As 2026 welcomed two new council members and saw a new mayor, the passage of the new year also bid farewell to two departing elected officials: Trent Staggs and Tawnee McCay. 

Staggs, having served two terms as mayor and one term as council member, chose not to rerun, opting to accept a position as advocate for the U.S. Small Business Administration for Region 8. McCay’s term as council member was up. She ran for mayor in November 2025, falling to Tish Buroker. She served two terms on the city council. 

Tawnee McCay was recognized in her final council meeting in December. (Photo courtesy Tawnee McCay)

The final council meeting of 2025 saw the city recognize both for their contributions to Riverton. 

In a written commemoration, City Manager Kevin Hicks offered gratitude to both for their principles and values. For McCay, Hicks said she represented District 3 with “integrity, thoughtfulness and a firm commitment to the principles that strengthen local communities.” 

She served on multiple key boards including for the Salt Lake County Tourism, Recreation, Culture and Convention, the Utah League of Cities and Towns and the South Valley Business Chamber. 

Her focus was on keeping city government on its core missions while also allowing residents the freedom to govern their own lives, Hicks said. 

“She consistently emphasized that effective local government is not measured by how much it controls but by how well it serves,” he said. 

Speaking from the dais, McCay gave a long list of her favorite things with the city that included the veterans program; the Town Days rodeo, parade and fireworks; giving tours of city hall to kids; attending 44 ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings; 9/11 days of service; serving food at the senior center; serving on those boards; working with the youth council and Riverton High’s Hope Walk and Silver Rush; recognizing teachers, students and volunteers during council meetings; the Riverton police and fire departments; and getting to know the residents. 

“We have great people here in Riverton,” she said, adding her appreciation for city staff. 

“You’ve done a remarkable job,” Staggs said. “You’ve served your community with distinction and I appreciate it.”

For Staggs, Hicks said his service coincided with some of the “most consequential periods in the city’s history.” 

Hicks highlighted the city’s evolution from rural farming community into a “regional center of enterprise and opportunity in the southwest Salt Lake valley. That transformation did not happen by chance, it was guided by a mayor who believed that numbers tell the truth, that disciplined planning matters and that good governance must be both principled and precise.” 

Driven by Mountain View Village and Costco, tax revenue grew from $5 to $13 million during Staggs’ tenure, Hicks said. That revenue was also reinforced by eliminating the business license fee. He also highlighted the creation of the Riverton police department and the ability to direct outside funds towards water systems and roads while keeping utility rates low. 

The city’s resident committees were also created during his time that Hicks said helped foster a “culture of volunteerism and shared ownership.” 

Both departing members showed emotion as they reflected on their time in the council chambers.

Staggs described his final council meeting as bittersweet and repeatedly described his time as an elected official as “remarkable.”

“One of the most rewarding things I think I’ve ever done is serve in public office,” he said. “I knew it wasn’t going to last forever.”

“Thank you so much,” McCay said. “It’s been the honor of a lifetime.”