City of Taylorsville Newsletter 2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400
MAYOR'S MESSAGE Dear Friends and Neighbors,
www.taylorsvilleut.gov
August 2021 Taylorsville Art Show Celebrates City's 25th Anniversary
Transparency, Respect, Innovation, Connection, Collaboration. These five words define our new Taylorsville City Police Department, and are the values they have adopted as their own. I have been thinking a lot about these key words over the past month, as our police department launched on Mayor Kristie S. Overson July 1 and now has a month under its belt. They are reflected in each of the 70 men and women who make up the force. They are more than just words. They represent all that we are and all that we want to continue to be. I am so proud of our new TVPD and the good people who make up the department. I am grateful for their commitment and dedication to our community and keeping us safe. A great deal of thought was put into the five values that define our new department. Each word was drawn from the SWOC analysis conducted by our Community Outreach Group, made up of members of the community, that was organized to assist in the formation of TVPD. Each word carries meaning and significance: • Transparency – policy and practices which are perpetually open to public review and refinement • Respect – admiration and regard for the feelings and traditions of others • Innovation – open to new ideas, methods, or products which allow for adaptation and growth • Connection – linked both personally and professionally to foundational principles which bind the community and provide for a sense of belonging • Collaboration – to assure the inclusion and cooperation of all internal and external stakeholders These words are framed for display in the police offices at City Hall as an everyday reminder of their importance. You can also read more about the department’s Vision and Mission, as well as its strategic plan, on our website at: www.taylorsvilleut.gov/services/tvpd Along with these values, two beautiful wood panels depicting the department’s new badge and patch will be hung in the lobby area of TVPD’s offices. All of the officers pitched in to have the woodworking completed as a gift to Chief Brady Cottam. The panels were created by Nate Eye, owner of 710 Custom Woodwork in Ogden. Both the panels and framed values are a great reminder of all that TVPD stands for. As Chief Cottam has said, "We have hired good, proactive people who are great problem-solvers — the epitome of our role within the community. They are doing good things in life, which I believe translates to doing good in their profession." –Mayor Kristie S. Overson
WHAT’S INSIDE – AUGUST 2021 Frequently Called Numbers, Page 2 Council Corner, Page 3 TVPD Update, Page 6 Heritage Remembrances, Page 7 Environment, Page 8
From Taylorsville Dayzz fireworks to a beautiful backyard gazebo, all of the artwork submitted for this year’s Taylorsville Art Show depicted the city in one way or another. Artists were asked to submit artwork that was representative of the city, in celebration of Taylorsville's 25th anniversary this year — and they delivered. Look for the winning artwork to be displayed in the coming weeks on the second floor of City Hall. Among the winners is Emily Gabbitas, who was honored with the Mayor's Award. She entered her painting of Taylorsville Dayzz fireworks in the youth category up to age 10. Also pictured with this article is youth winner Porter Pehrson, who won first place in the Youth Woodworking category for his sculpture of a snake made from natural grape wood. In the Senior Watercolor category, Gwen Smith (pictured, as well) took first place for her painting, Gazebo. "Our back yard in Taylorsville is a little piece of paradise with this gazebo and lush garden," she said in describing the painting. "We have appreciated living in Taylorsville most of our lives. We have watched it change from sparsely populated farmland to a thriving city. We thank the Lord for allowing us to enjoy this piece of his beautiful world." Mayor Kristie Overson thanked all of the participants for sharing their beautiful artwork, as well as the Arts Council for all their hard work in organizing and putting on the Art Show. "We are so lucky to have so many talented artists in Taylorsville, and it is so much fun to see their artwork, especially as it reflects our wonderful city," Mayor Overson said. "What a great way to celebrate Taylorsville's 25th birthday."
ART SHOW CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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City of Taylorsville Newsletter
| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
ART SHOW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Police Department
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HERE IS THE FULL LIST OF THE WINNERS: Mayor’s Choice Emily Gabitas Youth Winners
Dominion Energy
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1st place:
Painting — Christopher Gabitas
1st place:
Photography/Collage — Finley Lawrence
1st place:
Unique — Sylvia Pehrson
2nd place:
Unique — Ruben Pehrson
1st place:
Woodwork — Porter Pehrson
1st Place:
Pencil — Annie Holman
11-19 Winners 1st place:
Taylorsville Code Enforcement
EVENTS AUGUST 2021 Aug. 4, 5 & 6 – 8 p.m. Peter Pan Jr. @ SLCC Alder Amphitheater, 4600 S. Redwood Road. Presented by the Taylorsville Arts Council. See Page 5.
Aug. 7 – dusk Movies in the Park @ City Hall, west lawn. Showing is ‘Onward.’ See Page 5.
Aug. 10 – all day Municipal primary election for Council District 5. See www.taylorsvilleut.gov/government/elections for details.
Aug. 4 & 18 – 6:30 p.m. City Council Meeting @ City Hall and online. Watch a live-stream of the meeting on the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov
Aug. 10 – 7 p.m. & Aug. 24 – 6 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.
Save the Date: Sept. 11 – dusk Movies in the Park @ City Hall, west lawn. Showing is ‘Trolls World Tour.’ See Page 5. Find our calendar of events every month on the city’s website, where you can also submit your own events for possible publication. Go to www.taylorsvilleut.gov
Mixed — Alaina Pehrson
Adult Winners 1st place:
Painting — Durga Ekambaram
1st place:
Photography — Preston Holman
2nd place:
Photography — Heidee Pehrson
3rd place:
Photography — Donna Carter
1st place:
Digital Art — Donna Carter
Senior Winners 1st place:
Painting — Jerry Camp
1st place:
Watercolor — Gwen Smith
2nd place:
Watercolor — Jamie Chandler
1st place:
Woodwork — Gil Pehrson
1st place:
Unique — Gil Pehrson
August 2021
COUNCIL CORNER
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
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Thank You to All Who Made Our Collection Day Event the Best Yet
By Council Member Ernest Burgess For the past eight years, our Taylorsville Green Committee has held a Collection Day event where residents can drop off unwanted items for recycling or disposal, and each year, it has grown in popularity. This year was no exception. More than 500 Taylorsville residents participated in the annual event on June 19 at Taylorsville High. Normally, the event is held on Earth Day, in March, but the coronavirus pandemic prevented the Green Committee from holding it at all last year and delayed the Collection Day until June this year. The event aims to keep chemicals and electronics out of the landfill, and chemicals out of storm drains. It is an opportunity to drop off household hazardous waste, electronic waste, document shredding, prescription medicine, green/yard waste, bulk waste and recycling. The Green Committee holds the collection event each year in keeping with its mission and goals to conserve resources, reduce pollution and slow climate change. Literally, tons of items were dropped off and collected. See the accompanying article for totals. It is amazing to me how much of a difference this event can make in protecting our environment and keeping our community clean and tidy.
Of course, it would not be possible without our many volunteers and the enthusiastic support of our residents and city leaders alike. It is my great honor to have served on the Green Committee for the past nine years, and we are grateful for the support of the City Council and community at large. Even though it was hot outside, there was still a great turnout and we would like to thank those citizens who dealt with the heat and the long lines to get rid of their electronic waste and other items. The Taylorsville Green Committee would also like to thank the participating vendors for coming, and going above and beyond to make sure everyone was taken care of. We have received many glowing reviews of the event and are extremely grateful for all those who participated. If you missed this year’s Collection Day, you can find a list of places on the city’s website www. taylorsilleut.gov where you can take your unwanted items throughout the year. A reminder, too, that every residential property can request up to two dump vouchers each year. Request your voucher by calling 801-955-2013 or stop by the Taylorsville City Hall reception desk. In addition, Taylorsville’s Area Cleanup days are this month, Aug. 4 through 30. During this time, residents
LEFT TO RIGHT: Dan Armstrong (District 5), Curt Cochran, Chair (District 2), Meredith Harker (District 4), Anna Barbieri, Vice Chair (District 3), and Ernest Burgess (District 1)
have the opportunity to reserve a container from Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District, and have it placed in their driveway wherever possible. See Page 8 of this section for details. We are so proud of our Taylorsville community, and the efforts by all to make our city such a great place. In addition to members of the Green Committee, more than 40 volunteers helped make this year’s Collection Day event a huge success. We’re already looking forward to next year!
Collection Day Event Takes in Tons of Items The annual Collection Day event, sponsored by the Taylorsville Green Committee on June 19, literally collected tons of items this year, including: • Twenty pallets of electronic waste, totaling 12,300 pounds of old televisions, LCD displays, batteries, fluorescent lightbulbs and miscellaneous electronic equipment received by METech Recycling. • Rocky Mountain Document Destruction shredded 8,680 pounds of paper. Their truck was so full Saturday that they decided to come back on Monday to help some of the customers who were not able to shred at the event. • Clean Harbors received 1,700 to 2,000 gallons of latex paint, 12 propane gas cylinders, 500 to 600 flammable aerosols cans, 70 pounds of liquid pesticides/herbicides, 920 pounds of flammable paint and related material , 165 gallons of flammable solvents, 21 pounds of reactive flammables, 8 pounds of oxidizing materials, 503 pounds of solid pesticides/herbicides, 229 pounds of basic corrosive material (bleach/hydroxides), 41 pounds of acidic corrosive (sulfuric/ hydrochloric), 1,021 pounds of not otherwise listed HHW material, 55 gallons of antifreeze solutions and 7 pounds of elemental mercury. • Utah Thrift collected many good, quality items but the majority of what they collected was clothing. They received just over 4 tons of clothing, 3 tons of which will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters. • Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District collected 2.54 tons of green waste, consisting of grass, branches, leaves, etc. They received 1.5 tons of glass and almost 7 tons of garbage. • The Unified Police Department had two officers at the event who collected unused medication. They filled six extra-large bags with medications totaling a whopping 182 pounds — the most that has ever been donated at this event.
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City of Taylorsville Newsletter
Taylorsville Dayzz Mark 25th Anniversary with Birthday Bash Thank you to the Taylorsville Dayzz Committee, volunteers, sponsors and all who made Taylorsville Dayzz a huge success this year. The event was held June 24, 25 and 26, and it was a Birthday Bash in commemoration of the city’s incorporation on July 1, 1996 — a quarter of a century ago and 100 years after Utah became a state. It was a full Taylorsville Dayzz, complete with parade, petting zoo, carnival rides, food booths, concerts and more. “There is so much to celebrate this year,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “After the challenges we’ve weathered over the past year, we were so happy to get together as friends and neighbors and have some fun." The Utah Symphony performed on opening night, followed by a Movie in the Park, “The Croods: A New Age.” Fireworks lit up the sky on Friday and Saturday, and there were carnival rides and headliner entertainment all three nights, as well as the 5K race, Kids Fun Run and parade Saturday morning. As in past years, all festivities took place at Valley Regional Park, 5135 S. 2700 West. “We extend our sincerest thanks to Taylorsville Dayzz Committee Chair Jim Dunnigan and the Taylorsville Dayzz Committee for all their good work," Mayor Overson said. "It was the perfect way to celebrate our community."
August 2021
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
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5K Race and Kids Run Draw Over 200 Participants
The Taylorsville Dayzz 5K and Kids Fun Run were a big party this year where 241 guests ran to celebrate the city’s 25th anniversary. In all, 185 runners raced in the 5K and 56 children under age 12 participated in the Kids Fun Run. “We had so much fun,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “We want to thank our volunteers, organizers Jen Andrus and Jared Smith, participants and sponsors. It was definitely a Birthday Bash to remember.” The race featured chip timing, swag bags and locally designed T-shirts and medals for those registered. There was also prize money for top finishers, music, tasty treats and a big balloon arch marking the start and finish. “It was a great way to get out, get active, connect to friends and neighbors, and start off a Saturday filled with Taylorsville Dayzz activities,” Mayor Overson said. “We can’t wait for next year.”
The Taylorsville Arts Council Proudly Presents
MOVIES IN THE PARK City Hall West Lawn Movies start at dusk
PETER PAN Jr. Aug. 4th, 5th & 6th - 8 pm SLCC Alder Amphitheater 4600 S. Redwood Rd Taylorsville
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City of Taylorsville Newsletter
Taylorsville City Police Department is Up and Running After a year of planning, the new Taylorsville City Police Department is now fully operational. It officially launched at midnight on July 1. Leading up to its start date, a formal SwearingIn Ceremony was held at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center where all 70 members of the department, including officers and civilian staff, gathered on the stage in front of an audience of family members and friends. They were sworn in following remarks by Mayor Kristie Overson, Chief Brady Cottam and Project Management Team Leader Jay Ziolkowski. (It was the first city event held at the new Arts Center, which opened on June 1). Then, the night before launch, a laid-back Kick-Off Party was held on the west lawn of City Hall, where family members again celebrated with those making up the new department. The celebration included music by local rock band De Novo, a photo booth, trinkets for the children, food from the food trucks and other tasty treats including cotton candy, popcorn and snow cones. "We can't believe this day is here," said Mayor Kristie Overson. "It has taken many months of work by many, many people, and that good work shows. Our new department represents the best of the best, and I know our community will be well served.”
August 2021
Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES
This month’s article features the Samuel and Elizabeth (Bessie) Gerrard family. Their home is still standing on 1250 West at what was known as Gerrard Street. It also became the home of Leonard and Mildred Gerrard, circa 1943. Samuel and Bessie’s story had a tragic ending as they were killed on 4800 South, in an auto-train accident on the railroad tracks by a southbound train. The Gerrard family’s posterity is still going strong in Taylorsville with a heritage that proudly honors the Gerrard name. Among the pictures included with this article is local piano teacher Mildred Bird Gerrard, who was married to Leonard Gerrard.
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
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TAYLORSVILLE SENIOR CENTER 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive
The Taylorsville Senior Center is Moving Closer to Normal The Taylorsville Senior Center, 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive, is adding more programs each month. Fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear a mask inside. Lunch is offered daily from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. You can view the program schedule online by going to their website: www.slco.org/taylorsville-senior-center Please call 385-468-3370 to register for a class or program offered at the center. All activities are subject to adjustments as regulations changes. Please follow them on Facebook and sign up for their email blast to receive current updates.
Don’t Miss These Library Events The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of August. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events:
Virtual Adult Lecture - Floriography: The Language of Flowers Monday, Aug. 30, 7 p.m. Illustrator Jessica Roux will discuss the Victorian language of flowers, a clandestine method of floral communication. See her beautiful illustrations of flowers and learn their meanings. Roux is the author and illustrator of Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers. She is a Nashville-based freelance illustrator and plant and animal enthusiast. Using subdued colors and rhythmic shapes, she renders flora and fauna with intricate detail reminiscent of old-world beauty. Roux has created illustrations for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Pottermore, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine and more. You must register for this event to receive the link to the WebEx virtual lecture. Register here: thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries
Digital Activities
Online activities you can do at any time. Challenge yourself with digital escape rooms, STEM activities, and arts and crafts tutorials for kids, teens and adults. Click on the kids tab to see the library’s new animal activities: I Spy Animals and Tails and Tales. thecountylibrary.org/events/digital-activities
Spotify
The County Library has Spotify. Follow the library’s page for fun playlists. https://tinyurl.com/3j8vvcpk
Goodreads
Participate in monthly challenges on The County Library's Goodreads page. Visit this link to get to find the group page: https://tinyurl.com/bhaw7s74 Visit this link to go right to the Reading Challenges: https://tinyurl.com/5h9wx8yn
ANNUAL COLLECTION DAY PAGE 8
City of Taylorsville Newsletter
| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
AUGUST UPDATES 2021 DRIVER OF THE YEAR WFWRD is proud to announce that 13year district veteran Ryan Jones has won the prestigious 2021 Driver of the Year award from the National Waste and Recycling Association for the Public Sector. Ryan is the fifth Driver of the Year recipient from WFWRD. His example represents the organization’s commitment to safe and effective service for its customers.
Conserve Water and Save Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District encourages customers to conserve water and save money. Utah Water Savers also reminds us to conserve water. To that end, did you know there is a website where Utahns are getting paid to save water at home? From rebates to free landscape consultations, utahwatersavers. com is helping Utahns save both money and water. Visit utahwatersavers.com today to create a free account and start saving. You will find: smart controller rebates, toilet rebates, Localscapes University rewards and landscape consultations. If you are ready to start saving water on your landscape or in your home, create a Utah Water Savers account today; water conservation has never been more important. New programs will be added as they are made available, so be sure to check back frequently.
AREA CLEANUP The dates for Taylorsville’s Area Cleanup are Aug. 4 through 30. During this time, residents have the opportunity to reserve a container and have it placed in their driveway wherever possible. Postcards were mailed six weeks in advance to each resident with more direction and the specific reservation dates. Reservations can be made online, through the WFWRD website, once residents receive their postcards listing the dates available. Residents are welcome to share a container with neighbors since there are not enough containers for every household.
QUESTIONS? Please contact Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District by calling 801-968-9081 or visiting www.tbid.org. You can also follow the district on Facebook and Twitter.
PLASTIC BAGS
RECYCLING
Wasatch Front Waste & Recycline District is still seeing lots of plastic bags in the curbside recycle cans. The district asks all residents to keep plastic bags and all thin film plastic materials out of the blue recycle cans. These bags create a lot of problems at the recycling processing facility. Most grocery stores, and other retail outlets, have collection bins for plastic bags. Using these receptacles ensures that plastic bags can be properly recycled and out of our landfills.