February 2021 | Vol. 8 Iss. 02
FREE COTTAM, GRAY NAMED CHIEF AND DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE STILL-FORMING CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
T
wo men with a combined 53 years of law enforcement experience have now been sworn into two of the top three positions in the new Taylorsville City Police Department. But both men say, it could be a while before the third top post in the new agency is filled. New Police Chief Brady Cottam and Deputy Chief Todd Gray were unanimously approved for their positions by the Taylorsville City Council during the first 2021 council meeting. With 24 years of law enforcement experience, Cottam shifts to the agency from the Unified Police Department Taylorsville Precinct, where he worked under now-retired Precinct Chief Tracy Wyant. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Gray was hired in from outside the city. His 29 years of law enforcement experience began with two years working for the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Department as a jail employee, followed by 27 years with the West Valley City Police Department. Cottam and Gray officially started their new jobs Dec. 31, 2020. “Chief Cottam has both an impeccable work ethic and moral compass,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “He understands the value of fostering relationships throughout the law enforcement community and is a natural and effective leader who cares about the people he serves. I am impressed with his forward thinking and strategic planning for the future. He is the right man to lead our police force.” “I am very humbled and never thought I would stand in this position,” Chief Cottam told city council members. “I am very excited. This will be a great city for our officers to work in. I am grateful to my wife and family. I am also grateful to have Todd along my side.” Cottam and Gray had originally been tabbed to serve as the two deputy police chiefs under Tracy Wyant when he was named the new Taylorsville police chief in November.
With City Councilwoman Meredith Harker over his left shoulder, UPD Taylorsville Precinct veteran Brady Cottam addresses the council before being sworn in as chief of the city’s new police department. (Taylorsville City)
The now-retired UPD Taylorsville Precinct Chief then changed his mind, for health reasons. In a subsequent news release from the city, it was revealed Wyant contracted coronavirus. He has since recovered. “I really admire Tracy; he is a good friend of mine, worked a lot and gave 100% all of the time,” Cottam said. “[Contracting COVID-19] made him consider retiring. He knew he could retire, financially. I think this is the first time in his life he put his health and personal life ahead of the job. I’m happy for him. He has been so selfless.” So originally, the top three Taylorsville Police Department hires were going to be Wyant, Cottam and Gray. With Wyant’s retirement, Cottam and Gray remain in the picture, but that third top leadership post may not be the next one filled.
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Newly hired West Valley City Police Department veteran Todd Gray addresses his new employers: the Taylorsville City Council and Mayor Kristie Overson. (Taylorsville City)
“As soon as Todd and I were selected, we began talking about that third person,” Cottam said. “It will be a very valued and trusted person, and I am OK with taking time to make that decision. I have received countless phone calls from people all over the valley who want that job. But we don’t have anyone pegged for it yet. There are other key people who may come along before that [second deputy chief] position is filled.” Specifically, as the hiring process moves forward for the new Taylorsville Police Department in March, Cottam says some key civilian positions will quickly need to be filled. Additionally, an administrative sergeant will be needed early in the process, to coordinate department training. In Gray, the new agency not only gets
nearly three decades of law enforcement experience but also a seasoned police K9 unit dog handler. The Taylorsville Police Department plans to operate a three-person, three-dog K9 unit, although it likely won’t be up and running on day one, this coming July 1. “I was a K9 handler for about 8 1/2 years and supervised a unit for a year-and-a-half,” Gray said. “I will be over the K9 unit when we get it up and running. But first we need to write some good policy and procedures. We will look for a good, experienced sergeant with K9 experience to head up the three-person group. It could be six months to a year before the unit is up.” The new deputy chief also explained why he wanted to shift to the new department after Continued page 4
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February 2021 | Page 3
Granite School District holds first vaccination session for teachers in January By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com
G
ranite District held its first vaccination session for thousands of employees on Jan. 15. Events were held in three locations, and nearly 2,400 staff members were vaccinated. Per the health department’s recommendation, priority was based on age, with older employees receiving the vaccine first. “We offered the vaccine to nearly 3,200 employees, which brought the age down to 48,” said GSD communications director Ben Horsley. Three vaccination clinics were held simultaneously on Jan. 15 at Hunter Jr. High School, the Granite District Office and Churchill Jr. High. Skyline High cheer teacher Joey Kennedy got her vaccine at Churchill. “I’ve been at Skyline for 26 years and I love it and love the kids. Cheer isn’t a class you can do online—it’s physical and in person. I feel fine about getting the vaccine—if they gave it to all the doctors first it must be OK,” Kennedy said. Kennedy hopes vaccination efforts will help schools get back to a sense of normalcy. Students and staff who participate in extracurricular activities are tested every other week, and a highly-anticipated event can be shut down with little notice. Kennedy experienced that first hand—she planned to be at the regional cheer competition Jan. 15. But Skyline’s team had to pull out at the last minute when a team member tested positive and others had to quarantine. “It was rough,” Kennedy said. Another reason Kennedy got the vaccination was to protect her 81-year-old mother, whom she helps care for. Her mother has tried calling the health department to get an appointment for a vaccine, but they are full. “They tell her to just keep calling and trying back,” Kennedy said. Laura Schmidt, a librarian at Fox Hills Elementary in Taylorsville, got her vaccination at the Hunter Jr. High clinic. “I’m excited about getting the vaccine. It’s just one more precaution, one more way to protect ourselves and be able to keep schools open. The numbers at our school have been excellent— very low. The kids have done really well,” Schmidt said. Schmidt was hoping the vaccines would come sooner based on all the talk about teachers and what a high priority they were. “It’s not as fast as expected, so I’m a little disappointed about that. But here we are. They’ve expedited it, and I’m appreciative of that,” Schmidt said.
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The line for GSD staff vaccinations on Jan. 15 at Churchill Jr. High wound through the halls and outside. (Heather Lawrence/City Journals)
Vaccinations were also offered to staff from AMES charter school. AMES is not part of GSD, but is housed within and works with Cottonwood High School. Keith Homer of Midvale teaches Spanish and world languages at AMES. He came to the clinic and was worried when
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he saw the long line, but it moved along quickly. “We just had our board meeting and things were a little tense. We’ve been online the whole year, and so we’ve avoided any shutdowns. I think Cottonwood has had two. But some people want to go back to full in-person school,” Homer said.
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Continued from front page a long and successful 27 years with West Valley City Police. “I wasn’t unhappy at West Valley and had an awesome career there,” Gray said. “But I have a lot of experience working with Unified Police, and I had seen people lining up to work for the Taylorsville Precinct. It always had a very positive atmosphere. Officers who went to work there stayed. They never wanted to leave. I always wondered what made it so positive, and I wanted to be a part of it.” Also, under consideration at this time is whether or not the new Taylorsville Police Department will operate a citizen advisory panel or a citizen review board. Both of these are becoming more common across law enforcement agencies nationwide, in the wake of well-publicized policing controversies and public protests over the past year. Advisory panels offer general policing “suggestions” to law enforcement agencies, while review boards look into specific case facts involving particular officers. “We may not have [a citizen advisory panel or review board] in place by July 1, but it is something we are looking at,” Cottam said. “They could give us a lens to look at the department in a different way. I would be a poor chief if I did not let others have a say in our operations. So, we are considering all of the options.” Cottam also wants to create a “Citizen
Homer shared his thoughts at the meeting and urged people to see things through. “It feels like we’re so close to getting a handle on this, and I think it’s the vaccination that changes the game board. Everything we’ve been doing is for a reason, and if we stop now we just throw all that out the window. We need to do the right thing and see this through,” Homer told those at the meeting. Homer trusts the vaccine in part because he has friends who are researchers, medical professionals and public health officials. He knows they’re just people getting up every day trying to do their jobs. “I have a lot of confidence and trust in the people I see working hard every day. They’re not doing this to be a part of some evil conspiracy. They get up every morning and go to their jobs just like we do. “Let’s all put our energy into making things the best they can be right now. That’s when we shine our most as people,” Homer said. Granite’s vaccine rollout was administered by Community Nursing Services. “It will be provided on an ongoing basis until all Granite employees have had the opportunity to receive both doses,” Horsley said. Horsley also said that people who have tested positive for COVID-19 are still welcome to receive the vaccine, as long as they are no longer in quarantine or isolation. Additional questions can be directed to GSD’s
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
At their first meeting of 2021, Taylorsville City Council members welcomed Brady Cottam (fourth from right) and Todd Gray (fourth from left) as their first two employees of the city’s new law enforcement agency. (Taylorsville City)
[Cottam and Gray] both seem very professional and have lots of experience, and that deputy chief is a big guy—woo. We are excited about them both. Ernest Burgess
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ognize you need our support. We are here for you 100%.” “[Cottam and Gray] both seem very professional and have lots of experience,” Councilman Ernest Burgess said. “And that deputy chief is a big guy—woo. We are excited about them both.” The chief and deputy chief appointments were each approved unanimously by the five-member city council, with no discussion. l
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Utah Food Bank grant allows Taylorsville pantry operators to purchase two much-needed meat freezers By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
A
Two new freezers at the Taylorsville Food Pantry are used primarily to keep meat products fresh. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
t a cost of more than $3,300 each, two large, brand new, stainless steel freezers are now keeping meat fresh at the Taylorsville Food Pantry, thanks to a grant from the Utah Food Pantry. And local pantry operators say the grant could not have come at a better time, because a paperwork misstep prevented them from receiving their customary Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding last year. “Our annual operating budget is $18,000 to $22,000 per year, with about $15,000 coming through CDBG funding,” said food pantry board member Morris Pratt. “The CDBG money is approved by the Taylorsville City Council each year and they have never turned our request down. But, last year, we had a paperwork snafu and didn’t get our grant request processed in time. So, the $7,500 grant from the Utah Food Bank came at the perfect time.” A decade ago, Pratt was a Taylorsville City Councilman himself. Now he’s president of Tri-Park Services, the entity that operates the Taylorsville Food Pantry (4775 South Plymouth View Drive, near 1600 West) as a 501(c)(3) non-profit orga-
nization. His only two paid, part time pantry employees are the mother and daughter team of Warehouse Manager Sue Lane and Eligibility Manager Tiffany Diaz. But they certainly don’t operate the pantry alone. “I have about 15 consistent volunteers and they are amazing,” Lane said. “Lots of people try volunteering once, but don’t return. Those who do are a great help. We couldn’t run the pantry without them.” Taylorsville Food Pantry serves about 1,200 people per month. Diaz says COVID-19 has increased demand—but not as dramatically as they had feared. “We have been getting about eight to 10 new families signing up for food donations each month, since the pandemic hit,” she said. “We also receive a number of calls from people who don’t live in Taylorsville. I refer them elsewhere, because the city requires us to only serve Taylorsville residents at this pantry.” As eligibility manager, Diaz requires people to prove they are Taylorsville residents by presenting mail they’ve received at a city address. Recipients must also meet income guidelines. Eligibility requirement
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details are available at taylorsvillefoodpantry.org. At the current time, Sue Lane and Tiffany Diaz aren’t the only mother-daughter combination keeping the Taylorsville Food Pantry up and running. Trina and Adreana Hall have been driving to the pantry regularly this winter, from Herriman, to volunteer their time. “Adreana is in ninth grade and she and I have been volunteering at the pantry since November,” Trina Hall said. “We are both going on a humanitarian trip to Thailand in June. To be eligible to go, we are required to perform volunteer hours in the community. But I have enjoyed it so much, I plan to continue volunteering beyond the required hours. It has been a rewarding experience. (The food pantry) is a good place to reflect on my own blessings.” The Halls will make their 8,100-mile trip to Thailand through the Salt Lakebased humanitarian organization Youthlinc (youthlinc.org). Trina says they are scheduled to help teach English to low-income people there. To be eligible to make the trip, Youthlinc requires participants to complete 50 hours of volunteer service here. Taylorsville Food Pantry officials say, this winter has been one of their best seasons ever for receiving donations. “We had one man come in about every
two weeks, over a two-month period, to give us envelopes containing $100 bills,” Lane said. “I asked him if he wanted a receipt, but he never did. He would also never give us his name; but he looked a lot like Santa Claus.” Overall, Lane says holiday season food pantry donations approached $10,000 this year. Food drop offs also increased, as church groups and Eagle Scout candidates coordinated donation drives. The Taylorsville Youth Council chipped in as well. Mayor Kristie Overson works closely with them. “Because of the pandemic, our youth council skipped their traditional Sub-forSanta charity program (last) year, and instead went around their neighborhoods gathering food for the pantry,” the Mayor said. “The food pantry has been amazing during this pandemic, distributing food. They are a CDBG group we are always happy to support.” Taylorsville City does not directly provide funding to the food pantry. However, the city does provide the building and pays the utilities. The Taylorsville Food Pantry is open Mondays 1-3 p.m., Wednesdays 4-6 p.m. and Saturdays 10-12 a.m. l Like every place else, masks must now be worn by anyone receiving donations at the Taylorsville Food Pantry. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
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February 2021 | Page 7
The UHSAA aligned its schools for possibly the last time By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
T
he Utah High School Activities Association made its biannual changes to school region alignments. The adopted proposals have been applauded and scrutinized. “Looks like Region 7 was picked by throwing darts on a map,” Derek Erickson, a concerned fan, commented after the alignment was announced. According to the Utah High School Activities Association’s constitution, the Board of Trustees has the responsibility and authority to classify its member schools and assign them to regions within the classification. This year may be the last year of regions as we know it. Considerations for alignment include fair competition, school enrollment, travel costs, and natural rivalries. Region 7 has a 348-mile spread. Uintah High School in Vernal was placed in the 5A region with Cedar Valley, Cottonwood, Hillcrest, Payson, Stansbury, and Tooele high schools. Making it one of the most scrutinized region placement divisions. “We can’t just look at the numbers of the school and say, ‘Hey, because you have 2,000 students you should play against other schools that have 2,000 students. We need to look at the balance,” Juab School District
board president Dale Whitlock said. Hillcrest has over 2,100 students; Cottonwood and Uintah both have over 1,600 enrolled. “We are absolutely excited for realignment,” Hillcrest Athletic Director Scott Carrell said. “We have regions and the RPI (rating performance index used to seed teams at state tournaments), they don’t work together very well. When they started to put together the changes we were put in a very competitive region in Utah County. We sat down with our coaches and asked for that to be changed. We knew that in order for us to build our programs we needed to be put with similar schools. They told us we would have to travel more, but we were OK with that.” The teams at Hillcrest realize there will be challenges. “We know that not everyone will be on board, but we are excited to be able to build our programs back up,” Carrell said. “We are looking at ways to have hotspots on buses to help with homework and more opportunities for distance learning.” Many other schools were also enthusiastic about their new placement. “We are excited about our new region,” Copper Hills Athletic Director Ben Morley
said. “Mainly because of the proximity of the member schools and having West Jordan back in Region 3.” West Jordan and Copper Hills have a natural rivalry again in Region 3 and are located just four miles from each other. They have played 25 football games against each other and Copper Hills has only won once, in 2013. It is not the only rival to be preserved in the current alignment; Hunter and Granger, Kearns and Taylorsville in Region 2; Herriman, Riverton, and Mountain Ridge now all reside in Region 3; Bountiful, Viewmont, and Woods Cross in Region 5; Olympus and Skyline in Region 6; and Alta and Jordan in Region 8. Roy administrators asked to be moved from Region 1, in northern Utah, to Region 2. They stated competitive balance as their reasoning. Roy last won a state championship in 2012 in softball. West High School won Region 2’s most recent title in 2019 in softball, but Granger has not been a state champion since 1979 in boys baseball. In the upcoming season, Region 2 will consist of Cyprus, Granger, Hunter, Kearns, Taylorsville, West and Roy. “I like our region,” new Taylorsville head football coach Chris Rosales said. “I just wish
that winning a region championship meant more. With the new RPI, it has all changed.” The UHSAA Region 3 will consist of Bingham, Copper Hills, Herriman, Mountain Ridge, Riverton and West Jordan. Because of an increase in enrollment Mountain Ridge was moved from 5A to 6A in all sports. Region 5 includes Bountiful, Woods Cross, Bonneville, Box Elder, Northridge, and Viewmont. Region 6 contains Brighton, East, Highland, Murray, Olympus, Skyline and Park City. Region 8 is comprised of two other Salt Lake County schools including Jordan and Alta. “I think no regions in our alignment will be beneficial for every school in the state of Utah,” Carrell said. “Then games could be scheduled against teams of like opponents, more participation is the ultimate goal. It would not work for every sport, but we need to make goals to improve.” UHSAA is exploring options for its realignment in two years. Some of those ideas could include the adoptions of no regions allowing teams to make schedules of their choosing. l
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February 2021 | Page 9
Unsworth, Warriors wrestle in girls’ first year aylorsville High School has Granite school District’s most experienced wrestler on its girls team. “We can now wrestle like a girl,” Taylorsville junior Nativada Unsworth said. “It is different because we are no longer competing against the boys.” Unsworth competed in the first girls wrestling tournament held in the Granite School District on Dec. 19 at Hunter High School. The Hunter Holiday Bash boasted nearly 50 female wrestlers in the nine weight classes. She made quick work in her qualifying matches by pinning four of her opponents. She lost in the tournament finals to Katelyn Wolf from Provo High School. “[Unsworth] has the experience,” Warriors’ girls head coach Jonathan Cox said. “She has done this for quite a few years. She knows her moves and knows what to do.” Unsworth began wrestling in the seventh grade at Eisenhower Junior High School five years ago. She plays the piano and softball but finds wrestling to be the most challenging. “It gives me the determination to never give up,” she said. “I like that we can now wrestle against other girls. We can practice
By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
T
Unsworth and Warriors wrestle in girls first-year Caption: Nativada Unsworth started wrestling five years ago when the Granite School District allowed girls to wrestle again. (Greg James/City Journals)
against other girls and just wrestle like a girl. We have hip strength and use knowledge of the moves rather than just out-muscle the opponent like the boys do.” Granite School District voted to allow
girls to wrestle five years ago, but the lack of participants forced many of the girls to wrestle boys. This season, the Utah High School Activities Association sanctioned girls wrestling. Girls now wrestle only girls and have
their own state championship. “These girls are going to be seen as trailblazers. This is awesome stuff,” Cox said. The Warriors have had as many as six girls on the team, but it is growing. “Girls are different, the weights are different than the boys, but most of all they are more flexible, Cox said. “Some of the moves are different. I think it is easier to coach these girls. They seem more committed and focused on the sport.” Watching is his daughter wrestle and have success is satisfying to Unsworth’s father, Doyle. “I think it is great that girls wrestling is a sanctioned sport,” he said. “The past few years, she had trouble because this is thought of as a boys-only club. She has studied her wrestling and listened to her coaches. I hope she has lots of success. I think she is flying under the radar.” The Warriors’ wrestlers have been recruiting their friends to try out the sport. “I go around and ask everyone to give it a try,” Unsworth said. The girls state championship tournament is scheduled to be held Feb. 17 at UVU in Orem. l
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Taylorsville City Journal
City of Taylorsville Newsletter 2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400
MAYOR'S MESSAGE
www.taylorsvilleut.gov
February 2021
Police Officers’ Quick Thinking and Action Likely Saved Girl’s Life
Dear Friends and Neighbors, It was six months ago that we decided as a city that our citizens and community would be best served by bringing police services in-house. Since that vote of the City Council last summer, our Project Management Team has been working diligentMayor Kristie S. Overson ly to make sure every ‘i’ is dotted and ‘t’ crossed in preparation of our Taylorsville City Police Department becoming fully operational this July 1. It was a decision not made lightly. We have long been a champion of the Unified Police Department and have greatly appreciated their service, particularly the enduring work of our precinct officers to keep our community safe. Rather, the primary reasons for forming our own police department centered around budgetary matters, operational issues, and general governance and process. We tried to resolve these matters unfortunately to no avail. So now, we are very much looking forward to a new start with our own Taylorsville City Police Department, or TVPD. We are fortunate that we can draw from a precinct already filled with good people. In fact, I would put our precinct up against any other as the best around. They have my sincerest thanks and appreciation for the job they do each day in protecting our community. That work often involves the day-to-day that doesn’t attract much attention but sometimes, it can be heroic. Read about our own Officer Jesse Allen’s incredible circumstances, for instance, in the adjacent story on this page. You can also read about our new police chief, Brady Cottam, on Page 4 of this issue. Chief Cottam’s vision for TVPD involves bringing the community and police department closer to help solve issues, and to mentor and teach officers to be service oriented. In his words, “We must remember what we are trusted and sworn to do, which is to serve our communities.” As you have likely heard, Taylorsville’s former fire liaison Jay Ziolkowski has been leading our effort to form the new department. He has established a Community Outreach Group, made up of about 25 residents and community members, who have contributed invaluable input. The group met in the fall and will convene again for a second public meeting this month. You can find additional information about the effort at www.taylorsvilleut.gov/services/tvpd or submit a comment by emailing police.outreach@taylorsvilleut.gov We can’t thank everyone enough — including our residents, community partners, officers and police personnel. The job of creating a new police department is considerable but with good people around the table, each challenge has been met and we will be ready this summer with TVPD in place. –Mayor Kristie S. Overson
WHAT’S INSIDE – FEBRUARY 2021 Frequently Called Numbers, Page 2 Council Corner, Page 3 Public Safety, Page 4 Heritage Remembrances, Page 7 Environment, Page 8
Officer Jesse Allen was stopped at the light near Taylorsville High when a sergeant in a Murray police vehicle pulled up next to him. They waved at each other in acknowledgement before at exactly the same time, they saw the unthinkable. A teenage girl in the driver’s seat of another car appeared to be having a seizure. She was unconscious, her car drifting through the stop light and toward oncoming traffic. “It was a scary situation,” Officer Allen said, recalling what he saw early that morning on Dec. 9. “She was convulsing, and we noticed she was in seizure.” It was around 7:15 a.m., as school was soon to start. Murray Sgt. Jason Coons was coming off the graveyard shift and was heading home when he and Officer Allen, of the Unified Police Department’s Taylorsville Precinct, found themselves stopped at the same light at 5400 South and Warrior Way, at the same time. “There was a Taylorsville Unified officer next to me, and we waved at each other and said ‘hello’ as we always do,” Sgt. Coons said. Then, they saw the Nissan rolling into the intersection, going eastbound and into the turning lane. “I looked over at the Taylorsville guy and we both had the same thought, ‘What was that that just happened?’” The driver, 17-year-old Taylorsville resident Sarah Canepari, was slumped over and looked like she was asleep. So Officer Allen and Sgt. Coons turned on their lights and sirens, hoping the noise and flash would wake her. Officer Allen drove his vehicle up to Sgt. Coons and said, “It looks like she’s having a medical episode.” At that point, they positioned their vehicles, bumping the car several times in hopes of moving it away from oncoming traffic. But it didn’t work, and the car was moving dangerously close to the other lane. Officer Allen then pulled right in front of the car and let it hit his truck. “Unfortunately, it was just at an angle where the car then turned and kept going, so again I tried to hit it on the back end, and he tried to pull up next to it,” Sgt. Coons said. Finally, the car went up on a curb and into the grassy area of the nearby San Francisco condominium complex before coming to a stop. Officer Allen and Sgt. Coons jumped out of their vehicles and ran to the car but it was locked. The driver was unconscious, so they broke out the back passenger-side window to reach her. At that point, she was starting to come to. She was frightened and unaware of what
POLICE OFFICER CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
City of Taylorsville Newsletter POLICE OFFICER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Dominion Energy
800 -323 -5517
EVENTS FEBRUARY 2021 Feb. 3 & 17 – 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
Feb. 9 – 7 p.m. & Feb. 23 – 6 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.
Feb. 15 – All day
President’s Day, City Offices closed.
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 Also, a standing event every Thursday, from 2 to 4 p.m., at City Hall is the “Mayor is In.” During this time, Mayor Kristie Overson has open office hours to meet with residents about any issue on their minds. Drop by and meet with the Mayor. All are welcome.
had happened. Officer Allen and Sgt. Coons radioed for help, and the girl was transported to the hospital. She has recovered and is doing well now. “We are so fortunate that there were two of us at that exact moment,” said Officer Allen, who has never experienced an incident like this in his career. “It was definitely a first.” Sarah’s mother, Kelli Canepari, said it was a “total miracle.” “We’re just incredibly grateful to Officer Allen that he knew exactly what to do and he did what he did,” Kelli Canepari said. Sarah had never before had a seizure. Doctors “ran a bunch of tests and everything came back normal.” Sarah, who is a senior at Taylorsville High, doesn’t remember much of that morning. “She remembers curling her hair,” her mother said. “She doesn’t remember driving to school. The next thing she remembers is being in an ambulance.” After the accident, Kelli has been keeping her daughter close. “I’ve definitely been hugging her a lot more, and she’s just kind of like, ‘Mom, I’m fine.’” (Sarah plans to attend BYU-Idaho this fall to study computer animation. Her dream is to eventually attend the California Institute of Art). Kelli said that without the quick thinking and work of Officer Allen and Sgt. Coons, the outcome could have been tragic. “It is amazing that they were able to see her car and recognize that she was having a seizure, and knew exactly what to do,” she said. “Our family experienced a miracle.”
February 2021
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
COUNCIL CORNER
PAGE 3
Like You, We’re Hoping to Soon Put the Coronavirus Behind Us
By Council Member Dan Armstrong Finally, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. As a community, we’ve been battling the novel coronavirus for almost a year now. It was last February when we began hearing rumblings of a virus, the likes of which we had not seen before in a century. Both Salt Lake County and the State of Utah issued declarations of emergency in early March 2020, due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease. Gatherings were limited, employees were urged to telecommute where possible, and senior centers, libraries and recreation centers were closed. It was reported that members of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the disease, as well as other prominent figures including Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson. In many ways, in an instance, our lives were turned upside down. Schools were soon dismissed for the rest of the year, and students learned from home via Zoom classes with their teachers. At the end of March last year, we were asked to “stay safe and stay home,” and dine-in seating was temporarily prohibited. But through the challenges and uncertainty, we also experienced bright lights of hope and togetherness in our community. Teachers held a car parade for their students last spring, children chalked colorful words of encouragement throughout our neighborhoods, student leaders rallied their peers with optimistic
video-taped messages, families met with their loved ones electronically and at a distance. As a community, we all worked to support our businesses, health care workers and first responders. There’s no question it has been difficult. Our new normal of late has been the wearing of protective masks and social distancing of six feet. Yet, there is promise on the horizon. This past month, Utah started administering its first batches of the coronavirus vaccine to health care workers, school personnel and residents ages 70 and older. The vaccine is expected to be available to all Utahns by this summer, for which I am most grateful. I would be remiss, too, if I did not acknowledge and thank my own company and drivers. About a year ago, I started work as an Amazon Delivery Service Partner. In conjunction with Amazon, it was my great pleasure to donate 10,000 PPE packets, including hand sanitizer, masks, gloves and disinfecting wipes, to the city this past month. The kits will be given to our local schools, as well as some schools in Kearns, our Taylorsville Police Precinct, our two fire stations and city employees. (You can read more and see pictures of the donations on Page 6). In one way or another, we all have been touched by this virus. Many of us have had to personally fight the disease, or have loved ones or those close to us who have been diagnosed. We mourn all those we
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 lost. It is a cruel virus that we can’t put behind us soon enough. I hope we will never have to confront such a disease again. At the same time, I am grateful for the compassion and caring nature of our community. It means so much to me that throughout it all, we have looked out for each other. We have come together during an extremely difficult time, and we will continue to move forward. We will survive these rough storms and this toughest of tests. Indeed, I am confident we will not only endure this great trial but emerge from it even stronger.
City Council Elects New Leadership Council Members Curt Cochran and Anna Barbieri were elected this past month by their City Council colleagues to serve as respective Chair and Vice Chair of the Council. New City Council Chair Cochran is a longtime volunteer in the city, representing District 2. Before his appointment and then election in 2019 to the City Council, he served on the Planning Commission and as its chair. He also previously served on the city’s budget and economic development committees. He works as a quality analyst with eBay. A former competitive bass fisherman, he also helped to get the bass fishing pond operating at Millrace Park. Council Member Cochran moved to Taylorsville, from Idaho, in 1988. His wife, Wendy, is a 1984 Taylorsville High School graduate. They have two sons and one daughter. Vice Chair Barbieri was appointed in the fall to fill a mid-term vacancy on the Council, representing District 3. Barbieri, who was born and raised in Midvale, attended Utah State University where she graduated with a degree in English and certificate in secondary education. She served previously as a Planning Commissioner and on Taylorville’s Economic Development Committee. She owns the dress-making business White Elegance. She and her husband, Jim Stout, moved to Taylorsville City from Millcreek in 1997, and they have two daughters. The City Council is made up of five representatives. Visit the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov, to find your council member and their contact information.
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City of Taylorsville Newsletter Taylorsville Hires Brady Cottam to Lead Municipal Department
TVPD Transition Team Moves Forward with Strategic Plan Monthly updates on the formation of the Taylorsville City Police Department will be provided on this page through July 2021. The team is pleased to report another successful month of preparations with respect to formation of the city’s municipal police department on July 1. One of the major objectives was the initial creation of a new strategic plan. While still a few months from formal adoption, the plan itself will be used to guide the department over the course of the next three years. With the help of many community members this past fall, over 60 data points were obtained through a SWOC (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Challenges) analysis. From these, five general categories were recognized. Specific outcomes have also been drafted, and future action-items will then be created to ensure the achievement of each specified outcome. The five categories and the goal statements are listed below. Once approved, the full strategic plan will be available for public view, as well. CATEGORIES AND GOAL STATEMENTS Best Practices Goal: To ensure TVPD is operating effectively and efficiently in operational pursuits and exceeding community expectations. Administrative Support & Collaboration Goal: TVPD will perpetually communicate and interact with various stakeholders and elected officials in order to ensure a sustainable model of policing within the community. Personnel Investment Goal: To ensure salary, benefits and retirement options are in accordance to like-agencies and provide reasonable physical and mental health options for personnel while in the service to the community. Capital Planning Goal: To identify and outline a sustainable and perpetual plan for the maintenance and replacement of the TVPD fleet and ensure an effective working environment for personnel. Community Outreach & Engagement Goal: TVPD will strive to provide an outward, value-added mindset between personnel and the community at-large through various means of engagement. In conjunction with the established charter, other project work within the month of January included: • Recruitment, interviews and selection of the remaining command and support staff members • Continued development of policies and operational guidelines • Formation of the Vision, Mission and Value statements (defining the future culture) • Continued formalization of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with partner agencies
Taylorsville City Police Chief Brady Cottam’s vision for the new municipal department centers around community. He hopes to hire the best officers and train them with progressive techniques. He wants to bring the community and police department closer to help solve issues, and to mentor and teach officers to be competent and service oriented. Chief Cottam was sworn in before the City Council on Jan. 6. He will lead the new Taylorsville City Police Department, which begins operations on July 1. City leaders decided last summer to end their contract with the Unified Police Department (UPD) and move police services in-house. Since then, a Project Management Team, made up primarily of administrators and staff already working for the city, has met weekly to oversee creation of the new city police department. Chief Cottam is a member of that team and has been meeting with the group since its formation. “We are impressed by Chief Cottam’s forward-thinking vision and focus, and he has our full confidence,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “He has done an outstanding job as an executive officer for the Unified Police Department’s Taylorsville Precinct, and we are grateful we will be able to continue to rely on his leadership." Chief Cottam has worked in law enforcement for the past 24 years under a variety of assignments, including as UPD executive officer, field training officer, SWAT team leader, investigation supervisor and UPD range director. He has worked in Kearns, Magna, Millcreek and Cottonwood Heights, in addition to Taylorville where he most recently held the rank of lieutenant. "I am looking forward to continuing to put my experience and passion for law enforcement to work,” Chief Cottam said. “I love what I do. I learn something new every day, and get to interact with the most dedicated, selfless professionals.” Chief Cottam said at the top of his list of essential first steps is maintaining the police department’s strong relationships with the city’s residents and leaders. "We must remember what we are trusted and sworn to do, which is to serve our communities," he said. Chief Cottam has served in the Taylorsville Precinct under Precinct Chief Tracy Wyant, who was initially appointed as chief of the new city department but ended up declining the position and retiring from UPD, due to health reasons. (Chief Wyant was diagnosed with COVID-19 in November and has since recovered). UPD Precinct Chief Dwayne Anjewierden will lead the department until the Taylorsville City Police Department becomes fully operational on July 1. Find additional information about the process to form the new Taylorsville City Police Department, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions and a timeline, at: www.taylorsvilleut.gov/services/tvpd
Vaccine Distribution Begins for Taylorsville Residents The state has begun to administer vaccines to inoculate Utahns against the novel coronavirus. Health care workers, school staff and residents age 70 and older are being vaccinated now under the State of Utah’s latest vaccine distribution plan. Vaccines for older Utahns are being distributed county by county. Salt Lake County has allocated all vaccine doses it is expecting through Feb. 27 for residents 70 and older. You can sign up to be notified when COVID vaccine appointments are available again at: https:// slco.org/health/COVID-19/vaccine/waitlist/ Vaccines for older Utahns are being administered by appointment at Mountain American Expo Center. School staff in Salt Lake County are being vaccinated by Community Nursing Services through their school district. Hospital healthcare workers are being vaccinated by their employers; long-term care facility healthcare workers are being vaccinated via their employers by national pharmacy chains CVS and Walgreens, along with Community Nursing Services. All other healthcare workers who live or work in Salt Lake County are being vaccinated by Salt Lake County Health Department; proof of current, active employment as a healthcare worker is required. The vaccine is expected to be available to all Utahns by this summer.
February 2021
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
Use This List of Clean-up Resources from the Green Committee Many donation or recycling resources that were halted due to COVID-19 are starting to resume acceptance of materials. The Taylorsville Green Committee has compiled a list of resources that can be utilized to keep certain items out of the landfill, as well as help you get rid of stuff you may be storing around your house. First, the committee reminds that every residential property can request up to two dump vouchers each year. These vouchers are good for up to $15 off of one load of material at the Salt Lake Valley Landfill, 6030 W. California Ave. (1300 South). Mattresses and tires are extra. They are open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Request your voucher by calling 801-955-2013 or stop by the Taylorsville City Hall reception desk, 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd. Make sure you call before taking anything to any of the resources below, as things are constantly changing. Many of the items you may not know how to dispose of properly are accepted at the Hazardous Waste facility located at the Salt Lake Valley Landfill. Check their website https://slco.org/landfill/ or call 385-468-6370. Specific items accepted at the landfill and hazardous waste facility include household hazardous waste, electronics and recyclable material.
Use these additional resources to dispose of other items, including: Motor oil or car/truck batteries — Any AutoZone or O’Reilly Auto Parts stores. Glass recycling — Bin outside the Taylorsville Senior Center, 4743 Plymouth View Dr. Styrofoam recycling — Marko Foam Products, 2940 W. Directors Row, 801-9721354. They are not currently taking products but hope to do so soon. Call to check on availability. Used clothing/household items — Savers, 4145 S. Redwood Rd., 801-262-2150 and Utah Thrift, 3869 W. 5400 South, 801-413-3736. Metal — Redwood Recycling, 6235 S. Redwood Rd., 801-447-2377. They recycle aluminum cans, siding and gutters, car wheels, radiators, electric motors and transformers, and water heaters. They also take lawn mowers, as long as all gas and oil are drained out. Fireworks or Ammunition — Call the Fire Department at 801-743-7200 to arrange drop off. Paper Shredding — Rocky Mountain Document Destruction. Call 801-384-1900 or go to rmshred.com for more information. Computer Recycling — Drop off at any PC Laptops location. Mattress Recycling — Spring Back Utah. Drop off at 1929 S. 4130 West #D, 801906-8146. $20 fee for each item. It keeps mattresses from the landfill and costs just a little bit more than taking them to the dump. If you have another business that you think should be on this list, please contact Ernest Burgess at 801-654-4482 or email him at eburgess@taylorsvilleut.gov. Look for the “Taylorsville Green” group on Facebook for tips, stories and conversation about what you can do to make Taylorsville green.
PAGE 5
Animal Services Offers Tips for Pet Owners
West Valley City-Taylorsville Animal Services is launching an educational program that will include resources in print and online at www.wvcpets.com. Its first segment includes the following Top 10 tips to be a responsible pet owner: 1. Socialize your pet. Socializing a pet will allow that pet to become familiar with different situations and reduce the occurrence of anxiety or other behavioral issues. Socializing your pet can begin anytime. When you begin training your pet, keep things low-key. 2. Pick up after your pet. Animal waste can spread disease and kill your neighbors’ grass; it smells bad and does not breakdown like fertilizer. Remember to by courteous of others and always have a “poop” bag on your dog walks. 3. Don’t let your dog off leash. For your dog's safety, it is never recommended to let your dog off-leash in crowded public areas or around traffic. It's best to keep your dog on leash in public unless you are in a designated dog park. Plus, it’s that law. 4. Don’t let your cat roam the neighborhood. Cats are subject to the same leash laws as dogs. That means you can receive fines for your cat running at large or being a nuisance. Cats are also likely to come to harm when they are outdoors and have a shorter life expectancy. 5. Don’t let your dog bark for hours. No one enjoys hours of barking, and it can be a sign of bigger problems. Dogs can bark because they are lonely, bored or territorial. Use toys, exercise and attention to help your barking dog. 6. Regular veterinary visits. Regular visits help vets determine how your pet is moving through life and may also pick up on any underlying problems your pet may have later. 7. Obedience training. Obedience training in dogs is an important part of having a well-behaved and happy companion. When a puppy or dog has obedience training, you and your dog will communicate better. Cats need training too! Teaching your cat to behave in certain ways will help him/her become social and content around humans and other animals. 8. Exercise your pet. Proper exercise can help diminish destructive behavior, avoid hyperactivity, develop good social skills, improve sleeping habits, and allow your pet to maintain a healthy weight. Taking your dog for a slow walk where they get to sniff things, or using a treat ball for you cat to help them “hunt” will strengthen your bond and help your pet mentally and physically. 9. Spay or neuter your pet. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. Neutering prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems. In addition, it helps pets to stay home and not wander looking for a mate. 10. License your pet. Did you know licensing your pet has been a state law since 1911? Licensing can help guard against rabies outbreaks. Before your dog can be issued a license, you must produce proof of vaccination. Rabies vaccines are a requirement for all dogs and cats who have reached the age of four months. A license can also save you money; If your dog or cat is picked up without one, you could be fined a substantial amount. Bonus. Most importantly, love your pet. Pets are part of our everyday lives and part of our families. They provide us with companionship but also with emotional support,
PAGE 6
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City of Taylorsville Newsletter
Thousands of Masks are Donated to the City The City of Taylorsville has received more than 100 boxes of PPE packets, thanks to Council Member Dan Armstrong and Amazon. Armstrong, who is an Amazon Delivery Service Partner, and a few of his drivers dropped off the boxes to City Hall on Jan. 13. Each box includes 70 kits, containing hand sanitizer, two masks, two pairs of gloves and three individual wipe packets. In all, roughly 10,000 kits were given to the city. “This is an incredibly generous donation,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “We are so grateful and can’t thank Council Member Armstrong enough.” The packets will be given to local schools, the Taylorsville police precinct, the city’s two fire stations, and city employees. “We are currently coordinating with schools for distribution,” Mayor Overson said. She, Council Member Armstrong and the Youth Council delivered several of the boxes to Eisenhower Junior High and Taylorsville High on Jan. 15. Kits also were given to some schools in Kearns. Wearing a protective mask can have a great impact in reducing transmission of COVID-19, according to state officials. In addition to hand washing and maintaining physical distancing, mounting evidence suggests the importance of the widespread adoption of face coverings and masks in controlling virus spread. Utah requires residents to wear masks in public and within 6 feet of anyone they don’t live with.
February 2021
Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES This month’s article highlights the life of Minnie Bennion Harker. Minnie Bennion Harker, daughter of Joseph B. and Mary Sharp Bennion, was born Aug. 9, 1881, in the old Bennion home standing on 4800 South in Taylorsville. The family had only lived in the home for one month before Minnie was born, after moving from Vernon, Utah, to a home that wasn’t fully completed. She is the sister of Adam S. Bennion and Jeanie B. Gerrard. Minnie was 7 years old when her father died. As a young girl, she was taught the arts of homemaking. She learned to sew, cook and keep a clean house at a very early age. Minnie attended the 38th District school and there met her lifetime sweetheart. Minnie married Henry Harker Jr. in December 1897. They move into the home that Bishop Clyde Barker of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lived in. Their six children were Lucille, H. Burton, Elsie H. Barker, Joseph, Erma, Kenneth and Howard. Her son Joseph worked for Utah Copper for 46 years as a water supervisor. The summers of her early married years were spent on a ranch in Opel, Wyo. Henry’s sister cared for the home in Taylorsville while they were away. Ranch life was a chore in those days, but Minnie wasn’t one to complain. She cooked meals for large crowds of ranch hands and made her ranch home a happy place. She remembers how frightened she was of so many strange noises at night and of “railroad tramps” by day, so a man was left at the ranch at all times to “watch after the women folk.” Each time they left the ranch or returned to it, she and her children would walk across the Ham’s Fork bridge. Because it was so narrow, she was afraid the buggy wheels would slip off into the river. In 1922, the sheep business failed and Minnie and Henry moved to Bingham Canyon. The art of homemaking she had learned so well enabled her to open a boarding house with 16 rooms. Erma helped her mother with the boarding house, and Henry and Joseph, the oldest children, secured jobs on the hill. Henry was hired as a truck driver and later drove the Copper Ambulance from their home to St. Mark’s Hospital. After living five years in Bingham, the town of Copperton was built and Minnie and Henry were the first family to settle there. They were given a house at the corner of the Copperton Park, where Henry was hired as gardener. In 1935, the dream of coming home to Taylorsville was realized, and they moved into a new home on Redwood Road. Here, Minnie and Henry raised chickens and turkeys. Henry kept his job at the mine in anticipation of his retirement. But tragedy came to Minnie on Jan. 6, 1942, when Henry was killed in an automobile accident while attending a funeral in Idaho. Erma came home to live with her mother and it was decided they would move into the home they occupied on 4800 South, so they would be close to Minnie’s sisters and close enough for Erma to attend her church meetings. Minnie has a great heritage and large posterity spanning five generations, including grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She always encouraged her family to live good, clean lives, telling them they could do just about anything.
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TAYLORSVILLE SENIOR CENTER 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive
Taylorsville Senior Center Goes Virtual Salt Lake County is pleased to announce the development of a Virtual Senior Center. Aging & Adult Services' new Virtual Senior Center will offer programming that seniors can do from the safety of their own home. You can read more about the Virtual Senior Center and view current programs, by accessing the center’s newsletter online or stopping by the Taylorsville Senior Center, 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive, during drive-thru lunch hours (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday) to pick up a copy. These programs will include online, video conference, telephone, or self-guided activities that require neither phone nor computer. A variety of class types will be available ranging from support groups, exercise classes, education, arts and crafts, and even self-guided tours of local areas. The development is ongoing. For example, the center has exercise classes and wellness videos on the department’s YouTube page from the Health Promotion program, and staff members are working every day to create new opportunities, including presentations, classes, support groups and more. Please check out the Taylorsville Senior Center’s website, Facebook page, and sign up for their email blast to receive current updates: www.slco.org/taylorsville-senior-center
Don’t Miss These Events at the Library This Month The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of February. Also, note its holiday hours below. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events:
VIRTUAL ADULT LECTURE
The Unique Art of Chad Farnes Tuesday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m.
Learn about the non-traditional approach of artist Chad Farnes and his ability to transform humble duct tape into inspirational pieces of art. See stunning images of nature created using the slow process of layering strips of tape. Farnes is a self-trained artist who creates art out of unconventional materials. He prefers large art projects. He created a large tape mural that hangs at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Farnes was the artist in residence at Glacier National Park last summer. He currently creates art out of recycled Plexiglass. Use this link to register for the event: https://tinyurl.com/y5se5ryk
STORYTIME CORNER
Monday, Feb. 1 through Saturday, Feb. 27 Stop by the library each week and visit Storytime Corner. Pick up story-time ideas and books to practice at home. Note: The library will be closed all day on Monday, Feb. 15. Happy Presidents’ Day!
February 2021 | Page 17
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| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
City of Taylorsville Newsletter
Solving Water Line Leaks Often Starts with ‘Who owns it?’ A question often asked when a water service line is leaking or if there is a blockage in a sewer lateral is: “Whose responsibility is it?” A water service line is a pipe that conveys water from a large water main to the home. The homeowner and the Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District have responsibilities for portions of the water service line. The district owns and maintains the water service line from the water main, which is normally located in the road or park strip, into the meter box that services the home. The homeowner is responsible for maintaining and repairing the water service line after it leaves the meter box. A sewer lateral is a pipe that takes wastewater away from the home. The homeowner owns, maintains, repairs and replaces the sewer lateral and connection to the sewer main as needed. The district maintains the sewer main that receives the wastewater from the homeowners’ sewer lateral. 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.
Taylorsville Community Gardens The Taylorsville Community Greenhouse will open at the end of February for spring planting. Cost is $25.
Garden spots are also available for the summer for $25. If you are interested, call Toni Lenning at 801-414-4192
FEBRUARY WFWRD UPDATES 2021 COLLECTION RATES The Wasatch Front Waste fees for 2021 will remain at $17 per month and $51 per quarter/per year ($204 per year) for one garbage can and one recycle can. The fee also includes an annual Area Cleanup, Leaf Bag Collection, Curbside Christmas Tree Collection, and can repair/replacement. There is an increase to the subscription Green Waste collection fees, from $9.50 to $10.50 per month, for the first can. Additionally, the Bulk Trailer Rental fees will increase from $145 to $175, for up to two tons. Over two tons will increase from $35 per ton to $45 per ton. Please refer to the 2021 fee schedule on the WFWRD website (https://wasatchfrontwaste.org/ rates-fees/) for more details on all district fees. WFWRD continues to find ways to be more efficient and keep costs as low as possible for residents. However, it has been absorbing increased costs for labor, maintenance shop rates and recycling processing for the past four years. Therefore, the district is anticipating a fee increase at the beginning of 2022 to sustain current services. More details will be provided in the coming months. You may also contact Pam Roberts, General Manager, for more information. She can be reached by phone at 385-468-6342, or email, PRoberts@wasatchfrontwaste.org.
BROKEN/DAMAGED CANS If your garbage or recycle can is broken or damaged, please call the WFWRD office at 385468-6325. They will come and repair your cans as part of your fees for services. You can also complete an online service order request on their website: https://wasatchfrontwaste.org/report-a-problemor-request-service/
RECYCLING As the recycling industry continues to stabilize, many organizations are creating new and innovative ways to recycle the materials we use daily. From paper to plastic to cardboard, Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District is working hard to find new opportunities to accept more materials and make sure they are being recycled in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Make sure to take the time to familiarize yourself with items that are currently recyclable by using recycling guides found on the WFWRD website. By reducing contamination, the district can continue to keep costs low for all of our residents. Remember, when in doubt, throw it out!
ON-LINE Tickets On Sale Now LEARN MORE AT BRIGHTONRESORT.COM SelectHealth to Grant Nonprofits Supporting Healthy Communities Submission window opens to submit for an award for community health improvement worth over $20,000. SALT LAKE CITY—Are you working to improve health in the community or build a strong community? If so, SelectHealth wants to help by recognizing twenty organizations with $3,000 and a marketing package worth $20,000 to further their cause. SelectHealth asks anyone who may qualify to apply. Submissions for the award are being accepted February 2, 2021 through February 28, 2021 or until 500 submissions is reached at selecthealthawards.org. A wide range of organizations have received the SelectHealth Awards since it was first introduced in 2008. Last year’s recipients represented a wide variety of causes including physical activity programs, crisis centers, recovery centers, and free medical services. “It is an honor to work with so many positive nonprofits throughout the state,” said SelectHealth Community Relations Manager Greg Reid. “Each year, we are inspired by the recipients and all they do to make our communities a better place to live.” In addition to offering a cash award, SelectHealth will develop marketing materials for each awardee including a promotional video to help promote their organization and cause. For more information and to apply, visit selecthealthawards.org.
About SelectHealth SelectHealth® is a not-for-profit health plan serving more than 930,000 members in Utah, Idaho, and Nevada. From commercial to government plans for individuals, families, employers, and more, we serve all segments of the community. We share a mission with Intermountain Healthcare® of Helping People Live the Healthiest Lives Possible®.
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February 2021 | Page 19
Centennial Plaza coming soon outside City Hall; $750,000 amphitheater now back in the budget By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
O
ur new year brings a couple of significant anniversaries to both the state of Utah and Taylorsville City. Utah became a state in 1896, making it 125 years old. Meanwhile, Taylorsville was incorporated exactly 100 years after statehood, in 1996, making the city 25 years old. Some, in fact, may not know Taylorsville is nicknamed “Utah’s Centennial City” because of those corresponding dates. So, as construction work continues at a fevered pace outside city hall, Taylorsville elected officials feel they have finally come up with the perfect name for the open space being installed just west of the new Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center: Centennial Plaza. “Since this is our 25th anniversary, and we are nicknamed the ‘Centennial City,’ we feel the name clicks and works perfectly,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “It honors our past. It’s at the intersection of Taylorsville Boulevard and Centennial Way. It just feels right.” And most would likely agree that it has more of a ring to it than the way it was being
This overhang at the north end of the new concession stand outside the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center will feature picnic tables for outside dining. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
referred to prior to this revelation: Taylorsville’s front yard. The large area will feature about an acre of open grass, surrounded by sidewalks, benches and other amenities. The area is intended to host the city’s popular “movies in the park” summer series. There’s also been talk of creating a seasonal farmers market. After the coronavirus pandemic hit last March, it appeared there would not be
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much more to the open space when it initially opens. Fearing COVID-19 would have a disastrous impact on sales tax revenues in Taylorsville, city council members approved deep cuts to their budget. These reductions included scaling back Centennial Plaza amenities. However, as reported last month, the pandemic ended up not gouging sales tax revenues but instead raised them by about
10%. That unexpected twist relieved council member fears of having to raise taxes, while also allowing them to restore several expenditures to their budget, including a $750,000 amphitheater. “The new amphitheater will have a large performing stage, electricity, a sound system and everything else we need,” Overson said. “It will have a roof and some enclosed storage areas. It’s where the screen will be for our summer, outdoor movies. I’m excited we’ve been able to add it back into our budget. It will be more economical to construct the amphitheater now—while everything is torn up—than to wait and do it later.” City Engineer Ben White says, amphitheater construction has simply been added to the list of work being done by Centerville-based Hogan & Associates Construction. “The amphitheater will be made of brick and concrete, and include a 50-by-75foot stage,” he said. “It’s expected to be finished by early summer. Adding the $750,000 back into our sts, our total expenditures for work being done by Hogan is about $5.25
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million.” A good portion of that money was federal COVID-19 relief funding, spent on extensive remodeling inside city hall. Several second-floor offices were reconfigured to make them more resistant to the spread of communicable diseases. Hands-free (sliding) doors were also installed on the north and south sides of the building. Meanwhile, some of the most visible construction now underway is being done at the south end of the property, near 5400 South, east and west of Centennial Way, the entry road into city hall. Hogan crews are installing decorative entryway walls that will feature cascading water and ponds. One wall will include raised lettering that reads “Taylorsville City,” while the other reads “Centennial Plaza.” Water will cascade down each wall, behind the raised lettering, settling into the ponds. It’s intended to operate year-round, with a multi-purpose building used to circulate the water through to keep it from freezing in winter. The 29-foot-by-65-foot building is also still under construction, on the same side of Centennial Way as the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. The building will feature four-stall men’s and women’s restrooms, storage closets and a concessions area. It will also house the pumps and heating required for the circulating water features. A 30-foot overhang, extending from the north end of the building, will provide a covered, outdoor dining area. “I’m not sure what this building will be called,” White said. “The public will know it
for the concession stand and restrooms. But if we did not have this building, we also could not operate the water feature year-round. So, that building will serve several purposes.” Veteran City Councilman Ernest Burgess is among those who’s excited to see all the new amenities put to use by Taylorsville residents. “Centennial Plaza is really going to be a great place for city activities,” he said. “I think it’s a great name. It will be a great place for our ‘Movies in the Park.’ The arts committee will be able to make good use of it. I’ve heard talk of trying a farmers’ market there. I also think it could be a great place for Christmas lights.” Thanks to the ongoing pandemic, there’s still no target date for when ribbons will be cut on either the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center or the newly named Centennial Plaza. “The last word we heard from Salt Lake County is they hope to begin running ‘test performances’ in the arts center sometime in March,” Overson said. “But we do not expect the theater to be available for actual shows until at least June. We are still in a wait-and-see mode.” But despite the ongoing limitations imposed by coronavirus, the mayor says 2021 will be a yearlong celebration. “We’re hoping things will be safe again by summer so we can have a Taylorsville Dayzz celebration that is bigger and better than ever,” Overson said. “At this point, we just don’t know. But everything we do this year, in one way or another, will be an anniversary celebration.” l
This structure west of the new arts center – and one identical to it, on the other side of the entry road to City Hall – will feature ponds and decorative walls, welcoming visitors to Taylorsville. (Carl Fauver/ City Journals)
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February 2021 | Page 21
Rosales takes over as warriors head football coach By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
T
Humani Wolfgram threw 15 touchdowns last season. (Greg James/City Journals)
aylorsville High School has a new football coach, former defensive coordinator Chris “Rosy” Rosales was introduced to parents and the team Jan. 14. “I am very excited for this opportunity,” Rosales said. “We have a super young team coming back next season and are ready to get the season going.” Coach “Rosy,” a nickname he picked up in junior high, has been with the Warriors for two seasons. His coaching career includes 10 years as a high school coach with programs like Copper Hills, Hillcrest and Herriman. “I started with Larry Wilson (successful football and rugby coach at Herriman and Olympus high schools),” Rosales said. “I gained a lot of knowledge about how to intertwine the program with the community, and I think I will be able to implement those things into how I do things.” The staff includes newly hired offensive coordinator Ryan Ling, a former coach at West Jordan and Mountain Ridge high schools. The Warriors plan on running a quick spread-style offense similar to what they have had in the past. “We are undersized, so we need to use our speed,” Rosales said. “This offseason we will work hard in the weight room to get
bigger and stronger.” The offensive line will return five players with varsity experience. Rosales said he expects center Ryan Liston to be a leader for that group. “Izaik (Schwenke) and Pita (Taukeiaho) will be strong leaders,” Rosales said. “The O-line has been very coachable and has learned really quickly. We have a lot of dudes coming back there, and I am really looking forward to working with them.” Manu Faleoa, a sophomore, has played nickelback and could compete for the quarterback position. The Warriors also return talented wide receivers Sam Duncan and Talon Brady. The introduction of freshmen at the school next fall will help increase player numbers and elevate the team’s learning curve. “More bodies in the house will help us keep players at our school,” Rosales said. “With open enrollment out there, I hope to have a chance to help kids be a part of our program and build something together.” The connection to the high school team begins long before the players enter high school according to Rosales. “We want the youth to be involved,” he said. “We know those kids look up to
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New head coach Chris Rosales expects his returning offensive line to be a strength of his team next year. (Greg James/City Journals)
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February 2021 | Page 23
New Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson once called Taylorsville home for several years By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
“S
he hit me hard over the head with that bottle—it hurt!” That’s how Taylorsville resident and Salt Lake County Councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton describes the blow she received from Utah’s newly elected Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson. Moreover, Henderson openly admits doing it. That could have been a juicy story if it had happened last year, during the Republican primary campaign for governor, when Newton was running for the post against Spencer Cox and Henderson. But, sadly—at least for those who aren’t satisfied with the amount of controversy we already see on the political landscape these days—the incident didn’t happen in 2020. And a few other facts are probably necessary: • The bottle landed on Newton’s head during a rehearsal for the musical “Guys and Dolls.” • The production was staged at Bennion Jr. High School in 1989. • The show’s faculty director instructed Henderson to do it. • The “weapon” in question was a prop bottle, designed to break easily. • The two have remained close
Above right: New Utah Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson attended public schools in Taylorsville for grades 4 through 10. (senate.utah.gov) Above left: Longtime Salt Lake County Councilwoman and Taylorsville resident Aimee Winder Newton was childhood friends with Utah’s new Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson. (courtesy Aimee Winder Newton)
friends (although Newton has never let Henderson live it down). “We’ve laughed about that so many times,” Newton said. “Even though we’ve not seen each other much in recent years, I still consider Deidre to be a close friend. And I feel she is one of the most qualified people
in Utah to work for the state government.” Deidre Hulse (long before marriage changed her last name to Henderson) lived with her parents and siblings in the Taylorsville area before the city was incorporated in the 1980s. She attended fourth, fifth and sixth grades at Harry S. Truman Elementa-
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ry, seventh through ninth at Bennion Junior High and 10th grade at Taylorsville High. “My two older brothers both graduated from Taylorsville High, in 1988 and 1989,” Henderson said. “But my family moved quite a bit when I was a kid. The day I got out of 10th grade, we moved to Minnesota. But I lived longer in Taylorsville than anywhere else during my childhood. I have many great memories.” After graduating from a suburban Minneapolis high school in 1992, Hulse soon found her way back to Utah. And soon after that, the Hulse-to-Henderson name change came along. “I enrolled at BYU in the fall of 1992 and met my husband (Gabe Henderson) in a French class on the first day of my second semester, in January 1993,” Henderson said. “He had played baseball for BYU as a freshman and was just returning from a (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) mission, in California. We dated for two months, got engaged and married in the Salt Lake Temple in July 1993.” Henderson said, five children in eight years came next, putting her education on the back burner, as motherhood took center stage.
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“I have been attending BYU, piecemeal, for the past 28 years,” she quipped. “I will finally graduate in December with a degree in history.” Back when she was still Hulse, Deidre says her first foray into politics was a disaster. “I ran for seventh grade secretary (at Bennion Junior High) but lost,” she lamented. “I was so shy. I hid in the girls’ bathroom during the assembly where I was supposed to give a speech. My mom was an artist and made my campaign posters. They had a picture of a fluffy rabbit on pink paper and said ‘No bunny would be better than Deidre Hulse for secretary.’ I later told her she would not be doing any future campaign posters for me.” Nearly 30 years later, her next campaign was more successful, when the mother of five was elected to the Utah State Senate, representing District 7 (Spanish Fork, Provo, Payson, Elk Ridge, Springville, Salem, Woodland Hills, Vineyard and Santaquin). “I was elected in November 2012 and was a freshman lawmaker in January 2013, at the same time as Spencer Cox,” she said. “He was elected to the House while I was in the Senate. We got to know each other quickly.” “I am grateful Sen. Henderson has accepted our invitation to join the campaign,” Spencer Cox said in his March 2020 news release, announcing her as his Lt. governor running mate. “She is a tremendous leader, a consistent conservative and unafraid of doing what is right for the people she serves. I am confident we have found the perfect partner.” Before officially accepting Cox’s invitation to join him on the campaign trail, Henderson first had to speak with her longtime friend Newton. “I had been openly supporting Aimee (for governor) and had given her a campaign donation,” Henderson said. “When I told her I was asked to join (GOP primary opponent) Spencer Cox’s campaign, she was very gracious and supportive. I have so much admiration for Aimee. She ran such a positive campaign and I learned a lot from her.” “I told Deidre ‘I am relinquishing you
Left: Future stalwarts in the Utah Republican party Aimee Winder Newton (L) and Deidre Henderson probably didn’t have politics on their mind when they hopped into a Valley Fair Mall photo booth for this picture, three decades ago. (courtesy Aimee Winder Newton) Above: New Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson were sworn into office a month ago. Three decades before that, Henderson called Taylorsville home for several years. (votecox.com)
from your support of me, if there is something better for you,’” Newton said. “We had been best friends in eighth grade. We hung out together a lot, and I had sleepovers at her house. We became reacquainted through politics. I am very happy for her.” The Cox-Henderson ticket eked out a very close primary victory over former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. last summer, followed by an expected landslide win in the November general election against Democrat Chris Peterson. But by the time that second victory
came, Henderson was facing different challenges. “My husband and I—and some other family members—were diagnosed with COVID in August, and I had to go to the emergency room a couple of times for supplemental oxygen,” Henderson said. “But I was not actually admitted to the hospital for coronavirus. Instead, I also had to undergo three back surgeries. I was in excruciating pain for several weeks. I spent election day (Nov. 3) in the hospital (at Provo’s Utah Val-
ley Regional Medical Center).” Henderson is doing much better now, though still not completely healed. “I’m functioning much better, doing all the day-to-day things I need to do,” she said. “I am a bionic woman now, with hardware in my back. But I still won’t be able to bend, lift or twist until April.” Despite those challenges, Utah’s second-ever female lieutenant governor says she’s enjoying the responsibilities of her new position. And no matter how rancorous future debates become at the state capitol, no one is expecting the former Taylorsville resident to ever smash a bottle over someone’s head again. l
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February 2021 | Page 25
Psych 101: What is gaslighting? By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com
I
f you’ve tuned into the federal news at any point during the past four years, you’ve probably heard a phrase or two about President Donald Trump gaslighting America. Even though the term has been thrown about rather loosely at times, it seems to be becoming part of our common collective discourse. Personally, I wanted to make sure I really understood this term, and the research behind it, before evaluating the claims made about our current political climate. I’d like to take a moment to define and clarify gaslighting, discuss its prevalence, and illuminate potential harmful impacts. The term “gaslighting” has been used to describe abuse involving emotional and intellectual manipulation, most often recognizable through mind-manipulation strategies. Gaslighting often leads to a person questioning their sanity, perceptions of reality, and/or memories. Even though the term was recently popularized in politics, gaslighting has been well recognized within psychology research for decades. One of the first mentions of gaslighting was on June 21, 1969. Russell Barton and J.A. Whitehead published an article in “The Lancet” where they outlined two cases in which “there were definite plots to remove an unwanted and restricting relative by securing admissions to a mental hospital.” They compared this to the storyline of
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a play titled “Gas Light” by Patrick Hamilton where a husband tries to get rid of his wife by driving her into a lunatic asylum. Dr. Paige Sweet attributes the common usage of the term to a story as well. In the 1944 film by George Cukor, “Gaslight,” a husband attempts to isolate his wife by making her believe she is insane. “His eponymous tactic is to dim and brighten the gaslights and then insist she is imagining it. (He) aims to undermine (her) sense of self and everyday life, to confuse and distort her reality such that she must accept his imposed reality in place of her own.” The term appeared minimally throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but eventually it began to recur in research as the focus on interpersonal relationships intensified. In 2007, Dr. Robin Stern published “The Gaslight Effect” focusing on how to identify manipulation in relationships. As might be apparent from the contextual history of the term, gaslighting is of importance in domestic violence research and intimate partner violence (IPV) literature. “Gaslighting is a conscious or unconscious form of psychological abuse that occurs when a perpetrator distorts information to confuse a victim, triggering the victim to doubt their memory and sanity,” defines Dr. Madeline Tormoen. In the popular conversation, confusion,
Utah, visit: the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition at www.udvc.org/; the statewide domestic violence info-line Linkline at 1-800-897-5465 (LINK); the Utah Department of Human Services at www.dcfs.utah.gov; the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault at www.ucasa.org or 1-888-421-1100; or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE). l
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distortion and anxiety are all recognizable as consequences of gaslighting. However, the potential impacts of gaslighting can quickly become more harmful and severe. Those being gaslit may start to question their own perceptions and lose trust in their own experience of reality. Tormoen described how gaslighting may often affect memory, contribute to emotional abuse and interpersonal abuse, lead to a victim undermining their sanity, and betrayal. “Gaslighting can also prevent domestic violence victims from accessing institutional resources that would help them escape the abuse. The very institutions set up to help victims can become part of the gaslighting process,” she described. In addition, gaslighting may contribute to double-binding and depersonalization, resulting in losing a sense of self, multiple perceptions of reality, and varied internal versions of reality. Gaslighting creates hostile social environments. Sweet and others have argued that gaslighting is not just a psychological tactic, but a sociological phenomenon as well. “When perpetrators mobilize gender-based stereotypes, structural inequalities, and institutional vulnerabilities against victims with whom they are in an intimate relationship, gaslighting becomes not only effective, but devastating.” For domestic violence resources here in
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foods found only in caves along the Ganges River!” “Learn the secret of Cleopatra’s radiant skin, Helen of Troy’s weight loss supplement and Queen Elizabeth’s longevity.” (Spoiler alert: it’s never having to clean your own toilet.) Companies tell us fans are “raving” about their green juice. False news. No one raves about green juice. The recipes have unknown ingredients like chlorella (a dried sea vegetable) and rhodiola, a cold-climate plant used by Vikings. Mmmmm. Yummy. (Sidenote: Vikings are dead. Did rhodiola kill them?) Mushrooms are the new meat. The reishi mushroom is called the Queen of the Mushrooms because…um…it has a crown? I guess psilocybin mushrooms would be King of the Mushrooms, or at least the laidback, hippie brother-in-law of the mushrooms. Pretend meat is also the new meat. Im-
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February 2021 | Vol. 8 Iss. 02
FREE COTTAM, GRAY NAMED CHIEF AND DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE STILL-FORMING CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
T
wo men with a combined 53 years of law enforcement experience have now been sworn into two of the top three positions in the new Taylorsville City Police Department. But both men say, it could be a while before the third top post in the new agency is filled. New Police Chief Brady Cottam and Deputy Chief Todd Gray were unanimously approved for their positions by the Taylorsville City Council during the first 2021 council meeting. With 24 years of law enforcement experience, Cottam shifts to the agency from the Unified Police Department Taylorsville Precinct, where he worked under now-retired Precinct Chief Tracy Wyant. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Gray was hired in from outside the city. His 29 years of law enforcement experience began with two years working for the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Department as a jail employee, followed by 27 years with the West Valley City Police Department. Cottam and Gray officially started their new jobs Dec. 31, 2020. “Chief Cottam has both an impeccable work ethic and moral compass,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “He understands the value of fostering relationships throughout the law enforcement community and is a natural and effective leader who cares about the people he serves. I am impressed with his forward thinking and strategic planning for the future. He is the right man to lead our police force.” “I am very humbled and never thought I would stand in this position,” Chief Cottam told city council members. “I am very excited. This will be a great city for our officers to work in. I am grateful to my wife and family. I am also grateful to have Todd along my side.” Cottam and Gray had originally been tabbed to serve as the two deputy police chiefs under Tracy Wyant when he was named the new Taylorsville police chief in November.
With City Councilwoman Meredith Harker over his left shoulder, UPD Taylorsville Precinct veteran Brady Cottam addresses the council before being sworn in as chief of the city’s new police department. (Taylorsville City)
The now-retired UPD Taylorsville Precinct Chief then changed his mind, for health reasons. In a subsequent news release from the city, it was revealed Wyant contracted coronavirus. He has since recovered. “I really admire Tracy; he is a good friend of mine, worked a lot and gave 100% all of the time,” Cottam said. “[Contracting COVID-19] made him consider retiring. He knew he could retire, financially. I think this is the first time in his life he put his health and personal life ahead of the job. I’m happy for him. He has been so selfless.” So originally, the top three Taylorsville Police Department hires were going to be Wyant, Cottam and Gray. With Wyant’s retirement, Cottam and Gray remain in the picture, but that third top leadership post may not be the next one filled.
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Newly hired West Valley City Police Department veteran Todd Gray addresses his new employers: the Taylorsville City Council and Mayor Kristie Overson. (Taylorsville City)
“As soon as Todd and I were selected, we began talking about that third person,” Cottam said. “It will be a very valued and trusted person, and I am OK with taking time to make that decision. I have received countless phone calls from people all over the valley who want that job. But we don’t have anyone pegged for it yet. There are other key people who may come along before that [second deputy chief] position is filled.” Specifically, as the hiring process moves forward for the new Taylorsville Police Department in March, Cottam says some key civilian positions will quickly need to be filled. Additionally, an administrative sergeant will be needed early in the process, to coordinate department training. In Gray, the new agency not only gets
nearly three decades of law enforcement experience but also a seasoned police K9 unit dog handler. The Taylorsville Police Department plans to operate a three-person, three-dog K9 unit, although it likely won’t be up and running on day one, this coming July 1. “I was a K9 handler for about 8 1/2 years and supervised a unit for a year-and-a-half,” Gray said. “I will be over the K9 unit when we get it up and running. But first we need to write some good policy and procedures. We will look for a good, experienced sergeant with K9 experience to head up the three-person group. It could be six months to a year before the unit is up.” The new deputy chief also explained why he wanted to shift to the new department after Continued page 4
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