October 2026 | Vol. 22 Iss. 10
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Cottonwood Heights
Short term rentals See Council deliberates allowing them in single family areas Page 10 Inside...
In memoriam
Upcoming wrestling seasons will be dedicated to special coach Page 14
August storm overwhelms Cottonwood Heights stormwater infrastructure By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com
Residents are encouraged to clear out their sections of the city’s storm water system to minimize consequences during the next rainfall.
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ottonwood Heights experienced a 200-year storm event when 1.7 inches (to 1.9 inches) of rain fell within 20 minutes. So much rain in such a short amount of time caused the stormwater drainage infrastructure system to become overwhelmed. On Aug. 13, numerous flooding and landslides occurred within the city. “There’s a 0.5% chance of that happening every year,” said Public Works Director Matthew Shipp. He further explained the term 200-year storm is the probability statistic which indicates the likelihood that magnitude of particular storm could happen once in any year within the time period. “To give you a little bit of context, the standard in the industry is to design stormwater systems to a 10-year storm. When storm drains overflow, the streets, in some locations, are designed to keep the 100-year event. This doesn’t always happen due to geography or when the road and system was built,” Shipp said.
“Our system is just not built to take these (events greater than the standard industry design).” Two major consequences of the 200-year storm overwhelming the city’s infrastructure were discussed during the Sept. 1 city council meeting: residential flooding occurred along Scottish Drive and landsliding was witnessed in Willow Creek Country Club (8505 Willow Creek Drive). “Our home is uninhabitable,” said resident Annie Condas. “My husband and two young children are displaced.” Roughly four-and-a-half feet of water flooded their 2,200-square-foot basement. That equated to 90,000 gallons of water within the Condas’s home. “We have a storm drain system that has been repeatedly overwhelmed. We demand a permanent solution,” Condas said. Condas asked the city council to do an evaluation of the entire stormwater drainage system and to inform residents about what needs to be done immediately in order to protect their homes for the next storm. The other major effect of the 200year storm was a landslide in Willow Creek
Multiple storm drain covers blew off and caused damage during a 200-year storm event in
Continued on page 6 Cottonwood Heights on Aug. 18. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
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The #1 Retirement Mistake That Could Cost You Thousands in Unnecessary Taxes Utah retirement experts warn that the #1 retirement mistake could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars – and no one is talking about it. “It’s the #1 mistake with retirement planning today… and it’s causing hard-working Americans to needlessly overpay their taxes by tens of thousands of dollars every year.” This is a recent warning from Utah retirement experts, Tyson Thacker and Ryan Thacker of B.O.S.S. Retirement Solutions, who have helped over 50,000 families plan for a better retirement. “What makes matters even worse is nobody talks about this. Not your accountant. Not your CPA. Not even most financial advisors,” said Ryan. The #1 Retirement Planning Mistake So what is this costly mistake? It’s withdrawing money in retirement without a coordinated plan. According to the New York Times, roughly half of American retirees don’t take any systematic approach to withdrawing their retirement savings. But the order and timing of your withdrawals from your IRA, 401(k), Roth account, or after-tax savings – matters immensely. It could determine how much you’ll pay in taxes, how much of your Social Security gets taxed, your Medicare premiums and more. And when retirees don’t have a plan, they usually overpay. Every year. For decades. The expensive domino effect When most people retire, they begin withdrawing from their traditional IRA or 401(k). But every dollar you pull from these accounts gets taxed as ordinary income — the same rate as your paycheck when you
were working. Add the income from Social Security and any interest payments, dividends or other investment income, and suddenly your taxable income is much higher than you expected. This is when the dominos start to fall. First, higher income could push you into a higher tax bracket. Second, if your income crosses certain thresholds, up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can be taxed. Third, Medicare premiums are calculated based on your income from two years prior. So a large withdrawal today could trigger an IRMAA surcharge, which could double or triple your Medicare premiums later. And finally, when you turn 73, the government forces you to begin taking required minimum distributions. These are mandatory, taxable withdrawals from your IRA or 401(k) – and they could push your income even higher, triggering even more taxes. “You can feel middle-class in real life, but look wealthy on paper to the IRS,” says Tyson Thacker. “That disconnect is what
surprises so many families.” How to prevent this mistake The good news is there’s a way you could avoid this. And the earlier you address it, the more options you may have to significantly reduce your taxes. The solution doesn’t involve tax loopholes, investment risks or offshore bank accounts. It’s simply coordination: determining which accounts to withdraw from and when, while considering how those decisions could affect your Social Security, Medicare premiums and other investment income. The goal is to reduce the total taxes you’ll pay throughout retirement – not just for one year. “Retirement planning is often done one piece at a time,” says Tyson. “Your CPA focuses on last year. Your financial advisor focuses on investment returns. Medicare and Social Security decisions are made in isolation. Most people don’t understand that all of these things are connected.” But according to the Thackers, a coordinated withdrawal strategy could save a family tens of thousands of dollars in a single year. And over a 20 or 30 year re-
tirement, it could add up to 6-figures in tax savings in retirement. Free tax savings analysis for Utah families To help Utah families avoid this mistake, B.O.S.S. Retirement Solutions offers a free, customized Retirement Tax Savings Analysis. This is a personalized, side-byside comparison of what you’re projected to pay in taxes in retirement now, versus what you could pay with a coordinated tax planning strategy. Some advisors charge thousands of dollars for an analysis like this. B.O.S.S. is offering it at no cost, even if you’re not a client. The strategies are best suited for families who have saved at least $300,000 for retirement. To schedule your free Retirement Tax-Savings Analysis, simply call (801) 405-1311. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Tyson Thacker and Ryan Thacker are the CEO and President of B.O.S.S. Retirement Solutions. They are published authors of the Amazon best-selling book, “The B.O.S.S. Retirement Blueprint, Your Guide to a Secure and Independent Retirement.” Their award-winning firm has seven offices located throughout the Wasatch Front, and a new office in St. George. This is for illustrative purposes only, results may vary. Advisory services offered through B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors, an SEC Registered Investment Advisory firm. Insurance products and services offered through B.O.S.S. Retirement Solutions. The information contained in this material is given for informational purposes only, and no statement contained herein shall constitute tax, legal or investment advice. The information is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation. You should seek advice on legal and tax questions from an independent attorney or tax advisor. SPONSORED CONTENT
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COMMON GROUND
A Vote of Confidence
Common Ground will be a column of rotating viewpoints that highlight specific feelings across the political spectrum, and it will always end with possible ways to come together. For two years, I’ve worried that the president will interfere with, postpone or even cancel the midterm elections, although that’s never happened in the history of our country. But before we go all Y2K on this election and panic-buy underground bunkers, let’s talk about how Utah is handling this situation. Contrary to what cable news would have you believe, the president does not oversee America’s elections. State officials handle that, and Utah has done a phenomenal job. Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson serves as the state’s chief election officer, earning a badge of courage as she stands against an administration demanding our voting rolls. It’s been refreshing to see someone in Utah’s leadership tell the president “No.” While the president continues to bang the “Stolen Election” drum (which is ironic since his administration was in charge during 2020), he says election integrity is a thing of the past. So what is election integrity?
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Common Ground
Has it gone the way of the pterodactyl? Here’s the Election Integrity Checklist. • Eligible voters cast a vote. • Ineligible votes are disregarded. • Ballots are secured. • Votes are accurately counted in a transparent process. This leads to an outcome we have to abide by, even if the results don’t turn out the way we’d like. Election integrity is NOT about making the voting process so cumbersome that it limits how many people can cast a ballot. There are some people who love going to their local polling place, casting a vote and getting their “I Voted” sticker. There are also people who can’t make it to a polling location. Maybe because of work schedules, maybe they’re caring for family members, maybe they’ve lived in an underground bunker since the Y2K scare.
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The point is, Utah’s vote-bymail process has gone swimmingly well. Mail-in voting doesn’t favor any one party; in fact, it gives more people a voice. Isn’t that what we want? I’d rather have an election with massive participation, even if my candidate loses. Isn’t that better than one side that wins because people couldn’t vote? But the federal government is acting like we’re handing out voting ballots willy-nilly, like Oprah giving away pajama sets at Costco. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would require voters to show proof of citizenship when voting, which you can’t do with a mail-in ballot. A federal judge blocked the president’s executive order that created a plan to regulate mail-in ballots. Now the administration, the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Supreme Court are in a race against time to change the mail-in ballot system. What could possibly go wrong? All of the president’s policies have gone off without a hitch. Right? Republican leaders make it
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sound like elections are being bombarded by illegal votes, but a Utah audit found nearly 100% of voters were U.S. citizens. Out of 2,069,640 voter records reviewed, 27 alleged noncitizen voters were found. That’s 0.0013%, for all you math nerds. Elections don’t belong to the president. They don’t belong to Republicans or Democrats. They don’t belong to cable news, TikTok influencers or the guy on Facebook who shares questionable memes. Elections belong to us: We the People. Election integrity boils down to this: protect the right to vote and ensure ballot security. We don’t want ineligible people to vote, but we also don’t want to make the process impossible for eligible voters. The system has worked for 250 years. Throughout this country’s history, no U.S. election has been postponed or cancelled nationwide. But the president’s interference implies you don’t have to cancel an election if you get to choose the voters.
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October 2026 | Page 5
continued from front page Country Club. The damage from which will take three to four months to repair as an entire hillside will need to be rebuilt (with the upper part of the hill needing full redesign and reconstruction). Minimally in comparison, Shipp reported additional damages to manholes within the city’s infrastructure. Most stormwater drainage infrastructure operates optimally when about seven-eighths or three-fourths full. This allows airflow to help the water along through the system. When the systems become totally full, like the city’s recently did, the water pushes all of the air out. “That’s why you see manholes blowing off,” Shipp said. Cottonwood Heights’s deteriorating stormwater infrastructure has been a high priority for Shipp and his entire Public Works team throughout their tenure. When the city first started, a master plan was developed (in 2006) to address the aging infrastructure being adopted from Salt Lake County. It was updated in 2016 when the previous city council brought public works services in-house. “The majority of things we’ve had to repair are the corrugated metal pipes. They have a 30-year lifespan and they’ve been in the ground 60 years,” Shipp said. At the time, the new Public Works Department quickly began efforts to survey
Municipal mayors across the Salt Lake Valley are asking residents to help clear out and maintain the local storm water infrastructures. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
the system. They identified 300 manholes that needed varying manners of help, some of which had been buried or otherwise disregarded as their existence had never been recorded by Salt Lake County. “I need things to stop breaking,” Shipp stated. Mayor Gay Lynn Bennion has been
asking residents for their continued participation. “We all need to be doing our little parts to help our storm drain system.” Beyond Cottonwood Heights, mayors from 34 different cities across northern Utah County, Salt Lake County, and Davis County have been invited to take part in Jordan River Commission’s “Love Your
Watershed” campaign. “Some of the most important service we need right now is around our curbing and infrastructure,” Jordan River Commission Executive Director Søren Simonsen said, during his presentation to the Cottonwood Heights City Council on Aug. 18. The Commission is hoping to establish community engagement habits with their “First Friday” tagline. Every Friday morning, residents are encouraged to survey the storm drains around their neighborhoods and business areas to find what’s been accumulating on the sidewalks and parking areas. Removing any pollutants like litter, pet waste and leaves can help to sustain the water infrastructure systems. “We are making a concerted effort to help…keep those things out of our storm drain systems by being the first line of defense,” Simonsen said. He mentioned how, via the feedback they’ve gotten so far, people are surprised about leaves being harmful for the system. “The microorganisms that decompose leaves and grass clippings consume oxygen. (When they get down into the river shed and lakes), the aquatic wildlife starves and they literally can’t breathe.” To learn more, visit the Jordan River Commission website at: www.loveyourwatershed.org “It’ll take generations and millions of dollars to change the infrastructure,” he said. l
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Cottonwood Heights City Journal
CHPD K-9 officer retires after a rewarding 8-year career German Shepherd and K-9 Officer Dave helped with drug busts and searching for lost people during his career with the city. By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
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ave, the all-black German Shepherd, arrived for his first day of work with the Cottonwood Heights Police Department (CHPD) in 2018. He quickly bonded with his human handler and the pair have been inseparable ever since. Sergeant Jeff Gainey’s fellow CHPD colleagues often tease him about how similar the two are; saying his personality runs straight down the lead. “He’s very serious like I am. We’re quiet and ornery,” said Gainey. “But we’re the happiest pair you’d ever meet.” Dave’s first day out of the police academy included one of the most memorable finds of his entire career. He and his human were paired with a tenured K-9 officer and, after that officer got what he needed from a stop, he told Gainey to send Dave in. Dave quickly found $20,000 and one pound of cocaine. “They know when they’ve done a good job,” Gainey said. “They prance to the truck.” That set the course of Dave’s career. The most common calls Dave and Gainey have been sent to in Cottonwood Heights are drug related, or “dope” calls. Outside of those, Dave’s work days have often consisted of searching to find people. “He’s that dark alley dog,” Gainey said, noting his all-black coat makes him difficult to see in the nighttime. Even though Dave has searched through tight attics and crawl spaces numerous times, Gainey’s only ever been slightly concerned for his safety once. “He knows I’m going in there with them. We’re there to protect them and they’re here to protect us,” he said. Dave has enjoyed his training days as much, or even more so, than his full work days. And with much of the retail space currently sitting empty at Hillside Plaza (2378 Fort Union Blvd.), there’s been ample opportunity. “(He’s) ready to get in there. (He’ll) be digging at the doors,” Gainey said. That trust and bond between Dave and Gainey has been strengthened by eight years of constant contact. “Him and I are together…10, 12 hours a day, Tuesday through Friday,” Gainey said. It didn’t take long for Dave to pick up on Gainey’s habits to know when it’s time to actually clock in. The biggest tells? Gainey’s uniform and the ignition starting. “He would run straight to the garage door, ready to go, leaping up and down, waiting to get in the truck,” he said.
CottonwoodHeightsJournal.com
“They work hard and they do it for a toy,” Cottonwood Heights Police Sgt. Jeff Gainey said about K9 Officer Dave. (Photo courtesy CHPD Sgt. Jeff Gainey)
“They’re genetically different from pets. It’s about prey drive and fight drive,” Cottonwood
Gainey described how imperative com- Heights Police Sgt. Jeff Gainey said. (Photo courtesy CHPD Sgt. Jeff Gainey) munication is for the K-9 officer and handler relationship. K-9s actively listen; they don’t go out biting or hunting of their own initiative. “People think you need a vicious dog and that’s probably one of the worst dogs you could pick,” Gainey said. “They’re working dogs and pets when they’re at home. They’re around our families and everybody can be around them.” Speaking of home, Dave loves to be out in his backyard during his free time — which he’ll have a lot more of now. “There’s no leashes back there,” Gainey said. “I don’t train him at the house so it’s his time.” K-9 Officer Dave officially retired on Aug. 18 (as the Cottonwood Heights City Council approved Resolution 2026-60 which declared Dave surplus property and authorized Gainey to be able to purchase him for $10 in exchange for providing lifelong care). Dave will be turning 10 years old next spring. Until then, he’s looking forward to his two probiotic treats and two beef sticks per day. He’s even already set with a costume for Halloween. He’s going to be a dragon. If Dave were to summarize his entire career, he’d say: “I work hard, and I love to play.” Gainey would like residents to know that they should always talk to a K-9 officer’s handler before approaching. “Let the handler know you’re there and never, never, grab the handler,” he said. l
October 2026 | Page 7
The Brighton High boys golf team pictured with the team’s first-place scorecard from the Old Mill tournament. (Photo courtesy coach Ron Meyer)
Brighton boys golf surging as state approaches
Coach says the team is focused and playing smart golf this year. By Jerry S. Christensen j.christensen@mycityjournals.com
T
he Brighton High boys golf team is making headlines this fall with a surprising surge through one of the toughest regions in the state. This positions the Bengals as the team to watch heading into the 5A state tournament. Region 6 is loaded with perennial golf powerhouses like Skyline and Olympus this
year and the competition is fierce. “It really is a shootout at every tournament,” head coach Ron Meyer said. “The winners are only winning by a couple of strokes.” Brighton has answered the challenge. The Bengals have claimed first place in two of the region’s first four tournaments, taking top honors at both Old Mill and Bountiful Ridge. Leading the charge is sophomore Jack Murray, who has locked down the team’s No. 1 spot and has been remarkably consistent, hitting right around par week after week. Murray already has a signature result on his résumé
this season, finishing in the top 10 at the Black Desert Invitational in Ivins. The team made a rare road trip to Southern Utah in late summer during preseason to play on the new PGA quality course. Murray isn’t playing alone at the top of the leaderboard. At last week’s tournament at Old Mill, Austin Taylor and Andrew High both shot just under par, while Murray and Liam Alder each carded a 71. Beyond the scores, Meyer sees a team that has grown up together. “The boys are focused and playing smart golf this year,” he said.
“We’ve really matured as a team.” Old Mill Golf Course, Brighton’s home course, has been a fitting stage for the Bengals’ early success this season. With state looming later this fall, Brighton will look to keep its momentum going through the rest of the region slate, with upcoming tournaments at Lakeside and Mountain View before the team turns its attention to the postseason. If the first half of the season is any indication, Brighton’s boys golf team will be a name to watch when the state tournament tees off.l
‘Our community is better because [insert name] lives here’
Did your brain auto-fill with a specific name? Nominate that person as a Cottonwood Heights’s Neighborhood Hero before Oct. 2. By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
I
s there someone who often shovels walkways, picks up trash, coaches youth teams, organizes block parties, fosters a sense of belonging or consistently shows up to help? Nominate them to be recognized as one of Cottonwood Heights’s Neighborhood Heroes. “There are people all over Cottonwood Heights quietly making this a better place to live,” said Micki Harris, Cottonwood Heights America250 ad hoc committee chair. “...Most of them would probably be horrified to find out someone nominated them for anything — which is exactly why you should nominate them.” Nominating a Neighborhood Hero takes about three minutes. Residents must submit their own contact information, their nominee’s name, city district and photo, and answer the question: “Why should this neighbor be recognized?” All of the above information must be submitted into the appropriate form through the city’s website (link below) before Oct. 2. “Neighborhood Heroes is about recognizing those people—the ones doing a million small things that will never make it into a history book, but make our little corner of America better every day. And I think that’s something we can all get behind,” Harris said.
Page 8 | October 2026
“Help us recognize the residents who make a meaningful difference in our city,” said Micki Harris, America250 Committee chair. (Photo courtesy of Micki Harris)
Cottonwood Heights would like to recognize its Neighborhood Heroes as part of the America250 celebrations. The larger initiative commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by highlighting the “people, places and stories that define our nation and our community.” “When we started talking about how Cottonwood
Heights should recognize America’s 250th birthday, I really didn’t want it to just be flags, fireworks and a history lesson,” Harris said. “I wanted something that could actually bring us together.” Harris hopes this will be the beginning of an annual recognition as “there will never be a shortage of people worth recognizing.” All selected Neighborhood Heroes will be recognized during the city’s Star-Spangled Finale on Nov. 12. The event will begin at 7 p.m. at Butler Middle School (7530 S. 2700 East). “I want some of that spark back, not because America is perfect, but because there is still so much that connects us and so much worth celebrating. That’s what I hope the Finale feels like,” Harris said. The event will also feature a school choir performance with songs from different military branches to honor local veterans, “Dear America” letters residents wrote earlier in the year, and an old-fashioned community sing-along. “Come sit next to your neighbors, hear from your community, sing a few songs you probably haven’t sung since elementary school, and remember that we’re all part of this together,” Harris said. “And there will be kids singing, so even if everything else goes completely off the rails, they will be adorable and save us.” Residents can nominate their Neighborhood Hero through the following: www.cottonwoodheights.utah.gov/ community/events/america250/neighborhood-heros “A lot of small acts, done by a lot of people, can make a pretty great place to live,” Harris said. l
Cottonwood Heights City Journal
CottonwoodHeightsJournal.com
October 2026 | Page 9
City council deliberates on allowing short-term rentals in single-family zones There are over 300 illegal vacation rentals currently operating within the city. By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
O
ut of the 409 short-term rentals (STRs) within the city limits of Cottonwood Heights, only 108 are legal with city-approved licenses, inspections and permits. That means, 301 STRs are operating illegally. “We’ve been trying to figure out how to wrangle the black market of short-term rentals that we have right now,” said Councilmember Suzanne Hyland during a topic-specific town hall on June 30. Currently, STRs are only allowed along private streets within residential multi-family, mixed use, neighborhood commercial, and residential office zones (per Chapter 19.89 of Cottonwood Heights Municipal Code). STRs must be within buildings that have eight units and operate under a conditional use permit. (This differs from long-term rentals that are defined as 30-day rentals or longer.) “I was a little naive about this in the first place because we live in a zone that doesn’t allow them so I thought we wouldn’t have them,” said resident Betsy Johnson during the public comment section of the town hall. Residents regularly share complaints over the STR properties in their single-family areas: the majority of which involve appearance, noise (partying), litter and parking hazards. “It’s frustrating to have a STR be the worst looking property in the neighborhood,” said Anna (no last name given), a resident along Creek Road. Since these STRs are technically operating illegally per city code, the city’s code enforcement should be able to shut them down. So, why haven’t they? Because of the Knotwell Rule or H.B. 253. “The phenomena of Airbnb and its legacy both good and bad need to be effectively regulated. Based on limitations set by the Utah Legislature, Cottonwood Heights’ opportunity is to set laws that educate, monitor, regulate and tax STRs in a shrewd and cost-effective manner,” said Councilmember Ellen Birrell. Per H.B. 253, local enforcement officers cannot pull listings from websites like Airbnb, VRBO or HomeAway as primary evidence when prosecuting an illegal short-term rental; even if neighboring residents have called in nuisance complaints. Instead, officers have to rely on gathering other forms of evidence. “It’s a first amendment right to list that property,” Hyland said. Because of this legislation, criminal enforcement of illegal STRs is time-consuming. CHPD’s code enforcement officers have recorded an average of 25 hours of work to
Page 10 | October 2026
“If I could rent out my basement for three months during ski season, I could pay for housing for the year,” Councilmember Suzanne Hyland said. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights)
At the core of the city council discussion around short-term rentals, the council’s goal is to preserve the neighborhood’s character. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights)
Councilmember Suzanne Hyland mentioned key findings from research from the Utah Land Institute and the Land Policy Institute stating 5%-7% STRs in a community neighborhood doesn’t increase property values. draft an initial report against an illegal STR, (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood Heights)
just to go to court. That initial report then can’t move forward in court unless there is a resident willing to provide testimony. “We shouldn’t make laws unless we can enforce them,” Hyland said. On the flip side, the current process to operate a legal STR within the city is also time-consuming for both applicant and city staff. For the applicant, there’s a two-week waiting time (after a $350 application fee) because it takes city staff several hours to process a single STR application. Following trends throughout the state of Utah, the Cottonwood Heights City Council only expects STRs to grow in popularity and exacerbate this issue. Hyland often mentions how the pandemic and Ikon Pass heavily impacted the city. Over nine million visitors come to explore the Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons every season. “We want to be able to capture revenue
of admin and enforcement,” Hyland said. “We want to reduce property taxes by capturing the visitor economy.” For over two years, the council has been attempting to address these issues by brainstorming different ways to rewrite the city ordinances and business regulations. “There is no way to adequately enforce the 300 illegal properties,” said Mayor Gay Lynn Bennion during a council discussion on Aug. 18. Last year, the council opted in to use a software developed by Granicus to be able to survey the current landscape of STRs within the city. Ideally, after further development, Granicus will be able to routinely monitor STR listings from 70 vacation rental websites as well as complaints against property-specific rentals. One of the initial steps, now in effect, was to increase the fee for operating an illegal STR
to $650 per day for a first violation, incrementally increasing up to $1,000 per day with subsequent violations (and revocation of permit and business license). “We are a city of residents and we are a resort city. We can let that change us or we can impact change,” Hyland said. In Cottonwood Heights, the median home price is $819,000 with the median income being over $100,000. STRs have become a factor in housing affordability, so keeping STRs strictly illegal in most areas of the city isn’t the answer to most of the councilmembers. “I live by myself and I had a hard time finding a place within the city to live. This was the only option for me to live here,” resident Eva (no last name given) said. “As an Airbnb owner, I do a lot to make sure the property is safe for my guests, and I pay a lot of taxes to the city.” “I want our policy on STRs to reflect the will of our residents. My one non-negotiable is this: we cannot displace a family or individual who calls Cottonwood Heights home just to make way for a short-term visitor,” said Councilmember Matthew Holton. Openly allowing STRs everywhere throughout the city isn’t the answer for any of the council members, either. Instead, the council has been deliberating on how to bring STRs into compliance, where that may be even appropriate, and how to rewrite the STR ordinance for future. “Why are we going to reward people who have been breaking the law or can we make it a lottery?” asked resident Stacey (no last name given) from District 4. “My desire is to focus on maintaining the well-being of residents,” said Councilmember Shawn Newell. “STRs have their place, just not everyplace.” One of the council’s ideas directly addresses the concerns from residents described above. STRs could be required to have a property manager assigned to respond to any complaints within 15 minutes. If a single property receives more than three complaints, their business licensing and permitting is revoked. Mayor Bennion said she’d be in support of a three-strike penalty. “They’ll want to have their property looking good and not have noise violations.” Looking at surrounding areas, Murray now allows STRs as hosted-sharing in residential zones, Sandy allows a limited number of owner-occupied STRs in neighborhoods within single-family zones, and Salt Lake City now only allows STRs in apartments. “This is tough. Nobody has nailed it,” Hyland said. For further questions and comments, Cottonwood Heights has set up a STR dedicated email address at: str@ch.utah.gov. l
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Dear Reader,
The City Journals, a conglomerate of community newspapers, has been bringing your hyperlocal news directly to your mailbox (for free!). That means we are sitting through city council meetings, following school boards and local elections, and covering high school sports, neighborhood issues, new businesses and the people doing interesting things down the street. Hi, I’m Cassie. You’ve likely seen my byline before, or at least flipped through something I’ve reported on. I’m an individual part of the bigger team of writers here who has been bringing you the local news you love. I started at the City Journals in 2015 and, even though an 11-year career may seem like a good chunk of time, it’s nothing in comparison to the rest of our editorial team. Our Salt Lake County Editor, Travis Barton, has been with us for just as long; our Davis editor to the north, Becky Ginos, has been monitoring the pulse of Davis County since the pandemic; and our humorist extraordinaire, Peri Kinder, has been bringing the laughter for decades. For more than 35 years, the City Journals have delivered community newspapers free to readers. Today, our 38 reporters produce roughly 190 to 220 original local stories each month across 15 communities in Salt Lake and Davis counties, each are embedded within the communities we serve. Oh! My colleagues would be upset with me if I didn’t mention the majority of us are award-winning journalists. “It’s amazing how you can turn some handwritten notes into a full, beautiful story,” said our account executive Marc Davis. It’s not unusual for a City Journals reporter to be the only journalist in the room at a local government meeting. That kind of reporting isn’t glamorous, but we think it matters. We want to keep doing that—and do more of it. Like local news organizations everywhere, we’re figuring out how to sustain and expand our reporting as the way people get their news changes. We want to publish more frequently online, spend more time on stories that deserve deeper reporting and continue putting reporters in the rooms where decisions about your community are being made. That takes time and resources. We’re asking readers who find value in the City Journals to consider supporting our work. If one reader in each household contributed even $2 to $5 per month ($24 to $60 per year), it would give us more resources to put directly into local journalism. There’s no paywall attached to this request. We’ll keep delivering the City Journals and reporting the news of our communities. We’re simply asking those who are able—and who believe local reporting is worth having—to help us do more of it. Your support won’t go unnoticed. Because we’re reporters, we think you should know what happens next. As this effort grows, we’ll report back to you about what reader support has allowed us to accomplish. To support your City Journal, visit donate.thecityjournals.com or scan the QR Code on this page. We welcome your direct communication. Please keep talking to us. Tell us what we’re missing. Ask us questions. The relationship between our reporters and the communities they cover is what makes this kind of journalism possible. From the entire City Journals team – With dedication to informing and, most certainly, celebrating our communities, Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com
Page 12 | October 2026
This creature from 2024’s Monster Mash event may show up this year at the new Spooktacular! (Lindsey Webb/Cottonwood Heights)
Don’t miss Cottonwood Heights new Spooktacular! on Oct. 26 Do the Monster Mash and more at this safe, fun and free Halloween event. By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
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ottonwood Heights’s annual Monster Mash, Trunk-or-Treat and Community Block Party events will be combining, expanding and rebranding this year into… Spooktacular! “Combining several events gives us the opportunity to create something bigger and more engaging while also being thoughtful about city resources,” said Lindsey Webb, Cottonwood Heights administrative services assistant. Spooktacular! will be held at Cottonwood Heights City Hall (2277 Bengal Blvd.) on Monday, Oct. 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. New additions to the Halloween event will include carnival games (where children ages 12 and under can win prizes), lawn games, a photo booth and food trucks. Local dance studio Thompson Lane Entertainment will also be performing. “One of the things we’re most excited about is simply having everything happening in one location. Families won’t have to rush through one activity and leave—they can explore the event, grab something to eat, watch a performance, play games, visit the trunks and vendors, and make an evening of it,” Webb said. Previous traditions from the city’s events that will carry on into Spooktacular! include Trunk-or-Treating, carnival-style games led by the Cottonwood Heights Youth Council, local vendors and entertainment, and activities for families to enjoy together. One of the main reasons Monster Mash and Trunk-or-Treat will be combining into one event this year is the sheer amount of participation from previous years. The
attendance simply became too vast for the previous indoor space. “Because the event is changing so much this year, we felt it deserved a new identity,” Webb said. “We wanted a name that could encompass all of the different activities we’re bringing together. We tossed around several Halloween-themed ideas, but we kept coming back to the idea that this should feel fun and welcoming rather than scary—especially for our younger residents.” Historically, Monster Mash included a free public skate at the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center (7500 S. 2700 East). This year, free ice skating will kick off the Spooktacular! week on Friday, Oct. 23 with family skating for all ages from 2 to 4 p.m. From there, the Rec Center will be participating in the Spooktacular! celebrations with a decorated trunk as part of the Trunk-or-Treat. “We’re excited that they’re continuing to be part of the tradition even as the event evolves into something new,” Webb said. Rocky Mountain Power is partnering with Cottonwood Heights for this community event. “Their support is helping fund a significant portion of Spooktacular! and allows us to offer more to the community while remaining mindful of the city’s event budget,” Webb said. To learn more about Spooktacular!, visit the city’s website at: www.cottonwoodheights.utah.gov/community/events/ monster-mash. Local businesses or organizations wanting to participate can reach out to the city’s events team by emailing: events@ch.utah.gov. “More than anything, we want Spooktacular! to feel like a community event,” Webb said. “Whether someone participates as a vendor, sponsors an activity, decorates a trunk, or simply brings their family out for the evening, we hope residents will come celebrate with us and help make the first Spooktacular! a great new Cottonwood Heights tradition.” l
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October 2026 | Page 13
Brighton teacher and wrestling coach remembered for endless joy
Joidee Gappmayer died days before the 2026 graduation. By Jerry S. Christensen j.christensen@mycityjournals.com
T
here was a smile that everyone at Brighton High School knew — the kind that met you in the hallway before you’d even said hello. It belonged to Joidee Gappmayer, and remarkably, it never disappeared, not even when her own life became the hardest match she’d ever face. Gappmayer’s story at Brighton began in 2023, when she walked into the building as a para educator working alongside the school’s special education students. Fellow teacher Kirt Larsen remembers her from those earliest days, long before she ever had a classroom of her own. “She was known for her smile — from her days working as a para helping students with special needs, to her time student teaching with me, and her time in her own classroom,” Larsen said. “She lit up every room she was in, even when she was going through chemo. She was brilliant at spotting students who weren’t engaged, connecting with them, then helping them return to the task at hand. She could make anyone, even the most moody teenagers, smile.” Gappmayer finished her teaching certification coursework and student teaching while carrying a brain cancer diagnosis and two years of treatment — a fight that she couldn’t hide from her students. And along the way, she traded her spot on the boys wrestling coaching staff for a whistle of her own, becoming head coach of Brighton’s girls wrestling program. The record book will note a region title and seven state-qualifying wrestlers under her watch. But ask anyone who wrestled or coached beside her, and the numbers aren’t what they remember first. “The thing that I really enjoyed about her is that she was always smiling and happy,” said assistant coach Judd Mackintosh. “One of the most upbeat and positive people I’ve ever met.
She really cared about each and every one of the wrestlers and how they were doing on and off the mat.” Principal Marielle Rawle said Gappmayer’s warmth reached well past the wrestling room and the classroom walls, into the culture of the school itself. “There are no words to describe the impact that Joidee had on our wrestling program as well as the whole school,” Rawle said. “She was the biggest supporter of every student and athlete. We felt her love and positive attitude, and we wanted to be better because of Joidee.” The brain tumor diagnosis, and the aggressive treatment that followed, took its toll — but for two more years, Gappmayer kept showing up, kept teaching, kept coaching. She died just two days before Brighton’s 2026 graduation, close enough to see the finish line her students, which includes her own son, were running toward. That spring, the boys and girls wrestling teams dedicated their entire season to her, sewing “Team Joidee” patches onto their gear so she’d be on the mat with them for every match. “We were unified in wrestling for coach Joidee, who modeled grace and resilience in the face of such a valiant battle,” said senior 185-pound wrestler Fernando Cortez. Her husband, Burke Gappmayer, said it’s hard to put into words what she meant to the people around her. “Joidee made everything and everyone around her better,” he said. “Her endless joy and positivity were contagious, and she sincerely loved every student and athlete she interacted with. To know Joidee was to know real happiness.” Four-year wrestler Mei Mei Engebretsen said Gappmayer was in her corner for every match, from her first day in the wrestling room. Before she stepped onto the mat, Engebretsen said, Gappmayer would find her eyes and say the same thing every time: “Just have fun, Mei-Mei — you already have what it takes.” Engebretsen carries that voice with her still, now serving a mission in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a long way from the Brighton wrestling room. She remembers one moment
Brighton teacher and wrestling coach remembered for endless joy, dies days before 2026 graduation. (Photo courtesy Brighton High)
in particular, before a tough matchup at this year’s Battle of the Axe, when Gappmayer found her in the halls, sensed her nerves without being told, and simply reminded her how strong she was. “That was the last time I had the chance to wrestle in front of her,” Engebretsen said. “She brought strength to my lowest time and courage. I love that woman with all my heart, and she will always have a spot in it.”
Joidee Gappmayer was a motivation and a mentor to Brighton students and athletes who will, in their own time, face hard battles of their own — and who will carry a little of her grace into them. In October 2026, she’ll be inducted into the Brighton Coaches Hall of Fame in memoriam. But long after the plaque is hung, it will be that smile — the one that never quit on anyone, even at the end — that Brighton remembers. l
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Cottonwood Heights City Journal
LDS Earth Stewardship hosts Great Salt Lake photographer
Chris Carlson’s images highlight the lake’s diversity and beauty. By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
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hris Carlson has a deep connection to the Great Salt Lake. Not only is he a descendant of the Garr family, who settled Antelope Island, but he’s dedicated himself to photographing the lake’s ever-changing landscape. News about the Great Salt Lake’s demise is everywhere, from the Wall Street Journal to the New York Times. According to Grow the Flow Utah, the statistics are dire. The lake is eight feet below the minimum healthy level, 56% of the lakebed is exposed and it’s not quite 31% full. Carlson has a different story to tell about the lake. He addressed the Northern Wasatch chapter of the LDS Earth Stewardship during an event in August at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center in Farmington. At the event, Carlson shared images he’s taken of the lake over the years. His message is one of hope, stewardship, conservation and beauty. “Sometimes when you’re out there, and you have your camera, Heavenly Father just serves you the image,” he said. “If you want to love the Great Salt Lake, go out and spend time with it, because it’s remarkable.” Carlson published a book of photos
highlighting the lake’s stunning scenery and interconnectedness. “Preserving Greatness” includes more than 200 pictures, documenting the natural wonder found in and around the Great Salt Lake. The photos came about as his father was dying from Alzheimer’s. Carlson spent hours on Antelope Island, searching for solace and peace during that difficult time. He noticed how quickly the lake was disappearing, much like his father. “Just like my dad’s memories and his mind were leaving, the memory of this place is going to leave if someone doesn’t capture it,” he said. “So that turned from a meditative, therapeutic exercise into an obsession. I spent a lot of time there in the early mornings.” Carlson grew to love the Great Salt Lake, from the migratory birds to the bison. He explored all areas of the lake, documenting its beauty, its loss and its capacity for wonder. He’d always considered himself a landscape photographer, but after witnessing the wildlife on the lake, he became an expert in capturing the perfect animal image. His connection to the animals that live there became a gift. “What I’ve learned, and this is the spiritual part for me, is that eye connection is everything,” he said. “I don’t know what heaven’s like, but I know it’s not going to be heaven if we don’t have animals there.” Carlson hopes that using creativity to
Chris Carlson’s image of Stansbury Bay on the Great Salt Lake is one of hundreds of images he took for his book, “Preserving Greatness.” (Photo courtesy of Chris Carlson)
address environmental issues will get more people earnestly engaged in saving the lake. He recently organized a Great Salt Lake fashion show, featuring couture designed by local college students studying fashion. The goal is to raise $300,000 that will go directly to conservation efforts. He encourages residents to go out on the Great Salt Lake, get to know its landscapes, its birds, its animals and its tenuous plight. Carlson wants people to visit Antelope Island to see the bison and antelope, walk along the south shore at the Great Salt Lake State Park and take time to visit the Spiral Jetty artwork. “There are young people in Utah who are paying attention, who are turning their love for this place, and grief about what’s happening,
into something tangible,” Carlson said. “I encourage you, however you can, to use your voice to try to make people aware of it. Write your legislators in the House and in the Senate, and try to find ways to conserve your personal water use.” The Northern Wasatch chapter of LDS Earth Stewardship is a nonprofit focused on stewardship, environmental education and inspirational collaborations. “We gather people who care for creation,” said Sara Johnson, the chapter’s chairperson. “It’s for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but we invite all to come.” For information about membership and future events, visit ldsesnorthernwasatch. substack.com. l
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October 2026 | Page 15
‘Ghost Adventures’ celebrities investigate The Great Saltair at ParaCon finale
Salt City ParaCon’s inaugural year draws such a wealth of local participation that the 2027 paranormal conference is already scheduled. By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
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hat’s up with Utah, man?” asked Aaron Goodwin, “Ghost Adventures” TV personality, actor and producer. “There’s something going on with the land. It’s just weird.” Goodwin and Jay Wasley, his fellow “Ghost Adventures” actor, producer and director, were in town for the first-ever local paranormal conference known as Salt City ParaCon. Salt City ParaCon drew local paranormal enthusiasts together for various paranormal guest speakers, panel discussions, workshops, local vendors and late-night investigations of The Great Saltair. “We love all things spooky and paranormal,” said local haunt actor Kookie The Clown. “The people here are amazing. It’s a great community.” David Sandoval, Salt City ParaCon’s event planner, was inspired by events like Vernal’s PhenomeCon and Pennsylvania’s Pennhurst ParaCon. He wanted to create a
space and community in Utah specifically focused on the paranormal, as opposed to other areas of supernatural focus like Big Foot, aliens and skin walkers. “I didn’t know what to expect for the turnout,” Sandoval said. “Once we got Jay on board, it snowballed. Everybody in the community knows Jay.” As he was planning an event of this scale for the first time, Sandoval took care to pick and format the 45 local vendors into the conference. He wanted to have paranormal investigators included, of course, but he also wanted to bring in skeptics to balance out the vendor floor. “I always like the idea of a conversation,” Sandoval said. “I wanted to have both sides of the argument.” “The mystery of the paranormal has to have definitive answers,” said Zayne Searle from the YouTube show “The Unknown Investigators.” Sandoval personally buys into the “residual energy” theories to explain the paranormal world and to understand what we don’t know after death. “Past, present and future are happening all at the same time,” he said. During the daylight hours of the ParaCon weekend, attendees were able to browse local
artist booths, snack on food from local artisan trucks (like The Haunted Wagon Philly Cheesesteak and Crazy Chicken), and listen to panel discussions and guest speaker presentations. “We love coming out to build connections with the overlapping community,” said Ollie Odinson, content creator of Slash Lake City. But after the sun went down, they were able to explore The Great Saltair (12408 W. Saltair Drive) in Magna with investigations led by Goodwin and Wasley. (Because as Sandoval noted, any paranormal conference must “end with a ghost hunt.”) “We asked the ghosts if they came to our booth,” said Amber Galer, Curst Beauty wholesale director. “They said yes.” After the Salt City ParaCon weekend was over, Sandoval shared that some of the vendors reported back to him with some of the biggest sales days in their entire business careers. Sandoval has already made announcements for Salt City ParaCon 2027 with returning appearances from Goodwin and Wasley, and new attendance confirmed by Amy Bruni, Jessica Chobot and Patti Negri. “I don’t want to keep it exclusive to the paranormal,” Sandoval said. “We’re reaching out to other celebrities that don’t believe in ghosts.” (Sean Kanan from “Karate Kid”/”Cobra Kai” has already signed on.)
Salt City ParaCon 2026’s local art vendors included Curst Beauty (www.curstbeauty.com), Erica Lackey (on Instagram @ bone.n.ware), Chesley Jewelry (www.chesleyjewelry.com), Haderlie Designs (www. haderliedesigns.com), ideas2ink (www. ideas2ink.net), Haunted Haven LLC (with Northern Utah Paranormal) (on Facebook @Haunted Haven Paraphysical Shop), The Traveling Whisper (on Instagram @the_travelingwhisper), Kookie Creations (on Instagram @kookiezcreationz), and Slash Lake City (on Facebook), Local paranormal services attending ParaCon included: Wasatch Investigative Society for Paranormal Studies (WISPS) (www.advancedparanormal.com), Beehive Skeptics (www.beehiveskeptics.com) and “The Unknown Investigators” (on YouTube). Salt City ParaCon’s artwork and logo were designed by Claudio Bergamin (on Instagram @claudiobergamin.art). Salt City ParaCon 2026 was sponsored by Western Paranormal Society, Fear Factory, Castle of Chaos and Nightmare on 13th. Salt City ParaCon 2027 will begin on April 15, 2027 and run through April 17, 2027 at Asylum 49 in Tooele (140 E. 200 South). To learn more, or to buy tickets, visit their website at: www.saltcityparacon.com. l
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Cottonwood Heights City Journal
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October 2026 | Page 17
Brighton theatre students ready to ‘Watch What Happens’
A comedy-filled Shakespeare opener, Brighton’s biggest cast yet in “Newsies” and a heartfelt spring musical give the school’s theatre students plenty of chances to stretch, perform and have fun.
the play’s mistaken identities and comic confusion. It’s a departure from the Shakespeare productions Brighton typically tackles. “Their acting style leans more on the comedic side and that’s where their strengths are,” Conner said. “We haven’t really leaned By Julie Slama into that with Shakespeare.” j.slama@mycityjournals.com The students will also prepare monologues and duo/trio scenes for competition. righton High’s theatre students have Brighton’s Shakespeare Showcase will be been practicing their dance steps, Oct. 5 and will give the audience a glimpse sharpening their comedy and putting more into the school’s competition entries at the fun into their shows this school year. 50th annual Utah Shakespeare High School That last part is important, said theatre Festival’s high school competition in teacher Makayla Conner. Cedar City. “We sometimes get kind of caught up Then comes the season’s biggest in the competition aspects of things or com- undertaking: “Newsies.” parisons,” she said. About 110 per“Sometimes we need formers auditioned “It has beautiful music for the musical, with to laugh and escape a little bit.” and a dramatic element approximately 15 The theatre technicians and 20 that allow the kids to find musicians expected program’s 2026-27 seasonincludesShakethat more nuanced acting to join them. speare, “Newsies,” is style,” very “‘Newsies’ a regional and state popular for the – Makayla Conner kids,” Conner said. showcase, “Bright Star” and an improv It’s also a properformance. duction that is The season starts with Shake- pushing the students into perfecting a skill speare’s “Twelfth Night,” with about 30 stu- — dancing. dents performing a compilation built around Conner said the students wanted to
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Brighton High’s drama club adopted the theme, “Watch What Happens,” for their season, which includes their musical “Newsies,” which will be performed in December. (Photo courtesy Makayla Conner)
perform “Newsies,” but she told them they needed to demonstrate that they were willing to work on their dance skills because the show requires extensive choreography. They did. Students worked on dance techniques during the past school year and summer, with student leaders organizing time to practice. “They’re taking that by the reins and really helping each other out,” Conner said. Even students who don’t land prominent dance roles will have opportunities to develop their skills. “Everyone will be dancing and performing different levels of dance,” she said. The production also will become a history lesson, with students studying the 1889 newsboys’ strike, child labor and ways young people have stood up for causes throughout history. After the high-energy “Newsies,” the program will take a different path with “Bright Star” in the spring. Conner said the musical offers a more serious tone and an ensemble-driven story, giving students an opportunity to develop a more subtle and layered emotional acting style. “It has beautiful music and a dramatic element that allow the kids to find that more nuanced acting style,” she said. The thespians also will compete at region in March. State is in April and Brighton will host the individual events. The season will conclude with an improvisation show in May.
This year, the 12-member theatre council has adopted “Watch What Happens” — a phrase from “Newsies” — as its theme. Conner already has seen it turn into a message about kindness and inclusion, such as “Watch what happens when you be kind” and “Watch what happens when you reach out to people.” “They are helping each other with dancing, auditions, and they’re supporting other Brighton groups and teams,” she said. “This group is kind to everyone they meet. They want everyone to feel welcomed and to have fun.” l BRIGHTON HIGH THEATRE SEASON • Shakespeare Showcase — 7 p.m., Oct. 5 — “Twelfth Night” and student competition pieces — free • “Newsies” — 7 p.m., Dec. 3-5, 2 p.m. matinee Dec. 5 — Tickets: $13 adults; $10 students, children and seniors • Region/state showcase with oneact performance TBA — 7 p.m. March 4-6, 2027; 2 p.m. matinee, March 6, 2027 — Tickets: $10 • “Bright Star” — 7 p.m., April 29-May 1, 2027; 2 p.m. matinee May 1, 2027. Tickets: $13 adults; $10 students, children and seniors • Improv show — 7 p.m., May 7, 2027 Ticket information is available at brightonbengals.org. Brighton High’s productions are held at 2220 Bengal Blvd. in Cottonwood Heights.
Cottonwood Heights City Journal
The races you can’t afford to skip: Salt Lake County’s 2026 candidates Three new representatives will join the Salt Lake County Council for 2027. By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
N
ational and state races may receive most of the political attention this election season, but farther down the November ballot Salt Lake County voters will make decisions about the people who oversee some of the government functions closest to home. Who watches the county’s money? Who administers its elections? Who prosecutes criminal cases? Who oversees the county jail? And who sits on the council that approves the county budget and makes decisions affecting more than a million residents? On Nov. 3, voters will select candidates for four Salt Lake County Council seats as well as county auditor, clerk, district attorney and sheriff. The ballot includes longtime officeholders, former elected officials, attorneys, accountants, law enforcement officers, businesspeople and political newcomers.
The county council will see three members stepping down in 2027: Aimee Winder Newton, Laurie Stringham and Sheldon Stewart.
opportunity to vote in the at-large A contest.
District 1: Northern Salt Lake County
In County Council District 1, Democratic incumbent Jiro Johnson faces Libertarian Casey Poe. No Republican qualified for the general-election contest. District 1 covers a portion of northern Salt Lake County and includes communities in and around Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake and West Valley City. County Council at-large A: Johnson, who was appointed, is seekA countywide choice The largest field is for County Council ing another term on the nine-member County at-large A, a seat elected by voters throughout Council, where council members approve the Salt Lake County rather than from a particular county budget, adopt ordinances and make policy decisions affecting county services. council district. Republican Kathleen Anderson, Democrat Zach Robinson, Constitution Party candidate District 3: Murray, Midvale and central county communities Gregory Beglarian, Forward Party candidate One of the more locally significant counMaleah Bliss Caulford and unaffiliated candidate Olghen Ocean Saintelus are competing for cil races is District 3, where voters will choose a successor to Republican Councilmember the seat. Anderson is a small-business owner who Aimee Winder Newton. Republican Mike Bird faces Democrat has lived in Salt Lake County for more than Luke Maynes for the open seat. District 3 three decades. Robinson has worked as a firefighter and encompasses Murray, Taylorsville and Midparamedic and served two terms on the Sandy vale, along with portions of West Jordan and City Council. He holds a master’s degree in West Valley City, putting the contest before public administration and currently works at voters across a substantial portion of the central county. University of Utah Health. Maynes works as a systems analyst and Unlike the three district council races, every Salt Lake County voter will have an project manager for a technology company, experience that includes examining organizational processes and systems. He also serves as vice chair of a community council in Midvale. Bird has been involved in Republican politics and community activities in the district. Because Winder Newton is not seeking another term, District 3 voters are guaranteed to send a new representative to the County Council.
District 5: Southern Salt Lake County
Aimee Winder Newton is stepping down from District 3 after several terms in office. (Photo courtesy West Jordan City)
CottonwoodHeightsJournal.com
Another open council seat is being contested in the rapidly growing southern portion of the county. Republican Traci Crockett faces Democrat Sara Cimmers for County Council District 5. The district includes Bluffdale and Riverton and portions of Draper, Herriman, South Jordan and West Jordan. Crockett has previously held elected office, serving two terms on the Bluffdale City
Council. She advanced to the November election after narrowly defeating Chris Null in the June Republican primary, 51% to 49%. Cimmers is a community advocate who has been involved with issues affecting families and children. Like District 3, District 5 will have a new representative following the election.
a primary. Gill prevailed in June with approximately 52% of the vote to Robinson’s 48%. Davis is an attorney who worked as a Salt Lake County deputy district attorney from 2017 to 2021, where his work included felony prosecutions and the creation of the office’s cybercrime prosecution unit. Davis currently works as corporate counsel and director of cybersecurity for Woodbury County Auditor Corporation. He also served as an Army infanFor Salt Lake County auditor, voters try officer and deployed twice to Iraq. countywide will choose between two candidates whose professional backgrounds are Sheriff directly connected to financial oversight. Democratic Sheriff Rosie Rivera faces Republican Chris Harding, the incumbent Republican Shane Manwaring. auditor, faces Democrat Ali Cloward. Rivera has served as sheriff since 2017. Harding was elected in 2022 and is a certi- She began her law enforcement career in 1993 fied public accountant, Certified Internal Audi- and spent more than two decades with the tor and Certified Fraud Examiner. The auditor Unified Police Department before becoming operates independently from other county sheriff. The office oversees Salt Lake County’s offices and conducts audits and investigations jail system and performs other statutory pubinvolving county finances and operations. lic-safety responsibilities. Cloward is a director at a national consultManwaring is a law enforcement officer ing firm and a Certified Internal Auditor. She and military leader with more than two decades earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees of experience. He has served with the Unified in accounting from the University of Utah and Police Department and as a colonel in the Utah works professionally with organizations on Army National Guard, giving voters a contest internal controls, risk and accountability. between two candidates with lengthy careers in public safety.
County Clerk
There is less uncertainty surrounding Important ballot information the race for Salt Lake County clerk, an office The county races will share the Nov. 3 elected countywide. Democratic incumbent ballot with a number of federal and state Lannie Chapman is seeking another term with- contests. Voters can see exactly which canout a Republican challenger. didates and issues will appear on their individual ballot through Utah’s official voter District Attorney information website, Vote.Utah.gov. The site One of the county’s most closely watched allows voters to look up their sample ballot, contests could be the race for Salt Lake County check or update their voter registration, find district attorney, another office decided by vot- voting locations and review other election ers throughout the county. information. Voters can also obtain election Democratic incumbent Sim Gill faces information through the Salt Lake County Republican Kent Davis. Clerk’s Elections Division at www.saltlakeGill has occupied the office since 2010 and county.gov/clerk/elections/. has worked as a prosecutor for more than three Vote-by-mail will remain available for the decades. Before reaching the general election, 2026 general election. One important change however, he faced a challenge from within his is that mailed ballots must be received by own party. the county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Assistant Utah Attorney General Shawn rather than simply postmarked by the deadline. Robinson defeated Gill at the Democratic Utah’s general election will be held Tuesday, convention, but the nomination proceeded to Nov. 3, 2026. l
October 2026 | Page 19
Parents have a voice in how School LAND Trust dollars help students School community councils help determine how funding can address each school’s needs. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
A
t one Utah school, the priority might be reading intervention. At another, it could be additional classroom support. A third school might decide educational software is what students need most. Who sets the priorities? In Utah, parents have a voice and a vote through school community councils. For the 2026-27 school year, $134 million in School LAND (Learning and Nurturing Development) Trust funds will be distributed to Utah district and charter schools, benefiting more than 658,000 students at more than 1,000 schools. School allocations are largely based on enrollment. For parents who want a greater voice in their children’s education, serving on a school community council can be one of the most direct ways to make a difference, said Jessie Stuart, assistant director of the School & Institutional Trust Beneficiaries’ Advocacy Office. “I feel like the trust lands story is one of the coolest stories out there,” she said. “These lands are put in trust to generate revenue for public schools.” Utah’s trust lands were established when the state entered the Union. Revenue is generated from trust lands through activities such as oil and gas, mining, solar
Local School LAND Trust distribution 2026-27 Canyons District $6,039,052 Davis District $12,599,737 Granite District $10,227,609 Jordan District $10,473,694 Murray District $1,269,968 Salt Lake District $3,505,362 All Charter Schools $17,295,728 Source: School Children’s Trust Office, Utah State Board of Education. As required by law, estimates are based on October 2025 enrollment data.
power, real estate development and other uses. The money is invested, with earnings distributed to beneficiaries. “The beneficiaries of these trust lands are the K through 12 school kids who these teachers are teaching every single day,” Stuart said. When funding is distributed to schools, parent involvement in the local decision-making becomes critical, Stuart said. At Draper Elementary, Principal Scott Jameson starts by explaining the LAND Trust program to council members — parents, employees in addition to himself. “We start with data, identify our highest needs, then we develop goals and come up with an action plan,” he said. “We can put that money toward meeting our highest needs.” Draper’s 2026-27 plan includes goals to increase mathematics and literacy
Parents, faculty and the principal at Cottonwood High School appropriate LAND Trust funding for students’ best interest. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
proficiency by 1% to 3%. “The greatest power of this whole thing,” he said, “is all that money is based on what the school needs.” Principal Suzie Williams, of Columbia Elementary in West Jordan, said LAND Trust dollars often support paraprofessionals who provide interventions and classroom assistance. “We typically use it for support staff so we can provide intervention and individualized instruction for students with instructional aides and classroom aides,” she said. “We can provide rotation teachers to give our teachers planning and collaboration time.” Principal Justin Pitcher, of Cottonwood
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High School in Murray, said last year’s council determined the $265,000 LAND Trust dollars would support instructional coaching, assessment coordination, additional teacher periods and educational software. “We need parents to be involved in our school community councils, so we can appropriate the funding in ways that will benefit our students with the parent input,” Pitcher said. Parents bring a perspective educators may not always have. “Parents themselves give input and insight to a school which we don’t always see,” Jameson said. “Educators are experts in instruction. They’re experts in working with large groups of kids, but parents help us to hone down to individuals.” Pitcher said SCCs bring together those perspectives. “The power of a council allows us to be able to work through really hard decisions, and come to a consensus,” Pitcher said. That parent voice has a long history in Utah. Utah PTA members began advocating for reform of the trust-land system in the 1980s. “Today, those efforts bring millions of dollars every year to Utah’s schoolchildren,” Utah PTA President Julie Cluff said. “What’s even better is that it’s not just today’s kids who benefit, it’s tomorrow’s kids too.” That’s an important lesson: the LAND Trust fund isn’t simply money to spend. “They are an investment in students and school community councils that give families a voice in determining how that investment can have the greatest local impact,” said Williams, who served on a LAND Trust committee for three years. “Parents do not need to be education experts. They simply need to know their community, care about students and be willing to participate.” l
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Give people grace September 11th marks 15 years since my 57-year-old mom passed away in a car accident. It was the first time I’d ever lost someSalt Lake County one that close to me so suddenly, and it was Councilmember jarring. In the days that followed, I thought District 3 often about how precious life is—and how quickly it can change. My parents were driving down to St. George for a water conference that my dad needed to attend. As they traveled on I-15 near Leeds, a terrible storm came upon them. Their car slid off the road and rolled several but his heart was broken by the loss. My brother, Mike, and I drove to St. times. My mom was killed instantly. My dad survived with only a few bumps and bruises, George and reached my dad at the hospital around 4 a.m. Later, after trying to sleep for a few hours, I awoke hoping it had all been a nightmare. Instead, I faced the bitter reality that my mom was gone. We had a funeral to plan and a long road ahead as we helped my dad begin to recover. The first time I went to the grocery store after the funeral, everything felt strangely normal. People wandered the aisles, chatted with one another and went about their limit 1 per customer with coupon errands. Meanwhile, my life had changed. My grief was heavy. I felt broken and numb, still trying to understand how my mom could be here one day and gone the next. 4879 South Redwood Rd I probably looked fine—just like any Taylorsville, UT 84123
Aimee Winder Newton
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other shopper. But I was not fine. I share this with you because there are thousands of Utahns going about their lives with heavy hearts. Just because we can’t see their injuries, trauma or sorrow, doesn’t mean it’s not there. Sometimes when we are dealing with heavy burdens, we may not be our best selves. Do you ever see people who seem agitated or just generally grouchy? We never really know what they are going through or the struggles that have been heaped upon them. Recently, I learned of a family grieving the death by suicide of a 14-year-old girl. Her loved ones are devastated and searching for answers. Others in our community are coping with life-threatening illnesses or a new cancer diagnosis. Some are experiencing addiction, mental illness, housing insecurity, domestic violence or abuse. Many are caring for an aging parent, worried about a child, struggling financially or simply trying to make it through another day. It is so important for us to give people grace. I am reminded of a quote often attributed to author Ian Maclaren: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” We rarely know the whole story of the person in front of us — the coworker who
snapped at us, the driver who cut us off, the neighbor who hasn’t returned a wave in weeks. Behind an ordinary Tuesday there might be a diagnosis just received, a marriage falling apart, or a grief that has no expiration date. Fifteen years later, I still miss my mom every day. That loss taught me that kindness costs us nothing, and we never know when it might be exactly what someone needs to keep going. A text to a friend who has gone quiet. A phone call to check on a friend. Patience with the cashier who seems short-tempered, or the driver going too slow. None of us can fix another person’s grief or struggle. But we can meet a stranger’s rough edges with curiosity instead of judgment, and a friend’s silence with a check-in instead of assumption. That is the kind of community I hope we keep building here in Salt Lake County. If you are carrying something heavy right now, please know you are not alone, and there is no shame in asking for help. And if you’re not sure who around you might be struggling, consider assuming that someone is, and treat them accordingly. It is a small shift that can make a real difference.
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Page 22 | October 2026
Cottonwood Heights City Journal
W
hat if your worst day became your villain origin story? The day you lost your temper at Walmart. The day you kicked the office water cooler. The day you screamed at your partner in the grocery store and became a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons. What if your greatest shame or embarrassment became your legacy: forever. I’m afraid we’ve judged Disney villains too harshly. What if they were normal people having a tough day? What if their bad decisions defined them for generations? Take Ursula the Sea Witch. She ran a powerful, women-owned business, granting people their heart’s desire. What did she get? Impaled on the bow of a ship and labeled as a fast-talking, predatory loan officer for eternity. Were her tactics questionable? Of course. But she was also an octopus. What about Snow White’s Evil Queen? She bought into the idea that youth is everything and had a questionable relationship with mirrors, but one poison-laced apple and suddenly she’s a witch. Maleficent’s curse on Sleeping Beauty was an overreaction to not being invited to a baby blessing. Cinderella’s stepmother just wanted Cinderella to do some damn chores. Does that make her evil? Cinderella could have at least unloaded the dishwasher instead of dressing up her mice. Maybe these villains were all having a
CottonwoodHeightsJournal.com
Welcome to the Dark Side Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. But understanding why someone acted badly isn’t the same as excusing that behavior. We’ve all been there. We’ve said things we’ve regretted. We’ve hurt people’s feelings. We’ve done stupid things. Hopefully you didn’t try to skin 101 Dalmatians, but really, who hasn’t wanted a coat as soft as a pile of puppies? Who hasn’t gone all Queen of Hearts and yelled, “Off with his head!” during a stressful work meeting? No one? Just me? Was Beauty’s Gaston intentionally terrible? Maybe his father never taught him to respect women and never scolded him for putting his disgusting feet on the table. His public humiliation seemed to push him into “Kill the Beast” mode, but that’s no excuse for his villainous behavior. The way we treat each other matters. How often have we made someone the villain? The driver who honks immediately after the light turns green was obviously raised
by feral wolves. The woman having a meltdown at Starbucks becomes a “Karen” and is publicly shamed on TikTok. The neighbor who disagrees with you politically becomes your nemesis. And now our bad days can be recorded, posted, commented on by strangers and picked apart by internet trolls before we even figure out what happened. Life feels so prickly. We’re walking around like a cactus, trying not to stab someone in the thigh. I don’t think anyone wakes up and thinks, “I’m going to be an incredible jerk today.” Well, except some politicians. Who hasn’t felt rage, hopelessness or fear? Humans act irrationally. Sometimes we’re exhausted, sometimes we’re at wit’s end or sometimes we just can’t hear our co-worker chew his sandwich for one more minute. We are so quick to judge, so fast to condemn. Trolling has become a favorite pastime for many people, and I don’t mean the ones who live under bridges. I’ve often fallen into the role of villain. I’ve posted rage-bait; I’ve gauged a person’s character by the color of their hat or by the number of American flags stuck to their Ford F-150. We need to remember that everyone is carrying a heavy load, even the people we want to push off the castle. I know I’ve been the villain in someone’s story. Haven’t we all?
Peri Kinder is an award-winning columnist and journalist who has written for The City Journals since 2004. She also hosts the Life & Laughter podcast. Peri can be reached at peri.k@thecityjournals.com.
October 2026 | Page 23