In The Middle of Everything City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047
The Heart of the Matter
MIDVALE CITY DIRECTORY City Hall Finance/Utilities Court City Attorney’s Office City Recorder/Human Resources Community Development Public Works Ace Disposal/Recycling Midvale Historical Museum Midvale Senior Center SL County Animal Services Police Dispatch Unified Fire Authority Fire Dispatch Communications
801-567-7200 801-567-7200 801-567-7265 801-567-7250 801-567-7228 801-567-7211 801-567-7235 801-363-9995 801-567-7285 385-468-3350 385-468-7387 801-743-7000 801-743-7200 801-840-4000 801-567-7230
MIDVALE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS MAYOR Robert Hale Email: Rhale@midvale.com
801-567-7204
CITY COUNCIL District 1 - Quinn Sperry Email: qsperry@midvale.com District 2 - Paul Glover Email: pglover@midvale.com District 3 - Heidi Robinson Email: Hrobinson@midvale.com District 4 - Bryant Brown Email: bbrown@midvale.com District 5 - Dustin Gettel Email: dgettel@midvale.com
WHO TO CALL FOR… Water Bills Ordering A New Trash Can Reserving the Bowery Permits GRAMA requests Court Paying For Traffic School Business Licensing Property Questions Cemetery Water Line Breaks Planning and Zoning Code Enforcement Building inspections Graffiti
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EMERGENCY OR DISASTER CONTACT Public Works Fire Dispatch – Unified Fire Authority Midvale Police Precinct or Police Dispatch Unified Police Department EMERGENCY
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As I write this article in mid-May, we are all waking up to the reality that for a major portion of our national society, we have got ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic. What a wonderful accomplishment! Humanity is never fully united in anything, but to get most adults vaccinated was a result of many people, individually or as a family, deciding it was worth a small pain to join in the movement to eradicate the opportunity of the virus to replicate and spread. I applaud all who were able to be inoculated and then chose to be vaccinated by any of the three vaccines. I recognize there are some who for a variety of legitimate reasons to themselves have thus far withheld their deltoid muscles from puncture. I only hope the balance of their healthcare will keep them from this devastating illness. Only the young children under age 12 are, at present, unable to be vaccinated. Being vaccinated has been a right-of-passage in my own life. I remember as a youth of six getting the polio shot in my shoulder. It caused in all shoulders a blister, the scar of which we all carry to the grave. It was also a “red badge of courage.” I have had mumps, measles, and rubella shots (as a youth plus a booster in early adulthood), yellow fever, tetanus, tetanus booster, malaria, gamma-globulin, and a host of others including flu shots of all varieties over the years. I know this: I have never had any of the diseases the inoculations were intended to dismiss, dispel, or defeat. Flu bug strains have changed so fast though, that I must admit, I did get the flu some years.
JUNE 2021 CITY NEWSLETTER By Mayor Robert Hale
Enough of that! Let’s talk about summer! With the greening of the trees, blooming of the flowering trees, bushes and bulbs, and the sound of mowers around our living quarters, the most beautiful time of the year is upon us. Let us all be sensible as we get out of doors, travel, recreate or seek solace. There will likely not be a person in this State who does not have the same desire to stretch their boundaries like you and me. We have all been cooped up enough these last fifteen months. Watch out for and assist your fellow travelers, recreationists, and vacationers. They, too, have been shut-ins, and desire to see places, things and people that have been unreachable IN-PERSON since early 2020. Be patient on the highways and byways of the State. Be courteous on the trails and waterways. Smile and welcome all to our City. Yes, our parks are more user friendly this summer. (Check out the Disc Golf Course at the Main City Park!) This fall we are going to use a modified voting system called Ranked Choice Voting. Accepted by the City Council, it precludes a primary election, and simply gives voting citizens their opportunity to decide their favorite, second-favorite, third-favorite, etc., depending on the number of candidates (up to ten). It may be easier for voters. It may be easier for candidates. It will be a less expensive use of taxpayer funds. It will necessitate an education process to familiarize voters on how the single election will work. Become informed. It has some virtues and some drawbacks. The City Council, administration, voters, and candidates will all be weighing this process this year – for reliability, validity and for value for the monies expended.
Midvale City Harvest FREE vendor space now available The Midvale City Harvest Days Committee is pleased to announce that plans are underway for the annual Harvest Days Festival. The festival will take place on Saturday, August 7 at Midvale City Park. Starting in 1938, as a day-off from the harvest, Harvest Days is an honored tradition that brings a fun-filled day that residents look forward to every year. In addition to free live entertainment, fireworks, parade, and free activities, Midvale Harvest Days provides a venue for area merchants, artists, and home crafters to display and sell their products in a family-oriented atmosphere. We welcome informational booths, non-profit agencies, arts and crafts products, as well as those that offer on-site services. Vendors can participate free of charge and will be required to provide their own tent (with stakes or weights for safety), tables, and chairs. Prospective vendors can visit the Harvest Days website (www.MidvaleHarvestDays.com) to complete the online application. Spaces fill up quickly. So, please submit your application as soon as possible.
Tuesday, July 27, Monday, August 2 and Tuesday, August 3 Neighborhood Block Parties Wednesday, August 4 Midvale Arts Council Hall of Honors & Art Show Thursday, August 5 Bingo Night at Midvale City Park Friday, August 6 Midvale Arts Council Concert in the Park featuring Exit Strategy Saturday, August 7 Harvest Days Parade, Festival, Concerts, and Fireworks
In The Middle of Everything
WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG
Disc on 6th @ Midvale City Park Ribbon Cutting and Disc Golf Clinics
Midvale City Municipal Election On May 4, 2021, the Midvale City Council adopted Ranked Choice Voting for the City’s 2021 Municipal election. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) allows voters to rank as many candidates as they want in order of choice--first, second, third, and so on. All first choices are counted, and if a candidate has a majority, then they win just like any other election. However, if nobody has a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and those voters have their ballot instantly count for their next choice.
The following elected City positions are to be voted upon in the Midvale City 2021 Municipal Election. The open seats are four-year terms:
Mayor - At Large District 4 - Council Member District 5 - Council Member
August 10 through 17, 2021 (excluding Saturday and Sunday) 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. City Recorder's Office 7505 S Holden Street, 2nd floor
No primary election. Municipal General Election : November 2, 2021
Deadline: No later than 5:00 p.m. on August 17, 2021
If a voter’s favorite candidate can’t win, their vote counts for the candidate they ranked next; so nobody feels like they wasted their vote on an underdog. This means that more people can run, including independent and thirdparty candidates, without fear of splitting the vote. This encourages more voices in democracy, and more choices for voters.
CONTACT
Interested candidates must be a registered voter, resident of Midvale City for at least 12 months immediately prior to the date of the election; and resident of the district candidate is running for 60 days prior to the date of the election.
voices Ranked choice voting brings more ating to the political debate, while elimin the drawbacks of vote-splitting. With ranked choice voting you get real, meaningful choices while remaining the confident that the candidate with strongest support will win.
Please direct questions to the City Recorder, Rori Andreason, at randreason@midvale.com.
On Saturday, May 22, Mayor Robert Hale and the City Council hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the City’s new disc golf course at Midvale City Park. Local disc golf players, city officials, and community members participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony. Mayor Hale expressed his appreciation to Kevin Rogers, of Grip6, for designing the park and industry leading signage. Kevin reached out to the City in 2019 to offer his expertise to build Midvale’s first disc golf course. Kevin’s dedication and passion for the sport has been a huge benefit to our community. Mayor Hale also expressed his appreciation to the Public Works Parks Division for installing the disc golf course. Council member Dustin Gettel discussed the City Council’s commitment to partnering with the community to provide more recreational opportunities. After the ribbon cutting ceremony, Kevin Rogers and his sons Henry and Owen joined Justin “MigunMan” Anderson and Professional Disc Golf Association Amateur World Champion Jake LaPutka to teach new disc golf players how to play the popular sport. Disc Golf is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, players use a flying disc or frisbee. The disc/frisbee is thrown from a tee to a basket, which is the “hole.” As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw landed. Finally, the “putt” lands in the basket and the hole is completed. The object is to throw the disc/frisbee from the tee area to the target “basket” in the fewest number of throws.
The Disc on 6th @ Midvale City Park course is best accessed from the west parking lot where the practice basket is located and where Hole 1 begins in the northwest corner of the park. Some tee pads are located on the existing concrete path, while others have dedicated tee pads poured level with the grass. The industry leading signage includes a map of each hole, the par designation, and calls out any out of bounds areas as well as mando’s (mandatory obstacles) that may be present on a given hole. Some holes also include tips on how to play and score the game. This course has a variety of holes that provide a great way to learn all the throws required in a good game of disc golf, including backhand, forehand, and rollers. The course is non-supervised, and no reservations are needed. Bring your own disc. Remember, this is a short course located in a shared use park, so please be courteous to other park users, respect neighboring property owners, and always follow the Disc Golfer’s Code.
City Manager Matt Dahl and City Council Members Heidi Robinson, Dustin Gettel, Paul Glover, and Quinn Sperry.
JUNE 2021 CITY NEWSLETTER WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG
Love The Arts? We Need You! —Midvale Arts Council looking for more volunteers Anyone who has gone to a theater production at the Midvale Performing Arts Center, a concert at the Amphitheater, or even just marveled at the offerings of the various festivals that happen in Midvale has hopefully not had to think about the amount of work that goes into putting on these events but trust the words of anyone who put in the hours to make them happen – It’s a lot of work. But you can also believe that all of the work is done out of love. A love for the arts and the desire to make sure that Midvale residents get plenty of chances to see, participate, and generally experience a wide variety of arts. This is goal of the Midvale Arts Council, a surprisingly small group who work year-round to make this happen.
The Council couldn’t possibly do all that happens around Midvale without the help of volunteers who share in their love for the arts and the need has come up for more volunteers. Those wishing to help and be a part of the Arts in Midvale will find many different chances (and different artistic styles) to make their mark on the city. Volunteers help out at big events like the Summer Concert Series and live stage shows, as well as helping to organize outreach programs, various festivals (art, craft, and literary), and can bring up new ideas to the board for possible inclusion. “We love our volunteers,” said MAC Board Member Stephanie Johnson. “We are a volunteer organization, and we do what we do because we love the arts in our community. But in order to present our programs, we rely on the good hearts and willing hands of the volunteers who work with us.” The Midvale Arts Council accepts volunteers of all ages, though they ask that the youth (under the age of 16) who volunteer be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers can sign up for a regular type of stint that sees them helping out at events as needed, but they also have a chance to be a part of the Midvale Arts Volunteer Committee where they can do even more to help shape the arts in Midvale. If that is not enough, they can ask to serve on the Midvale Arts Council and really get their hands dirty. “We really do try to make sure that the volunteers have fun,” Added Johnson. “There is some hard work and there
Your Dog is Too Cool for Hot Cars! Salt Lake County Animal Services Keep your dog cool! In Utah, it can be freezing and raining in the morning and then heat up in the afternoon, making your car, yard, or patio, a dangerous place for your pet. A good rule of thumb is once it’s over 55 degrees outside, it’s too hot to leave your dog in your car. Hot Weather Do’s & Don’t to Keep Your Dog Safe HOT CARS: Once outside temperatures reach 70-degrees, temperatures in a car can exceed 116-degrees within 10 minutes. Even on a mild 75-degree day, cracking a window in your car or parking in the shade doesn’t make a difference. Temperatures inside the vehicle are deadly. Dogs can suffer from heatstroke, irreparable brain damage, or even death. If you see a pet inside a vehicle, excessively panting, non-responsive, drooling, or listless, call Salt Lake County Animal Service’s Dispatch number immediately: 801-8404000. Never break a window of a vehicle on your own to pull out a pet, you could be liable for damages. Take a photo of the pet, the license plate, and give that information to Animal Control Officers. HOT PAVEMENT: Dogs can burn their paws on the sidewalk in the summer. When in doubt test the surface yourself: place the back of your hand on the pavement. If you CAN’T stand the heat for FIVE seconds, it’s too hot for you to walk your dog. Walk your dog early in the morning, later in the evening, and leave them at home when heading to festivals or farmer’s markets. HOT BALCONIES: Despite being covered, a balcony can get very hot, VERY fast. A dog left on a balcony may try to escape and injure themselves when they’re left alone and hot. A bowl of water is easily overturned, and the pet is left anxious, dehydrated, and in similar conditions as a hot car. If you see or hear a pet on a balcony that’s in distress call Animal Control: 801-840-4000. For additional information please visit the website AdoptUtahPets.org or email animal@slco.org.
are many hours that can go into things, but we make sure that everyone has a chance to enjoy all that being a part of the arts has to offer. For high school students, that could mean some great resume material for college applications. The Arts Council offer a few students the chance to have an unpaid internship as they work in all forms of a city arts organization. Those looking to volunteer for the Midvale Arts Council and find all the information needed on the Council’s website, midvalearts.com. Or just talk to anyone who is volunteering at any of the Midvale events. They’ll be glad to have some extra hands to help out.
Midvale Senior Center’s Café & Father’s Day Meal We are excited to announce that Midvale Senior Center’s Café has re-opened for in center dining available to seniors 60 and over. Utah Community Action operates the café. Their chefs Julio and Mari have over 37 years of combined experience in the food industry. Everything is cut and cooked fresh daily. They do not add any salt and a dietician looks over their lunch menus to make sure they have just the right amount of fat, grains, and vegetables. We have two lunch sessions. One at 11:30 am and another at 12:30 pm. Due to social distancing, each session is limited to 34 seniors. Seniors also have the option to pick up a to go meal inside the center between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm. Please call 385-468-3350 the day before to reserve a meal. The suggested donation for lunch is $4.00. Midvale Senior Center is located at 7550 South Main Street (700 West). On Friday, June 18, Midvale Senior Center will be having a special Father’s Day Meal. Please call 385-468-3350 by Thursday, June 10, to reserve this meal. All gentlemen coming to the center that day will receive a special treat.