Mayors walking to improve their cities

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) - Mayors across the Gem State are walking daily all trying to improve their city. The goal is to walk 10,000+ steps a day for the entirety of the month of October. If they are successful in their goal they are able to earn $1000 dollars for their city.

"I've participated in it from the beginning, which has been several years now," Rexburg Mayor Jerry Merrill said.

"This is the third year I've participated. I think it's a wonderful program," Tetonia Mayor Brent Schindler said.

Both mayors say they have enjoyed participating in the challenge as they are able to exercise and see their city's sights.

"I've been a lot more cognizant of if I'm going to walk a couple of blocks to the county building or down to the romance theater over to the tabernacle, I just walk instead of jumping in my car and driving over there. And and that has it's been good because not only do I have the opportunity to visit with people along the way, but, you know, if there's trash on the streets or whatever, I pick that up and throw it away," Mayor Merrill said. He also said that it allows him to see things in the city that may need to be fixed or double checked within the infrastructure.

"It's a great time to enjoy the scenery. I have I'm always amazed at how beautiful Idaho is in our area, and so it gives me a good chance to enjoy that," Mayor Schindler said. Schindler also described how he will also pick up trash within his city on his walks.

Both mayors mention they are able meet up with the citizens of their cities and listen to their concerns. With both of them being close to meeting their goal, they shared how they hope to make their cities better with the money.

"So this year we'll probably do some more on park Improvement we are working with on some other grants also. And so we can always add to our play equipment and things like that. And it's always super fun to see the kids enjoying whatever we purchased and having fun," Mayor Schindler said.

"We're going to do a an inclusive play set at one of our parks here in town. And it's going to be a like a swing and a play set that kids that are in wheelchairs can actually wheel right into and be able to swing along with the other kids. And we think that'll be a really neat addition to one of our parks," Mayor Merrill said.

Mayors from Malad to Victor are participating within this challenge.