August 2020 | Vol. 6 Iss. 08
FREE
SSL SEEKS TO BE ‘MODEL CITY’ WITH PROPOSED CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com
S
howing a real commitment to change, the South Salt Lake City administration and City Council continue their work on creating a Citizen Review Board. “I am supportive of South Salt Lake creating a Citizen Review Board to assist in this effort, similar to other communities in the area. My goal is to ensure that every South Salt Lake policy is reviewed through a community-based lens of diversity and inclusion. We will implement necessary changes to community action surrounding systemic issues of racial, gender and other inequality and bias,” Mayor Cherie Wood said on June 3. She continued, “We have no tolerance for racial or any other injustice in South Salt Lake. Everyone deserves to feel safe no matter the color of your skin, your gender or identity. Our work will not be finished until we all feel safe.” In a June 15 press release, City Council Chair Sharla Bynum and members at-large Natalie Pinkney and Ray de Wolfe stated, “We believe there is a solution, it comes from local conversation, listening and hard work. We have a history of providing a voice and meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in our community. We plan to establish a Citizen Review Board to create oversight and add a communal component to our police policies.” Creating a board South Salt Lake Police Chief Jack Carruth introduced the subject at the July 8 work meeting by suggesting the SSL board be modeled after the West Valley City’s Professional Standards Review Board. He also mentioned that this effort needs to be more than starting a new program like other community outreach programs like coffee with a cop or bowl with a cop. The board is composed of a minimum of five residents. WVC employees are not allowed to be voting members of the board. The WVC board reviews all use of force by WVC police department, all vehicular pursuits, and all internal affairs investigations of police officers. The WVC board meets at least monthly. At the beginning of their meeting, they have a public comment period. Afterward, they meet in a closed-door meeting to discuss specific matters.
South Salt Lake City administration and City Council begin work on a creating a Citizen Review Board. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)
The council voiced their desire to take the lead by creating a Citizen Review Board. However, they don’t want to rush the effort. “Let’s be a model city. Let’s be the city that starts this and does it right. This is going to be a thoughtful process. We are not going to whip something out tonight. We are going to be very thoughtful,” Bynum said. Later Bynum added, “Being thoughtful means we listen to residents, business owners and our police officers throughout this process while balancing the limitations allowed by state and federal law.” Vickery voiced an opinion that the board is subject to the Utah Open Meeting Law, which could cause issues when dealing with individual HR type issues in a public forum. Another issue is what is the scope of the board and more importantly, what is allowed and not allowed according to state law. Pinkney pointed out that the most common request for this board to do is to review resident complaints. However, a reading of HB415 might imply that having a committee do so might be illegal. “My concern is that we will be creating a board that does what Salt Lake City’s board does, which is really is not After Carruth, city attorney Hannah Vickery led a discus- much.…The citizens want a review board that has some powsion for the council. She asked the council if they wanted to er,” Pinkney said. take the lead or be reactionary by waiting for state or federal Other councilmembers agreed that the board must have mandates. power to be meaningful.
Local Postal Customer ECRWSS Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.
Residents’ complaints Councilmember Shane Siwik, District 5, asked Carruth what the resident citizen complaint process is. Carruth explained that residents have a variety of methods to make a complaint. Once it is received, the complaint goes to the officer’s direct sergeant. The sergeant investigates and makes a recommendation. The recommendation is sent to a lieutenant for approval. If the recommendation is approved, it goes to the deputy chief. If the deputy chief approves it, it goes to Carruth for final approval. Any time during the process, if a review does not approve the recommendation, the action is sent down the chain of command for further investigation. Off the top of his head, Carruth said the department receives about 10-15 complaints a month with three to five involving any type of discipline. Because more discussion was needed between the administration and the council, a plan was developed to work in small group discussions to hammer out the specifics. Those meetings started in late June. After which, Vickery will draft an ordinance for public comment and city council discussion. During the regular City Council meeting on July 8, residents voiced support for the review board. Jason, a new SSL resident who didn’t give his last name, said he would like the city to lead out and make the board meaningful. He also voiced the importance of making it easy and transparent. l
Thank You to our Community Sponsors for supporting City Journals
Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID Ogden, UT Permit #190
SPRING AIR DUCT CLEANING SPECIALS
AIR DUCT CLEANING CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS?
UV Purifier & Reme Halo Can Reduce Your Risk of Infection! Ask for Details*
$49
CLEAN OUT SPECIAL Sinus Problems? Allergies? Asthma? Headaches? Excessive Dust? High Energy Bills? Bad Odors?
If it’s in your ducts, it’s in your lungs. Air duct cleaning is one of the best ways to fight symptoms of asthma and allergies. WE CAN SANITIZE YOUR VENTS TO HELP STRENGTHEN YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
10 VENTS 1 RETURN 1 MAIN
FREE system analysis/inspection. Call for details. Additional vents priced separately. We service all areas. Offer expires 8/31/2020
50% OFF
FREE
DRYER VENT CLEANING Helps Support a Healthy Immune System
Page 2 | August 2020
HOSPITAL GRADE SANITIZER
WITH ANY COMPLETE AIR DUCT SYSTEM CLEANING. CALL FOR DETAILS. Offer expires 8/31/2020
Helps with germs & bacteria. With purchase of complete ductwork cleaning. Offer expires 8/31/2020
We Will Beat Any Price With Superior Quality 100% Guarantee
801-618-4649
SERVICE
theapexcleanair.com S outh Salt Lake City Journal
C O V I D - 1 9C O UP VD I DA-T1 E 9 SU P D C OCVO ID VDP IA D V -I 1D9- C 1U 9OPU DT-A1ET9SE U S COVID-1C 9 OUVPID DA - 1T9E SU P D C O V I D - 1 9 U P D AT E S
HOW HOW CONVALESCENT CONVALESCENT PLASMA PLASMA HOW HOW CONVALESCENT CONVALESCENT PLASMA PLASMA HOW CONVALESCENT PLASMA HOW HOW CONVALESCENT CONVALESCENT PLASMA PLASMA HOW CONVALESCENT PLASMA HELPS HELPS TREAT TREAT COVID-19 COVID-19 HELPS TREAT COVID-19 HELPS HELPS TREAT TREAT COVID-19 COVID-19 HELPS HELPS TREAT TREAT COVID-19 COVID-19 HELPS TREAT COVID-19
Since the COVID-19 Since outbreak COVID-19 began, outbreak Grifols began, has Grifols made its hasexpertise made itsinexpertise plasma available in plasma toavailable the to FDA, the U.S. FDA, Since thethe COVID-19 outbreak began, Grifols has made its expertise in plasma toU.S. the Since the COVID-19 Since theoutbreak COVID-19 began, outbreak Grifols began, has made Grifols itshas expertise made its inexpertise plasma available in available plasma to available the U.S.U.S. FDA, toFDA, the U.S. FDA, BARDA and BARDA NIH/NIAID and NIH/NIAID to develop to clinical develop trials clinical to assess trials the to assess safety and the safety efficacy and of efficacy a potential of atreatment. potential treatment. Since the COVID-19 Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, outbreak Grifols began, has Grifols made has its expertise made its in expertise plasma in available plasma to available the U.S. to FDA, the U.S. FDA, BARDA and NIH/NIAID to develop clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of a potential treatment. Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, Grifols has made its expertise in plasma available to the U.S. FDA, BARDA andBARDA NIH/NIAID and to NIH/NIAID develop clinical to develop trialsclinical to assess trials the tosafety assessand the efficacy safety and of aefficacy potential of treatment. a potential treatmen AtBARDA Grifols, we At Grifols, believe we thisNIH/NIAID believe current this and current extraordinary and extraordinary situation situation companies require companies to of strive more toof strive than more ever to than to and BARDA NIH/NIAID and develop to clinical develop trials clinical toextraordinary assess trials the torequire assess safety the and safety efficacy and efficacy aof potential astrive treatment. potential treatment. At Grifols, we believe thisto current and extraordinary situation require companies to strive more than ever toever BARDA and NIH/NIAID develop clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy a more potential treatment. At Grifols, we At believe Grifols, this wetobelieve current this and current extraordinary and situation require situation companies require to companies strive to than ever more to than ever serve patients serve and patients communities. and communities. At Grifols, At weGrifols, believe we this believe current and current extraordinary and extraordinary situation require situation companies require companies to strive more to strive than more ever to than ever to serve patients and communities. At Grifols, we believe this this current and extraordinary situation require companies to strive more than ever to serve patients serve andpatients communities. and communities. serve serve patients serve and patients communities. and communities. patients and communities.
STEP STEP 1 STEP 1 1 STEP 1 STEP 1 STEP 1antibodies STEP 1 antibodies Obtain from those whowho Obtain Obtain antibodies from those from those who
ObtainObtain antibodies antibodies from those from who those who Obtain antibodies from those whowho Obtain antibodies from those have recovered from COVID-19 have recovered have recovered from COVID-19 from COVID-19 NEW DONORS have recovered have recovered from COVID-19 from COVID-19 have recovered from COVID-19 have recovered from COVID-19 Human blood can be broken down into many parts like liquid plasma, which
BRING THIS COUPON IN FOR A
Human bloodHuman can beblood broken can down be broken into many down parts intolike many liquid parts plasma, like liquid which plasma, which Human blood Human can be broken blood can down be into broken many down parts into like many liquid parts plasma, like liquid which plasma, which contains antibodies. When the body becomes infected a plasma, virus, the containsHuman antibodies. contains When antibodies. body When becomes the body infected becomes with infected awith virus, the with a virus, blood can bethe broken down into many parts like liquid which thewhich Human blood can be broken down into many parts like liquid plasma, contains antibodies. contains When antibodies. the body When becomes the body infected becomes with a infected virus, the with a virus, the antibodies learn from the disease, then evolve toit.beat it. When someone antibodies learn antibodies from the learn disease, from then the disease, evolve to then beat evolve When to beat someone it. When someone contains antibodies. When the body becomes infected with a virus, the contains antibodies. When bodytobecomes infected with a virus, the antibodies learn antibodies from thelearn disease, from then thethe evolve disease, then beatevolve it. When to beat someone it. When someone recovers from COVID-19, they will have the antibodies inplasma their plasma to fight recoversantibodies fromrecovers COVID-19, from they COVID-19, will have they the will antibodies have the inbeat antibodies their in their to fight plasma to fight learn from the disease, then evolve to it. When antibodies learn from disease, then evolve to beat it.someone When someone recovers from recovers COVID-19, from they COVID-19, willthe have they the antibodies will have the in their antibodies plasma into their fight plasma to fight off the virus. recovers fromvirus. COVID-19, they will have the antibodies in their plasma to fight off the virus. off the recovers from COVID-19, they will have the antibodies in their plasma to fight off the virus. off the virus. You must off theprovide virus. a valid photo ID, proof of your current address and your Social the virus.card to donate. Must be 18 years of age or older to donate. Security oroff Immigration
$20 BONUS
• Stump Grinding • 24/7 Emergency Services • Powerline Trimming • Land Clearing • Demolition Options Available • Organic Mulch Products - Delivery Available
g! rin + Hi 0K w $8 No 35$
TREE TRIMMING & REMOVAL
STEP 2 STEP 2 STEP 2 STEPSTEP 2 2 convalescent plasma STEP Separate 2 Separate STEPconvalescent 2 Separate convalescent plasma plasma
Separate convalescent plasma Separate convalescent plasma Are you a first time plasma donor with into its components Separate Separate convalescent convalescent plasma plasma into its into components its components into its components its components Full into into its into components its components Grifols? Or has it been 6 months since Benefits Plasma donation is similar to giving blood, except the blood is cycled through a Plasma donation Plasma is similar donation to giving is similar blood, toofgiving except blood, the blood except is cycled the blood through isthe cycled a through a machine that some the plasma before returning blood Plasma special donation is similar topulls giving blood, except theout blood is cycled through a
your last donation?
Plasma donation is similar to giving blood, except the blood is cycled through a special machine that machine pulls some that of pulls the plasma some ofout the before plasma returning out before thereturning blood blood a & Bonuses cellsspecial back the body. there, we can use special technology to separate Plasma Plasma isto similar donation to giving isFrom similar blood, to giving except blood, the blood except is the cycled blood through isthe cycled athethrough special donation machine that pulls some of the plasma out before returning the blood special machine that pulls some of the plasma out before returning blood cells back to cells the body. back From todifferent the there, body. we From can there, useofone special we can technology usereturning special to technology separate separate the plasma into components, of which is the antibodies thattocan special machine special pulls some that of pulls the some plasma out the before plasma out before the returning blood the blood Call 801-262-1596 cells back tomachine the body. From there, can use special technology to separate cells back to thethat body. From there, we canwe use special technology to separate plasma into different plasma into components, different components, one which one is the of antibodies which is the that antibodies can toyears that can defeat the virus. Plasma donation isof aof well-established process with cells back tothe cells the body. back From the body. there, From we can there, use special weof can use special to technology separate separate the plasma intoto different components, one which the antibodies that can the plasma into different components, one which istechnology the is antibodies thatmany can orthe email defeat theofvirus. defeat Plasma the virus. donation Plasma is a donation well-established is a well-established process with process many years with many years knowledge regarding safety for the donors.
the plasma into thethe plasma different components, different one ofwell-established whichone is the of which antibodies is the that antibodies can that can defeat virus.into Plasma donation is a process with many defeat the virus. Plasma donation is acomponents, well-established process with many yearsyears trent@diamondtreeexperts.com ofdefeat knowledge of regarding knowledge safety regarding for the safety donors. for is the donors. the virus. defeat Plasma the virus. donation Plasma is a donation well-established a well-established process withprocess many years with many years
“This is to thank you again for the brilliant tree job you did for me. The courtesy and professionalism of the whole team were impressive. I will recommend you to others whenever I have a chance.” – Kathleen Pardee
Mention this Ad for 10% off Tree Services Expires 8/31/2020
FREE ESTIMATES Contact us at 801-938-4345 or DiamondTreeExperts.com
S outh SaltLakeJournal .com
EXPIRES 8/31/2020
You can receive up to $600 in your first STEPas 3 a new donor. month STEP 3
of knowledge regarding the donors. of knowledge regarding safety safety for thefor donors. of knowledge of regarding knowledge safety regarding for the safety donors. for the donors.
STEP 3 Convert STEP 3 STEP 3into a medicine to STEPConvert 3 Convert STEP 3 into into a medicine a medicine to
treat patients Convert Convert into a medicine into a medicine to toto Convert Convert into a into medicine a medicine to to treat patients treat patients treat patients treat patients We can purify and concentrate the antibodies collected from donated plasma treat patients treat patients Your local Grifols Donor Center is NOW accepting plasma to develop a special medicine for those still sick with COVID-19 or possibly
We can and concentrate the antibodies collected from donated plasma plasma Wepurify can purify and concentrate the antibodies collected from donated We can purifythose We andcan concentrate purify the concentrate antibodies the collected antibodies collected donated from plasma donated plasma protect who haveand not been infected. With thisfrom medicine, doctors will
to develop a special medicine for those still sickstill with COVID-19 or possibly to develop a special medicine for those sick with COVID-19 or possibly We canhave purify We and concentrate purify concentrate the antibodies the collected antibodies from collected donated from plasma donated plasma from people who have recovered from to develop a consistent special tocan develop medicine aand special for those medicine still for those with COVID-19 still sick or possibly COVID-19 or possibly a precise dosing ofsick theCOVID-19. antibodies thatwith can fight COVID-19 protect those those whoand have been With this medicine, doctors will protect whonot have notinfected. been infected. With this medicine, doctors will
to develop atospecial develop medicine a not special for medicine those still for sick those with still COVID-19 sick with or COVID-19 possibly ordoctors possiblywill protect protect who have those who been have infected. been With infected. thisserve medicine, With this doctors medicine, will tothose possibly help them get back tonot life faster or as a temporary defense have a consistent and precise dosing of the antibodies that canthat fight COVID-19 have a consistent and precise dosing of the antibodies can fight COVID-19
protect those who have those not who been have infected. not infected. thisof medicine, With this doctors medicine, willcan doctors haveCOVID-19, auntil consistent haveand a consistent precise dosing and precise of been theWith antibodies dosing the that antibodies can fight that COVID-19 fight will COVID-19 aprotect vaccine developed. If you don't have your plasma donations are still to possibly helpisthem get back life faster serveorasserve a temporary defense defense to possibly help them getto back to life or faster as that a temporary have a consistent have a and consistent precise and dosing of the dosing antibodies of the antibodies can fight fight COVID-19 to possibly help to them possibly get help back them toprecise life get faster back ortoserve life faster asthat a temporary or serve asCOVID-19 defense a can temporary defense until auntil vaccine is developed. a vaccine is them developed. needed to treat ais to multitude of illnesses. to possibly help to until possibly get help back get life faster back to orlife serve faster as aortemporary serve as adefense temporary defense until a patients vaccine isthem developed. a with vaccine developed. until a vaccine until is a developed. vaccine is developed.
New donors visit www.grifolsplasma.com to This medicine is thethe This This isis the find a Grifols Donation center near Thismedicine medicine Thismedicine medicine theisis the you.
This medicine ThisHyperimmune medicine is the is the Globulin Anti-Coronavirus Anti-Coronavirus Anti-Coronavirus Hyperimmune Hyperimmune Globulin Globulin Anti-Coronavirus Anti-Coronavirus Hyperimmune Hyperimmune Globulin Globulin Anti-Coronavirus Anti-Coronavirus Hyperimmune Hyperimmune Globulin Globulin To find out more about donating in our COVID-19 Convalescent For more info visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 Program call (866) 363-2819.
For For info more visit - -WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 Formore more For info more visitinfo info WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 For more For info more visitinfo - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19
August 2020 | Page 3
Educational options available for parents concerned about school reopening By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com
I
t’s August and the 2020 school year is about to begin. For some parents, they can’t wait to see the school bus. Others are concerned about spread of COVID-19 in a traditional classroom. They consider such data points such as Zippia, a career website, reported that Utah ranks No. 1 in most crowded classrooms with an elementary class size of 24.2 and a secondary class size of 29. They wonder if the COVID-19 numbers will increase. Granite School District, like other districts, is working hard to make school safe. According to the GSD website, “Students will be isolated by classroom groups, face coverings will be required, interaction will be lessened, and social distancing and regular cleaning will be the norm. There will be no large gatherings, and the flow of movement will be controlled. Learning, however, will take place as it always has, with modifications to keep everyone safe. Schools are developing their site plans, which will be available to view July 30 at the latest.” What alternatives are there for students and parents if they are more comfortable keeping their children at home? There are three choices: homeschooling, virtual schooling and Granite distance learning. Homeschooling Technically, when schools shut down in March, students were not participating in homeschooling. They had school at home. Homeschooling is much more in depth. It takes commitment and time. The foundation of homeschooling is parents managing the education of their children at home. The management can take a variety of forms. At one end, is the unschoolers. Families believe in self- or child-led learning. They rely on real-world experiences. They learn by living. At the other end is school at home. They set up a classroom and use structured curric-
Journals
ulums and rely on schedules to keep things going well. There are many variations in the middle. Homeschooling does not mean you are going it alone. There are many resources online to help parents teach their children. It also might look different within a family. One child might do best in a classroom environment, while another child participates in homeschooling. Since parents are in charge, it can be customized to the need of family members. One option in the middle is a co-op or a commonwealth. In either case, families join for support and enrichment opportunities such as field trips, art projects and group classes. Most classes are taught by parents who volunteer their time. Co-ops and commonwealths are built around core values shared by the families who participate. For example, the Shining Light Commonwealth’s mission statement is a “Christ-centered community of families dedicated to leadership education. Our mission is to inspire self-governance, scholarship and public virtue in each of our members through mentoring and positive peer influence.” Often there are costs to participate and membership is limited. Families are expected to provide service to the group. Another option is to join a homeschool support group. This is a less structured group then a co-op or commonwealth. However, they are often formed around a geographical area or along common values (e.g., The Christian Homeschool Oasis, LDS Homeschool Connection). These groups provide field trips and other socializing activities. They often offer workshops for parents. There’s also a hybrid approach where the student learns at home but attends public/private school for certain subjects such as music, band or theater.
While schools open later this month, some parents might be concerned about the spread of COVID-19. There are three options to consider: homeschooling, virtual schooling or Granite distance learning. (Photo by Annie Spratt/Unsplash)
Virtual schooling This is the high-tech version of homeschooling and many of the same benefits and concerns apply. The biggest difference is that virtual schooling offers parents and teachers access to certified teachers and professionally created online school curriculum and lessons. Most virtual schools are tuition-free and are offered for grades K-12. With virtual schooling, students can meet with teacher and staff in a safe online learning environment for guidance, instruction and help when needed. Another difference is that schoolwork can be done any time or anywhere. This allows families greater flexibility. Like with homeschooling, the structure can vary according to the needs of the family and the student. There are programs that provide a more traditional educational setting even while learning remotely (e.g.,
C I T Y
Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R S
SOUTH SALT LAKE TEAM
The South Salt Lake City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout South Salr Lake. For information about distribution please email brad.c@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.
Page 4 | August 2020
SOUTHSALTLAKE JOURNAL.COM
FACEBOOK.COM/ SOUTHSALTLAKE JOURNAL/
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Bryan Scott | bryan.s@thecityjournals.com
EDITOR
Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING
Ryan Casper | ryan.c@thecityjournals.com 801-254-5974
TWITTER.COM/ SOUTHSL_JOURNAL
Time4Learning.com) to a very personalized approach (e.g., K12.com). Granite distance learning The third option is to use Granite distance learning, which is what students were using in the last quarter of the past school year. However, GSD has promised a new and improved system. “Distance learning will follow the same basic model as this past fourth quarter, but of a much higher quality based on feedback and our experiences. It is expected to keep pace with in-person instruction. The District has ramped up trainings and resources for teachers to assist them in providing distance learning. Student Wi-Fi access will be expanded as much as possible, and Chromebooks will be available for check out,” states the GSD website. The District also anticipates that students will have the flexibility to move to or from distance learning by quarter. l
Connect social media
CIRCULATION COORDINATOR
Brad Casper | brad.c@thecityjournals.com 801-254-5974 | Rack locations are also available on our website.
EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN Ty Gorton Amanda Luker Stacy Bronson Wayland Holfeltz
INSTAGRAM.COM/ CITYJOURNALS
LINKEDIN.COM/ COMPANY/ CITY-JOURNALS
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to inform and entertain our community while promoting a strong local economy via relevant content presented across a synergetic network of print and digital media.
PUBLISHER
Designed, Published, & Distributed by
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Keith Curtis| keith.c@thecityjournals.com Mieka Sawatzki | mieka.s@thecityjournals.com
SOUTH SALT LAKE CITY JOURNAL 9500 South 500 West, Suite 205 Sandy, UT 84070
PHONE: 801-254-5974
FREE | COMMUNITY | PAPERS
S outh Salt Lake City Journal
Communicable disease reporting draws attention in city code update By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com
F
or some time, the South Salt Lake City administration has worked on reorganizing the city code to make it more user friendly and readable to the public. This work also brings outdated code into compliance with state law. In the June 3 City Council meeting, the council approved with a vote of 5-2 the reorganization and revision to Title 8 along with other minor reorganizations. Title 8 is the Health and Safety section of the Municipal code. Councilmembers Corey Thomas, District 2, and Shane Siwik, District 5, voted against the adoption. They voiced concern about chapter 8.28. In the following council meeting, when the council just looked at chapter 8.28 Communicable Diseases, Thomas and Siwik still voted in the negative. The adoption passed 5-2. Chapter 8.28 “The chapter is too broad,” Siwik said. The chapter only has one subsection titled “Physicians” to report communicable diseases. Siwik’s and Thomas’ concern is that the ordinance goes beyond physicians. It reads in part: “It shall be the duty of every physician or other person caring for the sick within the city of South Salt Lake to make a written report to the board of health of the existence of
any case of a communicable disease in his or her charge.” Siwik suggested that if a person was caring for a loved one who had AIDS or an STD in their home, they are required by this statute to report the fact to the Board of Health. He wondered if this was an invasion of privacy. City attorney Hannah Vickery suggested that given the title of the subsection that the requirement is referring to medical providers. Fire Chief Terry Addison voiced support for another part the section. This part says, “it shall be the duty of every person, owner, agent, manager, principal or superintendent of any public or private institution, dispensary, hotel, boarding house or lodging house to make a report in like manner of any inmate, occupant or boarder contacting or suffering from any communicable disease.” He wants to make sure if a communicable disease is present that it is reported for the protection of his firefighters. For example, if COVID-19 is reported during the initial call, firefighters will know to approach it differently with greater personal protection equipment. Nuisance property Nuisance property is another part of Title 8. One important change is that the elements of Title 8 now applies to both resident and commercial property.
FREE
Public Charter School NOW ENROLLING FALL 2020-2021
SERVING ALL STUDENTS • KINDERGARTEN-6th GRADE • COVID-19 Online Option Available • • • • •
FREE
FULL Day Kindergarten Many fun field trips hile Supplies La st! Small class sizes Music, Art, & Spanish Specials FREE U.S. Dream Academy aftercare program available for 2nd-6th grade students • Low cost tuition aftercare program for kinder & 1st grade students (fee waiver eligible) • Engaging certified teachers
es that have high call volumes for public services (i.e., police, fire, etc.).” The code cleanup provided a clear procedure to deal with such situations. For example, in the case of vacant buildings, the city has a tier classification system addressing the condition of the building. There is a yearly fee associated with buildings in tier 2, 3 and 4. Reporting If you see any violation of this code, call South Salt Lake Code Enforcement at 801412-3657. l
LOOKING FOR $50 PART-TIME WORK? OFF WANT FLEXIBLE HOURS WITH HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS OFF?
Granite School District is hiring Kitchen Managers, Nutrition Service Workers, and Nutrition Worker Substitutes! Applicants must have: High school diploma or equivalent, background check, and be willing to obtain a food handler’s permit.
Use Coupon Code 420-SSL
385-324-3591
922 Baxter Dr, Suite 110 South Jordan
420CardClinic.com
Must present coupon at time of purchase.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner positions available! 15 to 40 Hours per week with Flexible scheduling! Hiring at over 100 schools within the district. Pay starts at $12.25 per hour.
Mention this ad and we will pay of your bill! (bills over $500)
$50 801-972-1153
2614 Decker Lake Lane, West Valley City, UT 84119
S outh SaltLakeJournal .com
Alex White, community development director, reported to the council that since the pandemic her office has had an increase of calls about nuisance property. White offered a definition of nuisance properties stating, “Nuisance properties can include a variety of things including but not limited to abandoned buildings, vacant properties, abandoned construction sites, buildings or properties with illegal activity, buildings or properties that fail to comply with code enforcement issues (solid waste, weeds, animals, etc.) and businesses and/or residenc-
• • • •
BACKPACK & SCHOOL SUPPLI UPON ENROLLM ES ENT W
www.endeavorhall.org
A vacant property in violation of Title 8 because of bulk waste on the property. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)
Call Us: (385) 646-4321
www.graniteschools.org/ nutritionservices/jobs
28 West 700 South • Salt Lake City, UT 84101
801-363-4400 rickwarnerbodyshop.com
August 2020 | Page 5
Look no further than SSL for interesting sights and features By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com
T
he dog days of summer are here. Grab some fresh lemonade and read about 10 unique things about South Salt Lake City. 1. Home of the Spaghetti Bowl Not far from downtown SSLC, two freeways (I-15, I-80) and Utah State Route 201 meet. The connection is nicknamed the Spaghetti Bowl. In 2017, about 300,000 vehicles traveled through the Spaghetti Bowl. This connection is such a landmark that it is represented in the SSLC logo. The horizontal bar represents I-80 and the vertical bar represents I-15 with the black block representing the Spaghetti Bowl. The white S touches the lines representing how these freeways affect SSLC. 2. TRAX Central Pointe The TRAX’s station at 221 W. 2100 South is appropriately called Central Pointe because the blue line from Draper, the red line from Daybreak, the green line from West Valley City, and the s-line from Sugar House all meet at this station. 3. Water tower At 2500 S. West Temple stands a special, unique part of SSLC history. As Julie Taylor, public relations coordinator for SSLC, explained. “It is called the Horton Tank after Horace Ebenezer Horton, who was a founder of the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company that built the tank. At the time it was built, in 1949, it was the first tank of its kind to be constructed out of the company’s Utah workshop, and A northbound TRAX pulls into the Central Pointe Station. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals) was the only one of its kind in Utah. The tank held water for 40 years but was replaced by different wells and storage systems that still serve the city today. The tank still stands tall (at 162 feet) as a symbol of the city and our pride in having our own city water system.” 4. 200 East On 200 East between Claybourne Avenue and 2700 South, the road becomes a oneway road heading north. This is because the right of way becomes too narrow for two vehicles. The assumption is that historically this part of 200 East was an alley and homes were built preventing expanding the road because in the end, the road works. 5. Most diverse suburb in Utah While not the most diverse city (that goes to West Valley City), SSLC is ranked No. 1 most diverse suburb in Utah according to Niche.com. Niche.com uses data from a variety of sources to determine grades. In the case of SSLC, the city was given two A+ for nightlife and health and fitness. The city received As for outdoor activities, diversity, and commute. Other areas were scored lower, giving SSLC an overall score of B. 6. Woodrow Wilson Elementary Woodrow Wilson Elementary School is unique for two reasons. The first is how many languages are spoken by the students. Above left: The water tower at 2500 S. West Temple. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals) Last year, over 30 cultures were represented Above right: The nicknamed Spaghetti Bowl, where two freeways and one state road meet. (Courtesy of Google Maps) and languages spoken. In addition, Woodrow
Page 6 | August 2020
S outh Salt Lake City Journal
Wilson is unique because it occupies part of the old FHP hospital. 7. Central Park The area running from State Street to 300 East and 2500 South to 3000 South is known as Central Park. It is a historical name. Jesse Fox Jr. developed the area of South Lake and referred to it as Central Park around 1890. He was impressed with Central Park in New York City and wanted the same green space in an urban setting. In 1936, the Town of Central Park was approved. The former Woodrow Wilson Elementary, now the Central Park Community Center, still provides open space for soccer, baseball and for families to enjoy. 8. Utah International Charter School The Utah International Charter School (350 E. Baird Cir.) is a charter middle school and high school. It is the only school in Utah that is designed specifically for helping English-language learners and new Americans get a jump on their education by using teaching methods developed by the International Network for Public Schools. They have small class sizes with the average of 20 students. In the 2019-2020 school year, the school had 229 students, of whom 90% were born outside the United States. 9. National AVID Demo School Granite Park Junior High School is a national AVID Demo School—the only one in Utah. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a college-focused program helping students develop learning skills. GPJHS has used the AVID approach for years and have implemented it so well that those seeking information about AVID visit GPJHS. 10. Web address SSLC’s web address is a .com rather than a .gov. The uniqueness started about 1520 years ago. The city purchased SouthSaltLakeCity.com in the beginning before .gov was available. The city decided they needed a shorter address and tried to purchase SSLC. gov. However, the controlling agency in the federal government would not allow it. The agency required the complete name of the city and had to include the state of Utah in the domain name (e.g., SouthSaltLakeCity.Utah. gov). This didn’t shorten the name. In fact, it would have made it more complicated. The city decided to buy SSLC.com and abandon efforts to buy sslc.gov. Do you know of other unique things about SSLC? Let us know. l
S outh SaltLakeJournal .com
GPJHS in a National AVID Demo School. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)
Left: The Central Park Community Center remembers the Town of Central Park. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals) Above: The north end of 200 East at 2700 South. (Bill Hardesty/ City Journals) Bottom left: Utah International Charter School (Bill Hardesty/ City Journals) Below: New Woodrow Wilson Elementary. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)
August 2020 | Page 7
What’s your legacy?
Students get ready to become Walker Wolves at new SSL school By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com
O
Serving Local Families Since 1885 COMPASSIONATE FUNERAL PLANNERS
During one of life’s most difficult moments, you deserve the utmost respect, kindness, care, and guidance. Six generations of Larkins have been devoted to serving Utah families in their time of need, and that unique experience enables us to guide you in preparing services for your loved one with consideration and respect. 4 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE WASATCH FRONT Larkin Mortuary 260 East South Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 363-5781
Larkin Sunset Lawn 2350 East 1300 South Salt Lake City, UT 84108 (801) 582-1582
Larkin Sunset Gardens 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 S.) • Sandy, UT 84092 (801) 571-2771
Larkin Mortuary Riverton 3688 West 12600 South Riverton, UT 84065 (801) 254-4850
www.LarkinCares.com Page 8 | August 2020
n Aug. 24, an event will occur in South Salt Lake City that was last seen decades ago. A new elementary school, Olene Walker Elementary School, will open for about 400 students. Walker Elementary (3751 S. 900 West) is in the Riverfront area of South Salt Lake. Principal Valerie Bergera was appointed principal of the new school after serving two years as the principal of Roosevelt Elementary. She is entering her 15th year as an elementary principal in the Jordan School District, in the Canyons School District, at a charter school, and in the Salt Lake School District. Her experience includes gifted magnet programs, dual immersion programs, Title 1 and turnaround schools. Speaking about why she accepted the appointment, Bergera said, “I knew when I accepted the position that I would move with the students to Walker and continue to lead the school forward. I wanted the opportunity to continue to apply the knowledge and training I had received in another school to help a diverse population of students be successful. I have developed a passion for working with students in high needs schools. I have enjoyed the opportunity to work in schools with diverse student populations. I have learned so much from the students and their families as well as the staff who are dedicated to making a difference in their students’ lives.” Bergera is student focused. “I believe in every child, and I believe in doing everything possible to help children be successful. Schools need to be a place where children can be successful and that looks different for every child,” Bergera said. Bergera also spoke about her vision of Walker Elementary. “I see Olene Walker as a strong community school. In March, Roosevelt Elementary was recognized by the Granite School District Board for having the third highest median growth percentile out of 62 elementary schools in the District based on last year’s RISE test scores. We also had significant growth and improvement on our state report card specifically with students who had previously scored in the lowest 25%. I would anticipate continuing this trend of academic progress and growth for every student. Walker Elementary has high expectations for staff and students. We hope to have a strong culture of collaboration and a goal to strive to do our best.” Community School For years, many students in this area were bused to Roosevelt Elementary. This made it hard for parents to get involved in school. Now, they can enjoy the richness of a community school.
Valarie Bergera the principal at the new Olene Walker Elementary School. (Courtesy of Valarie Bergera)
“Now they have the opportunity to attend a true neighborhood school. The proximity of the school will allow more families access and opportunities to get involved. We feel like the community center on site can be a place where we work with our families in a partnership to better support our students,” Bergera said. The staff has already started to make socially distanced home visits. They are also partnering with district community center employees in helping parents access resources. “We want families to feel safe and comfortable to come back to school and feel connected to the staff. We won’t be able to do the back-to-school events we had previously planned to do, but we know how important it is to make these connections before school starts,” Bergera said. Boundary While the core of students are coming from Roosevelt Elementary, students from Granger Elementary and Rolling Meadows Elementary are also coming. Granite School’s website offers parents/ caregivers a chance to type in their address and see your student’s assigned school. Or you can view the maps at www.graniteschools.org/planning/boundary-maps/ Roughly, the boundaries for the new school are beginning at 1300 West and Meadow Brook Expressway traveling north to 2900 South. The line travels east along 2900 South and then Mill Creek Road. At Main Street, it moves south to 3300 South where it turns east to State Street. Again, it turns south. At Baird Avenue, it turns west and winds itself to I-15. It travels south to the Murray City border and turns west. It winds itself along the border to Jordan River. It travels north to the north side of the Meadow Brook Expressway, then west to 1300 West. l
S outh Salt Lake City Journal
Chris Griffiths is the new GPJHS principal By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com
W
hen students return to school later this month, they will see changes at Granite Park Junior High School. Sixth graders now join the ranks, a major renovation changed the interior and exterior and a new principal has taken the reins. New principal Chris Griffiths was appointed principal before the soft school closure in March. He is coming from Cyprus High School after five years as a vice principal. He also was the interim principal at Matheson Junior High. While at Cyprus, he helped integrate ninthgraders into a high school setting, which sets him well for integrating sixth-graders into a junior high setting. Griffiths taught social studies at Olympus Junior High School for 11 years before going into administration.
Griffiths’ teaching philosophy is student centered. “I really have the philosophy that in education today, we teach the student. We don’t just teach content,” Griffiths said. He praised the tradition at GPJHS of individualizing education for each student. He mentioned how students have many needs. “We need to ensure that we provide for those needs. Whether it is developing academic skills or ensuring their social emotional needs are met. And sometimes it comes down to us providing kids with the basic things they need in term of food and other needs,” Griffiths said. One of Griffiths’ major concerns is how to help students prepare for in-school learning later this month. He mentioned there are a lot of changes that will need to be taught and
reinforced the first couple of days. Griffiths is not only focusing on students, but also wants the teachers to be successful. “Our No. 1 resource we have here at Granite Park is amazing teachers who care about the kids. Without that, Granite Park will not be successful. You couldn’t ask for anything better as a principal,” he said. He continued, “I want my teachers to grow and develop their capacity. Have them become leaders because if we have great teachers, we will have more successful kids.” When asked what kind of legacy he wants to leave years from now, Griffiths said, “The footprint I want to leave is to build the capacity of everyone I interact with, and I also want people to talk about Granite Park in a way that they say it is a community school, they really care about their kids and they work hard to meet the needs of their kids no matter what it is.” Sixth-graders join school Integrating sixth-graders into a junior high environment has its challenges. “Having two thirds of your students new to the building is a concern. We need to train that many kids about the Granite Park way,” Griffiths said. Griffith feels confident with the change
because, “We have hired a lot of great teachers to work with our sixth graders. We also continue to develop our PLC’s (Professional Learning Communities) system and philosophy here.” PLCs are where teachers work together to ensure the content is standard basis as well as developing interventions and strategies that help kids who are not where they need to be in terms of academic success. Renovation Over the summer, GPJHS has undergone major renovation starting with a new front main entrance including a ramp. The main office is still undergoing changes to make it more welcoming and efficient. The room known as the Little Theater or the choral room is no longer. The room sloped down like a movie theater with theater seating. The room was leveled and changed into offices, discussion rooms and a teachers’ lounge. The old Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ seminary building is now dedicated to the AVID program and is called the AVID Hub. Finally, portable classrooms are in the back to accommodate the increased number of students. l
LIFE & LAUGHTER COACHING
$49 g n i h c a o C e Lif e i k c i u Q
*One Session *One Topic *No Commitment
Peri@LandLCoaching.com
New GPJHS principal, Chris Griffiths, stands outside one of the few doors not under construction. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)
S outh SaltLakeJournal .com
LandLCoaching.com August 2020 | Page 9
Cottonwood High snags best orchestra from Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Cottonwood High School performing arts students had something to cheer about: best orchestra performance in the school’s performance of “Matilda” announced virtually at the Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards. (Amber Tuckness/Cottonwood High)
I
n a typical year a packed theater of high school students eagerly await the announcement of the Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards; this year instead had them at home watching screens. In a world that has gone virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first-ever live streaming of the awards show, presented by the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, announced state winners, including Cottonwood High for best orchestra performance in the fall 2019’s performances of “Matilda.” Perhaps one of the only ones who wasn’t intently watching online was Cottonwood High’s instrumental director, Amber Tuckness, who immediately learned of the honor through social media and texts from friends. “I immediately sent an email to my students afterward, telling them how proud I was of them,” she said. “It’s a nice recognition, and I’m thankful that they were hon-
Page 10 | August 2020
ored. We had a huge pit full of musicians and this award validates us. So many high schools don’t have live pit orchestras anymore, but we do and that is one of the reasons our musicals are so successful. Recorded music is not the same feel and it’s harder for the actors.” Tuckness said that typically pit orchestra students are learning music on their own time; it is not part of their grade. Rehearsals may take 50 hours in advance and then, another 10 days of practicing with the actors. “We make it fun and have each day follow a theme. For example, this year, with ‘Matilda,’ we had a yellow theme day in honor of Miss Honey and even ate honey snacks. We always have quesadillas in the pit and play trivia and just have it be a fun, bonding experience,” she said. Tuckness said that after the judges watched their performance, they came to the stage and talked to the students.
“The kids got the immediate feedback from the judges and got complimented on providing live music to the show. It was a fun show to do,” she said. “I’m glad they did the virtual awards ceremony; it was one less thing to take away from the kids this school year.” Cottonwood wasn’t the only area school to be recognized. Hillcrest High tied for best choreography with “42nd Street” and Anthony Tibolla of Juan Diego Catholic High won best supporting actor. It was Hillcrest High’s first time winning best choreography, said Chelsea Lujan, dance teacher and choreographer for the show. “Once we decided on the show, I let the kids take the initiative to learn the (tap) steps,” she said. “If they learned them by August, then they would be on stage in the musical. Some of them watched videos, some took classes and some already knew how to tap so when we came together in the fall, we had a core group who could help teach the rest of the cast.” About 90 cast members—productions company, dance company and 30 other dedicated students—provided extra help for other 80 members of the chorus, who found themselves dancing in the aisles during the performances. “We had tappers helping non-tappers and they fed off each other and got more and more excited. They wanted to do their absolute best and succeed. They know what a Hillcrest musical is and our expectations and they put forth that effort, work hard and value that to create something that is spectacular. What was fun about the students learning it was hearing students tap in the hallways, shuffle under their desks—but I think it drove the teachers crazy,” Lujan said.
The cast watched the awards individually, about 50 of them group chatted together. “They were really happy they were honored for their hard work and saw how much what they did was appreciated,” Lujan said. “It was a little sad to be away from each other during this, but I’m glad they got the recognition.” Juan Diego Catholic High theatre director Joe Crnich also is glad his student got recognized for his performance. “I’ve worked with Anthony since his eighth-grade year and he has continued to grow and grow, and he just had a great breakout moment,” he said. “We were working on the reprise of ‘Footloose,’ when Rev. Moore (Anthony’s character) confesses to the congregation and we needed to see that moment when he puts the burden down. It just wasn’t there. But during the performance, Anthony found it and figured out a way to make it work, emotionally, and let us in. It was magical.” Tibolla, who already was named a finalist, watched the live stream when it was announced he won—and not only was a trophy in the mail to him, but Tibolla was awarded a $1,250 scholarship and invited to compete in the CS Music Competition. “At first I didn’t know what to do,” he said. “My family was sitting in the living room, and I was in shock when I heard a very loud scream. My grandparents and aunt and uncle called and texted. Then, I got a bunch of texts congratulating me. I was a little sad that we weren’t there as a cast to celebrate because we’re like family. The whole thing was and still is surreal; it’s a very big honor that I’m very grateful because it is what I want to do.” l
S outh Salt Lake City Journal
www.sslc.com
CITY NEWSLETTER
August 2020 Cherie Wood, Mayor 801-464-6757 mayor@sslc.com
South Salt Lake City Council Members LeAnne Huff, District 1 801-440-8510 lhuff@sslc.com Corey Thomas, District 2 801-755-8015 cthomas@sslc.com Sharla Bynum, District 3 801-803-4127 sbeverly@sslc.com Portia Mila, District 4 801-792-0912 pmila@sslc.com L. Shane Siwik, District 5 801-548-7953 ssiwik@sslc.com Natalie Pinkney, At-Large 385-775-4980 npinkney@sslc.com Ray deWolfe, At-Large 801-347-6939 rdewolfe@sslc.com
City Offices
Mon-Fri 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 801-483-6000 220 East Morris Ave SSL, UT 84115 Animal Service 801-483-6024 Building Permits 801-483-6005 Business Licensing 801-483-6063 Code Enforcement 801-464-6712 Fire Administration 801-483-6043 Justice Court 801-483-6072 Police Admin 801-412-3606 Promise 801-483-6057 Public Works 801-483-6045 Recreation 801-412-3217 Utility Billing 801-483-6074 Emergencies 911 Police/Fire Dispatch 801-840-4000
Heartbreak and Hope remembered at New Park On July 16, I shared a moment of remembrance with Pearlly Wa, the mother of Hser Ner Moo, on what would have been her 20th birthday. So many emotions flooded back from the time our community learned of the little girl’s disappearance and death. It was a turning point in both my career in public Mayor Cherie Wood service and my personal life, as I came face to face with a mother’s worst fear. We all vowed that never again would a child be lost or slip through the cracks. This became a defining moment in our City. Out of the confusion and heartbreak, we found so many friends and helpers. The number of people who committed to helping our youth, particularly refugees, grew by leaps and bounds. We realized this was a movement. Donations, volunteers and community partners flooded in. A community center was established at the South Parc Townhomes, in Hser Ner Moo’s name. It began offering preschool, afterschool activities, parenting classes and a warm welcome to our country. Our city became an integral part of this refugee community and organized the contributions of United Way, Granite School District, numerous churches and university service programs. And thus, Promise South Salt Lake was born. Our commitment to education, health, safety, and prosperity became a public policy and priority and we now serve 4,000 residents each year. I have shared this story many times, and I know many of you have, too. It is a painful memory, and I empathize with anyone who has lost a friend of family member to senseless violence, including many of you fighting today for equity and justice in our society. To you, I want to spread a message of hope. We can and will change the odds for all of our kids, all of our families. This past month we dedicated a new park in memory of Hser Ner Moo, and named it Promise Park. It sits just north of the townhomes on 500 East and the S-Line and is now a favorite place for neighborhood youth to play. My wish is that the park is a lasting reminder of our hopes for every single person in this City, and the promise to help one another reach them.
You Matter! Be Counted! Represent SSL!
¡Usted Importa! ¡Hágase Contar! ¡Represente a SSL!
my2020census.gov
City News SSL City Council Meetings Meetings likely electronic only, visit sslc.com for info. Wednesday, August 12, 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, 7 p.m
SSL City Planning Commission Meetings Thursday, August 6, 7 p.m. Thursday, August 20, 7 p.m. NOTICE: All May meetings are subject to postponement, cancellation or live stream only. Check sslc.com for updates.
Citizen Review Board
The City Council began discussion on establishing a SSL Citizen Review Board in July. It was decided that small group meetings to determine policy and direction would be the next step. The Police Chief, Mayor and City Council are committed to creating a sustainable Citizen Review Board that serves the community well. See page 1 of this section for contact information of all elected officials – input, feedback, and dialogue are encouraged, please reach out.
Notice of Sewer Rate Increase Effective July 1, 2020, the South Salt Lake Sewer Utility rate increased. This impacts all residents north of Mill Creek. The new rate will apply to the July billing, due 8/20/2020. Why are rates increasing? This is due to a $210 million upgrade at Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility (CVWRF). This will keep CVWRF in compliance with federal EPA regulations aimed at lowering phosphorus levels in recycled wastewater. What is the City doing to offset cost? The City has secured a Hardship Grant for $2 million, along with a 0%-interest loan for the remaining $9,248,000 needed to cover our portion of the cost of this project. What is the new rate? Sewer fees have increased by $2 per 1,000 gallons of winter water usage. For the average household, this is an additional $8-$10 per month. This increased fee enables the City to make scheduled payments on the 0% interest loan, our portion of the CVWRF upgrades. Email utility@sslc.com or Call 801-483-6074 with questions.
City Council Corner – Change Comes from Dialogue, Not Violence By Shane Siwik, City Council District 5 Between Covid-19 and civil protests, this year has seen its share of events that seem to put us at odds with each other. From issues about wearing masks and the role of government to questioning the need for police reform, we seem to all have different opinions. And those opinions can be loud at times. The right to openly debate policy, to vigorously defend our beliefs is what this country was founded on. The very framers of our nation challenged each other from various points of view until the framework of our country was formed. These ideas and exchanges are healthy and important in finding solutions. So too are peaceful protests part of the fabric of our society. Groups have protested the need for change since the inception of this country. And these peaceful protests have brought many needed changes. Our constitution grants us the freedom of speech against our government. But it must remain peaceful. Otherwise the message of the protest gets lost. Recently, the role of the police in our community has been raised. Yes, there are incidents that occur within law enforcement
that violate not only the law, but all of human decency. But there are so many more examples of good officers defending the citizens they have sworn an oath to protect. Is there room for, and even need for improvement? Absolutely. But by painting a broad brush over all law enforcement not only is unfair, it creates a sense of hopelessness; it reinforces a false narrative that there is no good in the world. The officers of South Salt Lake work hard to defend this community. Yes, there is always room to do better. And as part of that process, the city is developing a citizens’ review board. The role of that board is currently being discussed. Of course, we are also living in a pandemic. That too has brought a list of changes in how we go about our lives. New rules and laws have been made. And in these efforts, we as your representatives try to make the best decisions. Passions run high when we feel intrusions into our lives or misdeeds to ourselves or others. But now more than ever, please be involved. Be part of the solutions. Be engaged in the conversations. . Note: Opinions expressed here may not be representative of all Members of the City Council.
South Salt Lake City Council Action Report Summary
Full agendas, minutes, handouts and video recorded meetings available at: sslc.com/city-government/council-meeting Date 6/17/20 6/17/20 6/17/20 7/8/20 7/8/20 7/8/20 7/8/20
Agenda Item Tier 2 Public Safety employee pick up Fiscal year 2020/2021 City Budget Repealing and Replacing Chapter 8.28 Financial Auditing Agreement
Subject Resolution Authorizing City Pick Up of Public Safety and Firefighter Employee Retirement Contributors An Ordinance Adopting the Budget and Property Tax Rate for the South Salt Lake City Fiscal Year July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 An Ordinance of the South Salt Lake City Council Repealing and Replacing Chapter 8.28 A Resolution Approving the 2020 Financial Auditing Services Agreement between the City and Squire and Company, PC
Police Department Appropriation – Bikes
Action Approved
Next Step No Further Action
Approved
No Further Action
Approved
No Further Action
Moved to Unfinished Business for July 22, 2020 Approved
Further Discussion
A Resolution Granting Permission for the South Salt Lake Police Department to Appropriate Certain Property in its Possession to public interest Use CARES Act Funding to A Resolution Approving the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Approved the City Act Funding Agreement between the City and Salt Lake County Interlocal between Salt A Resolution Authorizing an Interlocal Agreement between the City and Approved Lake County and South Salt Lake County regarding installation of New Traffic Signals at 2700 Salt Lake Main Street
Street Trees at Granite Library Work is underway for the new Salt Lake County Granite Library and things are changing fast. One thing is staying the same, though – the stately ash trees on 500 East. Upon city request, the trees were incorporated into the new design, keeping the neighborhood character along 500 East. The contractor and county worked with a professional arborist to evaluate the trees, prep them for construction with pruning and treatments, and then designate a protection zone for the roots where no construction activities are permitted. This is a high standard of care, but the trees are worth it! Many of these trees are nearing 100 years old, as they were planted in the early days of Granite High in the 1920s. WHAT’S A TREE WORTH? • Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20–50 percent in energy used for heating. • Healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property’s value. • A mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000. Source: www.arborday.org
No Further Action No Further Action Moved to Unfinished Business for 7/22/20
Public Safety Commitment to Community As our summer comes to an end and we look at getting back to school, we usually host the National Night Out Against Crime Community Event. Due to COVID-19, this annual national coordinated event has been canceled. We look forward to meeting again in person next year. Here at South Salt Lake Police, we are steadily handling calls for service, meeting with business owners, conducting property checks, helping out at the men’s homeless resource center, and helping preserve life and property throughout the City. We have had two significant cases in which our officers have acted expeditiously to help others. I would like to highlight these as they called for the utmost professionalism, quick action, and exceptional effort. The first case was when officers were called to Golf the Round on a suspicious activity and located a submerged vehicle in the pond with a child strapped into a car seat. Officers made multiple attempts to swim under the freezing water to pull an 18-month-old from his car seat. The officers recovered the toddler and immediately had medical perform life-saving measures. Everyone on the scene that evening and throughout this challenging investigation performed in an expedited, heroic, and selfless manner.
The next case is from 3300 South and 300 East when a truck traveling at a high rate of speed went through the front interior of a home. There were three children in the living area at the time of the crash. A 10-year-old boy was pinned by the truck. He sustained multiple injuries. Police and Fire Department personnel acted in an Police Chief expedited, meticulous manner to extricate Jack Carruth the 10-year-old and ensured the other children were safe. The injured boy was transported to an area hospital and is in the care of a physician. I see our officers respond to critical, traumatic calls and perform in a selfless, professional and heroic manner daily. I commend them for their continued professionalism and commitment to the South Salt Lake community. They don’t just perform their job duties, they rise the many challenges presented and fulfill their duties with expertise and dedication to our community.
Fire Department ISO Review Fire continues to be the largest single cause of property loss in the United States, and homeowners typically purchase fire insurance to cover losses. In order to determine what a property owner should pay for fire insurance, departments participate in an Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification (PPC) audit. The ISO fire score, is a rating that determines how well a local fire department can protect your community and home. South Salt Lake will be participating in this audit starting this month. This extensive inspection will take a few days to complete but, it’s well worth it. The Insurance Services Office is an independent company that analyzes the structural fire suppression delivery system provided in communities. A PPC number is determined based on this analysis, and insurance companies use PPC information to help establish fair premiums for homeowner and commercial fire insurance. Assuming all other factors are equal, the price of fire insurance is, in general, lower in communities with a good PPC than in those with a poor PPC. Public Protection Classification numbers range from 1 to 10; South Salt Lake currently has an ISO rating of 3, placing us in the top 5% in the country. The grading system for the PPC program used by ISO is derived from the Fire Service Rating Schedule (FSRS) and each area of service receives a grade or deficiency points depending on the scope and quality of service. Four areas are considered in the grading of the community’s fire suppression capabilities: emergency communications, fire department operational considerations, water supply, and the community’s risk reduction and fire prevention programs. Each section is scored, with a total of 100 points possible. Emergency Communications – this examines how well we receive and dispatch alarms. Areas included are the reporting system, communication center, computer-aided dispatch facilities and dispatch circuits for fire department alerting. There is a maximum of 10 points on the communications section, and checks compliance with NFPA 1221 standards. Operational Considerations – they review the distribution
of fire companies, number of firefighters available to respond to emergencies, and type of training and numbers of those who participate in training at the company level. Also considered are the fire department testing of pumps, apparatus inventories compared to NFPA 1901 standards and the deployment of Fire Chief pumper and ladder companies based on Terry Addison response distance and time constraints for a first alarm structure fire assignment, as well as standard operating procedures for structural firefighting and the establishment of an incident management system. This area allows for a maximum of 50 points. Water Supply – this compares the available water supply at representative community locations with the needed fire flows for those locations. AWWA guidelines are used to ensure there is a sufficient water supply for fire suppression beyond the daily maximum water consumption of the community. Hydrant size, type, and installation, as well as the frequency and completeness of hydrant inspection and flow-testing programs are all considered in this review. This section is worth 40 points. Community Risk Reduction – this final section takes into account fire prevention code adoption and enforcement, public fire safety education, and fire investigation. This allows for extra credit of up to 5.5 points, for a possible total of 105.5. After completing the field survey, ISO analyzes the data and calculates a PPC score. The final rating received may well have an impact on insurance premium rates within a community. The lower the number the better rating received, creating the possibility for lower insurance rates. So, as we go through this audit we will keep our mission statement in mind; “The South Salt Lake Fire Department will always endeavor to protect lives and property with dedicated people providing exceptional service to our community’s diverse needs.”
Preparedness Tip #8: Get Familiar with Your Company’s Emergency Preparedness Plan If disaster strikes at work you need to be prepared. Being proactive in the preparation for emergencies is crucial. In addition to knowing multiple exits, you should participate in workplace evacuation drills and consider keeping some emergency supplies at the office. Visit www.ready.gov and click on “Ready Business” for more information.
Crosswalk Safety Back to School means more pedestrians along roadways and occupying crosswalks. Pedestrians have the rightof-way in crosswalks. You must come to a complete stop if anyone is walking in the crosswalk. Granite School District gets back in session on August 24 (see page 7 for details). Children will be walking to and from school throughout the day. If the flashing lights are on for a school crossing the speed limit is 20 mph. Drive aware and help keep our youth safe.
The SSL Police Department wishes to thank the South Salt Lake Honorary Colonels for their continued support of our officers. For decades, they have supported our department from behind the scenes. This past month, they came forward publicly to voice their support for our officers. We are fortunate to have their support, thank you to all our Honorary Colonels!
Business & Development southsaltlakehonorarycolonels.com
MOTORCYCLE RIDE
RIVERFRONT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES
Under Construction – Phase 3 of Riverfront Single Family homes is underway. The project includes approximately 80 new single family homes near 900 West and 3800 South.
August 15, 2020 | 10:00 a.m. Harley Davidson 2928 South State. Ends at Central Park 2797 South 200 East. Pre-registration $25 until Aug. 14 Day of registration Aug. 15 8:30 a.m. | $30 Scenic ride through East Canyon and around Echo Reservoir. Participants will receive a custom t-shirt and lunch at Central Park, along with raffle prizes. Proceeds benefit the South Salt Lake Honorary Colonels for the support of the South Salt Lake Police Department.
THE HUB OF OPPORTUNITY
Grand Opening – Located at 3848 S. West Temple, this new apartment building has 156 residential units with a mix of market rate and affordable income units. 50 of the residential units are set aside for clients of the Columbus Community Center program on the autism spectrum. The ground floor of the building is a mix of retail and office space. The project is located adjacent to the UTA TRAX light rail station.
Nominate a South Salt Lake Beautiful Yard OLENE WALKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Opening Soon – Located at 3571 South 900 West, this new elementary school is part of the Granite School District and is named for Utah’s first and only female Governor. The school is scheduled to open for students this fall.
Mayor Cherie Wood’s Beautiful Yard Award thanks SSL residents who have made exceptional efforts that positively impact their neighborhood. Beautiful yards make neighborhoods more attractive and vibrant. It’s easy to nominate, please take a moment to contact Urban Livability at 801464-6712 or vlelo@sslc.com to recognize a deserving yard.
GOLDEN CARE ASSISTED LIVING
Under Construction – Located at 654 East 3300 South, a new assisted living and memory care facility with 76 residential units. The project includes a number of on-site features: barber shop, small retail space, and recreational amenities. Construction is anticipated to be finished in late 2020.
Congratulations to the Ayala Family! Thank you for your commitment to a Beautiful Yard!
BLUEPRINT JORDAN RIVER 2020 Share your vision and priorities for the continued improvement of the Jordan River Parkway. Visit blueprintjordanriver.org to take the survey and share your ideas for the future of this gem in our community! Complete the survey to enter the drawing for a $100 REI gift card.
Community Happenings New Roots Farmers Market at Central Park LUNCH on the Move Wednesday, August 19 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. SSL City Hall 220 East Morris Ave Discover a new food truck each month and stop in to see what’s new at City Hall!
The New Roots Farmers Market is backed by New Roots of Salt Lake City— a subsidiary of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Participating farmers gain access to land and are then able to sell their produce at the Farmers Market. Specializing in ethnic crops, many locally grown vegetables (bean leaves, amaranth, red and daikon radishes, lambsquarter, solanum and pumpkin shoots) are impossible to ďŹ nd at conventional markets and are highly desirable to those who love them. The market also includes a food pantry, free kids lunch and activities, music and is a safe gathering space for all. Now through October 7th, Wednesdays 4:00 – 6:30 p.m., Central Park, 2797 S. 200 East.
Participate in civic engagement, meaningful service, and develop leadership skills, while investing in your community and making friends. Highly qualified high school and junior high youth who live in South Salt Lake, fill out the application by scanning the code on the left.
The results are in from last month’s survey, and the fan favorite is..... Fitts Park!
YOUTH CITY COUNCIL
As one resident commented: “Fitts Park is great because I can access Mill Creek (and the trail that runs alongside it), as well as some great pavilions and big, shady trees. It’s the perfect spot for an afternoon picnic.�
South Salt Lake Recreation Presents:
Fall Outdoor Soccer Who:
4 years old – 6 grade
When:
Weekday Evenings between 6-8pm Times and Dates are TBD
th
Location: Central Park Ball Field (2797 S. 300 E.) Fee:
What is Head Start?
$25 for 1st child, $20 for 2nd child, $15 for 3rd child 

Additional $5 non-resident fee for participants living outside the boundaries of South Salt Lake. Scholarships available to those who qualify ($10 with free/reduced lunch letter presented at time of registration)
***Payment will not be taken until after August 30th*** ***League may be modified or cancelled based on state and local recommendations***
Deadline to Pre-Register: August 30th Pre-Register for no cost online - sslc.com (Space is VERY Limited!) ÇŚ ‘…‹ƒŽ ‹•–ƒÂ?…‹Â?‰ —‹†‡Ž‹Â?‡• ƒÂ?† ‡™ ƒÂ?‡ —Ž‡• ™‹ŽŽ „‡ ‡Â?ˆ‘”…‡† ÇŚ Â?ƒŽŽ‡” ‡ƒÂ? ‹œ‡• ƒÂ?† ’ƒ…‡† —– ‹‡Ž†• ‹ŽŽ ‹Â?‹–
ƒ–Š‡”‹�‰ ‹œ‡•
Pre- Register for No Cost online - sslc.com No Payment will be taken until AFTER dates and times are finalized
For more information call 801-412-3209
Best Park of 2020
Head Start is a FREE preschool program that helps children prepare for kindergarten and future school success. ďƒ
High-quality, award-winning program
ďƒ
Children ages 0-5
ďƒ
Healthy meals, case management, and health screenings provided
ďƒ
Over 40 locations throughout Salt Lake and Tooele counties
Program Options: ďƒ
3.5 hours (M-Th) Sept - May
ďƒ
6 hours (M-Th) Sept - July
ďƒ
8 hours (M-Th) Sept - July
How to Apply For more information: Applications accepted yearround. Apply online: ďƒ
Website: www.utahca.org/ head-start
ďƒ
Salt Lake: 801-972-2337
ďƒ
Tooele: 435-882-6743
ďƒ
Wendover: 435-665-7805
ďƒ
Email: ERSEAteam@utahca.org
Utah Community Action does not deny placement on the basis of a disability or its severity to any child. We do not provide transportation for students; however, assistance with carpooling or bus/TRAX vouchers available. Head Start is an equal opportunity program and does not discriminate based on race, religion or sex.
The City has several ‘original’ parks including Fitts (67% of the vote), Lions (6.7%), and the Jordan River Parkway (20%). There are also a growing number of new parks, including Central Park and Promise (Hser Ner Moo) Park, which gathered a few votes, but need more fans. Check them out sometime!
Community Happenings South Salt Lake Welcomes Phase One of South City Directly to the west of WinCo at 2200 Main Street, Phase One of South City is in full gear. You can’t miss the steel beams as you travel into South Salt Lake from the north. When completed this project will add more than seven acres of residential, retail, and commercial spaces. This includes the six-story 150,000 square foot office building, most of which is already under contract, and will bring to our area over 350 new jobs and countless dollars in business revenue. A second phase residential building is also in the works, its plan includes a large underground parking garage, centralized green community space and swimming pool to enhance its aesthetic appeal as well as benefit those who live there. South City’s ethos is rooted in building an accessible and modern creative district in South Salt Lake and is within walking distance to grocery, retail shops, distilleries, and breweries. South City is also next to the S-Line and Parley’s Trail and only minutes away from Sugar House or SLC’s vibrant restaurant scene via TRAX. SSL welcomes South City as a new destination for those seeking an idyllic On-The-Move urban lifestyle. As the developing core team, Dakota Pacific Real Estate, has projected the opening of Phase One South City in January of 2021.
Promise
Promise South Salt Lake provides Family Liaisons to support families and youth to thrive in South Salt Lake City. We can help facilitate access to community resources and programs, such as: afterschool, early learning, employment, food, health, and more! For questions or more infomation, contact Edward Lopez at elopez@sslc.com
Local company, restaurants work to feed front-line workers By Libby Allnatt | l.allnatt@mycityjournals.com
The permanent, clog free gutter solution!* As part of the Helping Heroes program to bring meals to front-line workers, Nicholas and Company provides food, containers and delivery services. Restaurant partners donate time and labor to help prepare the meals. (Photo Courtesy of Amanda Barry)
A *We are dedicated to ensuring your home is protected year round, which is why we offer a no-clog guarantee.* If your LeafGuard® gutter ever clogs, we will come out to clean at no cost to you. • One-Piece System • Protective Overhang/Trim • ScratchGuard® Paint Finish
• Customization Options • Professional Installation`
385-300-0869 Receive a $25 Lowe’s gift card with FREE in-home estimate!*
85% off Labor* Does not include cost of material.
Bonus! Call during this program & receive a $200 Visa Gift Card with your LeafGuard purchase!* *Conditions and restrictions may apply. Call for details to learn more. Offers Expire 4/30/2020
Guaranteed not to clog for as long as you own your home, or we will clean your gutters for free! LeafGuard operates as LeafGuard of Utah in Utah under license number UT 11650889-5501
food distribution company in Utah is finding ways to give back amid the coronavirus pandemic while supporting the local economy. Nicholas and Company developed an initiative called Helping Heroes in partnership with the Utah Football Foundation to help feed front-line workers with the help of local restaurants. Since the program began in April, almost 2,000 meals have been donated. “The general public knows how hard the restaurant and hospitality industry has been hit during this pandemic,” said Nicole Mouskondis, co-CEO of Nicholas and Company along with Peter Mouskondis. “We are the behind-the-scenes part of the supply chain that gets restaurants all the products they need. When restaurants are in trouble, we’re in trouble, too.” When the pandemic began making an impact in Utah this spring, Nicholas and Company created task forces to address different issues. One of those issues was an excess of inventory as businesses closed their doors as part of the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. The company worked to offload some products to local retail organizations, including Smith’s and Associated Food Stores, but they wanted to find a way to further help the community. “We saw a lot of help going to feeding front-line workers,” Nicole said. “We noticed that we could create a win-win-win scenario if we helped ourselves, our customers and our community.…We figured that we could take the inventory we needed to donate, we could have our restaurant operators that didn’t have enough work for their workers, we could use their labor to make meals, and get those meals back out to the community.” Nicholas and Company provides food, containers and delivery services, while the restaurant partners donate time and labor to help prepare the meals. Cafe Trio was the first onboard, along with Culinary Crafts, Cuisine Unlimited and Stoneground Kitchen.
The facilities receiving the meals are all over Utah and include acute care centers that were heavily affected by the pandemic, Nicole said. Among the facilities are Rocky Mountain Care facilities, the People’s Health Clinic in Park City, the South Davis Metro Fire Department, Alta Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care, and several others. “It helped us to get products into the community, it helped our customers, and it helped the restaurants helping make the meals,” Nicole said. She said they knew the project would be more sustainable if partnered with a nonprofit organization. One task force member had connections with the Utah Football Foundation, who were looking to do something to help with the crisis as well. “Unfortunately, we’re still in uncertain times,” Nicole said. “We knew that we would only be able to sustain this program for so long with our own donations.” Another way Nicholas and Company innovated during the pandemic is with the direct-to-consumer online market Nicco Marketplace. The public can place orders online then visit the company’s Salt Lake City facility to pick up an assortment of goods, including fresh produce, pantry staples and some non-food essentials. Nicole said that giving back to the community is important because of the “philotimo” philosophy at the heart of the company, which refers to the Greek word meaning “the love of honor” and a duty to improve the world. The mission has grown even more prevalent throughout the coronavirus pandemic. “Regular consumers can help their own communities by supporting local business,” she said. Nicholas and Company is the largest independent food distribution company across the Intermountain West. The company’s Las Vegas facility is part of the Helping Heroes program as well, providing meals through partnerships with local nonprofits to first responders in Las Vegas. l
GSD hopes higher teacher salary and detailed COVID-19 plans will entice quality applicants By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com
T
he retirement of 19 long-term educators at Holladay area schools leaves a big gap in experienced teachers. Granite School District hopes that their newly approved pay scale will help attract and retain teachers, despite the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. “In general, we are still seeing far fewer graduates in the state of Utah than we have in the past, which requires us to do a lot of out of state recruiting in order to fill all of our positions,” said Ben Horsley, director of communications for Granite District. “We are fortunately seeing about the same amount of applicants. There have been significant investments made to ensure our salaries are competitive with our surrounding districts, and that has been a great help in attracting high quality applicants,” Horsley said. In a board meeting June 16, GSD presented their annual budget and plans for new teacher salary increases. Mitch Robison, director of budget development, reported a proposed $50,000+ salary for incoming qualified teachers with a bachelor’s degree. There will also be a 5% cost of living adjustment. Teachers needed to quickly learn about distance learning when school went online in March. Horsley feels that the new hires, many of whom are recent college graduates and have likely used distance learning, will be prepared for the unique challenges that may come this school year. “Our new hires are well versed in distance learning strategies having utilized them for their own learning. Regardless, we provide appropriate new and ongoing professional development for teachers to enhance their digital instruction,” Horsley said. Horsley said the district doesn’t have specific numbers on teachers who chose not to return due to COVID-19 concerns. “I don’t have any detailed figures or numbers on [whether teachers have left due to health concerns] as of yet. It is still too early to see if any resignations or retirements are tied to a return to school this fall.” The Utah Education Association has published several statements on their website as the situation unfolds. “UEA members need to know their rights and job protections. A flowchart was created to provide answers and assist members in getting assistance and advocacy to make decisions about returning to work,” said UEA general counsel Tracey Watson. UEA president Heidi Matthews has made several statements about the safety of schools reopening. “I’m hearing from teachers all around the state who are fearful their school district plans don’t go far enough to protect them and their students. We urge each school district to seek educator input in their
S outh SaltLakeJournal .com
Granite School District showed teachers their appreciation with yard signs in the spring. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)
back-to-school plans,” said Matthews in a statement dated July 8. “It’s important for us to get back to in-person learning, but we must make the transition in a way that does not unnecessarily endanger the health of our students and school staff. If we don’t prioritize the health and safety of school staff and properly accommodate high-risk employees, we fear schools may not remain open long,” Matthews said. Matthews also acknowledged that communities of color, which represent large parts of Granite District, were hit “unequally” by the pandemic. This demographic is also statistically underserved in education. Matthews said extra steps must be taken to “close the gaps that were exacerbated” by school closures. The homepage for GSD, www.graniteschools.org, states, “We are working very hard to provide a high quality, individualized learning experience for all of our students.” The site has a link to help teachers with distance learning and a link for a tech support request for families. Horsley said that Granite is taking steps to make sure teachers feel that they are safe at work. “We have and continue to work with our teacher association on a variety of issues and questions regarding what classrooms will look like this fall.” l
MEDICAL SERVICES IN SOUTH SALT LAKE Midtown Community Health Center provides healthcare services for your entire family, from pediatrics to senior care, making it convenient and easy to care for you and your family in one location.
• Medical Services • Prescriptions • Dental Services • Behavioral Health Services • Care Management • Outreach & Enrollment Services • Personal Patient Portal • Interpretation Services • After Hours Care • Most Major insurance plans accepted Sliding fee discount program for uninsured patients We are a non-profit organization that provides services based on income and family size. Our funding comes from patient fees, federal grants and private donations. 2253 S. State, South Salt Lake 84115 Open 8am - 6pm Mon.-Fri. 801-486-0911| After Hours 801-626-2645 www.midtownchc.org
August 2020 | Page 19
Medical Reserve Corps volunteers helping test underserved populations By Drew Crawford | d.crawford@mycityjournals.com
The Medical Reserve Corps is a group of volunteers that are helping provide underserved populations testing without barriers. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Smith)
T
here are many unsung heroes that have gone unrecognized during COVID-19 and the volunteers for the Medical Reserve Corps are one of the greatest kept secrets. Every day the volunteers are out testing underserved populations, making sure that a drive-up test is accessible to anyone that needs it. Aaron Smith volunteers 60 to 80 hours a week, dedicating all of his time to helping make sure that the community stays healthy. “I began volunteering as much as I could because there was just school or nothing else, because everything was just closed down. Helping with quarantine, helping with the isolation centers, and helping with one of our big projects which is mobile testing, especially for hotspots or large community sites.” Eventually Smith was hired on for a fulltime role with the organization. Smith, who plans to become a doctor attributes his desire to get involved with the passion that he has for helping people get the care that they need. “One single thing can really just change the whole trajectory of where you think you are going to be going for post-grad,” Smith recounted. “My original plan was to be applying for medical school right now, but due to the pandemic happening, it was a little bit harder to really pull everything together, I decided to apply next cycle.” “It wasn’t really just because it was hard to pull everything together, there was an actual demand for medical help right now, and I felt like if I immediately went into medical
Page 20 | August 2020
school, I would spend all my time just studying and growing that way, but I would always just have this feeling that I could have helped, but I didn’t,” Smith added. “So, I decided just to prolong my application until next year so I could spend this year fully dedicated and giving back to my community and just helping out with this effort as best as I can.” Smith approaches the opportunity to constantly be testing as his own personal calling and will sometimes wake up as early as 4 a.m. with the excitement that comes from working with his team of like-minded people who love working in the medical field.
There is never a typical day with the Medical Reserve Corps, and Aaron’s job involves many responsibilities. As the test team lead, Smith oversees and coordinates plans, trains team members and works with other leaders to onboard new staff. During times that Smith is not coordinating with members of the logistics team to plan for future testing, his team will spend a lot of time on the ground doing mobile hotspot testing. The team will go to specific communities that are underserved or they believe are at greater risk to get COVID-19. They go to a centralized area of the community to advertise with flyers and through conversation that they are going to be testing at a designated time and area. Patients do not have to pre-register for testing and are able to drive up to the location with nobody getting turned away. The group is able to test at least one person every minute with the number often being higher. Overall, hundreds of people are tested for COVID-19 during every testing session that might not otherwise get a test. “We try to differentiate ourselves, because if you want to get tested through the county you do not need a doctor’s note, you do not need to prove that you were in contact with somebody that was COVID positive, you don’t even have to be symptomatic,” Smith explained. “We test everyone that comes to our site. It’s free of charge. No insurance information needed, no copay- it’s completely free.” The team will have a schedule for what testing will look like for the week and are able to prepare in advance to set up the site. They figure out what the traffic flow will be like, arrange a plan for advertising and staff that will work based off a projection of how many people they plan to be tested. On the day that people come to be tested they will drive up in their cars, register, and
answer a set of epidemiology questions before they are tested. Smith realizes that testing people for COVID is an essential way towards stopping its spread. “At a time when there may be asymptomatic cases, I believe that it’s one of the most important things to know who actually has it and who doesn’t,” Smith summarized. The Medical Reserve Corps is a federal volunteer program that was created after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to provide the infrastructure for those who want to help serve their local community. The corps is activated in the community whenever there is a medical crisis in the area. The Medical Reserve Corps is always looking for new volunteers to be involved and helped the community, and they have made the process of training straightforward for those who want to participate. Volunteers can help with set up, registration, flagging traffic flow, and testing. To volunteer with the corps email mrc@slco.org and mention Aaron Smith in the email. You do not need medical experience to volunteer with the corps. l
(Photo courtesy of Aaron Smith)
S outh Salt Lake City Journal
Backpacks for refugees’ spark excitement for group of girls By Kathryn Elizabeth Jones | k.jones@thecityjournals.com
SOUTH SALT LAKE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Pockets of new home developments are under construction in West Valley City including Liberty Homes’ The Vistas, Arcadia Builders’ Newton Farm and Canyon Cove Homes. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)
A
t the end of June, Misti Smith, president of the Young Women in the West Point Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints in West Valley City said she needed something for her girls to do. “We needed to serve a little bit right now. This period of time is stressful and kind of depressing. Many are discouraged,” she said. Smith’s connection to the Utah Refugee Connection on Facebook allowed her to set things up. “When I saw the need I thought, perfect!” In previous years, the Utah Refugee Connection has gathered roughly 3,000 backpacks prior to school starting filled with school supplies, and the group hoped they could add to that number this year, even if it was only in a small way. Not only backpacks were needed but binders, lined paper, spiral notebooks, pens, pencils, glue sticks, crayons, colored pencils, scissors and washable facemasks. The group of six had only three weeks from start to finish to get things done. All supplies had to be new, gathered, and assembled in backpacks by the due date. Enlisting the help of the Relief Society from their ward, a group of women who also serve others in need, they sent out an email specifying to ward members what the young women were doing. Within two weeks, the girls and their leaders had gathered enough materials to fill 25 backpacks for student refugees. “People were eager,” Smith said. “I was surprised at all the donations we received. We didn’t give people a ton of time. People
S outh SaltLakeJournal .com
dropped off [their donations] every day.” After the two weeks were up, and the supplies had sat in Smith’s car for a couple of days, the girls and their leaders met in the cultural hall of the church to assemble what had been donated. “We had an assembly line, and we wore our masks,” she said. “At first I wondered if the girls would keep them on but they did. We’d also brought along hand sanitizer— there was lots of handwashing.” But that’s not all. “I had fun filling them,” Skye, a volunteer, said. “When my mom told me about the activity, I was excited about it because the kids were going to get something they probably wouldn’t normally get.” But gathering together, even as a small group, presented a challenge. Keeping a distance during assembly line time was tough. “But you do the best you can,” Smith said. COVID-19 or no COVID-19 it was “about time to serve,” Smith said. “Not [only] for the girls but the leaders, too. We had to do some service.” Since the refugee service, the group has been wondering what else they can do. They’ve discussed helping at Primary Children’s Hospital when the pandemic is over and making blankets. Smith’s own family is waiting anxiously for the day when they will be shopping and filling their personal backpacks, plus purchasing an extra backpack each to be filled with supplies for a refugee. “It just feels good,” Smith said. Interested in donating? Visit serverefugees.org/give/ l
Join our dynamic network of businesses and individuals working together to deliver growth and economic opportunity!
sslchamber.com info@sslchamber.com | (801) 466-3377 August 2020 | Page 21
Doors open at county libraries as phased reopening continues By Kathryn Elizabeth Jones | k.jones@thecityjournals.com
N
ot being able to walk into a library to browse and check out books has been tough for many people during the coronavirus shutdown. Bethany Wursten, a frequent patron of the Hunter Library, said she always enjoyed picking out her books, looking through them, and making sure they were what she wanted. That process changed a bit due to the pandemic. Beginning May 26, when curbside pickup was put into place, Wursten started putting in her order via the library’s website, waiting for her time, and picking up her books at the front of the library. “Other than one time, when the system was down, everything has run pretty smooth,” she said. “It was nice and easy. With a toddler, I didn’t have to worry about dragging him in,” she added. In fact, she was surprised at how much she liked it. Utah County Library Director Jim Cooper said curbside pickup has been successful. “We’ve had a great response to the temporary changes at the libraries,” he said. Over 300,000 plus items are currently checked out, and eBook learning, including language learning, has expanded 140%. More patrons than ever are taking part in
online Storytime and STEM classes. The 72hour quarantine of items has been an ongoing process, as well as the shift in picking up holds at the front of the library, but Cooper said he has been happy with the results. Though the physical library doors have been shut for a time, the county libraries have still been running, just differently. And with
the continued phased reopening of branches on July 20, patrons can now enter their respective county library—something that hasn’t happened since May. After setting up an appointment, patrons enter their library at their designated day and time. There will be a “one-way pass holds area where they can pick up their books, as
Librarians record programs for kids to watch online. (Photo courtesy Sara Neal)
well as an area of displays,” Cooper said, adding that the displays are sort of a, “I think I’d like to check this out” opportunity. Of course, masks are still the order of the day, but, hopefully, patrons will enjoy this phased reopening. “Our greatest concern is the safety of our staff and the public,” he said. Case in point: When the system went down in July getting it back up was “our first priority. It was important that we protect the public’s privacy.” Computers are not available for use, nor the rental of rooms, but Cooper said they are continually “inventing processes with the staff. We are asking, ‘How will this work?’ and trying things out.” “We want people to get into their hands what they want and need for their life.” As patrons wait for a full opening of the library, Cooper suggests those with young families go online for Storytime. “It is more popular now than when we had it inside the library. We stream it live, and it is archived. You can watch it at your leisure. We used to have about 30 kids participating in Storytime, now hundreds can participate.” Plus, anything in the library can be checked out, he said. “If it’s not at your library location, we can transport it to where you are.” l
Readers like you keep us printing!
Connecting communities along the wasatch front
9/30/2020
Be a part of your community news by donating to City Journals today!
NEED A TRANSMISSION? Call Ron! All Quality Transmissions 385-242-4676 30 Years of Experience Mention this ad for 10% Off
Name: Phone: Address:
A PLACE FOR THE
WHOLE FAMILY!
2500 South Main Street • South Salt Lake
Page 22 | August 2020
State:
One time Donation: $
Monthly Donation: $
Credit Card Number:
WE ARE OPEN AND FOLLOWING CDC GUIDELINES
CALL TODAY FOR OPEN LANES: 801-487-7758
City:
Zip:
Exp Date:
Mail to: City Journals at 9500 South 500 West, Suite 205, Sandy, UT 84070 For security reasons, if you would rather contact City Journals directly, call (385)557-1010 or email: accounting@mycityjournals.com
Thank you for your support
J
C
Journals C I T Y
801-254-5974
VALLEYJOURNALS.COM
Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R S
S outh Salt Lake City Journal
Take It Outside
Life
Laughter D ND AN A by by
PERI KINDER PERI KINDER
For the last five months, we’ve been locked up with our families for 17 years. Each day is another long, hot trek to bedtime. Parents break their brains thinking up creative ways to entertain their kids during this “summer vacation” that started in March and threatens to continue through fall. The phrase “Families Can Be Together Forever” is now a terrifying prophecy. Here’s what we’ve learned: Sometimes video games ARE the answer. Celebrities share Tik Tok videos about being “stranded” in their $6.5 million log cabins where everyone has their own TV, floor, masseuse, trampoline and personal chef. I’m not belittling their suffering, I’m just . . . well, I guess I am. For common folk, trampolines are as hard to find as Lysol wipes. Puzzles, board games and sidewalk chalk are valuable commodities on the black market (along with livers, since we’ve been day- drinking for
months). Everyone is heading outside to escape. Extended families stretch the “No large gathering” rules to the max because COVID wouldn’t ruin the annual family reunion, right? Lakes, canyons, national parks and camp sites are packed with people who thought they were the only ones who needed a break from looking at the same dirty carpeting for one more day. I’ve been on several hikes this summer, sometimes with the puppy, sometimes with the grandkids. Not necessarily relaxing, but at least we take the fight to a different location. My latest hike was tackling Bell’s Canyon with my daughter and three of my grandkids, including a 3- and 4-year-old. If that sounds like something out of a Stephen King novel, you are correct. Before we even started up the trail the complaining began. “I’m so hot.” “The trail is too steep.”
“The dirt is too dirty.” “I’m so thirsty.” My daughter told me to shut up and set a better example, but it was too late. The littles were soon echoing my whines at super-high decibel levels. I ended up confiscating water bottles after a good portion was dumped onto the trail to make mud. I explained to the toddlers what happens when you dehydrate. They didn’t care. It took roughly five days to make our way to the reservoir where the kids splashed in the cool water, tossed wet sand at each other, threw crackers at the ducks, slipped on the rocks and screamed at the dragonflies. I considered calling in a rescue helicopter, figuring the expense was worth not having to walk back down the trail. Instead, we bribed the kids with McDonald’s, promising processed chicken parts if they’d walk faster than a drugged porcupine. We made it back to the car exhausted, sunburned and
grumpy – just like a normal summer hike! Backyards are also being used to their fullest. Our luxurious backyard pool (a 6’ wading pool from Walmart) is usually a weird shade of green and full of dead bugs, but that doesn’t stop us from soaking in the probably dangerous water, eating popsicles. If I don’t get sick from COVID, malaria might be another option. The grandkids set up a tent a couple of weeks ago, hoping to have a backyard campout. They roasted marshmallows over the grill and climbed into their sleeping bags only to be shaken awake two hours later by a microburst that threatened to carry them to Oz. Everyone was safe, but traumatized, which seems to be the status quo in these crazy times. Returning to school is the big debate right now, followed by what should be a strange Halloween and holiday season. Sure makes eternity feel like a really long time. l
SO SALT LAKE SPRINKLERS
SPRINKLER REPAIR
ANY REPAIR
Quality Work, Great Price Call Lynn 801-930-7600 www.evergreenelandscape.com
HELP WANTED Now Hiring for part time positions in our
Food Service Department
CLEANING SERVICES
Barks, Colored Mulch, Compost, Soil Blends, Playground Chips, Sand-Gravel, Landscape Fabric & More
Call Today 801-618-1868
Flat work, Driveways, Patios, RV Pads, Sidwalks, Etc.
4660 S 200 W Murray
General Cleaning, Deep Cleaning Move In/Move Out & Specialty Cleaning www.royalproclean.com
$20 OFF FIRST CLEANING!
REAL ESTATE Home Seller Mistakes
Free Report reviews 7 Costly Mistakes to Avoid Before Selling Your South Salt Lake Home. Free recorded message
1-844-873-1717 ID# 3019
CLEANING SERVICES
VEHICLES WANTED
General Cleaning, Deep Cleaning Move In/Move Out & Specialty Cleaning
Marc Huntington, Coldwell Banker Residential Bkg - Union Heights
We’ll buy your running & non-running, wrecked or broken car, truck or van.
Call Today 801-618-1868
(801) 506-6098
$20 OFF FIRST CLEANING!
A Local Utah Company
www.royalproclean.com
HVAC
CTR HEATING & AIR
High efficiency furnace & A/C units 20 years experience Financing available FREE diagnostic with repair Call for seasonal specials:
(801) 999-4220
S outh SaltLakeJournal .com
LANDSCAPE MATERIALS
Reasonable Prices, Quality Work, Prompt Service
Pay starts at $11.60 per hour. Call 385-646-4321or go to www.graniteschools.org/foodservices/jobs
Royal Pro Cleaning Services
CONCRETE WORK
Royal Pro Cleaning Services
CarSoldForCash.com
LAWNCARE SERVICES Lawn Care Service 30 Years Experience
Spring Yeard Clean Up Mowing, Trimming, Edging, Aeration, Aeration & Power Raking, Sprinker Repair Reasonable Prices! We also accept Venmo. Ask for Bernie 801-916-5463
Call Dan: 801.518.7365 YARD SERVICES
REPLENISH LANDSCAPE
801-218-2617
Free In Home
Mention this ad for 10% Off
Call: 801-797-2956 www.ShopCulliganSLC.com
SIDING
Affordable Yard Care / Capitol Exteriors Tree Trimming & Removal Siding – Soffit – Fascia – Flower Beds, Hedges, Railroad Ties, Mulching, Sod, Mowing, Concrete Senior Discounts
Call Dan:
801-518-7365
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
Apex Clean Air
Installations & Repairs Call today for a free in home estimate.
801-618-4649 ROOFING
801-272-7000
All types of roofs
$650 OFF any reroof over 2,000 sq. ft.
HEATING & AIR&CONDITIONING Water Softener Air Purification
Raingutters
Call NOW For SPECIALS (801) 253-2566
AIR DUCT CLEANING
CAPITAL AIR DUCT CLEANING Professional Evaluation and Work.
Call: 801-259-0837
Phone Number Correction from Last Month
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
SUGARHOUSE HEATING & AIR
Residential and Light Commercial
SERVICE & REPAIR
Call Jeff at 801-347-1150 LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
24 Hour Emergency: 801-484-0506 www.sugarhousehvac.com
WATER/AIR QUALITY TEST
PLUMBING/HVAC
24Hr Rooter Connectionz Drain, Sewer, Plumbing, Heating & Air Services. $49 OFF Any Service! Call Today
801-758-2095 UtahsPlumber.com
FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS
OLYMPUS ROOFING
801.887.7663 SERVING WASATCH FRONT SINCE 1973
CONCRETE
CONCRETE CHAMPS Stamp Color | Driveways | Sidewalks Foundation | Retaining Walls | Patios
Free Estimate - Call Yama 801-835-0051
August 2020 | Page 23
Is Your Retirement Secure? Š 2020 Wealth Management CPAs
Given the current political & economic environment, many Salt Lake residents are worried about their future. Two
FREE consultations & a personalized retirement plan ($1,000 Value)
10 Reasons You Should Schedule a FREE Consultation 1.
Learn how to protect your estate from longterm care expenses.
6.
Learn how to avoid being taxed on your social security benefits.
2.
Lessen the chance that you outlive your retirement income due to taxes or inflation.
7.
Discover the pitfalls of probate and the steps you can take to avoid it.
3.
Learn how to avoid being forced to sell your assets or surrender your money to Medicaid.
8.
Learn why a living trust may be more effective than a regular will and why you may need one.
4.
Learn how to receive long-term care benefits while remaining in your own home.
9.
Learn when you should not put your children on your bank accounts and property titles.
5.
Learn how to decrease the tax on your IRA or 401(k) for a more comfortable retirement.
10. Learn about best practices to investing and safe alternatives to the stock market.
Call Today!
& Receive two free consultations
(801) 797-2954
WealthCPAs.com
Investment Advisory Representative and advisory services offered through TownSquare Capital, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor 5314 River Run Drive, Provo, UT 84604. Not affiliated with any government entity. All named entities are unaffiliated.