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January 2024 | Vol. 21 Iss. 1

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HOW THE MAKER MOVEMENT IS CHANGING EDUCATION, FOSTERING CREATIVITY AND ACCESSIBILITY By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

In December, Midvale Middle School students create a robot using Cubelets during their lunchtime in their makerspace. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

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Midvale 2023

n Midvale, a sixth-grade girl curiously was examining the workings of Spheros, small, wheeled robots. In Murray, a junior high boy used wood, glue and string to craft a catapult. In South Jordan, an elementary-aged girl was looking forward to creating a 3D butterfly using Tinkercad. Makerspaces allow opportunities for hands-on making, creating, designing and innovating that bring individuals together in a variety of mediums, including robotics, textile crafts, woodcrafts and electronics. Commonly found at some libraries, museums, colleges and at the Utah STEM Action Center, the number of these spaces for open exploration have increased, especially in schools, which has given students equal access as well as gain skills in STEAM—science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. “Makerspaces need to be available and accessible,” said teacher Beth McKinney, who helped open the makerspace in Murray’s Hillcrest Junior High in an existing classroom this fall. “It’s important for kids to have a place where they can explore their own interests, talents, curiosities and have that experience on

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their own with the freedom to do it in a safe, controlled setting. Many students might not have the tools, the confidence or the opportunity to do so, so it’s important we have a safe space where any student can create and many learn best by doing, with their own hands.” Makerspaces are known as places where people, or “makers,” create, or “make,” projects using a variety of hands-on and digital tools. The junior high’s makerspace offers art supplies, robotics, a LEGO wall, 3D printing, K’NEX, speed and logic puzzles and more. Students opt to come to the space during an enrichment class period once per week as well as during the after-school program. Ninth-grader Allie Lobach likes coming to the makerspace. “It’s comfortable here; I’m free to make my own choices, but there’s help if I need it,” she said. The concept of makerspace is not new, according to Utah STEM Action Center’s director Tamara Goetz.

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The City Journals is recognized for its pay equity and women-friendly practices By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

he City Journals has been named as one of the 100 Companies Championing Women. The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, the Cox-Henderson Administration and the Utah Women & Leadership Project created the initiative in 2022, as part of the Inspire InUtah program, to recognize businesses that offer family-friendly policies and women-specific practices that advance women as managers and leaders. Listed in the 2024 cohort of 100 Companies Championing Women, The City Journals joins other organizations like Davis Technical College, Women of the World, Bennett Communications and Saprea. The City Journals publishes 18 community newspapers each month, along with the weekly Davis Journal. It also creates the Value Pages coupon magazine. “Women are imperative to our business at the Journals,” said Bryan Scott, City Journals owner and publisher. “Women make up the majority of our readership. Women make up the majority of our employees, particularly our writers. And if most homes are like mine, most of our shopping decisions are made by women, which makes it important to our advertisers.” State leaders believe when businesses unite in their mission to champion women, it creates a force that can reshape the corporate landscape, and change the lives of women as it paves the way for equality and empowerment. While Utah continues to rank as the worst state for women’s equality, the governor’s office and Inspire InUtah hopes to create a business community where women are supported, whether that’s through pay equity and childcare support, or professional development and leadership programs. Elizabeth Sweat, people leader at The City Journals, said the company has focused on women-friendly practices, including pay equity for all female employees. “We are transparent about our pay,” Sweat said. “We have the same pay for all of our beat writer contractors based on their length of service and we pay our commissioned sales reps the same, based on the amount they sell. Women and men are paid the exact same for the exact position.” The City Journals also implements recruitment strategies, focused on increasing the number of women employees, with flexible work schedules that accommodate work-from-home situations. “Some were hesitant to say they had school drop-off or such, but I let them know that we love working moms,” she

Journals T H E

City Journals staff members include (from left) Brialee Nelson, Kayla Palmer, Elizabeth Sweat, Bryan Scott, Rachael Roberts and Mieka Sawatzki. They join Alderman Properties Managing Partner Trish Alderman (third from right), at the Chamber West Fall Conference. The City Journals was recently named as a 100 Companies Championing Women organization. (City Journals)

said. “Prior to COVID, we had a program called Project Homemaker where we specifically targeted stay-at-home parents. They were appointment setters that worked approximately 12 hours a week based on their children’s school schedules. That is a program that we hope to bring back soon.” The Women’s Evolution group at The City Journals used to meet in person every month, but with so many remote workers, Sweat sends out a calendar of community and business events that women can choose to attend. The calendar also includes community resources geared toward women. Female employees are encouraged to find a Women in Business group based on their personal interests and schedules, although they are not required to attend because many have limited time for networking. The City Journals supports women in leadership positions.

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The Midvale City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Midvale. For information about distribution please email hello@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.

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Currently, the sales manager is a woman, as is one of the three community newspaper editors. Full-time employees include nine women and seven men. “It became very evident to me a few years ago that the success of our company will be dependent on our ability to have women work for us,” Scott said. “Our journey started with our staff making sure we were building a company where women would be comfortable working. We still have a long road to go, but I think this award demonstrates the strides that we have made.” The 2024 cohort of 100 Companies Championing Women joins the inaugural 2023 group that includes organizations like Clearfield City, Cotopaxi, Goldman Sachs and the Women’s Leadership Institute. For more information, visit InUtah.org. l

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Youth sports teams like Hunter Cyprus baseball teams can get the opportunity to travel to championship tournaments, the cost of those opportunities can be immense for its families. (Greg James/City Journals)

The cost of youth sports has skyrocketed—can your kids still play?

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

here are many opportunities for families that can afford to pay for sports, but the costs are climbing. The gap between those who can afford to pay-to-play and those who cannot is growing wider. “The cost for everything this year, including team fees, equipment, travel, lodging and tournament fees is up. I probably spend $10k,” Kenny Hart said about his daughter's travel softball team experience. “Next year we are going to Canada in the summer. I will spend $3,000 just for that one tournament with travel and lodging for 10 days.” Hart’s 15-year-old daughter Kira plays accelerated softball in the summer and fall. She also plays with Grantsville High School in the spring. In the late summer, Stephanie, Kira’s mom, posted on Facebook: “Six hours in the office, five hours driving, four new mosquito bites, three hours watching games, two girls in the back seat and one smile on my kid’s face when she hit the ball over the fence and hit the scoreboard.” Playing youth sports can be a satisfying experience, but some families have to choose to play or pay the bills. The fees for accelerated sports have become extreme. “My sixth-grade son tried out and made a seventh-grade AAU basketball team,” said an irate parent who wished to remain anonymous. “The program fees are $1,000, because of the steep cost I approached the team principal and asked if the playing time was going to be even. I was assured on two separate occasions that because the team was not elite and only competed locally everyone gets essentially even minutes. Come the first tournament my son played four minutes in the first game and six minutes in the second game. I asked the coach and he got offen-

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sive and asked me not to approach him about playing time.” Accelerated teams are not the only ones with high costs. High school teams can be just as expensive. “In high school, she (Kira) wrestles that is about $500. Her high school softball fees were about $1,000,” Hart said. “I couldn’t do it if I had more than one kid.” The choices families have to make to provide activities for their children can be enormously difficult. Some choose to stop playing because of the cost, try to work second jobs, or fundraise enough to lessen the burden. “We have absolutely had to tell the kids they can’t do everything they wanted to because of the cost,” said Stephanie Taylor, a parent of two cross country runners at Hunter High. “We have several kids and it is impossible to afford it with all of them. Our kids have done sport in shifts.” Advisors on money.com suggest choosing your children's sports wisely. According to a playgroundequipment. com study, 61% of families say youth sports cause a financial strain. They suggest knowing ahead of time the probable cost. According to their study ice hockey, skiing, field hockey, gymnastics and lacrosse are the most expensive. The UHSAA only supports lacrosse in that group and Cyprus, Granger, and Hunter do not currently have teams. The others are considered club sports, but the local schools do not have a direct affiliation with any of them. The cost could be part of the reason, but diversity may be another. West Valley residents tend to gravitate to football and soccer rather than lacrosse and skiing.

Coaching is an important part of the success of youth sports participants. A good coach helps teach each participant the skills to become better. (Greg James/City Journals)

A former Granger High School sophomore transferred to Bingham to play hockey. “That is where Ed’s friends from his travel team all go to school,” said parent Ed Rappalye. “We went through open enrollment to give him the chance to play.” The cheapest sports to be involved in according to the website are track and field, cross country and skateboarding. West Valley has built a locally renowned skate park near the fitness center. The park is full on any given weeknight and weekend with adults and kids. There are other ideas to help control sports costs: stay and play locally; resist the urge to join an expensive travel team; skip the brand new equipment; volunteer to coach it may come with a discount; research ways to pay; and set realistic goals. Less than 2% of high school students get a scholarship for college at the Division 1 or 2 level. Most players earn scholarships and college playing opportunities by earning good grades. There are many companies like All Kids Play and Every Kids Sports that offer individual and organizational grants to help more youth play. These organizations encourage players to keep playing citing the countless benefits playtime, exercise, competition and teamwork can have. According to health.gov, 73% of parents believe sports improve their children's mental health. The benefits of playing children's sports include lower rates of anxiety and depression, lower stress and higher confidence. A University of Kansas study showed that students who participated in high school sports were 10% more likely to graduate than their peers who did not. The City Parks Alliance maintains

that parks help residents maintain a healthy weight and can save them an average of $1,800 per person in healthcare costs. Many experts also claim that a well-maintained park can increase home values nearby. There are still good reasons to play sports in accelerated or AAU-type programs. The competition is better and teams are organized to play against similar-skilled opponents. Applying the skills learned in practice over multiple tournaments and games is beneficial. Certified coaches can help your players get better by teaching them the skills they need. Playing time is not guaranteed but by learning and earning their place the players become better. Playing sports is fun and advanced-level teams can give players the chance to be seen by collegiate coaches and organizations. Players earn opportunities to play at the next level by performing in high-level games. The high school teams are not the place colleges are shopping for talent anymore. As kids lose opportunities to play with elite teams it also impacts the opportunities to play in city recreation leagues. The number of participants has diminished in recent years. This impacts the communities. The children lose physical activity and social development chances and have a lack of healthy lifestyles. “I love to watch my grandkids wrestle. I would pay the cost no matter what,” Dennis Johns said.l

January 2024 | Page 5

Midvale 2023

Midvale teachers, East Midvale Elementary’s Rachel Teasley, Midvale Middle math teacher Max Eddington and Hillcrest High’s Tasha Jensen, were the finalists in this year’s teacher of the year. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

Hillcrest High players give each other a high-five after scoring a goal in the regional unified soccer tournament. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

A local musician plays for onlookers at Midvale City Hall where food trucks were set up. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)

Page 6 | January 2024

At Burning of the H, Dance Company sports 1980’s gear as they dance to “Holding out for a Hero” from “Footloose.” (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Eduardo Bastida Guzman, aka Trasher, signs the mural he painted on the north side of the 1st Avenue Bank building. Trasher’s art is influenced by human emotion and societal issues and incorporates different styles of art. Follow him @trasheer. (City Journals)

Bill Miller of the Midvale Historic Society presents historical information in front of Vincent Drug. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)

During Battle of the Axe, senior Briona Love pins her Brighton opponent as her coach looks on. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Midvale City Journal

Midvale’s Copperview Recreation Center offers a variety of adaptive classes and programs, catering to children, teens or adults with disabilities. (Photo courtesy Copperview Recreation Center)

The Kenshin Taiko drummers perform for students and their families at East Midvale Elementary’s Living Traditions night. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

Emma Gilbert created this mural to honor her boyfriend’s tough childhood. Gilbert is an artist from Alabama who travels the country painting murals, exploring and finding new forms of inspiration. Follow her @EmmaGilbert. (City Journals)

At the state drill championship, Hillcrest High HD received fourth place for its chameleon routine. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Hillcrest High drill team, which was to participate in New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, performed at its senior night during halftime of the basketball game. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Clara Dawes, a Truewood resident, dances with high school senior Cameron Kelly at the recent Truewood-Hillcrest prom. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

In a region game versus Payson High, Hillcrest High junior Brooklyn Ricci hit a homerun. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

MidvaleJournal.com

January 2024 | Page 7

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Midvale City Journal

Rucksacking group’s charity event combines fitness with purpose By Annabelle Larsen | a.larsen@mycityjournals.com

or those who have fallen on hard times, the holiday season can be difficult. But one group is trying to help lighten that burden with some heavy lifting of their own. Each December, a group of rucksackers celebrate what they call Ruckmas. This year, the annual event took place on a cold Saturday morning at the Bingham Junction Park in Midvale. For those unfamiliar with rucksacking, it's walking while carrying a weighted backpack or a rucksack, which is a durable backpack meant for carrying weights or equipment. Ruckmas participants filled their rucksacks full of essential items for those in need and walked (or rucked) from Bingham Junction Park to The Road Home in Midvale to donate the items. Many of the owners of True North Event Company, the group that hosts Ruckmas each year, were in attendance including Tiffany and Cory Christensen. Tiffany Christensen, who wore a festive Christmas tree hat, said this event is “fitness with a purpose.” Ruckmas was initially designed to give the rucking community a way to participate in their hobby and interact with others, as well as to get into the spirit of giving. “It brings people together for a worthy cause,” Tiffany Christensen said. Originally, this event went from store to store in the area and asked for donations, but in recent years they have been able to accumulate enough donations to deliver items directly to The Road Home. They teamed up with the popular sock brand Bombas over the last few years to supply socks to donation centers. Socks are frequently a needed

item as they need to be new. Ruckmas has been helping give back to the community for over six years and have specifically worked with The Road Home the past four years. Each year, Ruckmas puts on a theme for the event and this year it was “The Nightmare Before Ruckmas” based on the popular seasonal Tim Burton film, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Each year, Faith Solum, one of the owners of True North Event Company, creates a unique Ruckmas design that is put onto hoodies, T-shirts and patches for participants. In attendance were members of Team Red White and Blue, a community that offers physical and social activities for military veterans and their family members through regular social gatherings, fitness activities and community service events. John Atamanczyk, wearing Team Red White and Blue apparel and a rucksack, stated that this is his first year of Ruckmas and he found out about it through Ruck 801, a local rucking group, and decided to join in on the fun. Along with Atamanczyk was another Team Red White and Blue member Frank Liebmann, who started his rucking career by throwing rocks and batteries into his rucksack to gain endurance. Talking with them was Leticia Haacke, who had gotten into rucksacking to combat a disease she says causes holes in the bones. Haacke has been thrilled with the results. “At the beginning of the year I was walking on crutches,” she said. Now she trekked to The Road Home with her own pack. Another owner of True North Event Company, Matt Solum, had the opportu-

Tiffany Christensen (in green hat) helps to move and coordinate the Ruckmas 2023 event. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)

nity to hype up the crowd of rucksackers in preparation for the journey. “This is one of our favorite events,” Matt Solum said to those in attendance. “We are honored to give back to The Road House today.”

After Matt Solum’s speech, the group loaded up their rucksacks with essential items and lots of socks and started rucking to The Road Home. l

The rucksacking group prepares for their trek to The Road Home, some with pets in tow. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)

MidvaleJournal.com

January 2024 | Page 9

Continued from front page “Makerspaces have been around a long time,” she said. “They were a place for people with common interests to tinker and build and that purpose still exists. What we’re seeing now is not a resuscitation of an old trend or fad of having a neighborhood tinkering spot in somebody’s garage. It’s become a way of learning and a way of thinking that is beginning to integrate how we teach kids and how we inspire kids. It’s the new way to do project-based learning; it’s maker learning, the idea of learning how to do a design process of iteration to create something to solve a problem that is important to you.” Goetz said there is an increased momentum around makerspaces. “Our future as a global economic leader depends on students having the ability to be innovative with technology,” she said. “Maker learning helps to build 21st century skills and helps students not just consume technology but develop it.” At Hawthorn Academy, a charter school in South Jordan, teacher Stephen Mesker said it’s those 21st century skills of identifying problems and finding solutions that is being taught in the school’s 3D Design Club, a precursor to what he hopes will evolve into a makerspace for its studentbody. “We teach them the skills, but the hope is to get everybody involved in STEM and get them prepared for future jobs,” he said. “Many manufacturing jobs now use 3D de-

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sign and 3D printing and other makerspace skills that we need to provide that education and opportunity to our students.” That is key Goetz said. “Makerspaces are more than just a bunch of equipment with no real intent. What’s important, particularly in schools, is to address how can the makerspace aligns and integrates into the mission of the school, more than just a place to tinker,” she said. “It also needs to adapt with the growth of the school.” Such was the case with the STEM Action Center, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. After moving out of an office downtown to its South Salt Lake location where space was provided as a solution to the many FIRST LEGO teams that needed a location to practice and build, the staff realized its potential when “a couple little girls would come by and knock on the window and ask what we were doing. That led us to realize there was a much greater potential space in our community, so we established an open tinker time.” They also adapted during Covid-19, to check out activity kits to teachers, which helped them reach many more kids, Goetz said. That led to creating Pop-Up Maker Faires, which are brought into schools to provide free, hands-on STEM activities that students can bring home. The Center also awards grants, which help establish programming, innovation and makerspaces in schools. While Hawthorn, which purchased a dozen 3D printers from such a grant, began its club last year, others, like Channing Hall, a charter school in Draper, have been operating a makerspace for years and have incorporated lessons into the classroom. It was designated as a state platinum STEM school last spring. Goetz said that not all school makerspaces are the same. “Some schools have maker carts, some set up in a library; it can take on different formats and versions, depending upon what schools want. Some schools have a designated makerspace. What we’re seeing is the number of schools are trying to figure out what to do with the library (with the pivot to more online materials) and makerspace is coming into the conversation more and more for those schools,” she said. In Canyon School District, some schools,

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Kindergartner Bella Coller tried out different activities during Midvalley Elementary’s Dec. 5 family STEAM night in Midvale. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

such as Midvalley Elementary and the recently rebuilt Union Middle, have designated rooms as makerspaces, while Midvale Middle’s library is used as a makerspace during lunchtimes, at a time when it’s accessible to all students. “It started here because I like kids to be kids; I want them to know how to play with their hands, how to create and how to solve problems on their own,” teacher librarian/ media specialist Judy Rembacz said. “Makerspace teaches kids how to think. They are in the driving seat, being empowered and passionate about their own learning. They figure out how to create and if something goes wrong, how to make it work. They learn from failure and that’s a good thing. I also like how this connects them with their peers and with the school and that we’re giving this opportunity to all our students.” That is what teacher Wendie Nielson, at Bella Vista Elementary in Cottonwood Heights, wants students to discover. “They’re learning cooperation, collab-

oration, critical thinking, problem-solving,” she said. “When something doesn’t work, they got to change their thought process to hopefully make it work the next time.” Fifth-grader Anna Armstrong was learning about coding using an Intelino smart train. “It’s going to help with my future; I’m seeing all the things I can do with coding,” she said. “I want to be an astronaut, so I’ll need to know a lot about computers and coding. In makerspace, there’s science and math and communication as we work on things together, but a lot of it is trying to figure it out on my own.” Bella Vista’s first-year principal Angi Holden already has seen an increase of STEAM learning at her school. “We offer STEAM enrichment with after-school programming, and we have our STEAM Fridays where students rotate every five weeks through lessons around engaging topics created by our teachers,” she said. “Our goal is to expand to become a STEM-designated school, so students are prepared for the

Midvale City Journal

Hawthorn Academy students create snowflakes in Tinkercad during a December after-school 3D Design Club meeting. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

workforce, beyond academics.” Preparing all students in STEAM education is the goal behind the grants received by Canyons School District’s Digital Teaching and Learning Specialist Chandra Martz, who was overseeing a family STEAM night at Midvale Elementary. When Martz was in high school, she remembers being the only female in a STEM class of 25 students. “It always bothered me, so I want to get more girls into STEM. Canyons’ goal is to get every student college and career ready, so we’re trying to do that through STEAM,” she said. “I want as many kids as possible to be able to see STEAM in their future. I want girls to be able to see that they can be engineers. I want children of color to see that they can get a job in the field that pays well. I feel a lot of people in some of our Canyons communities are working three jobs just to try to make ends meet. There are careers that their children can enter, and they can make $100,000 out of high school. I just want them to be able to see that this could be their future; this opportunity is for everyone.” Martz, and others, are rolling out family STEAM nights in elementary schools, where they bring in kits of 12 activities with challenges that tie into curriculum standards. “I love that they went through all the activities to align it in math and science standards,” Goetz said. “They have signs at each station so teachers know this challenge aligns to certain standards and they can take that back to the classroom to build off of it; and parents are given open-ended questions to ask to foster exploration with daily activities at home.” Those kits, which were first originated by Utah Valley University, then expanded on and provided by Utah STEM Action Center,

MidvaleJournal.com

are available statewide through its network that includes several state higher education institutions, independent makerspaces and the Utah State Library Division. Jordan School District already has STEM activity tubs available for check-out to schools and Granite School District is creating its own set for more accessibility, Goetz said. At the recent Midvalley Elementary family STEM night, parent Brady Smith brought his first-grade daughter, Amelia. “I want her to stretch her mind in different ways in science and math and find the joy in learning and exploring through these cool activities,” he said. “I want her to have a mindset and a skill set that solves problems and thinks through things; I want her to be able to create and decipher.” Another part of Canyons’ program is establishing makerspaces with supplies in every middle school. Five of the eight schools already are in the process or have implemented makerspaces. STEAM squads are being introduced to elementaries and coding clubs will extend to middle schools next year. “The whole purpose of this grant is to give to students that may not have opportunity,” Martz said. “Some kids aren’t able to go to after-school programs, so we want to give opportunity.” That opportunity is extending to teacher training as well as Canyons’ teachers becoming STEM-endorsed, she said. In addition, the STEM Action Center offers workshops weekly for teacher professional development in technical expertise. “Teachers walk out with lesson plans that have been facilitated in the workshops and can incorporate what they’ve learned into their classrooms,” Goetz said. Canyons District Elementary STEM Specialist Cynthia Lloyd hopes that makes a

In October, Midvale Elementary students and family members tried several different STEAM activities such as the Code & Go Robot Mouse. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

difference.

said. “It’s a place to create, a place to learn to

In November, Bella Vista students worked together during their after-school makerspace to code Intelino smart trains. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

“With these resources, we’re hoping teachers use them with their curriculum,” she said. “We are noticing that kids are needing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It’s not just STEAM. It’s also sitting down and reading informational text. They’re not getting what they need out of it. One of the best ways to get kids to learn is through these STEAM activities because they’re highly engaging; we can teach those literacy skills along with these problem-solving and critical thinking skills.” Goetz agrees. “Makerspaces nurture curiosity,” she

invent and design, and a place to fail and repeat. We learn from failures. We learn to work as teams, alongside other fellow makers, because we’re trying to solve problems together. Communication and organization are a big deal as is resilience. These skills can be incorporated into academic learning. This aligns to the standards and it’s cross-disciplinary. Makerspaces are a welcoming place for everyone to create and solve what is important to them. It’s what’s called ‘a low floor and a high ceiling’ so it provides a huge potential for growth in learning.” l

January 2024 | Page 11

Midvale City Councilmember Quinn Sperry refers to notes at his council desk. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)

Councilmembers bid farewell to retiring member Quinn Sperry

By Annabelle Larsen | a.larsen@mycityjournals.com

idvale City Councilmember Quinn Sperry will soon be leaving his position on the council come 2024, after 10 years of service to the community in various ways, such as being a member of the UIA (Utah Infrastructure Agency), the Utah League of Cities and Towns Legislative Policy Committee, the Shelter the Homeless Board, the Community Council, as well as his time on the council. Although Sperry will be leaving the council at the end of this year, he continues to serve as a lawyer. Upon the recent city council meeting, it was evident that Sperry would be missed by his fellow councilmembers and the mayor as well, each giving a heartfelt farewell to their longstanding colleague. “It’s a loss for the city,” said Mayor Marcus Stevenson, directly addressing Sperry. “You have been kind, helpful, thoughtful throughout.” Paul Glover, fellow councilmember, acknowledged his gratitude to Sperry. “It’s been really wonderful,” Glover said, “and I appreciate you.” Following Glover’s remarks was councilmember Dustin Gettel. “Quinn is like our Anthony Kennedy,” he joked affectionately, in regards to Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s notable history of being the swing voter. “Whichever way Quinn goes is the way the win goes.” He spoke about how although they might not have always agreed on matters, there was always respect and high esteem between the two councilmembers. Gettel went on to say, “I’ve always appreci-

Page 12 | January 2024

ated how you took a look at issues and broke them down logically…Quinn seems to take a rather reasoned approach to everything.” Garrett Wilcox, the city attorney, addressed Sperry next by stating, “I’ve very much appreciated your support here,” and continued to say, “You will very much be missed.” Councilmember Bryant Brown echoed Wilcox’s sentiments, affirming to Sperry, “I appreciate him, and I think he has a very level head.” Last but not least on the city council was Councilmember Heidi Robinson, who said at the beginning of her time on the city council and settling into the position, Sperry was a big help in acclimating to the job. “Getting to sit by you is a huge benefit,” she said. Last to address Sperry was City Manager Matt Dahl, who professed these kind words to Sperry: “You are and have been a great councilmember, and more importantly, a great person.” Sperry, after the recognition from each member, was met with a standing ovation from all in attendance at the last council meeting. Sperry was presented with a gift from city employees and jokingly said, “I hope there is a pygmy goat waiting for me outside.” Bonnie Billings, who is the Outreach Manager of The Girl Scouts of America, will be taking Sperry’s place on city council in 2024. l

Midvale City Journal

In The Middle of Everything City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047

Reflecting on My Tenure 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 801-567-7230

MIDVALE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS MAYOR Marcus Stevenson 801-567-7204 Email: mstevenson@midvale.com 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 Permits Court Paying For Traffic School Business Licensing Cemetery Planning and Zoning Code Enforcement Building inspections Graffiti

801-567-7200 801-567-7202 801-567-7213 801-567-7265 801-567-7202 801-567-7214 801-567-7235 801-567-7231 801-567-7208 801-567-7213 385-468-9769

PUBLIC SAFETY & EMERGENCY CONTACTS EMERGENCY UFA Fire/UPD Police > Non-emergency Unified Police Department > Midvale Precinct Public Works Rocky Mountain Power

CITY NEWSLETTER By Council Member Quinn Sperry

Navigating Growth, Dialogue, and Community Unity in Midvale

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 Communications

JANUARY 2024

911 801-840-4000 385-468-9350 801-567-7235 877-508-5088

As my tenure of serving on the Midvale City Council ends, I appreciate Mayor Stevenson inviting me to share this message (and I apologize to anyone who has eagerly awaited the latest installment in Mayor Marcus’ Message for prolonging your anticipation another month for it to return). Reflecting upon my experiences over the past several years, it is difficult to express how much I have learned, the extent to which my respect and appreciation has deepened for people in our community, and the significance of the friendships which have been formed. The message that I hope to convey today is my perspective on how the people of Midvale – collectively the residents, business owners, and City staff – have exemplified how to develop a culture of civil discourse where people can engage in thoughtful and respectful conversations to address community issues even when those involved in the conversations have and express different opinions. When I was appointed to the City Council in 2014 to serve the remaining time of then Councilmember Robert Hale’s term, there was a particular development in the City which had given rise to much discontent between residents and the City Council and City staff. Residents would often share their displeasure with the City’s representatives during City Council Meetings, at community events, and even through individual phone calls and emails. I experienced many long nights during this period of time where I would contemplate the impact on individuals, families, and neighborhoods of the decisions being made by me and the other Councilmembers. I would try to consider the various opinions and perspectives of those involved and weigh those with the overall perspective of what is best for the City as a whole when making my decision. Each decision that I made as a City Councilmember was done with the intent of trying to do what I believed was best for the City and its residents as a whole, and I recognize that there were some decisions made that were (and likely still are) unpopular with certain individuals. Time will tell whether certain decisions result in the desired outcome. Those difficult experiences and discussions which occurred early on during my time as Councilmember do afford me the perspective to see the progress and growth that our community has made in its commitment to open and respectful dialogue. From the City’s standpoint, there were deliberate steps taken to foster greater community input related to certain issues. We emphasized the importance of individuals sharing their perspectives on contentious issues but also how there can be disagreement without discord. Rather than succumbing to the polarization that often characterizes public debates in our society these days, our residents and City representatives strived to engage in respectful conversations that focused on sharing different perspectives and finding common ground, where possible. Even when a decision was made that was contrary to certain residents’ particular desires, I hope that those individuals understand that they

were heard and their opinion was valued even though the ultimate outcome was different than what they wanted. I take pride in our community which – from my perspective – has progressed contrary to our society’s general trend of discontent and polarization as our residents and City representatives have consciously engaged in efforts to bring people together and foster a culture of respect and civil discourse. I also applaud the City’s efforts of increasing social events to unify our City, such as our traditional Harvest Days celebration but also the more recent events on historic main street. Moreover, while the City’s elected officials may often be the ones to receive praise when things go well (which is much appreciated), I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that it is the City’s committed and skilled employees who truly deserve the recognition and appreciation for the wonderful events and things happening in our community. When I was new on the City Council, I was grateful for the patience that the City staff, the Mayor, and other Councilmembers had with me and the time they took to answer my questions on several issues. The longer I served on the City Council, the more I recognized how lucky we are as residents of Midvale to have the caliber of people we have working for and in our City each day -- and I remain grateful for the patience they have had with me for so long. My decision to not run for re-election for a third term was done with my family’s best interest in mind; however, that decision was made with a heavy heart as it is difficult to step away from being so involved at the City level in this community where I was raised and have chosen to raise my own family and knowing how that decision will decrease my interactions with so many people who work for Midvale. I do look forward to continuing to serve our community in other ways – just as my parents exemplified for me during my childhood as they served our neighbors and our Midvale community in various ways without being elected officials – and I hope and encourage everyone to be anxiously engaged in efforts to serve in the community and consciously strive to set the example of how people can engage in civil discourse.

In The Middle of Everything Midvale City Asks Residents to Complete Survey About Their Water Service Line

MIDVALE . UTAH . GOV

Craft Lake City Presents LetterWest 2024:

The Midvale City Public Utilities Division is conducting an inventory of water service lines within our community to help residents identify what type of pipes they have. Your water service line is the pipe that runs water from the city main into your home, for which the homeowner is responsible. This initiative is in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent update to the Lead & Copper Rule (LCR), which was ﬁnalized on December 22, 2020. Per the new rule, community water systems are required to compile and submit an initial service line inventory to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Drinking Water Division by October 16, 2024.

Who Should Participate

Everyone who receives drinking water from Midvale City should participate, but if your home was constructed before 1990 we really need you to participate. Please identify your service line material and complete the online survey by the 2024 deadline as mandated by the EPA. By participating you not only gain knowledge about your water service line material, but also contribute to the completion of this important inventory project. Visit EngageMidvale.com/ lead-and-copper to learn more and take the survey.

A GLOBAL HAND LETTERING EXTRAVAGANZA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MIDVALE CITY AND THE MIDVALE ARTS COUNCIL Craft Lake City is hosting LetterWest, the nation’s leading hand lettering conference, on March 2, 2024 at the Midvale Performing Arts Center. The conference will bring top lettering artists from around the globe to the Midvale Main Arts & Culture District for a range of activities including workshops, a panel discussion, live mural-making, a mixer and more. Keynote speakers will present at the Midvale Performing Arts Center but workshops and activities will happen throughout businesses in Midvale’s arts and culture district on historic Main Street. Tickets are limited and available for purchase at craftlakecity.com/letterwest/.

New Housing Programs Unveiled by Redevelopment Agency and NeighborWorks Salt Lake

Midvale City Home Repair Loan Program

Midvale City Down Payment Assistance Program New Homebuyer Workshop

Saturday, January 20, 2024 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Midvale Community Center 7615 Park Street, Midvale

Space is limited. Register today!

Light refreshments will be provided

Step by step process of the first time home-buying journey Learn how to navigate the financial aspects of home buying Get connected with trusted real estate and lending professionals Resources available in English and Spanish

Midvale City’s Redevelopment Agency has joined forces with NeighborWorks Salt Lake to introduce two beneficial programs for our residents. The first one, known as the Down Payment Assistance Program, offers loans and grants to help low- to moderate-income individuals buying their first homes in Midvale City. The program aims to ensure fair access to home ownership and enhance community knowledge about the home buying process. Funds are limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Check out the program qualifications, loan/grant terms, and Home Repair Workshop document requirements at Midvale.Utah.gov/DownPayment. The second initiative, the Home Repair Loan Program, Space is limited. supports low- to moderate-income homeowners in addressing Saturday, January 20, 2024 Register today! emergency repairs, safety concerns, blight removal, energy con- 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Midvale Community Center servation, and overall housing preservation. Funds are limited 7615 Park Street, Midvale and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Check out the Light refreshments will be provided program qualifications, loan/grant terms, and document requirements at Midvale.Utah.gov/HomeRepair. Step by step process from application to construction To inform the community about these programs, two free Get connected with trusted workshops are scheduled for Saturday, January 20, 2024, at the The Home Repair Loan contractors Program is made Midvale Community Center. The Down Payment Assistance propossible through the Meet program administration staff generous support of gram workshop will run from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed the Department of Resources available in English and Housing and Urban by the Home Repair Loan Program Workshop from 11:00 a.m. Spanish Development (HUD) to 12:30 p.m. Due to limited space, interested participants must pre-register to secure their spots. Light refreshments will be provided. Don’t miss out – register today at EngageMidvale.com/ EngageMidvale.com/Housing-Programs Housing-Programs.

Invest in your future – own a piece of Midvale City!

EngageMidvale.com/Housing-Programs

JANUARY 2024 CITY NEWSLETTER MIDVALE . UTAH . GOV

Salt Lake County Animal Services: 2023 At a Glance

Join Us in Shaping the Future with the Transportation Master Plan Update

In 2023, Salt Lake County Animal Services, as the largest no-kill municipal animal shelter in Utah, has remained a bustling hub for a diverse range of animals. Our dedicated staff encounters an array of creatures throughout the year, spanning from horses and goats to pigs, snakes, pet spiders, turtles, and, of course, the more conventional dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Amid this lively mix, here are some delightful Fun Facts from this year. From January 1, 2023, to December 1, 2023, Salt Lake County Animal Services has achieved remarkable milestones. We proudly announce that over 2000 wonderful pets have found forever homes through adoptions, while more than 600 animals were successfully placed with Reputable Rescue Organizations. Our in-house clinic has sterilized over 3,500 pets, contributing to responsible pet ownership. The Humane Educator engaged with thousands of children in Salt Lake County, imparting valuable lessons on Responsible Pet Ownership and How to Approach a Dog. Our dedicated volunteers and fosters have devoted an incredible 43,000 hours to the well-being of our shelter pets. Furthermore, our exceptional Animal Control Ofﬁcers responded to over 18,000 calls this year alone, showcasing our commitment to the welfare of animals in our community. To discover more about opportunities for involvement, adoption, licensing, microchipping, or donating, please visit AdoptUtahPets.org.

TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION

Midvale City and the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) are preparing to update the Midvale City Transportation Master Plan. This will allow the city to improve mobility, accessibility, and safety for our residents and commuters.

MASTER PLAN MASTER PLAN

Midvale City is updating our Midvale City is updating our Transportation Master Plan Transportation Master Plan and we need your input! and we need your input!

What is a Transportation Master Plan?

What is a Transportation Plan? A Transportation Master PlanMaster is a longterm policy Midvale will use A Transportation Master Plantoisdefine a longour transportation andtohow to term policy Midvalegoals will use define achieve them. This goals plan will asto a our transportation andact how guide forthem. maintaining and achieve This plan willgrowing act as aour transportation networkand for all users. our guide for maintaining growing

Improved Improved

Accessibility Accessibility Mobility Mobility Safety Safety

Take Survey! Take Survey!

transportation network for all users.

Get Involved!

Take our survey to tell us about your Get Involved! vision and goalsto fortell improving Take our survey us abouttravel your in Midvale. Your input will play atravel crucial vision and goals for improving part in how we plan for the future! in Midvale. Your input will play a crucial part in how we plan for the future!

EngageMidvale.com/TMP EngageMidvale.com/TMP

What is a Transportation Master Plan? A Transportation Master Plan is a longterm policy Midvale will use to deﬁne our transportation goals and how to achieve them. This plan will act as a guide for maintaining and growing our transportation network for all users. Get Involved! Take our survey to tell us about your vision and goals for improving travel in Midvale. Your input will play a crucial part in how we plan for the future! Subscribe to this project to receive updates and be notiﬁed when opportunities to participate are available.

Midvale City 2024 Calendar Midvale City 2024 Recycling Recycling Calendar Midvale City 2024 Recycling Calendar SS S 77 14 714 21 21 14 28 28 21 28

M M 11 M 818 15 815 22 22 15 29 29 22 29

JANUARY JANUARY T W W TT TJANUARY 33 4 T22 W T4 10 929 10 3 11 411 17 18 18 16 17 916 10 11 23 24 24 25 25 23 16 17 18 30 24 31 25 30 31 23 30 31

FF 5F5 12 512 19 19 12 26 26 19 26

SS 6 S6 13 613 20 20 13 27 27 20 27

SS S 44 11 411 18 18 11 25 25 18 25

M M M 55 12 512 19 19 12 26 26 19 26

FEBRUARY FEBRUARY FEBRUARY W TT TT W T W T11 66 77 818 13 613 14 714 15 815 20 14 21 22 22 20 21 13 15 27 28 28 29 29 27 20 21 22 27 28 29

FF 2F2 929 16 916 23 23 16 23

SS S33 10 10 3 17 17 10 24 24 17 24

SS S 77 14 14 7 21 21 14 28 28 21 28

M M 11 M 818 15 815 22 22 15 29 29 22 29

APRIL APRIL W TT TT APRIL W 33 4 T22 W T4 10 929 10 3 11 411 17 18 18 16 17 916 10 11 23 24 24 25 25 23 16 17 18 30 24 25 30 23 30

FF 5F5 12 512 19 19 12 26 26 19 26

SS 6 S6 13 613 20 20 13 27 27 20 27

SS S 55 12 512 19 19 12 26 26 19 26

M M M 66 13 613 20 20 13 27 27 20 27

MAY MAY W TT FF TT MAY W 11 T22 3F3 T W 10 77 818 929 10 3 14 17 14 17 7 15 815 16 916 10 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 21 14 15 16 17 28 29 29 30 30 24 31 28 31 21 22 23 28 29 30 31

SS S 33 10 10 3 17 17 10 24 24 17 31 31 24 31

SS 4 S4 11 411 18 18 11 25 25 18 25

M SS M S M 22 33 10 929 10 3 17 16 17 916 10 23 24 24 23 16 17 30 24 30 23 30

SS S 77 14 714 21 21 14 28 28 21 28

M M 11 M 818 15 815 22 22 15 29 29 22 29

FF 5F5 12 512 19 19 12 26 26 19 26

SS 6 S6 13 613 20 20 13 27 27 20 27

SS S 44 11 411 18 18 11 25 25 18 25

M M M 55 12 512 19 19 12 26 26 19 26

FF 4 F4 11 411 18 18 11 25 25 18 25

SS S55 12 512 19 19 12 26 26 19 26

SS S 33 10 10 3 17 17 10 24 24 17 24

SS S 66 13 613 20 20 13 27 27 20 27

JULY JULY W TT TT JULY W 33 4 T22 W T4 10 929 10 3 11 411 17 18 18 16 17 916 10 11 23 24 24 25 25 23 16 17 18 30 24 31 25 30 31 23 30 31 OCTOBER OCTOBER OCTOBER M T T W W TT M 22 T 33 M T11 W 10 77 818 929 10 3 17 14 17 714 15 815 16 916 10 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 21 14 15 16 17 28 29 29 30 30 24 31 28 31 21 22 23 28 29 30 31

AUGUST AUGUST W TT FF SS TTAUGUST W T W T11 2F2 S33 10 66 77 818 929 10 3 17 13 17 613 14 714 15 815 16 916 10 20 14 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 20 21 13 15 16 17 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 24 31 27 31 20 21 22 23 27 28 29 30 31 NOVEMBER NOVEMBER M NOVEMBER W TT FF SS M TT W M T W T F11 S22 44 55 66 77 818 929 11 411 12 512 13 613 14 714 15 815 16 916 18 19 19 20 20 14 21 22 22 23 23 18 21 11 12 13 15 16 25 26 26 20 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 25 27 18 19 21 22 23 25 26 27 28 29 30

M M M 44 11 411 18 18 11 25 25 18 25

MARCH MARCH W TT TTMARCH W T W T 55 66 77 12 512 13 613 14 714 19 20 20 14 21 19 21 12 13 26 20 27 28 28 26 27 19 21 26 27 28

FF F11 818 15 815 22 22 15 29 29 22 29

SS S22 929 16 916 23 23 16 30 30 23 30

JUNE JUNE W TT TT JUNE W T W T 44 55 66 11 411 12 512 13 613 18 19 19 20 20 18 11 12 13 25 26 26 20 27 25 27 18 19 25 26 27

FF F 77 14 714 21 21 14 28 28 21 28

SS S11 818 15 815 22 22 15 29 29 22 29

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER M SEPTEMBER W TT FF SS M TT W 22 T 33 W 44 T 55 6F6 S77 M 10 929 10 3 11 411 12 512 13 613 14 714 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 14 21 16 17 21 916 10 11 12 13 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 20 27 28 28 23 27 16 17 18 19 21 30 24 25 26 27 28 30 23 30 DECEMBER DECEMBER M DECEMBER W TT FF SS SS M TT W 22 T 33 W 44 T 55 6F6 S77 S11 M 10 14 818 929 10 3 11 411 12 512 13 613 14 7 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 14 21 15 17 21 815 16 916 10 11 12 13 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 20 27 28 28 22 27 15 16 17 18 19 21 29 30 30 24 31 25 26 27 28 29 31 22 23 29 30 31

SS S11 818 15 815 22 22 15 29 29 22 29

Recyclecollection collectionoccurs occursevery everyother otherweek weekon onthe thesame sameday dayas asyour yourtrash trashservice. service.Please Pleasemake makesure sure Recycle Recycle collection every other week onand theplace sameyour day carts as your service. Pleasebefore makeor sure allrecyclables recyclables fitininoccurs yourrecycling recycling container, and place your carts ontrash thecurb curb thenight night before or by all fit your container, on the the by all recyclables fit in your recycling container, andyour place your day. carts 7:00AM AMon on your service day. on the curb the night before or by 7:00 service 7:00 AM on your service day.

Yes Yes

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Cardboard, paper, paper, Cardboard, Cardboard, plastic bottles,paper, and cans cans plastic bottles, and plastic bottles, and cans

Plastic bags, bags, food food waste, waste, Plastic Plastic food waste, glass,bags, or Styrofoam™ Styrofoam™ glass, or glass, or Styrofoam™

Clean Paper Paper && Cardboard, Cardboard, YES! YES! Clean Clean Paper & Cardboard, YES!

Coated Paper Paper Containers, Containers, NO! NO! Coated Coated Paper Containers, NO!

Empty Plastic Plastic Bottles Bottles && Jugs, Jugs, YES! YES! Empty Empty Plastic Bottles & Jugs, YES!

Other Plastics Plastics && Styrofoam,™ Styrofoam,™ NO! NO! Other Other Plastics & Styrofoam,™ NO!

Empty Aluminum Aluminum && Steel Steel Cans, Cans, YES! YES! Empty Empty Aluminum & Steel Cans, YES!

All Glass, Glass, Food Food && Yard Yard Waste, Waste, NO! NO! All All Glass, Food & Yard Waste, NO!

DONOT NOTBag BagItems. Items.Keep KeepItItClean. Clean.All Allitems itemsmust mustbe befree freeof offood food&&liquid. liquid. DO DO NOT Bag Items. KeepCall It Clean. All service items be363-9995 free of food & liquid. Questions? Call customer servicemust (801) 363-9995 Questions? customer atat(801) Questions? Callus customer service at (801) 363-9995 oremail email usrecycle@acedisposal.com recycle@acedisposal.com or or email us recycle@acedisposal.com

Trails, tourism among 2023 highlights for Salt Lake County

he Salt Lake County Council just wrapped up the budget for 2024, and now is a good time to look back over the highlights and lowlights of 2023. A reminder: budgeting is one of the primary jobs of the county council, providing ongoing funding for the many diverse, existing county programs. “Salt Lake County is proud to be one of only 29 counties in the entire country (there are 3,143 counties in the United States) that has a AAA bond rating,” Aimee Winder Newton District 3 county councilwoman and council chair said. “It means we run a good budget and rating agencies believe we will pay our debts.” County services include health and human services, county parks and recreation centers, tourism and culture, libraries, aging and adult services, mental health and criminal justice. A big snow year After a big snow year and a snowpack over 200% of normal, on April 13, 2023 County Mayor Jenny Wilson declared a state of emergency in anticipation of potentially devastating flooding. Affected were over 600 miles of creeks and canals within Salt Lake County. The county provided enough sand to fill 500,000 sandbags, and who can forget the community showing up to fill bags for themselves, and for their neighbors? The state emergency ended July 10, 2023, with much of the potential damage mitigated. “We were able to manage the runoff from such an incredible, record-breaking snowpack because of a combination of early planning, improved infrastructure, cutting-edge data, around-the-clock debris clearing, and a [spring] season of perfect weather,” said Wilson. Decades of infrastructure improvements since 1983 (year of the last major flood) greatly improved the ability of Salt Lake County Flood Control to control water flows and manage debris, as creeks, culverts and pipes were equipped to carry more water than they could in 1983. Flood control costs are an annual county budget line item and include personnel costs, ongoing maintenance, and annual dredging of sediment and debris from retention ponds and creek beds and run about $6.9 million annually. The cost for the flood emergency of 2023, itself, was approximately $1.8 million. New and improved trails “County residents have told us trail development is their number one priority over the past decade, based on needs our assessment surveys,” Patrick Leary, associate director for Parks, Trails & Open Space for Salt Lake County Parks & Recreation, said. “Desire for new and improved trails has consistently floated to the top of the list.” So in August 2023, Phase One of the Butterfield Trailhead Regional Park opened to the community. “The Butterfield trail system is located in

Page 16 | January 2024

By Ella Joy Olsen | e.olsen@mycityjournals.com the Oquirrh Mountains in the southwest corner of Salt Lake County and is a game changer for the region,” Leary said. “Now residents in this growing party of the county won’t have to cut across the valley to get to an easily accessible hillside trail system.” Butterfield includes over 13 miles of multiuse trails for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians within the Southwest Canyon Trails Network, and also provides a connector to Yellow Fork and Rose Canyon trails. Phases Two and Three (to be completed in the next couple of years) will include improved parking for 500 cars and equestrian vehicles, kiosks, improved restrooms and a maintenance facility. Uniquely, the Butterfield trail system is situated on reclaimed land which was once a mining site. It was created in collaboration with the county, Rio Tinto and the Bureau of Land Management. Another big trail milestone, the final phase of the Parley’s Trail, was completed in 2023. Parley’s Trail is an 8-mile east-west walking and biking trail connecting the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and the Jordan River Parkway, providing a corridor through neighborhoods to parks, schools, churches and rural areas and running through portions of West Valley, South Salt Lake, Millcreek and Salt Lake City. “We’re lucky because this is a trail system that has been consistently funded with bonds, grants, federal, state and county dollars since about 2004, so construction has been ongoing” said Walt Gilmore, associate division director of Salt Lake County Parks & Recreation, and who has also worked on the trail project for 21 years. “This final phase was expensive, about $6 million dollars, and included two bridge structures to get over the Jordan River, but we can celebrate that it’s finally complete.” Mental healthcare access Currently, a new Huntsman Mental Health facility is under construction in South Salt Lake on 3300 S. 1000 West, a centralized location with access to major transportation corridors. “On one side is the jail and one side is a homeless shelter,” said Mark Rapaport, CEO of Huntsman Mental Health Institute. “And as we know jails right now are one of the largest inpatient mental health facilities in the country. And we also know the majority of the people who are homeless have an underlying mental health disorder. So this facility will allow us to be near where some of the people with the greatest needs are.” This new center, the Kem and Carolyn Gardner Mental Health Crisis Care Center, will be completed in late 2024 or early 2025, but in the meantime there is an ongoing mental health and homelessness crisis. So to bridge the gap in care, in 2023 the county appropriated $2.5 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to retrofit the existing Huntsman Mental Health

Six members of the Salt Lake County Council after their meeting to deliberate on the 2024 budget on Nov. 21, 2023. L-R: Suzanne Harrison, Arlyn Bradshaw, Aimee Winder Newton, David Alvord, Dea Theodore, Laurie Stringham. (Photo Aimee Winder Newton)

Flooding on 1700 South on the evening of April 13, 2023 following a record snow season. (Salt Lake County)

facilities (near the University Hospital) to create a receiving center, giving those in crisis a place to go that isn’t a jail or an emergency room. At the receiving center, mental health professionals have 24 hours to get patients settled and stable, to get them connected to community resources, and to figure out a path for recovery. “The center has 12 beds, and though occupancy varies from day to day, utilization has been high at about an average of nine beds occupied,” Kevin Curtis, crisis services director at Huntsman Mental Health Institute, said.

“And the average length of stay is about 10 hours.” 2023 funding also covers 17 months of staffing until the new center is finished. The temporary adult receiving center is located at 501 Chipeta Way and is open 24/7. After the new center in South Salt Lake opens, the renovated adult receiving center will likely be focused on mental healthcare for juveniles and children. “The receiving center is a place where police officers can bring those who are struggling with a mental health crisis to get immediate help,” County Councilwoman Winder Newton

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LOCAL FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED Ribbon cutting for the Huntsman Mental Health Institute receiving center. At the receiving center, mental health professionals have 24 hours to get patients settled and stable, to get them connected to community resources, and to figure out a path for recovery. (Aimee Winder Newton)

said. “It’s less costly than care in an emergency room and a better place to get help for minor offenses than in jail.” Conventions and Tourism Tourism is a big part of county government as tourists and convention attendees generate tax revenue, thereby saving Salt Lake County residents (taxpayers) money. Visit Salt Lake www.visitsaltlake.com is a private, nonprofit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination. In partnership with Salt Lake County, it is the marketing arm tasked with attracting and providing support for conventions and leisure travelers. A couple of successful conventions of 2023 illustrate the diverse groups courted by Visit Salt Lake for their convention needs. As an additional perk, business travelers, after being impressed with Salt Lake, will often return for leisure travel. The first is the Society of Child Research & Development Convention. Salt Lake competed against Denver, Atlanta, St. Louis, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Toronto to secure this convention. The organization anticipated their convention in Salt Lake would attract 4,100 attendees, but it far exceeded expectations, and 6,400 attendees attended the event. These visitors spent $6.2 million while in the community. Another of note is the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. This convention attracted nearly 12,000 attendees who spent approximately $11.6 million. The SHPE leadership was so pleased that Salt Lake has been selected to host this convention again in 2027, 2030, and 2034. County Library Services In a tight budget year the county was still able to put an additional $280,000 into digital library resources such as audio and e-reader materials, in an effort to reduce wait times for these popular items. Additionally, late fees will be waived for children. This program was piloted during the summer of 2023, based on the concern that

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late fees are a barrier to lower income families coming to the library to borrow books and other learning materials and was deemed a success. After three months, if the materials are still not returned to the library, the cost will be charged to the cardholder. The 2024 library budget contains $115,000 from the Library Fund to replace the potential lost revenue from fees collected. County Rec Centers free pass for youth In an effort to improve mental and physical health for youth, the county has provided budget dollars to provide a free annual rec pass to all youth (ages 3-17). The program, called My County Recs Pass, will likely be rolling in early summer 2024, to give the centers time to staff and prepare additional programming. “We’re seeing a rise in mental health issues for teens and youth, and according the U.S. Surgeon General, something that can help is social connection, getting out there and doing something active with other people,” Newton said. “This is a great program because the county is in the business of improving mental and physical health to residents.” There are age limits, in that children under the age of 10 cannot attend without a parent, and in that case only the parents would pay, but the county is hoping this will provide more active family time. The My County Recs Pass program is projected to cost $2.3 million annually. This cost represents the personnel and operational costs, in addition to the reduction in revenue from youth pass sales. “However, we are expecting some new revenues from adult passes purchased by parents and increased sign-ups for programs,” said Robin Chalhoub, director of community services for Salt Lake County. “We did not add that [increased revenue] to the proposal and we are excited to see how it increases.” l

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The promise she kept By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

At the Premier Invitational in August 2023, Hillcrest High senior Edith Neslen (in green and white stripes) passes other racers to finish third in the race. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

illcrest High senior Edith Neslen has goals to run a sub5:30 minutes in the 1600 meters and under 11:45 in the 3200. The captain of her school cross country team, Neslen led her teammates in every race, most recently snatching fourth place overall in the Footlocker national western regional cross country senior girls race, held this past December in California. Colleges are tracking her times, talking to her, dangling scholarship offers, wanting her to commit to run for them. But there was a time when none of them looked her way. As a freshman, Neslen ran 30:19 for 5000 meters. “I joined cross country late in the season,” she said. “Because of COVID, I never got the information, so I ran two weeks before regionals my freshman year. My first was at Jordan (High School) was terrible. I was trying not to be last in the race, and I wasn’t, so that’s my one positive.” It was her first cross country race. As a Midvale Middle School student, she enjoyed running, but Neslen didn’t join the intramural cross country team. “Everybody hated running the mile pacer in middle school PE, but I liked it,” she remembered. In high school, as a student in Scott Stucki’s social studies’ classroom, Neslen saw a bunch of cross country trophies and pictures. “I asked him, could I join, just to be athletic. When I came to practice, I didn’t realize that cross (country) was long, long distance. It was a shock that people were running more than 3 miles,” she said. Two weeks after her first meet, Neslen ran as a JV squad

Page 18 | January 2024

At the Freber Invitational in August 2022, Hillcrest High’s Edith Neslen (in green and white stripes) strides out at the start amongst the other racers. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

member in the region meet, finishing 37th, breaking 30 minutes in the 3-mile race with a time of 29:03. The following spring, Neslen ran in only two track meets. “I got bad shin splints. Stucki put me in the 3200 at region even though I had never run it, just because there was a spot,” she said, clocking a time of 15:45. “That summer, I ran for two weeks and got injured again. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know I could go to the trainer; I had bad knee pain to the point where I couldn’t run. So, I biked and disappeared from practice.” Later, Neslen learned it was a tight IT band. “I came to the first day of practice my sophomore year even though my knees were still hurting. I put pre-wrap around them and that helped. When I knew that, I realized I could have run during the summer, and I felt guilty, so I promised myself from that day on I’ll run every single day. That’s when consistency began for me,” she said. Neslen has kept that promise to run daily—unless she’s hurt and then, she turns to a different method of training. “There were people who were better than me and it pushed me to run faster. But I learned that if you overdo it, that slows you down. It’s a balance of pushing, but also regulating how you feel at the same time. I think that’s how I was able to improve because I saw some teammates push too hard and not work differently through their injuries. I had to learn if I push harder while I’m hurt, then it’s not going to be good,” she said. With her consistent training, Stucki said Neslen continued to get better, running her fastest time yet that season, 23:41, at the hilly, difficult 5K Footlocker course. Neslen used the winter indoor season to train.

Hillcrest High distance runner Edith Neslen is congratulated by coach Scott Stucki and others after finishing second and getting her best time at this year’s region meet in September. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

“I noticed a lot of people don’t show up, but because I promised myself I’d run every day, I thought I could use the indoor season to get ahead. It was just normal distance training, but in the freezing cold,” she said, pointing out the meets were indoors, not Hillcrest’s training. Neslen also realized that she needed to set goals, not just show up for a race. “In the beginning, I didn’t have goals. I just ran. I was a placeholder in the varsity spot running in the seventh spot, but I knew two or three girls in front of me weren’t as consistent. I used that as my motivation, trying to beat them. When I realized that I could go fast, I thought, ‘It’s time to set goals,’” she said. That realization came during her junior year. After shaving off five, six and seven minutes from her cross country times, Neslen didn’t settle. “Last year, I made more progress. My goal was to break into the 19s. I was able to do that state and regionals, so I was happy about that,” she said. As a junior, Neslen ran 19:52 at regionals to finish fourth, followed by 19:59.5 at the state meet. Stuck noted she was “running consistently in the 20s before she broke 19 at region. It’s a shorter course (2.95 miles), but it’s a challenging course. She put in the work and had a good season.” In track, Neslen placed fourth at region in the 3200, and ran her best time of 11:56.4 at state to finish 25th. She ran her fastest 1600 at region with a 5:45.4 for a sixth-place finish. That fueled her passion to become faster. “This past summer, she put in more miles in summer than anybody we’ve ever had—600 miles. She broke the previous record of 584 that Anthony Davies set,” said Stucki, recalling

Midvale City Journal

his all-time top male distance runner who graduated in 2021. “Edith was in Japan for several weeks and ran there. She went on a long weekend trip around the southwest and she ran every day there on her own. She just put in the miles.” He also noted Neslen, and the team, lifted weights twice per week last summer. She has continued her training while enrolled in a weightlifting class, which helped the 5-foot-tall runner gain more strength. This year, after finishing the 5000 meters in 19:38 for 22nd place at state, her best time ever, she was a bit disappointed. “I wanted at least around a 19:20 or somewhere in the 19:10s,” she said, recalling her second-place finish at region in 18:52.7 in a 2.95-mile course—an improvement of more than 10 minutes during her four-year cross country career. Neslen is using that feeling as motivation to fuel faster times for indoor track this winter. Meanwhile, the 3.95 GPA National Honor Society member, who takes college concurrent classes, will continue to train alongside her teammates under Stucki. “While we’re doing workouts, intervals, repeats, I put her with the boys. She’s running the same pace. It took her a long time to gain the confidence of how fast she was; she wasn’t sure how good she was, but she has that now,” he said. Neslen is driven to improve. “I never thought I’d run for a college, never get a scholarship. I didn’t think it was possible. It started with making the promise, that commitment to run every day. Now, I just want to run faster,” she said. “One day, I want to run a 100k or the ultra-distances. It sounds a little brutal, but I’d like to try.” Her coach is enthusiastic as well for her future. “When she gets into college, she’ll get a little stronger and have teammates she can train with all the time,” Stucki said. “I’m excited to see what she does.” l

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Hillcrest High’s Edith Neslen, seen here at the Davis Invitational track meet in April 2022, made a promise to herself to run daily, which she South,Slama/City Midvale Journals) has kept as long as she’s injury-free. (Julie

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Eight ways to combat change fatigue this new year By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com

e all are no strangers to change. Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution, a shift in our career, alterations in our physical appearance, or even the family dynamics morphing as families grow— children go off to college, loved ones move, and parents age—change is a constant factor in our lives. Instincts might be to resist the change or simply feel overwhelmed by it, both of which may be leading indicators of change fatigue. According to an article by Dr. Lydia Moussa on LinkedIn, change fatigue includes the following symptoms: apathy (disengagement), negativity (cynical or complaining), stress (anxious) and burnout. Change fatigue can have a significant impact on our lives, from personal disappointments like unrealized dreams to professional challenges like unmet career goals. It's an exhausting experience that can lead to questioning our purpose and identity. However, it's during these times of change that self-reflection becomes vital. The following resources can help us take a look at our lives in hopes of beginning to understand our passions, needs, and ultimately, our unique purpose. 1. The love language test. This is a concept of Gary Chapman’s where in his book “The 5 Love Languages” he helps us understand how we receive love (physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, or even acts of service). This tool helps us understand how we feel appreciated and loved, as well as how we tend to show appreciation and love to others. This test is helpful in any relationship from coworkers and friends, to children and spouses. Learn more about the love languages on Holly’s Highlights podcast Season 3 Episode 3. 2. Personality tests. Personality tests such as 5 Voices, Strength Finders, Myers-Briggs, and Disc help us put a name to our behaviors and inherit traits and passions. This could be understanding you are an introvert and therefore help give you some ideas on how to engage at a social gathering, to even the importance of setting boundaries in balancing such socials with much-needed alone time to refresh and recharge. Personality tests can also help you identify your strengths and how to use them in careers, teams and personal goal setting. 3. Spiritual gifts. From administration, giving, and leadership to service, ministry or teaching, if you are a person of faith this can be a valuable tool in every aspect of your life, career and volunteer work. Keep in mind this is not the fortune teller of what you need to do—it is more of a guide as to what comes naturally to

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Listen to the full episode on change fatigue on Holly’s Highlights podcast. (Holly Curby)

you. Local churches will often offer spiritual tests, or you can visit giftstest.com or sdrock.com. 4. Bucket list. According to a study from Stanford, bucket lists can help you “live a life with hopes and aspirations.” They identify values, goals, milestones and experiences as all having significance in both reflection and identification as to what your lifetime will include. When making a bucket list you might see a common theme that can help you create focus in pushing forward toward what you want in life whether it be job-related, relationship-wise or simply helping motivate you to identify “What’s next?” 5. Dreams. As we navigate the changes in life, it’s essential to reignite some of our childhood dreams. Have you wanted to travel? Take part in certain activities or accomplishments? Be in a certain profession? Permit yourself to tap into your inner child and dream. What part of those dreams can you start implementing or pursuing today, and what’s stopping you now from pursuing them? 6. Goals. When we get in a rut of change we can find ourselves going down a spiraling path, but if we have a goal set before us—something to achieve, to work toward, to look forward to reaching—we are more apt to make progress in living a more authentic and fulfilling existence. In five years you can either look back and see you are still in the same spot, or you can look back and see even a few things accomplished that got you a step further to reaching your goals. Write down some goals that are specific and attainable as well as dates to reach them by—then go for it. Download my free “Get it Done Goal Planner” on hollycurby.com/resourc-

Fulfilling something on his bucket list, Peyton Curby traveled to Alaska with his family. (Holly Curby)

es or check out Holly’s Highlights podcast Season 2 Episode 1 regarding goal setting in a new year. 7. Value/priorities. What is important to you? And where does that rank in your priorities? Once we identify our values and our priorities, it can help us ensure our actions align with our authentic selves. This can help us understand what boundaries should be placed and therefore help us live a more fulfilled life of purpose. Season 3 Episode 26 on Holly’s Highlights podcast can help us unpack more on boundary setting to protect these values and priorities. 8. Personal Mission statement. After you’ve looked at the results from your love language, your personality, your spiritual gifts, your bucket list, dreams, goals, values, and priorities then you can better answer questions such as: Who am I? What’s my purpose? What’s next? Check out Holly’s Highlights podcast Season 3 Episode

15 for assistance on how to do a family mission statement. Next time change fatigue hits, this personal mission statement can help you navigate through the changes so that you keep in alignment with what matters to you. Amidst life’s constant changes, these resources help us align our actions with our true selves all while embracing a growth mindset, trying new things, challenging our perspectives, exploring our passions, forgiving ourselves of any regrets, having a grateful heart, turning our pain into purpose, accepting our flaws, and believing in ourselves so that we can combat succumbing to the fatigue of change. Learn more on Holly’s Highlights podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Tune-In, and at www.hollycurby.com.l

January 2024 | Page 21

Home prices up, sales down in Salt Lake County

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

espite the headwinds of high mortgage rates and housing prices that have pushed many potential buyers to the sidelines, homes in Salt Lake County saw slight uptick in prices in the third quarter. Figures released by the Salt Lake Board of Realtors show the median price of a single-family home in Salt Lake County increased slightly to $594,125 during the period of July through September. That’s up 1% from $589,900 in the third quarter of 2022. The increase in prices came amid mortgage rates that hovered around 7% for much of the period. “This is why we have seen home sales decline across the Wasatch Front over the past 18 months,” Salt Lake Board of Realtors chief economist Dejan Eskic said in a press release. Single-family home sales totaled 2,103 units in the third quarter, a decline of 11% from a year earlier. Weber, Davis, Utah and Tooele also saw a drop in homes sold during the third quarter. The average time single-family dwellings were on the market during the quarter was 27 days, up from 22 days in 2022. Condominiums in Salt Lake County saw a 1% decrease in median prices to $410,000 but, again, pesky mortgage rates on top of the high asking prices pushed sales down 4% during the third quarter.

In West Valley City, the slowdown in home sales was more pronounced than in the county in general. In ZIP code 84119, which encompasses the eastern third of the city, single-family home sales went from 100 in the third quarter of 2022 to 73 in the same quarter of this year for a decline of 27%. The media price also fell 5% from $420,500 to $400,000. ZIP code 84120 in the central part of the city saw a 15% drop in sales—92 units to 78— as the median price went from $450,000 to $447,450. ZIP code 84128 covering the northwestern part of the city also trended downward in home prices and sales. The good news for buyers is that mortgage rates were at their lowest level in early December than they were for a number of weeks. After pushing 8% in late October, they had dropped to 6.625% to 6.875% in early December for a fixed rate on a 30-year loan at some of the larger local financial institutions, giving potential buyers the opportunity to see a significant savings in their monthly payments than just weeks earlier. “We’re starting to see more potential buyers interested,” said Austin Roberts, a loan officer at City Creek Mortgage. He added that with a decline in rates approaching 1.5%, buyers of a home around $500,000 would see their

Homes are sitting on the market longer in West Valley City because of high prices and interest rates. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)

payments drop by around $500 a month. “It is absolutely a material change and increases affordability for home buyers.” Lower rates could attract more people back to the housing market. Conversely, that additional competition for housing could help push up prices and negate the savings of lower rates. According to a recent report in U.S. News

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Midvale City Journal

A Bitter Pill

’m at the point where each doctor visit starts with “Well, at your age…”. I need to get my liver rotated, my heart valves oiled, my lung filters changed and I need a lot of bodywork done. Nips and tucks won’t do it, I need parts replaced and a complete undercarriage overhaul. I’ve got 99 problems and the cost of health insurance counts for at least 90. When I found myself without health insurance at the end of last year, I jumped on Healthcare.gov to explore my “affordable” options. The site states that four out of five people can find a plan for $10 or less a month, after tax subsidies. What they don’t tell you is that the fifth person has to get a third job, sell organs on the black market or start printing money in the basement to afford a healthcare plan. As I scrolled through my health insurance options, I got irrationally angry. Plans started at around $500 per month, with deductibles ranging from $7,500 to Lamborghini. Keep in mind, this was for one person, not an entire family with pets and farm animals. Since I had to register by the middle of December, my email was flooded with reminders from the site. Have I registered? Why not? Did I forget? Did I become independently wealthy? Did I decide to use the money for something fun instead?

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No. On the day before the deadline, I put on my adulting hat and signed up for health insurance. I’m still irrationally angry. I am seriously considering Alternate Healthcare Plan B, which is file for bankruptcy in the event of a major medical emergency. Still haven’t ruled that option out. I also have Healthcare Plan C: try not to get sick or need a blood transfusion or get concussed or go for an ambulance ride or break a bone. No emergency room visits. Just good old-fashioned stubbornness and denial. There are also herbal remedies and a variety of healing crystals that don’t actually solve my internal issues (there’s only so much power in a rose quartz) but it’s cheaper than an MRI. Or there’s always my mom’s answer to any illness when I was a kid: a spoonful of paregoric. The opium-based medicine made me feel very sleepy and hazy. But, for now, I’ll end up paying at least

FENCE REPAIR

Jack’s Fence Repair

Most Fences are Repairable!

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Call or text Jack

Office: 801.262.8592 • Cell: 801.243.2516

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CONCRETE

PROFESSIONAL PAINTING

T3 Concrete LLC

Specializes in Driveways, Walkways, Patios, Foundations, Retaining Walls, Basement Entrances Stamp & Color Concrete Call Mate’ for a FREE Estimate

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FULL SERVICE PROFESSIONAL PAINTING Interior/Exterior Residential/Commercial Over 20 Years Experience LICENSED AND INSURED

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EMERGENCY WATER STORAGE

Blue 160 gallon water storage tank

Sale price $449 (retail $699)

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MidvaleJournal.com

$7,000 per year to cover my annual physical, a series of blood tests and a couple of prescriptions. But I still have a copay because that seven grand isn’t nearly enough, obviously. I’ve been without health insurance before, but here’s the thing, affordable insurance shouldn’t be tied to employment. Because I’m not made of diamonds, I took a part-time job to cover health care costs. When we stayed in San Diego last summer, we dreamed about staying in a luxury hotel for $800 a night. Hospitals charge that much just for the ice chips. But our family learned the hard way that a one-week stay in the ICU can quickly reach nearly $100,000,

REMODELING

Carlson Kitchen & Complete Remodeling Basement Finishing And Remodel Projects

801-979-8855 CONCRETE

NobleOne Professional Painting Residential, Commercial, Interior, Exterior Reliable, Dependable, and CLEAN 25 Years of Experience

or about $14,000 per night. And that’s without the beach access and sunrise mimosas. Ironically, Intermountain Healthcare recently rebranded as Intermountain Health. Literally taking the “care” out of health care. I’m just one more person complaining about the high cost of insurance, but when medical expenses are one of the leading causes of bankruptcies in Utah, shouldn’t we start looking at the root cause? At what point do we put the “care” back in healthcare and create affordable options so I can get my joints greased, my oxygen system replaced and my body’s systems recalibrated?

TREE SERVICES

INTERMOUNTAIN TREE EXPERTS

Removals . Trimming . Pruning Licensed and Insured / 30+ Yrs Experience

801-244-3542 FREE ESTIMATES

WATER SOFTENER & FILTRATION

Water Softener & Filtration NuWater Technologies - Smart Technology - High Efficiency - Zero Maintenance also offering Reverse Osmosis, Water Storage Call for no cost Water Test

WATER SOFTENER RELIABLE SOFT WATER without the typical water softener problems

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For free in-home estimate:

visit www.KineticoUtah.com or call 801-890-5344

PLUMBING

DECKER PLUMBING LLC

RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL PLUMBING We’re in your neighborhood.

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FREE ESTIMATES

Call: 801-750-0977

Call Ala for Estimate 801-835-0051

www.nobleonepropainting.com

AnEConstructionLLC@gmail.com

801-856-9671

Water, Sewer, Water Heaters, Faucets, Etc. Licensed / Insured

METAL EXTERIORS

DRYWALL REPAIR & PAINT

GENERAL CONTRACTOR

PATIO COVERS & HANDRAILS

ASPEN ROOFING

Specializing in metal roofs, wall panels, and exterior window treatments.

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40 Years Experience

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WATER TREAMENT DROPS

ROOFING

Keep your stored water safe for up to 5 years!

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$650 OFF any reroof over 2,000 sq. ft.

H20 RES-Q cleans • balances • deodorizes treats 330 gallons up to ﬁve years

All types of roofs

MILLER CONSTRUCTION

Additions, remodels, new doors, windows 30 years licensed and insured

GARY (435) 901-1331

GENERAL CONTRACTOR WILLIAMS CONSTRUCTION Remodels, Kitchens and Baths New Windows, Doors, and Trimwork Electrical and Plumbing Repairs

40 Years Experience • Licensed and Insured For Estimates, Call Bill

(801) 205-0272

Don’t slip and fall this winter! We offer quality handrails to ensure your safety.

• Steel Covered Carports, Patios & Porches • Steel Handrails NOW • Quality Decks Call John today for a FREE estimate.

HIRING!

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Quality and Integrity for over 25 Years

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

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January 2024 | Page 23

Retirement Resolutions

Live Event

Fi n a n ci a l | Ta x | Est a t e

Retired or Retiring soon? Start the year with our Retirement Resolutions Checklist: Y

Will I maintain my purchasing power through high inflation and market volatility?

Has my CPA talked with me about eliminating taxes on my Social Security benefits?

Is my estate protected so I can stay in my own home if I have long-term care expenses?

Do I know why a trust may be more effective than a will and why I may need one?

Do I know ways to lower the taxes on my IRA and 401(k) for a more comfortable retirement?

Am I aware of the tax and legal consequences of placing children on my bank accounts or home?

Do I understand probate and how to avoid it?

When donating to charity (including tithing) do I donate tax efficiently?

Are my assets protected from being forced to surrender to Medicaid?

Is my retirement income protected from taxes or inflation, so I don’t outlive it?

Get answers to your questions for a comfortable retirement! RSVP

(801) CPA-HELP (801) 272-4357

Tuesday, January 30th (6 – 7:30pm)

Two complimentary consultations and a personalized retirement plan with registration ($1,000 value!)

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