capsule, opened last year.

“While it is freezing, our hearts are warmed by seeing you all today,” said Cristy Welsh, Vineyard City Council member. The event was held at the old Geneva smelting cauldron in The Yard.

Fullmer, along with guest speakers Janeal Nuttall, Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce president Curtis Blair, UVU president Astrid S. Tuminez, and Utah Valley Magazine founder Jeanette Bennett, spoke about taking root in Vineyard.

Courtesy Vineyard City

“Heritage is part of who we are as individuals and as a community. Preserving our past helps create our future. It’s because of J. Rulon Gammon that we are a city today,” Welsh said as she introduced Nuttal, Gammon’s daughter, who read from the formerly encapsulated letter.

“In January 1989, I was in Denver for a regular board meeting of the Western Dairymen Cooperative. During the first evening, I had a phone call from Mr. Bud Patten, CEO of Geneva Steel Company, asking me if I would be interested in studying the possibilities of incorporating the town of Vineyard. In the early 1970’s we had tried to address incorporation, but Geneva would not consider it. Bud informed me that he had five attorneys in his office and wondered if I would participate in a speaker phone conference call with them so we visited for 1 hour,” Gammon wrote.

On May 11, 1989, the necessary paperwork was filed with the Lieutenant Governor and the town of Vineyard became the newest town in the state with 156 residents and the largest integrated steel mill west of the Mississippi River as its tax base.

“Studies were presented by Orem City and by the Mountainland Association of Governments on issues of why the incorporation should be denied. They went on for 1 ½ hours,” Gammon said. “Thankfully I kept good notes on their presentations. It took me 7 minutes to respond.”

Fullmer remarked on the excerpts and spoke about the “foundational pillars” of Vineyard that have helped develop the city into what it is today.

“The steel plant needed the city to incorporate for better water rates, the farmers would no longer use their land for farming, and a new city would grow from the change and vision of its growing community,” Fullmer said. “As we hear these words written, we recognize that some things are born out of necessity, others come through function, and others rise up through vision and innovation. These are three pillars that Vineyard has been rooted in.”

Local businesses and community partners were invited to include items in a new time capsule to be opened in 2048.

In 2022, Vineyard celebrated the opening of TopGolf, Vista Medical, Utah Community Credit Union, Tsubame and several other new businesses in The Yard.

“Our economy is continuing to diversify and grow due to hard work and the joint efforts of the partners and teams surrounding us today, including the X-Development team, who helped attract and cultivate those relationships,” Fullmer said.

Blair spoke about the vision and belief it takes to create and build a thriving economy, along with partnerships made between the city and Larry H. Miller.

“It takes vision and belief to turn a steel mill into a thriving city in Utah Valley and become the bedrock of the newest and fastest growing incorporated city in Utah County,” he said. “It takes vision and belief to form partnerships such as Flagship Homes and Woodbury Corporation, who are building one of the largest Transit-Oriented Developments and have become a model to the state and an example to the nation.”

He noted it also takes a mayor who works with public and private partnerships, up to the legislature, to enable Vineyard to become part of the state’s economic tapestry.

Tuminez and Fullmer both highlighted significant plans to develop Utah Valley University’s property located in Vineyard, and the impact coming changes will have to handle growth.

“UVU can relate to that growth with 43,000 students. With growth, it is important to be grounded. We must be grounded in our values, in our exceptional care, exceptional accountability, and exceptional results,” Tuminez said.

Tuminez emphasized that UVU is coming in with a very big vision and is working together with Fullmer on development that will serve their students and faculty as well as the community and region.

Bennett spoke about the present, and referred to Vineyard as the heart of the county while she believes Utah Valley to be the heart of the state.

“This is really the center of gravity, and it’s being developed as such. Hats off to all of you who are being part of this present, part of this time when development and decisions are being made,” Bennett said.

The public will see building begin in 2023 with connections to a master planned Utah lake boardwalk, beach and trails connected to conserved areas.

“We actively pursue ways to restore our lakeshore, native plants, and bring back our wildlife.” Fullmer said, adding that Vineyard has the lowest per capita day water use in the state. “We are building and preparing for the future with our new water tank, and have entered agreements to protect Vineyard’s finite resources and remain sustainable. We have a study underway to enhance technology and maintenance.”

Fullmer talked about the housing that has been programmed to build equity in ownership and create housing opportunities for nurses, teachers, police officers, firefighters and others in the labor force.

Fullmer talked about the Vineyard Connector, and the regions long range planning and funding projections for high-speed transit, UVX alignment, BRT and Light Rail connectivity within Vineyard.

A new fire station was announced, and locations will be finalized in 2023 with design and construction beginning later this year. “Vineyard has been blessed with so many beginnings and so much history that has benefited the residents of Utah. It continues to adapt and change and grow,” Fulllmer said.

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