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Riverton’s state championship in softball, which it won on May 28, is the second under head coach Katelyn Elliott. (Photo courtesy of Pat Mcdonald.)

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July 2021 | Page 3

Food giveaway event reaches 40K pounds By Phelan Acheson | p.acheson@mycityjournals.com

ound on the official Facebook page for the Riverton City Government was a post about a 40,000-pound food giveaway in the community on May 22. These food giveaways were part of the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program. According to the USDA official website for the program, 170,953,217 boxes of food; including produce, dairy and meat, had been distributed as of May 21. The food box program has entered its sunset period, which means it is winding down. The boxes distributed on May 22 were the last shipment of the final round. At least, that is the case for the community sponsor running the show at this particular giveaway. Community sponsors are nonprofit organizations in the community used to facilitate the distribution of food boxes from the program to the people in the community. This giveaway was organized by The Front Church. Being the sponsor, it was evidently the church’s job to gather manpower, such as volunteers, from the community. When asked about the program itself, Nate Rey, the church’s lead pastor, said: “The USDA instituted this program last year, this is the coronavirus relief effort. What happened is last year, when coronavirus started to wreak havoc, the farmers’ pipelines and therefore distribution pipelines were cut off. When they were cut off, the government came to the farmers and said, ‘We’ll buy your food.’ And, of course last year, it was pretty, pretty nasty for a minute.” With the recent federal push to reopen schools and the economy now that vaccines are being distributed more widely, the USDA winding down the Farmers to Families Food Box program may seem like a logical move. The pipelines and distribution channels Rey mentioned are likely to be opening back up, and farmers would then logically be able to use their traditional markets to sell and dis-

Journals T H E

tribute the food they produce. Rey went on to talk about the impact of this program on the community and indicated that only about 30% of its volunteers at any given distribution were from the church. The other 70% of the manpower came from the community at-large. He also explained that they had helped at least thousands of households with food in the five rounds of the program. Another volunteer at the distribution, named Thomas, discussed how he felt regarding this food box program ending. “It’s kind of like sad that it’s coming to an end, but overall, I think like we’ve made a pretty large impact donating food and that was the point of this,” he said. Thomas also elaborated on what he felt the negative impacts might be. “I do think that a lot of people have really needed help for most of the COVID pandemic and with potentially losing their jobs. So, the fact that this program is coming to an end might detrimentally impact a lot of people. So from that perspective, it’s kind of a shame that this program is going away. But hopefully, as things calm down, the need will go away, but hopefully the government still supplements that somehow, like the unemployment benefits or some other programs.” Other programs may come down the pipeline, either at the federal, state or municipal levels. They may also come from community members and organizations. A cursory internet search reveals several food bank-style programs operating in the Riverton area and nearby areas. A recipient of the food box program, who asked to remain anonymous, had this to say about the program ending: “Well, I have been relying on the food box program for months now. Due to COVID in particular, our financial situation is very difficult. My adult son and I share a home because neither of us

Volunteers at the food giveaway event. (Phelan Acheson/City Journals)

can afford to make it on our own. He lost his job after getting COVID, and the food boxes have made it so we are able to pay rent. Losing the food boxes means me coming up with hundreds of dollars in grocery money that I don’t know how to afford.” When asked about the jobs recovery and if her son was looking for work, this same

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Water drought sees Mayor call for conservation By Travis Barton | t.barton@mycityjournals.com

ith the drought affecting cities statewide, Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs recently released a press release urging residents to conserve water this summer. “With our entire state experiencing a drought this year, I am encouraging Riverton residents to do what they can to conserve water,” Staggs in the press release. “I believe we all need to be more water conscious and work to conserve both in the household and in our irrigation practices. Changing our habits to make conservation part of our everyday lives will help us ensure we always have enough of this vital resource.” The call for residents to play their part comes after Gov. Spencer Cox issued a declaration of emergency due to drought conditions. Various other cities have advocated for water conservation. Murray passed a resolution encouraging residents to water “one less time per week,” not “between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.” and to mow lawns to a higher length. While Cottonwood Heights even closed its popular splash pad for the summer. Riverton City operates both culinary and secondary (pressurized irrigation) water systems. Culinary water is purchased wholesale from the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District. The city is unique in that every residential address has secondary water access available for a flat monthly rate based on lot size; a cost-saving service that most cities cannot or do not provide, according to the press release. The

city’s secondary water system gets its water from water shares in several local canals that distribute water from Utah Lake. “If drought conditions ultimately worsen, it’s possible that supply of water will not meet demand,” said Trace Robinson, public works director for Riverton City. “We would hate for that to ever happen, which is why we are urging folks to start conserving now and begin adopting best practices to limit water usage in the future.” There is not currently a shortage of supply for culinary or pressurized irrigation water for residents. Riverton officials encouraged residents to follow water conservation practices such as purchasing a smart controller for your irrigation system, adjust sprinklers to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways where possible, considering changing landscape to localscape, participating in the Flip Your Strip program, clean sidewalks and driveways with a broom, reduce shower time, run washing machines only with a full load, and replacing toilets made prior to 1994. Riverton City is currently in the process of installing an advanced metering infrastructure system. Once installed and activated, the system will provide city utility customers real-time access to culinary water usage, the ability to detect leaks or irregularities in usage, and the ability to see and measure usage over time. l Riverton City officials urge residents to conserve water. (Courtesy Riverton City)

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Continued from front page

with their only loss coming to Spanish Fork High School, the eventual 5A state champions. The majority of wins were blowouts with the exception of games against Bingham. Riverton first beat Bingham 11-2 on April 20 before eking out an 11-10 victory on May 6. The 6A state playoffs was a double elimination tournament. Neither team lost on their way to the finals where Riverton overcame an early deficit in the first game to win 5-4. The Silverwolves led throughout the second game en route to a 4-3 victory. Riverton head softball coach Katelyn Elliott said the games against Bingham proved a lot about her team. “I think it shows a lot about when things are close, our team never gave up,” she said. “They kept pushing ahead whether they were ahead or behind. They kept just plugging along and just were determined to get the win.” Borges said though the games were nerve-racking, she enjoys close games because they are more fun to play in and Bingham provided a fun, competitive game. “It still would’ve felt good no matter what, but I think because it was such a The Riverton High School softball team won the 6A state championship on May 28 after back-to-back wins over Bingham High School. (Photo courtesy of close game, it was like you were on your Katelyn Elliott)

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toes the whole game,” Borges said. “You were worried what was going to happen. It could’ve gone either way and we weren’t going to stop until it came our way.” Bingham was a dominant team in its own right. The Miners ended the season with a 25-4 record with all losses coming to Riverton and were one of the few teams to hang with the Silverwolves. Bingham softball coach Mikki Jackson said she credits the caliber of players she has for why her team could play Riverton well. She said Riverton is a team that can punish opponents for mistakes and that was the case in the state title. Furthermore, Jackson said what made the difference in the finals were a few mistakes on Bingham’s part but also solid student-athletes from Riverton. “I can remember our coach that was calling the pitches saying, ‘Man, [the Bingham’s pitcher] is giving good pitches, and [Riverton is] not biting or they’re crushing these good pitches.’ They’re just really good hitters.” Still, Jackson said she couldn’t be more proud of her players because of how well they played leading up to the finals and for how they competed against Riverton. Elliott is also proud of all her players accomplished, saying they put in a lot of work to perfect their skills throughout the

season. She said this was a fun team to coach because of how well the athletes accepted coaching and tried to meet Elliott’s expectations of being a competitive team. “These kids could have easily said, ‘OIh I know it all, and I’m the best around,’ but they don’t,” Elliott said. “They come in with a mentality that they want to get better every single day. With that mentality, it’s a coach’s dream. It’s something that I look forward to every day to watch them grow and to watch them get better.” With the sun setting on the 2021 season, many players will move along their respective paths like Borges, who will play softball for the University of Hawaii. Elliott will remain to help bring the team back to the apex of the sport in the state and work with a good chunk of returners since the team graduated four. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy to repeat, Elliott said. “There’s a lot of preparation and a lot of time and a lot of mental preparation,” she said. “Any team is beatable at any time, and you’ve always got to have that mentality that you’re never going to stay on top by just coasting. You’ve always got to work for it.” l

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Businesses have opportunities through some new programs from the state. (Mathew Baron/City Journals)

GOED official talks opportunities, incentives for businesses at chamber luncheon series By Mathew Baron | m.baron@mycityjournals.com

s part of the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Luncheon Series, an effort to bring business and government together, attendees saw presentations at Bluffdale City Hall from America First Bank and Dane Ishihara from the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development. While America First Bank presented information about getting loan forgiveness on Paycheck Protection Program loans where it was noted that PPP forgiveness rate is high. There were two presenters. First, there was America First Bank. Second, was a presentation on Go Utah Funding Opportunities And Incentives. Ishihara is the representative from the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development. He answers questions on the Utah economy from that come to the Twitter account, @BusinessUtah. Ishihara said he asked GOED if he could present to the chamber. “It was a good opportunity to actually meet in front of people again.” He came to Bluffdale to discuss chang-

es in opportunities for businesses statewide. Ishihara pointed attendees to resources, such as title 63 in the state code, that covers new programs including motion picture incentives, outdoor recreation, taxes and tourism. The governor's office has been working overtime to get all the changes and opportunities to the state website. They have new business resources, business.utah.gov/business-resources, and money to support these programs for a number of years. Ishihara’s job is also to get the word out on new grants and programs including the Immigration Assistance. Ishihara points to one specific program that he is most proud of. “There's been a lot of local and national interest in the Office of Regulatory Relief, being the first of its kind in the country, where companies and individuals can tell you state regulations they think are overburdensome. They can apply for an exemption of up to two years of that particular regulation.” l

Riverton City Journal

Successful charity fundraiser fueled by competition (and cream pies) By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

hird grader Sadie Owlsey mopped floors, babysat and cleaned her house to earn money for the Pennies for Patients fundraiser at her school, Saint Andrew Catholic School in Riverton. Because of her efforts and the generosity of her family and neighbors, Sadie raised $1,300. Pennies for Patients is Saint Andrew Catholic School’s annual fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help families with children who are affected by childhood illness. They usually raise about $2,000 each year. This year’s goal was $2,021. “It seemed like an appropriate goal based on what we’ve collected in the past as well as in light of the pandemic and how it has impacted our families financially,” Principal Erin Carrabba said. Students brought in change from home and asked friends and family members to make online donations. At the end of two weeks, the 150 students had raised over $5,000. Of that total, $2,100 was raised by two students: Sadie and a fourth grader, who raised $800. “This was something that they thought that their family or friends would value giving money to, and they really came through,” Carrabba said. “I don’t know if it was the student council and the energy they put in or because it was a pandemic, but the community just really came through,” The 20 upper-grade students on the school’s student council planned the fundraiser and kept students excited about raising money through competitions, posters and regular announcements. They believe the success of the fundraiser was because of the competition between students and grade

levels. Students were motivated to bring in money to add to their class totals and to sabotage other classes (something they could pay to do). “We started getting really competitive, and that’s when we really started bringing more money in,” student council member Lucy Urena said. “It was crazy because we doubled the amount that we’d set a goal for; it was really exciting,” said Emma Carrabba, another student on the council. She said the sting of sabotage and the disappointment of losing the lead was lessened because everyone understood it was all in good fun and all for a good cause. “I really enjoyed helping the kids with cancer; I felt really good about that,” Sadie said. She also was motivated by the incentives, such as getting to throw a pie in her teacher’s face. When the school total hit certain bench- Earning the opportunity to throw a pie in their teacher’s face was a popular reward during St. Andrew’s annual marks, all students would earn treats such as charity fundraiser. (Photo courtesy of Erin Carrabba.) free dress days, a pizza lunch or no homework. Students who met a minimum donation amount had their names put in a raffle for a chance to throw a cream pie in the face of their teacher. The class that earned the highest total got a lunch from Olive Garden provided by LLS. The top prize, which Sadie earned, was the privilege to be principal for a day. She greeted students at the car drop-off in the morning, handed out cookies to them during lunch and made the morning announcements. Sadie said the best part of the day was playing with the kindergartners at recess and having the principal order her lunch from her favorite restaurant. l

Fundraising incentives included pie-throwing. (Photo courtesy of Erin Carrabba.)

Top-earning students chose a teacher at which to throw a pie. (Photo courtesy of Erin Carrabba.)

RivertonJournal.com

Top-earning students chose a teacher at which to throw a pie. (Photo courtesy of Erin Carrabba.)

July 2021 | Page 9

Outstanding Educators of the Year By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

ducators overcame the extraordinary challenges of this school year with amazing positivity, creativity and flexibility. The Jordan Education Foundation selected this year’s Outstanding Educators from nominations by colleagues, students and parents who had this to say about these inspiring educators:

Bluffdale Elementary

Kimberly Bailey, fourth grade dual immersion “Kimberly Bailey is a natural teacher. Her focus is centered on student learning, growth and success. Data governs the path to reach her students academically, but her heart governs the path to students’ social and emotional well-being. She impacts students in a positive and encouraging manner.”

Foothills Elementary

Jennifer Knowles, first grade “Jenn will always stand out to me as someone who goes above and beyond for her kids because of her genuine care for them and desire to see them succeed! This positive effect on students’ lives doesn’t just affect the students but other colleagues as well, which affects more students! She truly inspires others to be better!” “Jenn is a great teacher who cares about her students and not just the well-behaved Left: Welding instructor Blair Jensen is recognized as a 2021 Outstanding Educator. (Photo courtesy of JEF) Right: Foothills Principal Cherie Wilson and Superintenones—all of them!”

Hidden Valley Middle

Jean Fullmer, Dance and Health “Jean is a true student advocate whose focus is on students improving themselves and working hard to accomplish anything they set their mind to. She is a mentor to her colleagues, including teachers who are outside of her department. Teachers affectionately call her ‘Mamma Jean.’”

Jordan Academy for Technology & Careers South Campus

dent Anthony Godfrey celebrate Jennifer Knowles as a JEF Outstanding Educator. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Knowles)

Midas Creek Elementary

Sherri Morrill, fifth grade “Sherri models and uses best teaching practices and strategies, which she shares with students, parents and colleagues. She is very thoughtful in her teaching and planning. She does not look at change or barriers as a stopping point but thinks around challenges to provide the very best teaching she can.” “She holds such high expectations of herself and her classroom. I would be so lucky if I had my own child placed in her room.”

Blair Jensen, Welding “Blair tends to make the best of every situation. He looks on the bright side even when there really isn’t [a] bright side to be had. He really has a passion for life and has Mountain Point Elementary inspired the entire building to have that pasCharity Horne, first grade sion.” “She is relentlessly positive and vibrates “He is creative, innovative and just with joy every moment of the day! You simwants students to have a productive, successply cannot walk by Charity and not feel inful experience in the welding program.” stantly more happy and positive!” Kauri Sue Hamilton School “She genuinely takes interest in every Emily Griffith, special education 2–7 student that walks through her door.” grade Oquirrh Hills Middle “Emily has a very hands-on approach to Eileen Siavrakas, special education teaching her class. She radiates the idea that “She is the kind of teacher who changlearning is doing. She works with students es the lives of students, improves the climate who have severe cognitive and multiple disand culture of the school, and makes everyabilities.” one want to be as good at this as she is. She “Emily is one of the most outstanding edis inspiring.” ucators I have ever known. I have had children Riverton Elementary in the school system for 15 years now. Emily Jessica Soffe, fourth grade The Jordan Education Foundation recognized Rochelle Waite as 2021 Outstanding Principal of the Year and continues to exceed my expectations every “Ms. Soffe has created a classroom at- Winona Marx as an Outstanding Educator of the Year. (Photo courtesy of JEF) year that we are with her. She is amazing!” mosphere that feels warm and safe. Students

Page 10 | July 2021

Riverton City Journal

know it’s a place where mistakes are made because finding and fixing them is how learning happens.” “Ms. Soffe’s goal is to make learning fun for fourth graders. She says that sometimes that goal requires some extra work and money beyond the school day, but other times it requires only a little creativity.”

Riverton High School

Chelsea Hull, ASL “Chelsea has maintained a very positive and hopeful attitude throughout the pandemic. She has voluntarily added so much extra work to her plate with no complaints. Always willing to help, always willing to learn, makes an effort to make personal connections with each student. They love her!”

Rosamond Elementary

Tina Price, first grade “Her students love her. She never gives up on a child. She has worked with some very challenging students and situations over the years. She loves them. She makes a lifelong impact where it would have been easy to give up. She continues to push herself to learn and improve. She is a lifelong learner, a caretaker, a true friend, a difference-maker. She is truly an example for all of us to follow, and we adore her for it.”

Rose Creek Elementary

The 2021 Outstanding Education Support Professionals of the Year are recognized at a Jordan School Board meeting. (Photo courtesy of JEF.)

of the Year “She has created a culture here at South Hills of ensuring that every decision we make is driven by what is the best for all students so that they feel safe, cared for, supported and successful.” “In a year that has been shrouded by the unknown, there is no one we would have rather followed. Rochelle is kind and caring. She’s patient and diplomatic. She leads us fearlessly, through the myriad challenges we’ve faced this year. She’s a rock star!”

Macey Burt, autism support cluster “[Macey] has been very positive, creative and flexible in the changes and challenges that have come up this past year. Macey not only did her best but nailed it in making sure that she was meeting the needs Southland Elementary Sarah Hively, special education of every student. Macey advocated for and “Sarah is the perfect person to be workhelped design a sensory room.” ing with our students that need extra help. South Hills Middle Winona Marx, Social/Emotional Behav- She is patient and reasonable with them. She likes them, and they know it.” ioral Self-Contained Teacher “Sarah never shies away from an assign“When the first whispers of COVID-19 ment or challenge. She is a friend to all and were floating around, Miss Marx immediately began to switch whichever classes she goes out of her way to ensure that teachers didn’t already have online into that format. and assistants have what they need to be sucAnd then she helped every other teacher in cessful. Sarah displays an attitude of ‘they are all our students’ through her willingness our department do the same.” “Winona is the heroine who will see be- to work with students in and out of special yond the crisis and figure out how to save the education.” day. This is a teacher who changes lives.”

South Hills Middle

Monique Forman, nutrition manager, Bluffdale Elementary School Mindy Kinder, nutrition manager, Southland Elementary School Debra Schmidt, administrative assistant, Rosamond Elementary Jeremy Peart, head custodian, Oquirrh Hills Middle School Alicia Mckendrick, nutrition manager, Mountain Point Elementary Christy Green, administrative assistant/ attendance, South Hills Middle School

Lou Schick, administrative assistant/ registrar, Riverton High School Emily Gates, nutrition manager, JATC South Campus Autumn Penney, head custodian, Kauri Sue Hamilton School Natalie Casper, administrative assistant, JSD Accounting Debbie Soelberg, route coordinator, JSD Transportation l

2021 JEF Outstanding Education

Rochelle Waite, Outstanding Principal Support Professionals:

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Day of Service ends school year on a positive note

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com tudents and staff at North Star Academy finished the school year with their annual Day of Service. All 530 students participated in a variety of projects to improve the school and the community. Projects ranged from sewing dresses to send to Africa and making paracord bracelets for soldiers, to tying fleece blankets for cancer patients and pulling weeds at local parks. “After such a challenging year due to COVID-19, it was wonderful to see everyone thinking of others,” Principal Tana Archer said.

Fourth, fifth and sixth graders tie fleece blankets for cancer patients. (Photo courtesy of Tana Archer.)

Students cut back invasive weeds and shovel bark at Draper Cycling Park. (Photo courtesy of Tana Archer.)

Left: Students put together food packets for Granite School District, decorate boxes for Utah Food Bank and create artistic placemats for local retirement centers. (Photo courtesy of Tana Archer.) Right: Community cleanups took place at parks in Riverton, Draper and Bluffdale. (Photo courtesy of Tana Students have fun tying paracord bracelets for soldiers. (Photo Archer.) courtesy of Tana Archer.)

Page 12 | July 2021

Riverton City Journal

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July 2021 | Page 13

Utah Food Bank to distribute 200,000 meals this summer By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

hat fits in a 10-inch by 8-inch by 7-inch box? If you said 14 meals for a Utah child, you would be right. As part of their Summer Food Service program, the Utah Food Bank provides meal boxes to individuals 18 and younger each week throughout Utah. The boxes are free and are design for one person for seven days— seven breakfasts and seven dinners. If a family has four children, they get four boxes. Each box includes a sample menu. For example, breakfast one is a cereal bowl and regular applesauce. For dinner two, the menu is cheddar cheese cup, sunflower kernels, MJM Pizza Crackers, flavored applesauce and vegetable juice. Other items on the menu are Pop-Tarts, barbecue chicken salad, breakfast bar, Jack Link’s Original Chicken Tender Bites, and beef sticks. The kids are given 14 small cartons of milk with their box. These boxes are distributed in eight Utah counties, including Salt Lake County.

Salt Lake County

In Salt Lake County, the Utah Food Bank provides hot meals at various locations Monday through Friday. The meals are prepared in the Utah Food Bank kitchen and delivered in electric hot boxes, which keep the food warm for up to four hours. The Utah Food Bank can provide these 200,000 meals because they are partnering with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This partnership extends the Kids Café program throughout the summer. The 200,000 meals are served at 40 sites across the state. Some programs are open sites meaning first come, first served. Other sites are enrolled programs that have specific requirements. There are 16 sites across the valley, including Boys & Girls Clubs, community centers and libraries. Libraries are included because the Utah Food Bank found that many children spend their days at the library but never had food. A complete list and details like times, locations, and dates is available at www.utahfoodbank.org/SummerMeals/.

Utah Food Bank

“Most people, when they come home, they wonder what they are having for dinner. I drive home wondering if every child in Utah has a dinner,” Ginette Bott, president and CEO of Utah Food Bank, said. The Utah Food Bank partners with 205 agencies across the state. In 2020, they distributed 62.5 million pounds of food at no cost to the receivers or the agencies. Utah Food Bank is the largest food distributor in the state. Since 1904, the Utah Food Bank has tried to learn more efficient ways to obtain products and meet the needs of the people of Utah. With the increase in the refugee population, the Utah Food Bank has learned how to meet

Page 14 | July 2021

“Most people, when they come home, they wonder what they are having for dinner. I drive home wondering if every child in Utah has a dinner.” – Ginette Bott their dietary needs. Utah Food Bank does not consider itself a transportation company nor a human need company. “We just quietly go about feeding kids,” Bott said. Bott mentioned that sometimes they are Contents of a meal box given to kids by the Utah Food Bank this summer. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals) criticized for giving out ramen noodles. Her response is she would rather have a child’s belly full of noodles than having them cry because they are hungry. Bott pointed out that the Utah Food Bank always needs food, time and money. She also said if a person ever needs help, call 211 or go to the Utah Food Bank website.

Grocery Rescue program

The Grocery Rescuer program is a partnership with 270 grocery retailers. Retailers provide food that is nearing the expiration date but is still healthy and wholesome to eat. Refrigerated trucks provided by the Utah Food Bank and partner agencies operate six days a week throughout the state, picking up the food donations. The food goes directly to food pantries to be distributed within 24 hours. The donations primarily are daily consumables, including fresh produce, dairy and meat. Without this program, such items would end up in the landfill. In 2020, 16 million pounds of food was distributed to help end hunger. Walt May, a program director, offered a way anyone can help with this program. May suggested that they will give you the freshest meat or cheese when you go to the deli at the grocery store. This allows the retailer to freeze the older meat and cheese and donate it to the program. “Buying sliced deli meat or cheese helps feed people of Utah,” May said. l The Utah Food Bank does much more than collect food. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

Riverton City Journal

City Journals Economic Overview

Economic recovery brings inflation concerns By Robert Spendlove | Zions Bank Senior Economist

he Utah economy continues to improve. Job growth is accelerating, unemployment is dropping, and wages are increasing. However, the emerging trend of inflation is causing some struggles in the economic recovery. Inflation essentially describes the principle that prices rise over time. It’s actually good to have inflation; it encourag-

es investment and overall growth. However, if inflation grows too much it erodes the value of cash and can cause asset bubbles, which then can crash. An example of this is lumber prices, which nearly tripled in price from July 2020 to May 2021, but have dropped nearly 50% in the last few weeks. Inflation has been increasing nationally and locally for the past few months. The national Consumer Price Index rose in May by 5% from a year before. This is the highest inflation since the summer of 2008. Prices regionally were also up significantly in May, increasing 4.7% over the past year.

A primary cause of this recent inflation is the economic reopening. A year ago, as the pandemic spread and as the economy shut down, demand for many goods and services evaporated. This caused prices for things like gasoline, hotel rooms, and airfare to collapse. With many people now returning to work and going on trips, demand has surged for these products. Gasoline prices alone are up 56.2% in the last 12 months, and the price of used cars and trucks has surged 29.7% over the same period. Airfares are up 24.1% in the last year and increased 12.2% in the last month. The big question now is how long this

high inflation will last. Is this a temporary surge or is it the beginning of a prolonged period of price pressures? No one knows for sure and this is a topic of intense debate. The Federal Reserve, which sets interest rates, has said they are concerned about unexpected high inflation but they want to wait and see what the future brings over the next several months before pulling back on monetary policy that encourages growth. Robert Spendlove is senior economist for Zions Bank, a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. l

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Riverton City Journal

JULY 2021

RIVERTON REVIEW Official Newsletter of the Riverton, Utah City Government

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

“All Men Are Created Equal” By Mayor Trent Staggs 245 years ago, the American spirit was born, memorialized in the unanimous Declaration that was signed by 56 representatives of not subjective colonies, but rather from united, “free and independent states.” The revolutionary beliefs stated in this magnificent document, declared that “…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” These rights are given to us by nature of our birth and existence into this world, and not conditioned or bestowed upon us by government. Governments are instituted to protect these unalienable rights, with their just powers bestowed upon them with the consent from us, the governed.

the flame of the American spirit. Assuredly, one can look at our Rather, let us rally together, proud history and point to instances of the fact that “…we are the heirs where we have struggled to of that first revolution…”, as JFK ensure the equal protection of said in his inaugural address. these unalienable rights. Slavery, Recognizing that we are all restricting the right to vote, endowed by and other our Creator discriminatory with the same practices rights and tied to one’s seeking out gender, “Slavery, restricting the happiness race, faith, or right to vote, and other in this most orientation that blessed would infringe discriminatory practices country. There on these Godtied to one’s gender, race, is far more that given rights faith, or orientation that unites us than has no place in would infringe on these divides us. It American life is not hard to or law. God-given rights has no see the good place in American life in this country: We must or law.” we have be careful, fought for the however, not protection and to focus on maintenance each other’s of freedom immutable around characteristics the world, we remain the most and emphasize our differences. If charitable country and there is we tear each other down based no other nation on the planet that on political beliefs, half-truths or embraces diversity like we do. perceived slights, it can extinguish

RIVERTON REVIEW | JULY 2021

Notwithstanding this diversity of race, religion, or ideology, if we can all unify around one American culture or spirit espoused in our Declaration, that unity can give us unconquerable strength. We the people have come a long way to perpetuate the founding ideal that every individual is born with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which is often defined as the right to own and control property. I believe that more so than at any other time in our history, that happiness or American dream is attainable by anyone willing to work towards its pursuit and “catch up with it” as Benjamin Franklin once said. This 4th of July offers a new opportunity to remember our humble beginnings, unite and once again be proud to be an American. Let us all regrow a sense of patriotism, love and devotion towards this divine nation. No doubt, we will have additional challenges to face but together we can conquer them all.

PAGE 1

COUNCIL MESSAGE

Keeping Riverton Beautiful MAYOR Trent Staggs tstaggs@rivertonutah.gov 801-208-3129

CITY COUNCIL Sheldon Stewart - District 1 sstewart@rivertonutah.gov 801-953-5672 Troy McDougal - District 2 tmcdougal@rivertonutah.gov 801-931-9933 Tawnee McCay - District 3 tmccay@rivertonutah.gov 801-634-7692 Tish Buroker - District 4 tburoker@rivertonutah.gov 801-673-6103 Claude Wells - District 5 cwells@rivertonutah.gov 801-875-0116

CITY MANAGER David R. Brickey dbrickey@rivertonutah.gov 801-208-3129

CITY OFFICES City Hall.............................. 801-254-0704 Administration.................... 801-208-3129 Animal Control................... 801-208-3108 Cemetery............................ 801-208-3128 Code Enforcement.............. 801-208-3108 Development Services ....... 801-208-3138 Fire Dispatch (UFA)............. 801-743-7200 Justice Court....................... 801-208-3131 Recreation & Events........... 801-208-3101 Police.................................. 385-281-2455 Public Works....................... 801-208-3162 Recorder............................. 801-208-3128 Utility Billing....................... 801-208-3133 Water.................................. 801-208-3164

FIND US ONLINE! @rivertonutahgov www.rivertonutah.gov PAGE 2

By Councilmember Claude Wells What are the things that make Riverton a great place to live? Quality of life, I believe, would be right at the top. Feeling safe in our city would be another good aspect. These are things that I think we can all agree on. We all can do our part to take pride in our community and be either part of a problem or part of a solution. The number one complaint the city or Council members get from our residents is speeding in our neighborhoods. These are neighborhoods our kids and grandkids live in. We all get in a hurry from time to time while driving and are easily distracted by our phones, a conversation, or maybe kids trying to get our attention. We just need to slow down and think about the dangers of driving too fast. No one wants to have an accident or hurt someone. The chronic speeders could be our own neighbors or family members. City ordinances are made to keep our city safe, beautiful, and keep it a thriving community we can all enjoy. Everyone has a different priority or opinion on what makes them happy or is important for their happiness.

Quality of life is one of the top benefits of living in Riverton.

Some people enjoy keeping their yards up, and some not so much. If we can all do our part, we could be part of the solution. Some suggestions would be to keep weeds down on properties, keep vehicles that do not run in your driveways rather than on the road. Not park trailers in front of our houses that might create a dangerous situation for a neighbor backing out of their driveway. No one wants to approach a neighbor to resolve an issue they may be displeased about. No one wants the tension. Everyone wants to enjoy their homes and go about their daily lives. If we can all treat people with respect and think about the things, that we may be doing that infringes on others right to happiness we would all be better off. Let us all make a goal to do better and be

part of the solution to make or keep Riverton a place we all want to live. Maybe offering to help a neighbor that cannot physically take care of their property would help. Being kind to neighbors is easy. If we can all take a deep breath, slow down, and think about others in our community we could all be happier. Help us keep Riverton beautiful by reporting problems you notice while you’re out and about. You can report things like a streetlight out, a dangerous situation in your area, or just something that needs to be taken care of. Problems can be reported on the Riverton Connect app or on the city’s website. Let us make 2021 a great summer, enjoy the city activities in the parks, and be better neighbors.

Riverton City Election Notice

UPDATED

2021 ELECTION

INFORMATION

On December 15, 2020, the Riverton City Council voted to participate in the Municipal Alternate Voting Methods pilot project for the 2021 Municipal Elections. This voting method is better known as Ranked Choice Voting. It eliminates the need for a primary election and pushes back the filing period from June to August.

GENERAL ELECTION: Tuesday, November 2, 2021 CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD: August 10-17, 2021 OFFICES UP FOR ELECTION: Mayor, City Councilmembers in District 3 and District 4

rivertonutah.gov/government/elections

RIVERTON REVIEW | JULY 2021

PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE

Firework Safety & Restrictions By Chief Wade Watkins

Important Firework Usage Dates to Remember Vendors may sell Class C common state approved explosives as follows: • Beginning on June 24 and ending on July 25 • Beginning on December 29 and ending on December 31 • And two days before and on Chinese New Year’s Eve

This year will prove to be another challenging year for fireworks, especially with the current and anticipated weather behavior. Tools to support the safety of the community and minimize the risk of fire danger can be found on Unified Fire Authority’s website at unifiedfire.org.

Dates for Legal Discharge Discharge time for fireworks discharge changed: Two days before, day of, and one day after July 4 and 24. (Changed from 14-day window to eight days for discharge.) Times for Legal Discharge A person may discharge Class C common state approved explosives in the state as follows: • Between the hours of 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. beginning on July 2 and ending on July 5; and beginning on July 22 and ending on July 25 (Note: On July 4 and 24, the time of discharge is extended to 12 p.m. midnight.) • Beginning at 11 a.m. on December 31 and ending at 1 a.m. on the following day • Beginning at 11 a.m. the Chinese New Year’s Eve, ending at 1 a.m. on the following day

There you can find an interactive fireworks map that displays an updated view of Riverton City and other communities to ensure every citizen can have great situational awareness related to the appropriate areas to discharge legal fireworks. In Riverton, fireworks cannot be discharged anywhere east of 1300 W. They also cannot be discharged in canal or creek corridors, or at properties immediately adjacent to canal or creek corridors. We all need to use extreme caution when using fireworks during the season. If high winds, precipitation, or other adverse weather conditions prevail fireworks discharge should be postponed or discontinued until weather conditions improve.

ers n n i W 0 8 r Ove ng. and Counti ext! N e B d l u o You C

Please remember to visit unifiedfire. org/prevention/fireworks for clarification on any of this information and have a safe and fun summer!

Just 3 Simple Steps The firework restriction map designates no firework zone shown in red. A detailed map and up-to-date information can be found online at unifiedfire.org/prevention/fireworks.

2. Take a photo of your receipt

Riverton City Events

3. Submit your receipt at rivertonutah.gov/local

Visit rivertonutah.gov to find the most recent Riverton City event and meeting information.

UPCOMING CITY MEETINGS

CITY COUNCIL • Tuesday, July 20 at 7 p.m.

RIVERTON REVIEW | JULY 2021

1. Make a purchase at any Riverton business

Ten $100 winners will be selected each week through August 2021. One entry per person per week.

PLANNING COMMISSION • Thursday, July 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Visit rivertonutah.gov/local for contest rules and conditions.

PAGE 3

UPCOMING EVENTS

RIVERTON REVIEW

Friday Fun Nights in Riverton

Food Trucks • Entertainment • Summer Market • Movie in the Park • Games Come enjoy a casual night out at Friday Fun Night in Riverton every Friday night from July 16 to August 30 at Riverton City Park! 5 – 9 p.m. Movies begin at dusk. Bring your own blankets or lawn chairs.

Entertainment Schedule July 16 Riverton Jazz Band July 23 Relativity July 30 Goodnight Richard August 6 Waiting for James August 13 Sean’s Garage August 20 Bluegrass Thunder August 27 TBA

7-8:30 p.m. 6-8:30 p.m. 6-8:30 p.m. 5-6:30 p.m. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Movie Schedule (Begins at dusk) July 16 Aladdin July 23 Raya & The Last Dragon July 30 Tom & Jerry August 6 The War with Grandpa August 13 Hook August 20 Onward August 27 The Addams Family

Trailblazing Women of Utah Exhibition

Concerts in the Park

July 20 - September 22 Old Dome Meeting Hall

Sundays | 6 p.m. | August 1 - 22 Riverton City Park Event Lawn

Wednesday, August 4 6-8 p.m. | Riverton City Park

Come see powerful photos and read inspiring stories about trailblazing women from our city and state. Monday - Wednesday, Noon - 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, by appointment only. Group and school tours are also welcome by appointment by calling 385-237-3421.

August 1 August 8 August 15 August 22

Bring the family and come learn more about the Riverton Police Department and Unified Fire Authority.

PAGE 4

Bluegrass Thunder Trenton McKean Relativity Mark Owens

Bring your own chairs or blankets to sit on.

Riverton Public Safety Night

There will be activities, demonstrations, and lots of fun! Free and open to all.

RIVERTON REVIEW | JULY 2021

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RivertonJournal.com

July 2021 | Page 21

Utah Soccer Alliance makes mark in spanning club soccer scene By Josh Martinez | j.martinez@mycityjournals.com

tah Soccer Alliance is concerned with more than how many championships its soccer teams win. The Riverton-based soccer club features over 90 teams with more than 1,200 players ranging from ages 6–19. The club serves those who live in the south end of Salt Lake County as well as the Salt Lake City metro area. With all these teams, Director of Coaching Dennis Burrows said the key focus for the club is development. “Basically, we look to take players from when they’re young and give them a good soccer experience and teach them the ropes, teach them how to play the game, give them a lesson in soccer skills but also in life skills, push them to be the best people they can be and the best soccer players they can be,” he said. Club soccer is a popular place for many youth athletes. US Youth Soccer, the largest youth soccer organization in the country, claims it registers about 3 million kids each year, while the American Youth Soccer Organization’s website states it has more than 400,000 players on its affiliated clubs. At Utah Soccer Alliance, an affiliate of US Youth Soccer, there are programs for those of all skill and commitment levels.

Page 22 | July 2021

Other programs include academy teams for younger athletes as they grow in their abilities and a pre-academy for the youngest athletes as they develop a love for the game. Furthermore, the club also is home to the Utah Red Devils, an women’s amateur team that competes in the Women’s Premier Soccer League. All these teams and development opportunities, Burrows said, are aimed at helping athletes achieve their goals by putting them in the right position. “What we like to look at it as is we’ll put you in a situation where you have the skills or you’re given the opportunity to learn the skills and the life lessons to be a productive member of a college team, of a higher level regional or national squad or maybe a professional squad,” he said. “We look to be well-rounded with our players, not just raffle them into a position at a young age.” Hailey Povilus joined Utah Soccer AlUtah Soccer Alliance offers club soccer teams for a wide range of age groups. Many of these teams excel and liance about five years ago. Over those five are competitive such as the 2016 Adidas Cup Winners, which was the boys premier team for those born in 1998 years, she had developed both technically and in her confidence, culminating in her and 1999. (Photo courtesy of Utah Soccer Alliance.) joining the women’s soccer team at the UniThe premier teams are the highest lev- er levels for those who need to improve their versity of Utah. Her father, Eric Povilus, largely credits el of competition and require a high level of skill levels and who may be playing multiple Utah Soccer Alliance for helping her grow commitment. On the other end, there are oth- sports.

Riverton City Journal

and helping her obtain her dream of playing collegiate soccer. But it wasn’t only as a soccer player. Eric said he loved how supported his daughter felt in pursuit of her academics and college preparations. “She never felt like she would be penalized if she missed a game or anything for a school activity or school task,” he said. “There’s a lot of clubs in the Salt Lake area where that’s not the case.” While the club tries its best to be accommodating, there still is a tricky tightrope to walk between club and high school soccer. The club soccer season features a fall and a spring portion. For high school, girls soccer is in the fall, while boys soccer is in the spring. Burrows said a big concern is overworking between the two factions. This concern is larger with girls, he said, because they have a more intense work up in the summer while the boys can’t do as much to lead up to their high school season with the winter months. Burrows said there is some progress being made to help both sides cohabit the soccer environment but there’s still some work to do. One such example, Burrows said, is the Utah High School Activities Association allowing student-athletes to play in showcases during the high school season. Differences between the two also extend into recruiting. At Utah Soccer Alliance, there are numerous tools to help athletes find the best fit for the next level. Along with methods to help players find the best fit school, Burrows said the club places a lot of emphasis on putting players in front of scouts through tournaments and showcases. Burrows said while he and the club take pride in helping athletes obtain their goals, he’s careful not to take too much credit in the process. “It’s not a recognition thing for us as a club, more as that’s our job to get out and show them to the coaches and give them an opportunity to be seen,” he said. When Hailey Povilus was looking to play in college, she started to tell the Utah Soccer Alliance coaches which schools she was targeting. Eric Povilus said when this

communication started, the club coaches would offer to reach out for her or help in other ways. This communication, Eric said, would help college coaches know all they need to and they could better assess Hailey’s skills. Furthermore, Eric said club coaches would spend a lot of time pitching athletes to desired colleges and help coaches better understand the athletes both during and after matches. “There’s a lot of time spent calling all these coaches before these tournaments and showcases,” he said. “You go to a showcase over a three-day weekend, coaches from a Pac-12 school or an SEC school can only go to so many games so they place their bets on who they want to see, they just don’t randomly show up.” Burrows said he knows college coaches try to be economical in their approach to finding athletes. He said they’re more likely to show up at a showcase where they can see numerous players rather than a high school where they can see one or two. “How much recruitment happens solely through high school? I don’t think it really exists on the soccer side,” he said. “I know in football and basketball, it’s different, but on the soccer side, it’s just that way.” While Utah Soccer Alliance can offer a lot of benefits, there are some concerns such as costs. Costs can hover between $2,000 to $3,000 after participation and uniform fees. That doesn’t include all other traveling expenses required for out-of-state competitions. Burrows said there are financial aid options and other help, but he does acknowledge it can be a lot for some families. What he also said is the club is worth the investment because of the offerings and the high-caliber coaches help athletes along their development. “The bang for the buck is actually really good for club soccer,” he said. “If they were to pay a babysitter for the time they have their kids away from them, it would cost them triple what we charge. You look at it, and I think we’re giving them a good service, teaching them a nice game, a nice life lesson atmosphere, which I think is important and helps parents.” l

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for the

Whole Family

Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimmillion people are living er’s 6.2 or another dementia. Alzheimer’s is a brainwith disease that causes 6.2 million people are living with a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are Alzheimer’s diseaseEvery in the United 10 warning signs and symptoms. individual may experience Alzheimer’s disease in the United one States. or more ofOver these signs in a different degree. If you notice any 34,000 people in Utah of them in yourself or a34,000 loved one,people please see in a doctor. States. Over Utah

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10 SIGNS OF This disease kills more people alone. each year than breast cancer and ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

eachloss year 1. Memory that than disruptsbreast cancer and prostate cancer combined, and is the daily life prostate cancer combined, and is the 2. Challenges in planning or 4th leading cause of death in Utah. problem solving 4th leading cause of death in Utah. 3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, More than 104,000 people in Utah More than 104,000 people in Utah work or at leisure 6.2for millionsomeone people are living with Alzheimer’s provide living 4. Confusion withunpaid time or care disease in the United States. Over provide unpaid carepeople for insomeone living34,000 place Utah alone. This disease kills withunderstanding Alzheimer’s disease. The impact is 5. Trouble more people each year than breast cancer with Alzheimer’s disease. The impact is visual images and special and prostate cancer combined, and is the widespread and can be devastating to 4th leading cause of death in Utah. relationships widespread and can be devastating to 6. New problems with words families. More than 104,000 people in Utah proin speaking or writing families. vide unpaid care for someone living with 7. Misplacing things and Alzheimer’s disease. The impact is widelosing ability to Forthemore information, aboutto families. spreadto and learn can be devastating For more information, to learn about retrace steps Together we can work to findor a cure support groups or other resources, 8. Decreased or poor and ultimately have our first survivor! support groups or other resources, or judgment Join the fight and lend your to to get from helpwork immediately contact thevoice 9. Withdrawal or this critical cause by attending the to get help immediately contact the social activities Walk to End Alzheimer’s this fall. There Alzheimer’s Association’s free 24/7 are eight Walks throughout the state 10. Changes in mood Association’s Alzheimer’s free 24/7 of Utah: and personality Helpline at:

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Mountain Ridge athletics prepare for jump to 6A in realignment By Josh Martinez | j.martinez@mycityjournals.com

new era is starting at Mountain Ridge High School. MRHS athletics will join the rest of Jordan School District in 6A after the school spent its first two years of existence at 5A. The Sentinels will be part of Region 3, which includes Bingham, Copper Hills, Herriman, Riverton and West Jordan high schools. This move comes as part of the Utah High School Activities Association’s 2021–23 realignment. Classifications are based on school enrollment data with 6A, including the most populated schools. Mountain Ridge Athletic Director Sam Rogers said while he and the coaches are excited about this change, he’s also seeing, more importantly, a level of commitment from the student-athletes. “I just have the impression that our kids believe in themselves, believe in their coaches and they’re not going to go into any game with the idea that they can’t win,” he said. “I’m just really seeing this big boost in confidence in all of the athletes.” Mountain Ridge heads into 6A with a good mixture of performances at 5A. Last season, some sports such as lacrosse and boys soccer had great seasons, while others such as girls soccer and football had

middling to struggling seasons. Still, many of the teams have seen improvements over their first two years, while the spring sports bounced back from a pandemic-shortened season in 2020. Rogers credited that to a larger student body and more athletes trying out for teams. As the Sentinels move up to 6A, Rogers said there has been a mixed reaction from coaches. Some, he said, believe the move will help their sport while others are nervous because the new region will be tougher. Mountain Ridge football coach Mike Meifu said he doesn’t see much of a difference as his team heads into 6A. “The level of competition we’ve been playing against, there’s really not a whole lot of difference,” he said. “We were in a really good region before and so yeah, we’ve got some really good teams in our region just like we did a year ago. So that’s not really a big deal.” The new region will also bring a closer proximity of opponents. Much of Mountain Ridge’s previous region played in Utah County with many schools in Provo or Orem. The new region will feature schools at most 11 miles from Mountain Ridge.

The shorter bus ride, Rogers said, will help in mental preparedness ahead of games because he noticed some players getting mentally fatigued after spending an hour on the bus before region games. Furthermore, the closeness will help shore up the natural rivalries between schools because communities are close and Region 3 being only Jordan School District schools. “I think that’s huge for not only the athletes but also the general student body,” Rogers said. “They get excited about facing these other schools. Everybody knows other kids from other schools so it makes it a lot more fun for them.” Rogers said he is predicting larger crowds for games because the schools are closer, meaning the community may get involved in the rivalries. That excitement isn’t only one way. Bingham softball coach Mikki Jackson said she knows next year’s region will be tough because not only does it have good teams such as 6A champion Riverton, but Mountain Ridge will be joining after finishing second in state at 5A. Meifu said there are many benefits

to close region opponents in his sport as well. “I think that’s the good part about football,” he said. “Having those city rivalries and those sorts of things, I think that’s extremely important. We’re really fortunate to be in that situation.” While there are many benefits, there are some challenges. Rogers said he’s noticed some kids fall into the mentality that certain schools will be tougher solely because of reputation. Other challenges he sees are some schools in the region are excelling in their sports so it will take a new school like Mountain Ridge a few years to catch up. Still, Rogers said he believes it won’t be long before the Sentinels can compete with anyone in any given sport. Despite all of that, Rogers said the future is bright, and he is excited about all that will come this next season. “This year is going to be a lot of fun, especially for us,” he said. “We’re continuing to grow. The number of kids that are coming out and trying out for sports and camps and clinics is astounding.” l

is looking for champions in your community!

Community

Champions

are leaders who lift and inspire. They work to build a better community.

Visit the City Journals website to nominate a community champion today!

www.thecityjournals.com Each month we’ll spotlight a Community Champion!

Page 24 | July 2021

Mountain Ridge High School opened in 2019 and has competed at 5A during its first two years. Starting this season, it will play in 6A. (Josh Martinez/City Journals)

Riverton City Journal

Utah Food Bank to distribute 200,000 meals this summer By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

hat fits in a 10-inch by 8-inch by 7-inch box? If you said 14 meals for a Utah child, you would be right. As part of their Summer Food Service program, the Utah Food Bank provides meal boxes to individuals 18 and younger each week throughout Utah. The boxes are free and are design for one person for seven days—seven breakfasts and seven dinners. If a family has four children, they get four boxes. Each box includes a sample menu. For example, breakfast one is a cereal bowl and regular applesauce. For dinner two, the menu is cheddar cheese cup, sunflower kernels, MJM Pizza Crackers, flavored applesauce and vegetable juice. Other items on the menu are Pop-Tarts, barbecue chicken salad, breakfast bar, Jack Link’s Original Chicken Tender Bites, and beef sticks. The kids are given 14 small cartons of milk with their box. These boxes are distributed in eight Utah counties, including Salt Lake County.

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Contents of a meal box given to kids by the Utah Food Bank this summer. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

lation, the Utah Food Bank has learned how to meet their dietary needs. Utah Food Bank does not consider itself a transportation company nor a human need company. “We just quietly go about feeding kids,” Bott said. Bott mentioned that sometimes they are criticized for giving out ramen noodles. Her response is she would rather have a child’s belly full of noodles than having them cry because they are hungry. Bott pointed out that the Utah Food Bank always needs food, time and money. She also said if a person ever needs help, call 211 or go to the Utah Food Bank website.

Grocery Rescue program

The Grocery Rescuer program is a partnership with 270 grocery retailers. Retailers provide food that is nearing the expiration date but is still healthy and wholesome to eat.

Refrigerated trucks provided by the Utah Food Bank and partner agencies operate six days a week throughout the state, picking up the food donations. The food goes directly to food pantries to be distributed within 24 hours. The donations primarily are daily consumables, including fresh produce, dairy and meat. Without this program, such items would end up in the landfill. In 2020, 16 million pounds of food was distributed to help end hunger. Walt May, a program director, offered a way anyone can help with this program. May suggested that they will give you the freshest meat or cheese when you go to the deli at the grocery store. This allows the retailer to freeze the older meat and cheese and donate it to the program. “Buying sliced deli meat or cheese helps feed people of Utah,” May said. l

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STOP IN FOR STORIES * Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday at 11 a.m. in Murray Park White Gazebo, FREE Murray City Library sponsored outdoor story time full of books, songs and action rhymes for kids ages 2-7 and their families. Bring your blanket or lawn chair.

This program has received funding support from residents of Salt Lake County, SL County Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP), Utah Division of Arts and Museums, and Museums & National Endowment for the Arts.

July 2021 | Page 25

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Riverton City Journal

Government 101: The budget process By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com

ou (or your landlord) pays property tax every year, whether on residential or commercial property. There are several taxing entities that collect from what you pay, from the mosquito abatement, to the local school district. The city only collects a small portion of that tax. Residential properties pay only 45% of their property tax value, while commercial pays 100% of the value. In Utah, a city’s yearly property tax income is a fixed number. This means that unless the city changes its tax rate, the city will only receive the dollar amount that it received the previous year. If a city receives $20 million in 2019, it will receive $20 million in 2020, even if property values increase. This requires a city to consistently communicate with its residents its financial needs. “The county auditor takes the previous year’s revenue we received, adds any new growth, and they divide that by the assessed property tax value. If the assessed value goes up the tax rate goes down,” Midvale Assistant City Manager Kyle Maurer said. “When the assessed value goes down, the tax rate goes up. This provides a steady income for the city.” Budget information is public and available on every city website. The budget contains the cost for everything a city pays for, from road salt for plow trucks, employee salary, computers, website maintenance, first responder salary and ambulances, and much more. The budget is prepared by the city’s finance department, and, depending on the form of government, either the mayor or the city manager. Each department asks for what they

need, but the mayor/city manager makes the final decision on who gets what. Some cities involve the city council in the budget process, asking for council priorities in budget retreats or workshops in council meetings. Some cities prepare the budget and ask for council opinion when they present the tentative budget. The tentative budget is posted to the city website and presented to the council in May, which gives council and the public a chance to comment and suggest alternatives. A budget must be finalized and accepted by the city council by June 30 before the new fiscal year begins. (A city’s year runs from July 1 to June 30, known as a fiscal, i.e., financial, year.) “If the council does not adopt a final budget by June 30, then the tentative budget would become the budget,” West Jordan communications officer Tauni Barker said. “If they had not adopted a tentative budget, then it would default to the mayor’s proposed budget.” If the mayor does not approve of the budget that council passes, they can veto. Sandy’s Mayor Bradburn vetoed a line item in 2020. (https://www.sandyjournal. com/2020/06/29/319675/sandy-mayor-s-veto-preserves-pay-raises-for-city-s-first-responders-and-other-employees) If a city decided to change its property tax percentage, a Truth in Taxation meeting is required. Salt Lake County decides the date of the Truth in Taxation so no two taxation meetings fall on the same date. The Truth in Taxation is a public meeting, all residents are invited to read the proposed budget and give comments before a final decision is made by the council. l

CITY BUDGET TIMELINE Prioritize and Predict Finance and head of staff (Mayor or CIty Manager) identify highest needs and make financial predictions for the coming fiscal year (July 1- June 30).

City head review The Mayor or City Manager reviews department requests and prioritize the needs for the city as a whole.

Public Hearings Tentative budget is published for the public. Public hearings are held to hear residents thoughts and ideas about the budget from residents.

Budget adopted

Department heads requests The head of each city department submits spending requests. This can be employee cost, supplies, etc.

Tentative Budget A tentative budget is presented to City Council and is discussed. Council can request changes.

Changes are made Final budget is presented in June. Council has another chance to discuss.

Final budget must be adopted by the council by June 30 for the coming year.

Truth in Taxation as needed (

)

If city council decides to raise property tax, a public meeting is held in August. Tentative budget is adopted until that date.

All city councils vote on the city’s proposed budget, prepared by either the mayor or city officials depending the city’s type of government. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

RivertonJournal.com

The budget process mapped out. (image/SLCo Assessor)

July 2021 | Page 27

Living the dream: Riverton alum Cody Nixon continues basketball career in Oregon By Josh Martinez | j.martinez@mycityjournals.com

n eighth grade dream has become a reality for former Riverton High School basketball player Cody Nixon. Nixon, who just graduated from Riverton, recently signed to play collegiate basketball with Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, Oregon. He follows in the footsteps of many in his family who played collegiate sports. But his goals don’t stop at SWOCC. The COVID-19 pandemic has made signing with big schools a tough feat since many are allowing an extra year of eligibility to those who endured cancelled or altered seasons. This led to limited roster spaces for incoming freshmen. With that in mind, Nixon followed the advice to give junior colleges a try with the hope of finding a Division I or II school who will want him in a few years. Still, Nixon said he is excited about playing at SWOCC not only because it can help him further his goals but also because head coach Riley Grandinetti, a Salt Lake County native. “I could just tell he wanted me a lot more than the other schools and once I did sign, he was posting like crazy about it, saying ‘we’re super excited about this kid,’” Nixon said. “It just made me feel like I was welcomed.” The achievement of signing at SWOCC didn’t come easy. Will Nixon, Cody’s father, said it was fun to see his son grow. “That’s probably the biggest thing that I’m proud of, that he was, he had to work at it, but he was able to accomplish his goals, especially with it being a crazy year with COVID,” Will Nixon said.

An athletic pedigree

Cody comes from a family of athletes. His grandfather played basketball at Brigham Young University–Idaho, then called Ricks College. His mother, Kelly Nixon, played basketball at Snow College, while Will Nixon played baseball at BYU. Furthermore, he has several extended family members who played collegiate sports, including New Orleans Saints and former BYU quarterback Taysom Hill. “He’s [Cody] definitely been around a lot of guys who have put in the work and know what it takes,” Will Nixon said. “He benefited from that because he was encouraged by those guys as well.” While there has been a wide array of athletes in his family, Cody said he naturally gravitated to basketball. He believed he had a natural talent for it and by eighth grade, he had dropped other sports to focus on basketball. Along with playing at Riverton, Cody also competed on the Amateur Athletic Union team the Salt Lake Rebels. Former UNLV player Evric Gray leads

Page 28 | July 2021

Cody Nixon comes from a long line of athletes in his family. His parents, Will and Kelly Nixon, both played collegiate sports and have helped him prepare for his signing at SWOCC. (Photo courtesy of the Nixon family.)

the club and said Cody is a versatile player who can shoot the ball really well while also putting a big focus on the defensive end. While primarily a shooting guard, Gray said Cody can play point guard if needed. “He’s a very good teammate, which is a big thing nowadays because a lot of kids are terrible teammates,” Gray said. “That’s one of the things we love about Cody. He’s a willing passer, he’s a really good teammate and he can score the ball so a lot of guys really like being around him.” When not playing club basketball, Cody was at Riverton where he was the Silverwolves leading scorer during his senior year. He averaged double-digit points his junior year as well. Cody said both club and high school basketball helped him develop different aspects of his game. In high school, he said there was a lot of structure and schemes to keep the game organized. Cody also said he enjoyed the camaraderie of the team and the focus on the fundamentals. In club, the was more fast-paced and a focus on going with the flow of the game. He also played with a lot of talented players who had similar goals to him. “It’s kind of hard to decide between the two just because both of them really helped in a sense,” he said.

Finding the next level

While Cody set his sights on collegiate basketball in eighth grade, he didn’t start focusing hard on it until his junior year. He said his club team was where he was getting a lot of attention because he could get in front of the scouts at showcases. The offers

didn’t start until his senior year. Will Nixon said his son was generating interest just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, including from Utah State. During that time, Gray had moved Cody up to his top team, which featured four Division I athletes. With many areas shut down because of the pandemic, finding showcases was tricky, but Gray said they went to states that had looser restrictions, allowing Cody to play in front of the scouts. Also during the pandemic, Will Nixon said Cody would work out with professional athletes, because he knew someone who helped train pros. It was during this time when junior colleges started showing more interest in Cody. Will said Cody started getting advice from some of the professional athletes he knew to go with the junior college scene before moving up to a Division I or II school. Enter Grandinetti. Grandinetti had played previously for Gray on the club scene, so there was already a connection. Grandinetti said he likes to recruit in Utah and keeps an eye on southwest Salt Lake County. “I followed Cody a little bit his junior year, went to a couple of games, so he’s always been on our radar a little bit,” he said. “Senior year, he continued to improve, and it was almost a no-brainer.” While Will Nixon said he and his wife hoped Cody would stay close to home, they both are happy he’ll get to have an out-ofstate experience. “We thought it was a really good experience for us to move away from home,” he said. “As hard as it is for parents, I think for

the kids, it’s a good deal.”

Looking ahead

Grandinetti said he likes Cody’s length, especially for the position he plays, and believes he will fit into the fast-paced shooting offense SWOCC runs. Cody has the ability to be a momentum changer, Grandinetti said, because of his shooting abilities and his defensive capabilities. “Off the court, he’s from a really good family,” he said. “You can tell they just care about him, and they want him to be successful. We try to create a family atmosphere here too with the small town that we’re in. So I’m really looking forward to just having a good kid on campus as well.” Since Grandinetti recruits in Utah, there are some local athletes who Cody can play alongside, including Kase Peterson, a Herriman High School alumnus. As for goals, Cody has set some lofty expectations. He hopes to spend a year at SWOCC and eventually draw the interest of Division I or II schools, but he is prepared to spend two years at the school. After that, he hasn’t quite decided but he has some friends who play overseas and has considered that route. But for now, Cody’s focus will be on SWOCC, not only for his basketball game but also for is schooling. “Academics has been a big thing for me throughout high school, and they still are a big thing because everybody in my family has graduated college,” he said. “I’ve seen what college can do for you. So, I just want to graduate and just open up my opportunities.” l

Riverton City Journal

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UPCOMING EVENTS The Southwest Valley Chamber meets monthly for an AFTER-HOURS NETWORKING EVENT. This is held the 2nd Thursday of each month at Redemption Bar & Grill. The event starts at 4:00 p.m. and the cost is only what you personally order. All are welcome to attend. WOMEN IN BUSINESS is up and ready for you to meet and connect with other likeminded women. FRIDAY CONNECTS IS HERE—every 3rd Friday! Looking for ways to meet business professionals? Looking for a way to present your business to others? Looking for a RESULTS-oriented business relationship networking group? Three chambers of commerce have teamed up to bring you a speed networking phenomenon! Friday Connections provides an opportunity to connect at the speed of networking! Meet and take advantage of business connections on the 3rd Friday of every month from 8:00 - 10:00 am. As a participant, you should come with business cards and prepared to give your best introduction for yourself and your business.

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The Salt Lake Valley is split into three districts. Each district helps contain the mosquito population within its borders to prevent spread of disease. (Pixabay)

ave you noticed a line on your property tax bill that says Mosquito Abatement? What is that? Why do they get your tax money? There are three mosquito abatement districts in Salt Lake County. Each of them serves their area, performing similar functions: Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement, Magna Mosquito Abatement, South Salt Lake Valley Mosquito Abatement. “Mosquitos are definitely a nuisance,” Brian Hougaard, manager for South Salt Lake Valley Mosquito Abatement District, said. “They have the potential to carry diseases.” A mosquito abatement focuses heavily on mosquitos that carry West Nile Virus, a disease that can cause severe inflammation to the brain and spinal cord. “We have 52 different trap sites, using three different types of traps. We use these traps not only to monitor the number of mosquitos in the area...we also use those to catch [and] test for West Nile virus,” Hougaard said. Each district employs full-time, yearround experts, but then hires seasonal workers for the summer. The staff spends their time checking traps, testing mosquitoes for potential viruses and responding to resident calls. Residents can call for an inspection. They will inspect horse troughs, residential ponds, tree holes and catch basins. If there are mosquito larvae, the district can put in mosquito fish, an aggressive eater of mosquitos, or briquettes that prevent larvae from hatching into adults. l

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Riverton City Journal

Psych 101: Narcissistic abuse centers on control and manipulation By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournal.com

“

Narcissism next!” requested a reader after reviewing the previous article covering gaslighting. OK—let’s do it! (This is where I feel obliged to share a warning. The following article discusses topics of abuse and may be triggering to some.) In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), narcissism is categorized as a Personality Disorder. Narcissistic personality disorder has been primarily recognized through behavioral patterns steeped in a need for admiration and a lack of empathy. Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder tend to have a grandiose sense of self-importance, believing they are special and unique. In turn, they frequently have a lack of empathy and tend to be envious of others or believe others are envious of them. They may also be preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty and ideal love. Conversations around recognizing narcissistic traits and managing relationships with narcissistic individuals have gained more popular attention in the last few years. Now, there are two types of narcissism widely recognized. Overt or grandiose narcissism is primarily described above. Individuals may be arrogant and preoccupied with suc-

cess, wealth, attractiveness and power. However, there’s a less explicit type of narcissism. Covert or vulnerable narcissism may be identified through self-absorbed and/or passive-aggressive behaviors. Individuals with covert narcissistic traits may be highly sensitive and have a history of impersonal and difficult relationships. Narcissistic abuse has been recognized as a type of interpersonal abuse (and/or domestic abuse) and is beginning to be formally recognized in various governmental and legal documents and policies. On the surface, it may be difficult to differentiate narcissistic abuse from typified interpersonal abuse. This tends to make narcissistic abuse more complicated and harder to prove. Some of the key reported differences include increase frequency and explicit intentionality. “The idea is that they totally know what they are doing,” reported an anonymous survivor. Individuals with narcissistic personality disorder tend to exhibit numerous abusive behaviors. They may make attempts at isolation in order to maintain control and attention in the relationship, driving away friends and family relations of the other person. They tend to control finances, monitoring money closely, and only allowing limited access to

certain funds. In abusive relationships, including those involving individuals with narcissistic personality disorder, there’s frequently a cycle of abuse involved. Psychologists have deemed the phases of abuse as idealization, devaluation and discarding. In idealization, otherwise known as “lovebombing,” the individual may shower the other with praise and gifts. This builds a sense of safety and trust. In devaluation, the individual may use what was disclosed during the idealization phase as ammo to instill emotional responses and a sense of worthlessness. Then, the individual discards the other before starting the cycle over again. Additionally, abusive relationships commonly involve manipulation tactics such as being overly critical and controlling, manufacturing situations to elicit emotional distress, engaging in hot and cold behavior, stonewalling, triangulating, blaming, shaming, deflecting and projecting. Narcissistic abuse can occur in any relationship. While some of the focus above is on abuse in romantic relationships, it’s important to remember narcissistic abuse can be prevalent in friendships, familial relationships and working relationships. Those with

narcissistic personality disorder tend to be interpersonally exploitative as they take advantage of others to achieve their own ends. For example, friendships may only be maintained on a superficial level. If you, or someone you know is experiencing abuse, some steps of recovery to enact right now may include: validating the survivors experience, identifying abusive traits, breaking habits of empathizing with the abuser, validating one’s own reality, creating or relying on a solid support network, grieving the good parts of the relationship, resolving trauma, improving self-love, and learning to recognize red flags and set boundaries. In Utah, resources for domestic violence and interpersonal abuse include: the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, Utah Community Action, Utah Association of Family Support Centers, YWCA Utah’s Domestic Violence Shelter Programs and the Statewide Domestic Violence Info-line LINKline. Research from Shahida Arabi, Sandra Brown, Thomas Crawford, Ramani Durvasula, Harold Koenigsberg, Kristian Markon, Kati Morton, Rebecca Shiner, Jennifer Tackett, and David Watson. l

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801.254.5974 July 2021 | Page 35

A crash course on Salt Lake Valley’s water supply

ater is one of those things that people take for granted. We don’t really talk about it much until it becomes an issue. So now that Utah and the rest of the southwest are experiencing historic levels of drought, some Salt Lake valley residents might be realizing how little they know about the topic. So here’s a crash course lesson on the valley’s water supply. Who manages the valley’s water supply? The answer to this question depends on where you live. If you live on the west side of the valley, then most of your water comes from the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District. They collect water from Jordanelle and Deer Creek reservoirs, as well as a collection of reservoirs in the Uinta Mountains. Twenty percent of its water also comes from groundwater, pumped from wells scattered around the valley. The District then sells this water wholesale to cities including Draper, Herriman, Bluffdale, Riverton, South Jordan, South Salt Lake, Taylorsville, Midvale and West Jordan. It also counts among its customers a few intermediary districts such as the Granger Hunter Improvement District, the Kearns Improvement District and the Magna Water Improvement District. While these smaller districts purchase as much as 90% of their water from Jordan Valley, they also supplement that with their own water supply from wells in the area. The other big player when it comes to providing water to the Salt Lake Valley is the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake & Sandy. As its name suggests, this district provides water to Salt Lake City and Sandy City, the first and sixth most populous cities in the state. But wait, there’s more! Salt Lake City’s Public Utilities department is responsible for more than just its own residents. They also provide drinking water for Cottonwood Heights, Millcreek, Holladay and parts of South Salt Lake and Murray. More than 60% of all that water comes from the streams of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon. That water is filtered by facilities owned by either the Metropolitan Water District or SLC. For example, the treatment facility at the mouth of Big Cottonwood is owned by SLC, while the treatment facility for Little Cottonwood is owned by Metropolitan Water District. Additionally, some cities own and operate their own water infrastructure to supplement what they purchase from their respective districts. Sandy City, for example, collects and treats water from the Bell Canyon Reservoir. Many cities also rely on various canals throughout the valley as a source of secondary water. How much does our water cost? It can be quite expensive to collect, treat, transport and deliver water to the over 1 million people who live, work or play in the Salt

Page 36 | July 2021

By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

(Justin Adams/City Journals)

Lake Valley. The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District operates on an operations budget of about $79 million per year, while the Metropolitan Water District has a budget of about $48 million. Where does that money come from? The largest revenue source ($48 million) for the Jordan Valley is from its wholesale contracts with its various member agencies. An additional $7 million comes from retail customers, usually homeowners in unincorporated areas that purchase water from the district directly. The second-largest source of revenue for the district is property taxes, which comes in at about $20 million per year. As a special district with taxing authority, water districts are able to levy a property tax on residents within the district boundaries. The property tax rate for the JVWCD is .0004%. The MWDSLS is below .0003%. While residents around the valley have likely seen their rates increase over the years due to inflation, they’re still paying much lower rates than many people around the country, according to Linda Townes, public information manager for Jordan Valley. That’s because Utah’s mountainous landscape allows gravity to move our water for us, rather than paying for pump stations which use a huge amount of costly electricity. Who is running these districts? Between such large budgets and the task of managing a resource as crucial as water, it bodes asking who’s in charge of these districts. Special districts are typically run by a

The Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District maintains a Conservation Garden Park in West Jordan, as an example to residents of how yards can be re-landscaped to be more water efficient without sacrificing aesthetics. (Wikimedia)

board of trustees. The JVWCD operates under a board of nine members. While the MWDSLS has a seven-member board. Members of the board aren’t elected. Instead they are appointed by various legislative bodies from within the district’s boundaries. Appointees can be elected officials themselves (such as South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey or Herriman City Councilmember Sherrie Ohrn who serve on the JVWCD board) or they can

be city employees or even private residents— whatever the nominating body thinks will best represent their interests. As a governmental body, districts are required to hold regular public meetings. They also publish their budgets and other reports each year to keep residents informed. Are we in danger of running out of water? Between the state’s historic drought and rapid population growth, some residents may

Riverton City Journal

wonder if we’re running out of water in the Salt Lake valley. In short, the answer is no, residents of the Salt Lake valley don’t need to worry about rationing water anytime soon. When it comes to growth, Townes said that water consumption hasn’t increased at the same rate as the population, suggesting that the District’s water conservancy efforts and efficiency standards have been effective. “The good thing we’ve seen with growth is that we really expected our water use to skyrocket with the population growth and it hasn’t,” she said. “It’s stayed pretty steady, which means conservation is working. It’s happening. We are seeing a change.” There are also still untapped sources of water which could come into play down the road. According to Townes, the JVWCD expected to begin developing the Bear River in 2015. However, a combination of other new sources and increased water efficiency made that unnecessary. Now, they may not have to dam the Bear River until 2060. “It’s a pretty cool river and one of the last ones that’s not damned. We don’t want to develop it. It’d be great if we didn’t have to, but it’s our job to make sure there’s enough water for people,” Townes said. The MWDSLS is also in good shape when it comes to water supply. Speaking to the Sandy City Council last month, general manager Mike DeVries said there’s no need to worry.

“Despite poor precipitation and snow pack conditions, because of storage and Metro’s various water supplies, we’re in a healthy state when it comes to supply for our member cities. We’re not anticipating any sort of shortages for our metro at this point,” he said. It’s also important to know that most of the state’s water systems are self-contained. For example, the systems that supply water throughout Salt Lake County aren’t connected to systems for other nearby counties. So if there are water shortages in other parts of the state, it wouldn’t be possible for them to dip into the supplies of the Jordan Valley or Metropolitan Districts, even if they were willing to share. How can we conserve more water? Whether from continued growth or continued droughts, water conservation will be increasingly important for residents of the Salt Lake valley. From the water districts themselves, to municipal governments to residents’ households, there’s a lot that can be done. At the district level, the JVWCD has set a good example by relandscaping all of their facilities to be water efficient by replacing turf with vegetation that’s more at home in Utah’s desert climate. The District also provides a number of programs, rebates and incentives for residents to improve their water efficiency. Those can be found at www.utahwatersavers.com. City governments are also getting in on the conservation effort by requiring new de-

Emergency Water Storage Made Simple

Nearby reservoirs like Jordanelle and Deer Creek play a critical role in the Salt Lake Valley’s water supply chain. (Wikimedia)

velopments to meet certain water efficiency standards. Many cities have also taken proactive measures during our current drought. Cottonwood Heights, for example, announced that its popular splash pad at Mountain View Park would remain closed throughout the summer. Herriman City paused a requirement for developers to install landscaping on new projects, allowing them to delay the addition of extra vegetation until after the summer months. Residents, meanwhile, have many options

for conserving water. They can do small things like take shorter showers or turn off the faucet while they brush their teeth. They can take advantage of the previously mentioned programs and get a more water-efficient toilet or relandscape their yards. But the most effective and easy thing they can do, according to Townes, is simply water their lawns less. If everyone adjusted to watering their lawns just one less day per week, it would have a huge impact on the region’s water supply outlook. l

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July 2021 | Page 37

Drought and fireworks… a bad combination

Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Council | District 3

When Governor Cox asked all of us to pray for rain several weeks ago, my family and I talked about additional ways we could do our part. We made the decision to turn off the water while brushing our teeth, shorten our showers, and only water our lawn twice per week. We also made the decision not to do fireworks this year because of all the dry brush and potential impact on resources should something go awry. Most of Utah is experiencing extreme or exceptional drought. As Governor Cox explained recently, this is either the worst drought since 1956 or the worst drought ever. We have seen our reservoirs and lakes at record lows. In addition to the little precipitation over the last year to refill our lake and rivers, we also have more people than ever consuming water in this state. Luckily Utah has done a great job of planning for the future; but if we don’t cut back on water usage this year, we may find ourselves in a position where we will need to ration water in future years. Little things make a big difference when it comes to water conservation. There are things you can do like not letting the water run full blast while brushing your teeth or washing your pets near vegetation to get a secondary benefit. Utah’s slowtheflow.org has great advice for how to act during a drought. I found very help-

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ful their tips on lawn management, namely: 1) water your lawn twice a week, 2) don’t water if it’s windy, 3) water in the evening or before 10 a.m., 4) prioritize your watering in the following order: trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, grass, and 5) raise your mower to leave your grass longer. You should also check out utahwatersavers.com, where you can find details on rebate programs for taking all sorts of water wise steps. While I can understand the desire to have the greenest lawn in the neighborhood, this year it’s cool to have yellow or brown lawn. You are showing your neighbors that you care about them and are conscientious water consumers during the drought. Paired with being water wise is being fire smart this summer. This includes the small things, like discarding of cigarettes in the proper receptacle and not driving over or parking your car on dry vegetation. It also includes the more mindful things, like only starting campfires in cement or metal firepits, never leaving them unattended, and fulling drowning them until cool to the touch. Utahfireinfo.gov has even more information to consider for your summer plans. Lastly, consider going to a planned city fireworks show for the holidays rather than having your own fireworks. It saves money, and it’s much safer

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since local fire departments are onsite at those planned fireworks shows. Usually on the 4th and 24th of July we get together with neighbors and light fireworks in our circle. Not this year. Due to the high risks that fireworks pose, we will be having a barbecue and playing games to celebrate the holidays. I’m a big fan of liberty and freedom, but I’m also a big fan of personal responsibility, so join me in watching your water usage and forgoing fireworks this year. Let’s be smart and be part of the solution!

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A Series of Unfortunate Events It’s been said that when we make plans, God laughs. Do you think that’s a silly giggle or a maniacal James Bond villain laugh? The last few weeks brought a string of first-world irritations that felt like a game of Whac-a-Mole. I hit one problem and another one popped up. I pound that problem but end up hitting myself in the face with a rubber mallet. I can hear God LOLing from here. Despite our daily devotion to it, our TV stopped working. We shook the remote and pushed buttons as hard as we could, but there was still no picture. Just a dark, mocking abyss. We decided to run away from our responsibilities by driving to Idaho and checking-in at an Airbnb. (The room was nice, but the bed was shaped like a taco. I slept on the couch so I didn’t roll over in the night and suffocate my spouse.) Every 50 years, my husband likes to visit Yellowstone, so we left our Airbnb and drove to the national park to snap pictures of the bison, tiptoe around the geysers and marvel at the wondrous number of people who had the same idea. #HelloCOVID After getting lost in Yellowstone and stopping for Mexican food so we didn’t starve to death, we crossed the Teton Pass just as the sun was setting. Deer lined the road, waiting for the right moment to lunge in front of our car. We’d see their eyes glow-

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ing in the dark, then hit the brakes before driving on. It took us 245 years to get back to our Airbnb. The drive back to Salt Lake the next day was pleasant, except when I had to give my husband the silent treatment because he wouldn’t take me to the Potato Museum (#PotatoIceCream). After we crossed back into Utah, the truck in front of us kicked up a rock that hit the car’s windshield, leaving an extensive and expensive crack across the glass. Used to be, when you broke a windshield, you’d call the junkyard and they’d take a windshield out of a car in their backyard to replace the broken one. Today’s windshield has monitors, antenna and tracking devices, so it’s worth half-a-million dollars, according to the windshield repair shop.

Why hasn’t Elon Musk created self-healing windshield glass? We made it back home, picked up the dog and gave everyone their Yellowstone golf balls and Idaho potholders. I looked forward to a nice hot shower but (joke’s on us) the hot water heater stopped working and was chuckling with God and the TV. They all had a good laugh together. We forked out more cash so we could have hot water, collapsed into our non-taco bed and slept. A few days later, my husband said, “We have a gas leak in the basement.” It took me a minute to understand what he was saying because he was so calm. My husband is notoriously terrible under stress. “Why are we still in the house?” I asked. “Where else would we be?” He responded. “Not in a house that could explode if we make toast.” We hustled everyone to the neighbor’s lawn until the gas company gave us the okay. The water heater had been installed incorrectly but our house wasn’t going to blow up. Today, at least. I rarely look at the dark side of life and by the end of the week I was chortling right along with God, the TV and the water heater. Sometimes, LOLing is the only thing you can do.

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