City Councilwoman Melissa Firth was nominated to serve on the council following Jaime Olsen’s resignation.  Olsen has moved to a home outside the city limits, and city residency is a requirement for serving as a councilmember.

Firth was sworn in at the beginning of the April meeting, and has been very active ever since (and even before, as you’ll see).

We asked Melissa to tell us a bit about herself, her connection to Malad, and her vision for the next few years.  Here are her responses, in her words: 

My connection to Malad started right out of high school when I went to BYUI and met some of the best, down-to-Earth people and by FAR the most competitive!

Many of the friends came to know me by my childhood nickname – Swiss - as it followed me to college and was on the roll. Mayor Hawkins asked for clarification at the swearing in for City Council, I assured her my legal name Melissa was appropriate.

I met Justin Firth who was born and raised in Malad when he returned to BYU-I after serving an LDS mission. One of our first dates was the Malad 4th of July celebration; I have never been to anything like it!

After we were married, the next 10 years Justin served in the Navy and we lived on each coast. We moved back to Malad City in 2020 when Justin started back to ISU for undergrad and then onto Physician assistant school. 

Shortly after moving back, I got a knock on my door asking me to take on city rec soccer which started in 2 weeks. I said I was the wrong girl as I had never played soccer and knew Malad was deeply rooted in tradition and I wasn’t sure what the program looked like. I learned a lot as soccer director the past 5 years, much thanks to the help and volunteering as parents, the program saw success. I’m looking forward to seeing it grow as I have passed the baton. 

The Malad community was supportive and helpful in many ways. Rec Board member at the time, Bobbi Summers purchase new soccer goals in 2023. Last spring we purchased more goal which replaced and updated all the goals.  

I have enjoyed working with the city and crew members and appreciate all they do for our community, specifically Gaylen Garret, Quincy Asay, who helped every season to set up and take down the goals. Also those in the city office, Susan Wittman and Machelle Neal. 

The past 3 years I have been serving on the city rec board with wonderful people including Krichelle Jensen, Lance Tripp, Scott Ray, Tyrell and Bethany Hubbard, Hayden Montgomery, and Jeremy McClellan.

Lance asked if I would consider an interview with the Mayor for city council. He thought that since I think differently than he does that I would be valuable. I think that says more about him that it does me.

Some of the key points I’d like to put focus and emphasis on is upholding a high level of safety and protection for this community. This obviously starts out by being a good neighbor and looking out for your neighbor but also by ensuring our dollars are going to where they are needed most. 

I’d like work toward individualized water meters for deep creek to ensure each household in city can utilize and equal share. This will be a huge project and require the help of grants to see it through, something I feel is a worthwhile investment. 

Although I did not aspire to be on the city council initially, I care about our community. Malad is a great town that draws others to it by the goodness of the people. I want to acknowledge what the city has done in the past and hope to continue to make a positive contribution to our community.