January 2021 | Vol. 8 Iss. 01
FREE CORONAVIRUS CREATES COUNTLESS HEADACHES BUT DOES NOT HARM CITY (OR ITS TAXPAYERS) FINANCIALLY By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
W
ith its tragic death and hospitalization numbers worldwide, it seems only natural to assume COVID-19 would have an equally devastating impact financially on municipalities across the country. Certainly, the pandemic has crushed a number of small businesses, while landing millions of Americans on unemployment. But truth be told, from a strictly economic perspective, the coronavirus has created a financial windfall for Taylorsville and many other cities. “This pandemic year of 2020 was truly the best of times and the worst of times,” Mayor Kristie Overson said during the final city council meeting of the year. “Our city sales tax numbers look very good, up 10% from last year.” Later in the same council meeting, an economic report credited the city’s “diversified tax base” as a key reason why city coffers did not take the hit most were expecting. One person pointed out, “when there was a run on toilet paper—and all those shelves were empty—sales tax was paid on every roll.” Bottom line: In a year many of us want to forget, quickly, there was one silver lining. City officials report there is no fear of a looming property tax hike due to revenue decreases caused by the pandemic. In fact, during the fourth quarter of 2020, it could be argued Taylorsville had “too much” money, courtesy of Uncle Sam. As part of the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) economic stimulus bill, Salt Lake County received a pool of money to distribute to municipalities based on their populations. Through that formula, Taylorsville received $1,778,142 in July. However, the funds arrived with two significant strings
When not leading city council meetings, chairwoman Meredith Harker kept in touch with her elementary school students early in the pandemic, by conducting a book exchange through her classroom window. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
attached: the money could only be spent on things directly ad- challenges for city officials, as they determined how to properly dressing COVID-19 and all of the money had to be spent by the spend nearly $1.8 million in five months. But it was nothing end of the calendar year. Any unspent portion of the funding they could not handle. would have to be returned to the feds. The real challenge came three months later, when comThose stipulations on the federal grant funding created Continued page 5
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Continued from front page pletely unexpectedly the county provided a second, identical chunk of federal CARES Act money to the city. Now Taylorsville officials had about 10 weeks to identify coronavirus needs and spend another $1.8 million before the end of 2020. “It was not too difficult to identify virus-related spending needs for the first grant, and we had five months to do it,” said City Administrator John Taylor. “But when we were told in October, we were receiving another $1.8 million—with all the same spending restrictions and the same Dec. 31 deadline—it became a bigger challenge. At first, all I knew for certain was that we would find needs. I mean we weren’t going to waste tax money. But we also did not want to send any back.” Eventually, the feds loosened their restrictions to make spending the second grant much easier. Initially, cities were told the funds could not be simply spent on police and emergency response salaries. But later the feds relaxed that policy. “Then we were able to allocate that entire second grant to police salaries,” Taylor said. “Since we had already budgeted for those salaries, that freed up city funds for other needs.” As for the first $1,778,142 grant, nearly half of it (“about $800,000”) was budgeted for extensive remodeling inside Taylorsville City Hall, primarily at both ends of the second floor. The work was done to create windowed barriers in reception areas, to reduce the spread of germs between employees and the public. The construction also included more spacing and separation in office areas and cubicles. Also included in the remodel were funds to create touchless entries to the building, on the north and south sides. The new entry doors were not yet installed at press time but were expected to be completed before the end of December. Another portion of that first federal grant, $150,000 was earmarked for distribu-
Journals
Federal CARES Act funding covered major remodeling costs inside city hall, as work spaces were changed to better protect the public and employees from airborne viruses. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
tion by the Chamberwest Chamber of Commerce, through its Taylorsville Shop Local campaign. “We identified 20,536 Taylorsville homes in two ZIP code areas and mailed each of them two $15 shop local coupons,” said Chamberwest President and CEO Barbara Riddle. “We then invited all of our Taylorsville businesses that were negatively impacted by coronavirus to participate.” The program did not require residents to “match” the coupons with money out of their own pockets. Likewise, merchants were not asked to “discount” their merchandise. Business owners received the entire $15 (in grant funding) for each coupon they received. However, there was a limited time on the shop local dollars. They would only be honored until the entire $150,000 portion of the grant had been spent.
As of Dec. 3, the Chamber of Commerce website (chamberwest.com/shoplocal/ taylorsville/residents) reported 49% of the money had been spent by local residents. At that point, funds were expected to last another couple of weeks but should all be gone by now. “City officials were very proactive by funding the shop local program,” Riddle said. “It benefited local residents and businesses at the same time. The city has been working very aggressively to support the business community. We had 66 businesses accepting the shop local dollars. Restaurants seemed to benefit the most.” Riddle said some Taylorsville businesses have actually thrived during COVID-19 slowdowns—such as those in landscaping and home improvement—as many residents have spent money around their homes while
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spending so much time there. “Businesses are all over the place through this pandemic,” she concluded. “There are businesses having their best years ever, others that are struggling and some that may not make it. Our tourism and hospitality businesses have all been severely impacted.” “We have received nothing but positive feedback on the shop local program, from both residents and businesses,” Overson said. “We wanted the program to help both of those groups and we’re glad that it has.” Meanwhile, one Taylorsville City employee who’s been kept particularly busy during this unusual year is Emergency Response Coordinator Donnie Gasu. He’s spent the last nine months connecting people and groups in need of personal protective equipment (PPE) with their required supplies. Since mid-March, his one-man department has distributed about 8,000 facemasks, more than 50 gallons of hand sanitizer and various other items such as gloves, gowns and thermometers. “I’ve been working through the city’s Cultural Diversity Committee to help identify groups that need masks,” Gasu said. “We’ve given about 6,000 masks to various ethnic groups. The remaining 2,000 masks have gone to the police department, senior housing facilities, water district employees and visitors to our city offices.” Another group that has remained busy during the pandemic is the Taylorsville Police transition team. Shortly into the pandemic last spring, city leaders announced their plan to end the contract with the Unified Police Department for law enforcement services and to reestablish the city’s own department. The group has met weekly since then, and remains on schedule to launch the Taylorsville Police Department on July 1. One hiccup in the process came just before Thanksgiving, when UPD Taylorsville Precinct Chief Tracy Wyant had a change of heart. After initially accepting the position to shift over to become the city’s new police
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chief, he changed his plans. But Taylor said even that unexpected change of heart will not delay the department’s launch. “Chief Wyant was always our first choice, but we did have a list of qualified candidates in case he passed on the job,” Taylor explained. “Tracy told us his decision the day before Thanksgiving. But we made some calls over the long weekend and began conducting interviews that following Monday. We’ll have a qualified chief in plenty of time.” In fact, as of January the new Taylorsville Police chief may be on board. But as of press time, he or she was not. “We are working from a short list of qualified candidates and may extend an offer sometime during the holidays,” Overson said. “But it’s more likely we will officially hire our new police chief sometime in January.” At least two members of the Taylorsville City Council have also been impacted directly by coronavirus, although not in relation to their city posts. Council Chairwoman Meredith Harker spent part of her time early in the pandemic all alone in her Calvin Smith Elementary School (2150 West 6200 South) third grade classroom. When the Granite School District directed students to stop coming to class last spring, Harker operated a book exchange with her kids, through the classroom window. The kids remained outside, while she was inside taking in and handing out books. Harker was also one of the organizers of a teachers’ parade, when dozens of the school’s educators drove through their students’ neighborhoods to honk and wave. Meanwhuile, the city’s newest councilwoman also adjusted to COVID-19 on the fly. In late September, veteran city Planning Commission member Anna Barbieri was unanimously elected by the four other city council members to file a vacated seat. But before that, she had shifted gears in her own successful business to address pandemic needs. Anna Barbieri and her sister Tamera Perkins own and operate White Elegance, a clothing line that primarily manufactures dresses to be worn by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during Temple weddings and other ceremonies. But when coronavirus halted those weddings, the company changed gears. “After the virus hit, our retail sales were off 60% to 70%,” Barbieri said. “But when we began manufacturing PPE, it picked about 25% of our business back up.” During the first six months of the pandemic, Barbieri estimates White Elegance produced some 62,000 medical gowns, masks and caps. All in all, the unique and stressful year of 2020 presented a multitude of challenges in a variety of ways to Taylorsville elected officials and administrators. But the bottom line is, nothing was knocked particularly off schedule, and the city did not suffer the severe sales tax revenue shortfall they had initially expected. l
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Mayor Kristie Overson and city council members discovered the wonderful world of Zoom meetings in 2020. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
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Taylorsville Emergency Response Coordinator Donnie Gasu raced all year to keep up with community demands for hand sanitizer, masks and other PPE. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
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This colorful driveway drawing of a turtle earned Kaitlyn Hansen first place in the youth division of the Taylorsville Arts Council’s sidewalk art competition last summer. (Courtesy Taylorsville Arts Council)
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Taylorsville Arts Council does what it can to keep performers, artists active during pandemic By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
T
his was NOT how 2020 was supposed to look—particularly to excited members of the Taylorsville Arts Council. More than four years ago, in December 2016, arts council members put big red circles around their December 2020 calendar page. That’s right, they were so excited they bought calendars four years before they would hang on the wall. In December 2016, Salt Lake County announced construction of the $39 million Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. They promised it would be completed by December 2020 and that the Taylorsville Arts Council could stage the first production in the palatial new facility. That remained the plan throughout 2017… 2018 … 2019 … and into last March. Construction was on schedule. Taylorsville performers were planning to stage “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and arts council members were giddy with anticipation as they watched the new facility take shape, southeast of city hall. Then the Grinch floated into our country, millions upon millions of spiky cells at a time. Still, several months into the pandemic, hope remained alive for “all of this coronavirus stuff to go away.” It didn’t. It hasn’t. Not yet. First, the virus outbreak in, of all places,
Colombia, South America, officially pushed the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center completion into 2021. “The fixed seating we will install in the main auditorium, 440 chairs, were ordered from a factory in Colombia,” Jacobsen Construction Project Manager Doug Carley reported late last summer. “The virus forced that factory to close for about 2 1/2 months. Now they are playing catchup. We can no longer finish construction completely in 2020.” No matter—no one is going inside theaters these days anyway. Now the best guess is Salt Lake County officials will be able to cut the ribbon on their Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center “sometime this spring.” “Obviously, our performers are very disappointed the arts center is delayed, and we can’t do a holiday show there,” Taylorsville Arts Council Co-Chair Howard Wilson said. “We still want to perform the first show in the new center, but we don’t want to perform Joseph to a half-empty house. We may do a revue of some sort, when it finally opens.” Unlike many Salt Lake Valley theater groups, the Taylorsville Arts Council is not losing money due to the pandemic. They have no staff to pay and only minimal costs for equipment and prop storage. But, Wilson added, his band of volunteers is suffering emotionally.
Taylorsville City Journal
Coronavirus wiped out big Taylorsville Arts Council productions like Mama Mia, although one of this 2019 show’s stars did win a COVID-19 songwriting contest, with an assist from her four kids. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
“It’s very difficult to garner enthusiasm for a question mark,” he said. “Our volunteers don’t know when they’ll be able to perform again, when the arts center will be completed or when they can even think about rehearsing shows. They feel greatly underused and out of the loop. It’s been tough.” Coronavirus did a thorough job on the Taylorsville Arts Council, wiping out everything they had planned in 2020: the annual art show, orchestra performances, youth theater, the annual summer musical, various revues and more. But in the midst of all that disappointment, the arts council’s other co-chair, Susan Holman, cooked up some makeshift, on-thefly events of her own. “I came up with some ideas to, hopefully, keep the community engaged,” Holman said. “I knew we needed to do something to help people stay involved.” First the arts council staged a “COVID-19 Songwriting Contest.” Back in June, 14 contestants submitted handmade, “low-tech” performance videos. And the winner turned out to be someone whose talents were already familiar to the arts council. Less than a year earlier, Amanda Vandenakker starred in the arts council production of “Mama Mia,” staged at Salt Lake Community College’s Alder Amphitheater. Making her first appearance in a Taylorsville Arts Council production, Amanda played Rosie, one of the two Dynamos in the show’s fictitious singing trio Donna and the Dynamos. This time around, the West Jordan mother of four incorporated her kids into a comedic song, lamenting children always being underfoot thanks to coronavirus lockdowns. The light-hearted number titled “Little Kids” is better watched than explained www.facebook.com/amanda.s.vandenakker/videos/10103700298114972/?. “I loved doing ‘Mama Mia’ last summer, and two of my kids had just been cast in [the
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
arts council’s planned youth production of] ‘Peter Pan,’ when the pandemic shut everything down,” Vandenakker said. “That was going to be their first time in a Taylorsville show, so they were really disappointed when it had to be cancelled. The song contest was a nice opportunity to do something creative. The kids had a great time and were excite when we won.” The following month, in July, the Taylorsville Arts Council held a sidewalk chalk art contest. This time, 18 contestants remained socially distanced in their own driveways, creating their art. In the youth division, Kaitlyn Hansen’s colorful turtle drawing earned top honors. By the time August rolled around, Holman’s third and final makeshift competition proved to be the most successful of them all, with 55 entries in a Lego art contest. In fact, it was such a hit, Lego art may be included long after the pandemic is over. “When our [traditional] art contest returns, we may create a Lego art division,” Holman said. “Also, if we are able to move the art show [from the Taylorsville Senior Center] to the new arts center, we are also talking about having contestants do chalk art on the sidewalk in front. So, both of these might become new parts of our art contest.” Despite all the hardships of 2020, the Taylorsville Arts Council is looking to the new year filled with optimism. In addition to the new performing arts center opening, there will also be improved open space immediately west of the new building. Work has continued uninterrupted by the pandemic on the area being called the new “Taylorsville front yard.” It includes formal entryway, complete with year-round cascading water, an amphitheater and performance stage for outdoor concert. There is an open, grassy area the size of a football field, along with benches, a concession building, pathways, picnic ta-
With the exterior almost completely finished, construction will now wrap up inside the new Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center in early 2021. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
bles, restrooms and more, are all coming, outside Taylorsville City Hall. For the first time ever, that space will be functional for many groups—including the city’s arts council—to put to use. It’s not yet clear exactly how much of the project will be funded and completed for the ribbon cutting, planned to coincide with the opening of the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. At this point, it appears the planned outdoor performing stage, children’s playground and seasonal skating rink will have to wait for additional funding. But at a minimum, the new area will include lots of walkways—perhaps for more sidewalk artists to ply their skill—along with a large grassy area, where community arts and crafts shows can be held. There’s already talk of establishing a farmers’ market there. “It’s been a long time coming, and I love it,” said Councilman Curt Cochran after final designs for the open area were shared with the Taylorsville City Council. “I think it’s great and the community should be extremely happy with it. I believe the new area will be used a lot.” The most visible change for people driv-
ing past city hall on 5400 South will be the new formal, stone wall entry, featuring cascading water running behind raised lettering. The walls will go up east and west of the city hall entrance (Centennial Way). New shrubs and trees will also be planted along 5400 South, to each side of the stone entryway, somewhat concealing the improvements that lie within. “I think it will be great,” Councilman Dan Armstrong said. “I think it will really add to our city.” Between the new performing arts center and the adjacent “front yard,” the Taylorsville Arts Council will have many more options available for staging a wider variety of events. Perhaps council members will think of it as a long-awaited reward, after trudging through a very inactive year. “We muddled through 2020 and we certainly weren’t alone,” arts council treasurer Gordon Wolf said. “Everything was shut down: Eccles Theater, Abravanel Hall, Rose Wagner (Performing Arts Center) and many others. We have been trying to look forward and remain optimistic. We know the new year will be better.” l
January 2021 | Page 9
It’s a wrap, the 2020 Taylorsville sports year in review By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
T
he 2020 sports year has been filled with cancelations, postponements, and unforgettable individual performances. As 2021 begins here is a look back on the year that was.
JANUARY
The Taylorsville boys basketball team won five of its eight games in the month. Cameron Millican averaged 18.7 points per game. The Warriors had enjoyed a hot start to the season. In mid-December, Cole Nebeker hit a running buzzer-beater shot to beat Brighton 52-51. The win was highlighted as the “play of the week” by several of the local news stations. The Taylorsville girls basketball team rebounded from a tough preseason by winning five games in the month. Olivia Ashton led the team in scoring. Ella Huntington scored 15 points in a 47-37 victory over West Jordan to help close out the month. Kearns High School’s girls basketball team won two of three games in the Timberloin Tournament in Boise, Idaho. The Warriors doubles partners Maelynn Torres and Logan Wareham played together in the first round of the state tournament. (Greg James/City Journals) achievement helped them qualify 18th in the state tournament before losing to Jordan in Hunter 2-1 to clinch its first region title in 20 the first round, 61-44. Its boys team finished canceled its men’s and women’s basketball AUG. 5 Former Olympic speed skater and SLCC years. Their 12 wins were the most in school the season ranked 23rd and lost in the first tournaments. The Salt Lake City Stars stood atop the baseball player Eddy Alvarez made his ma- history. round of the playoffs. “There were seasons we were lucky NBA G-League Western Conference stand- jor league debut for the Miami Marlins. He FEB. 12 Taylorsville wrestler Malachi Novo- ings when the season was paused. They had collected his first hit four days later against to walk away with two wins,” Cougar head coach Jenassee Robison said. “They changed sel closed out his high school career in the a 30-12 record and had managed to attain the Mets. their attitude and have invested in the team.” 170-pound bracket at the state tournament. the most wins in team history. The club was AUG. 11 The Cougars lost in the first round of the poised to appear in the playoffs for the secThe Pac-12 conference canceled all fall He finished the year with a 31-9 overall record and won two matches in the final before ond straight season. In June when the season sports amid the pandemic. It later reversed its playoffs 3-0 to Roy. was canceled, head coach Martin Schiller decision. The University of Utah had its first OCT. 11 being eliminated. The Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA was named Western Conference Coach of the two football games canceled. FEB. 14 championship over the Miami Heat four Year. Bart Taylor was named Executive of AUG. 21 Kearns senior Sissy Baum finished sevTaylorsville won its first football contest games to two. Giannis AntetoKounmpo enth at the state swim meet in the 200-yard the Year, and Jarell Brantley earned a spot on of the season over Northridge 37-31 in over- for the Milwaukee Bucks was named the individual medley, and Joseph Biesinger the league’s All-Rookie team. time. Braxton Bates scored a touchdown in league’s most valuable player. placed sixth in the 100 breaststroke. Amy APRIL 14 The Utah High School Activities Assothe extra period for the victory. Head coach OCT. 26 Chung from Taylorsville finished ninth in the The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World 50 freestyle. She also finished fifth in the 100 ciation officially canceled the spring sports Joe Johnson stepped down at the end of the Series four games to two over the Tampa Bay free. Alec Flockhart placed sixth in the boys season after a monthlong hiatus. After parent season. “I believe we can compete in this re- Rays. Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner 100 free. Ethan Lawrence finished sixth in protests, officials reaffirmed the decision in May. Several spring sports teams played only gion,” Johnson said. “We just need to con- was removed mid-game of the final because the 500 free. The Cougars boys and girls both of a positive COVID test. After the game, finished in the top 10 at the state tournament. a few games before the season was canceled. centrate on fixing us.” MAY 2020 Chris Rosales was named the new head he returned to the field for pictures, and the MARCH 11 Nationally sporting events were can- coach in December. trophy presentation causing extreme concern The Utah Jazz game against the Oklahoceled or postponed. The Indianapolis 500 and over his unwillingness to shelter away from SEPT. 1 ma City Thunder was postponed after DonoThe Utah Jazz were eliminated from his teammates. van Mitchell and Rudy Gobert tested positive Kentucky Derby normally held in May were the NBA playoffs with a game-seven loss to OCT. 30 for COVID-19 and the NBA suspended the postponed until later in the year. Kearns forfeited its first-round state Late in the month, Taylorsville head the Denver Nuggets, 80-78. The Jazz led the remainder of the season. Two days later, Utah playoff game 1-0 to East. Despite only one baseball coach Glen Spencer took a position Nuggets three games to one before eventuGov. Gary Herbert declared a state of emergency and closed in-person school. The Utah on the Salt Lake Community baseball’s staff, ally falling. They finished the regular season loss, the Cougars were forced to forfeit after High School Activities Association paused and assistant coach Jentry Beckstead was sixth in the Western Conference with a 44-28 the team had an outbreak of COVID-19. “We have never gone through anything named his replacement. record. all interscholastic sporting activities. JULY 24-30 like this before,” Cougars head coach Matt SEPT. 7 Taylorsville and Kearns high school MLB, NHL and NBA seasons restart in Brigham Young University kicked off its Rickards said. “It was a tough situation to go teams had played only one or two spring sports contests when the season was sus- varying manners. The NBA chose to play its football season with a 55-3 victory over Navy. through.” The Cougars ended the season as co-reThe Cougars were ranked as high as 13th by pended. Many parents petitioned officials to games in a “bubble” in Orlando, Florida. AUG 1 gion champions, their fourth title in a row. the College Football Playoff Committee, and start the seasons again with the #letthemplay Taylorsville fastpitch softball’s 8 and quarterback Zack Wilson received recogni- NOV. 9 initiative. Herbert again paused all high school The National Hockey League and Ma- under team, Kombat, took first place at the tion as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate. athletics for two weeks. Winter sports tryouts SEPT. 10 jor League Baseball followed suit and paused Utah state girls softball tournament. “It was an intense game,” Kobat head The Kearns girls soccer team defeated were pushed back to Nov. 24. l their seasons as the NBA had. The NCAA coach Cassie Sandberg said.
Page 10 | January 2021
Taylorsville City Journal
City of Taylorsville Newsletter 2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400
MAYOR'S MESSAGE
www.taylorsvilleut.gov
January 2021
City Center Space is Named ‘Centennial Plaza’
Dear Friends and Neighbors, As we put the past year behind us and look forward to a new year, you might say that 2020 was the “best and worst of times.” It’s true it was a challenging year. We have been facing a once-in-a-century pandemic; we braced Mayor Kristie S. Overson ourselves as a 5.7-magnitude earthquake rattled through, and we survived hurricane-force and microburst winds. At the same time, I’ve marveled at how these challenges brought out the best in our community. We all came together and helped each other weather these storms. Mask wearing, social distancing and Zoom meetings became our norm, and residents and businesses alike made adjustments to carry on. While we faced difficulties as a community, we also celebrated several remarkable milestones. We continued to advance our 2020 Vision for the next decade, as we focus on new business and economic growth taking place across the city, as well as development opportunities and projects on the horizon. We cheered as several small businesses across the city opened with ribbon cuttings, also welcoming the new Target store to The Crossroads of Taylorsville shopping center. We eagerly have tracked the progress on construction of the new Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, delighting in the final touches that have been made in anticipation of its opening to the public this spring. The Utah Transit Authority’s approval of the capital project plan for the Bus Rapid Transit line that will run through our city also brought smiles. We’ve been working on the project for the past 10 years, and while progress has been inch by inch, it is now mile by mile. I am looking forward to its completion, along with our Redwood Road beautification project. Work also continues on the new freeway-style interchange at Bangerter Highway and 6200 South. We were delighted, too, to participate in the groundbreaking of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ new Taylorsville Utah Temple at 2603 W. 4700 South. We anticipate that the temple site and investment by the church in this location will further invigorate the area and our community. On top of these projects that we had anticipated, we also have been working on formation of our own new Taylorsville City Police Department, after deciding that our community would be best served by bringing police services in-house. Without question, all of these projects have brought bright light to the year and a promise of a better future. I look forward to Year 2021 and all that it brings. –Mayor Kristie S. Overson
WHAT’S INSIDE – JANUARY 2021 Frequently Called Numbers, Page 2 Council Corner, Page 3 Public Safety, Page 4 Heritage Remembrances, Page 7 Environment, Page 8
The City Hall campus now has a new name. The space, where the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center and the city’s offices are located and construction of a beautiful landscaped area is under way, will be called “Centennial Plaza.” City leaders decided on the name as a nod to city’s historic roots and formation 25 years ago. Taylorsville is sometimes nicknamed “Utah’s Centennial City” because it officially came into existence in 1996 — 100 years after Utah became a state. “The name ‘Centennial Plaza’ seemed to perfectly encapsulate where we came from and where we are going,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “We are grateful for all those who came before us in creating our great city and look forward to spending time together at our beautiful plaza well into the future.” Hogan Construction is building the plaza including the planting of trees, bushes and lawn areas, and installation of benches, picnic pavilions, entry water feature, arbors, a concessions area in conjunction with the restroom building, and outdoor stage. Future phases include a playground and possibly a small, collapsible ice skating rink. Among the main goals for the 19.6 acres is the creation of a beautiful, functional and versatile space that is conducive to community gatherings and celebrations. Programming will include movies in the park, farmer’s markets, arts festivals, food festivals and outdoor performing arts.
CENTENNIAL PLAZA CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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City of Taylorsville Newsletter CENTENNIAL PLAZA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Dominion Energy
800 -323 -5517
EVENTS JANUARY 2021 Jan. 1 – All day
New Year’s Day. City Hall is closed.
Jan. 6 & 20 – 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
Jan. 12 – 7 p.m. & Jan. 26 – 6 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.
Jan. 18 – All day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day. City Hall is closed.
Jan. 19 – All day
Opening Day of the Legislature @ State Capitol.
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.
The plaza is expected to be complete in late spring, with this past month’s mild winter weather allowing construction to proceed quicker than planned. The Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center also will be complete this year; its programming is expected to begin in the spring, as well. “The plaza will be such a focal point – such a centerpiece – for our community,” Mayor Overson said. “I couldn’t be more pleased with how it is coming together. “It will be a wonderful gathering place, with the Performing Arts Center and City Hall joined with walkways, landscaping and green space,” she added. “We are very much looking forward to enjoying it at planned events and in quiet leisure.” She noted that some of the walkways showing the symmetry of the space have already been built and construction on the concession building is under way. The plans will come into even greater focus as the work continues. “It’s a beautiful plan,” Mayor Overson said. “I can’t wait for our community to enjoy all its many features and facets.”
January 2021
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
COUNCIL CORNER By Council Member Curt Cochran We made it! 2021 is here and 2020 is history, and I for one am glad it is. At this point last year, who would have thought we would experience a 5.7-magnitude earthquake, many months of aftershocks, a global pandemic, social unrest, violent protesting, increased race issues and an election season that will go down in history. As people look now to 2021 and make plans, I have noticed that many, based on this last year, are not making the “normal” or “usual” New Year’s resolutions. While most will still make the normal goals of losing weight or saving more money, most are getting very specific and focused on the goal itself and the way they will achieve it. Many now see firsthand the importance of actually being healthy to fi ght off unforeseen viruses and diseases. Many more are experiencing the financial impact that unforeseen job losses, downturns, business closures and changing business trends can have on their family and friends. Most Americans never heard of Zoom before March of 2021 and now, for me at least, it is a regular part of my business day and won’t be going away any time soon. Research is showing that New Year’s resolutions for 2021 are focusing more on non-traditional resolutions. Some of those include:
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2021 Brings Chance to Make Non-Traditional Resolutions • Putting oneself in a strong financial position in case the unexpected happens again. This not only includes saving money but also having liquidity in one’s investments where, if needed, one could get access to their cash more quickly. • Having a strong plan for retirement. We don’t know today what retirement is going to look like 10, 20 and 30 years in the future. I do know that the earlier one starts, and sticks to it, the better they will be positioned. I wish I had placed more effort than I did when I was younger. • Reducing debt now. I once heard a child say to their parent, “Well you have money.” The parent replied, “I don’t have a lot of money. What I don’t have is a lot of debt. There is a difference.” • Spending more time with family. If 2020 taught us anything, it is that we don’t know who of our loved ones will be with us tomorrow and they can be taken at any time for unforeseen reasons. People are genuinely understanding that more now and spending more time just being together before they can no longer do so. • Reducing stress. Research shows that stress does not only affect the body emotionally and mentally, but it can do so physically, as well. Reducing stress is an easy way to help your overall well-being. Don’t keep things bottled up and ask yourself, “Will it really matter six months from now?” If not, let it go.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Dan Armstrong (District 5), Curt Cochran (District 2), Meredith Harker, Chair (District 4), Anna Barbieri (District 3), and Ernest Burgess (District 1)
• People are planning more experiences in 2021. Many are finally going to take a trip they have been putting off, going to see an old friend they haven’t seen in years, checking off things on their bucket list, learning to play the guitar, and doing the things that bring them joy. They are focusing less on material things such as a certain level of house or what they think will help them climb a social ladder. For me, 2021 will be a year of traveling, family, friends, staying healthy, and you just may see me skydiving. I’ve always wanted to do that.
Youth Council Collects Barrels of Food for Pantry Thank you to all who contributed to the Youth Council’s holiday giving drive for the Taylorsville Food Pantry. The youth ended up collecting six-plus 50-gallon barrels of food. “The outpour of giving is simply amazing,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “I am so grateful to our community for their concerted care for others, and am also wholly
impressed by the Youth Council for all their work and organization in planning this drive.” The youth hand-delivered the food donations to the pantry for those in need. Donations came in not only from individual residents who brought boxes and bags of food to City Hall but also from businesses, the police department and even a Boy Scout completing his Eagle Scout project.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity,” Mayor Overson said. Cases of canned goods, bags of dry noodles and pasta, boxes of stuffing, jars of peanut butter, and more overflowed the large boxes and bins the youth had set up for donations. The youth dropped off flyers to neighborhoods in November, soliciting donations for the Deck the Halls Holiday Giving Drive. Cash donations also were accepted online. “The youth decided to organize a drive for the Food Pantry because they wanted to help those particularly in need during the holidays,” Mayor Overson said. The pantry depends entirely on donations to stock its shelves and freezers with food, which it gives away to qualifying residents. The Taylorsville Food Pantry, located at 4775 S. Plymouth View Drive, is open on Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m., Wednesdays, 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon. Each month, it provides food to about 1,200 people. To receive food at the pantry, one must be a Taylorsville resident (most neighboring communities also have pantry-like services where their residents can receive food) and fall within income guidelines. The maximum monthly income for a family of four, for example, is $3,075. “I want to thank everyone who supported the Youth Council, the Food Pantry and our community,” Mayor Overson said. “It means so much to me. Taylorsville is truly unmatched as a place of giving.”
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| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
City of Taylorsville Newsletter Snow Removal is Outlined in City Code
TVPD Team on Target with Timelines, Announces New Chief Monthly updates on the formation of the Taylorsville City Police Department will be provided on this page through July 2021. This past month, the transition team has continued to make progress in harmony to original timelines —despite pandemic countermeasures and rush of the holidays. As previously announced, Brady Cottam formally accepted the appointment as chief for the new police department, with Todd Gray serving as one of two deputy chiefs. The team is thrilled with both given their respective work histories and capabilities, which will provide a great foundation for the new department. Work continues for the search of a second deputy chief, as well as the office and records managers. In addition, the decision was made with respect to a Human Resources software program. This will be utilized in the application and screening of most personnel hereafter, and more effectively streamline the onboarding processes. Other completed projects within the month of December included: • Validating the additional liability insurance needs and quote for the coming fiscal year • Solidifying compensation plans in accordance to comparable and best practices • Determining the uniform allowance and vendor option(s) • Conducting a review of the additional Information Technology needs • Framing the draft of the initial 3-Year Strategic Plan
With winter here, snow removal is an important part of keeping our city going and everyone safe. We can all help out and do our part. Snow removal is also outlined in the city’s ordinances. They include: 14.32.100: SNOW REMOVAL; REQUIRED: It is unlawful for the owner, occupant, lessor or agent of property abutting on a paved sidewalk to fail to remove or cause to be removed from such paved sidewalk and any existing curb ramp all hail, snow or sleet falling thereon, within twenty four (24) hours after the hail, snow or sleet has ceased falling. 14.32.110: SNOW REMOVAL; CLOGGING GUTTER PROHIBITED: It is unlawful for any person removing snow from a sidewalk or curb ramp to deposit snow, dirt or other material in a gutter so as to clog the same, or prevent the free flow of water therein. 14.20.105: PLACING SNOW UPON HIGHWAY PROHIBITED: It is unlawful for any person removing snow, ice or other material from a sidewalk or driveway to place or deposit said snow, ice or other material upon any city road or highway in such a manner as to interfere with the proper use of the same or so as to obstruct travel or to endanger property or persons upon the same. 11.20.080: PARKING PROHIBITED WHEN: It is unlawful for any person who owns or has possession, custody or control of any vehicle or trailer to park or knowingly allow to be parked any vehicle or trailer on any street or highway: A. After any snow and/or ice accumulation, until after the street or highway is cleared of snow and/or ice; Thank you for keeping these codes in mind and stay safe this winter!
As demonstrated, plans are well on the way to have all personnel hired by early June, with the official swearing in ceremony on June 14, 2021. Full implementation of the municipal police department will be on July 1, 2021.
Taylorsville Exchange Club Honors Local Vexillologist The Taylorsville Exchange Club has honored DeVaughn Simper with The Book of Golden Deeds Award for his many years of community service. Since 1999, Simper devoted himself to many projects and causes from playing taps at veteran’s funerals with Bugles Across America to working with youth in the Boy Scouts, Civil Air Patrol and U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and teaching elementary school children about flag protocol and flag history. Simper, otherwise known as “Professor Flag,” is a vexillologist, who has devoted his life to studying and promoting the values that the United States flag represents. He believes that flags are a physical representation of the values, goals and ideals of a group of people. Simper also holds true to the American Creed and teaches it through the stories and the many colors of the flags of the nation so that we do not forget how we got here and what we stand for. He refers to President Ronald Reagan, who said, “Freedom is never more than one generation from extinction.” “I am doing my part to ensure that does not happen,” said Simper, who owns one of the largest private flag collections in the state. The collection includes: • All 50 state and seven territory/district flags • All military branch department flags • Flag replicas of historical flags from 1490 to today • Flags from 197 foreign countries He knows the history of each flag in his collection and is happy to teach anyone who is interested. Simper lives in Taylorsville with his wife, Amanda, and their three sons.
January 2021
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
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Resident’s Community Newsletter Marks Taylorsville’s Beginnings Shortly after David Watkins moved to Taylorsville 26 years ago, he created a time capsule without ever really knowing that was what he was doing. Titled the Bennion Cove News Brief, the community newsletter was his project. He typed up the city’s news, laying out the illustrations and text in neat columns and incorporating pictures he took himself. He started the four-page newsletter in 1997 because he enjoyed community involvement. It was a hobby, but the newsletter was professional and informative even though he managed it on his own in his spare time. He kept the newsletter going for almost two years, hand-delivering it himself to friends and neighbors. He published the newsletter once or twice a month, and was soon printing 200 copies. “Everything in this town brought me good energy,” David said. “I love Taylorsville.” He moved into the brand-new housing development behind what is now City Hall in 1995. He and his wife, who owns Lighthouse Real Estate Services, Inc. on Redwood Road, still live there today, and it is where he raised his son and two stepsons. As a new resident, David got involved in the formation of the fledgling city, with Taylorsville’s incorporation in 1996. He began going to the City Council meetings and giving a report on what he learned to his neighbors afterward. “I wanted to be engaged and get everyone involved,” David recalled. “I just thought, ‘What a great community. This is the place.’” So he began putting the information he was gathering from those City Council meetings into a newsletter. There was news about the new swimming pool and recreation center “scheduled to open in 1998,” efforts to bring sound walls along I-215, and zoning debates surrounding the land where City Hall now sits. David also published job notices, recipes in a "Cook’s Corner,” and
organized and wrote about landscaping contests for “Bennion Cove residents.” For his day job, he worked as a senior manager for call centers, initially for the airline industry for 15 years and then in the hotel industry for another 18 years, managing up to 25 supervisors who managed several hundred people. But he was always interested in documentary filmmaking. “Hearing stories and telling stories was always a strong desire,” he said. Before moving to Utah in 1991, he had attended Columbia College for film and worked
in the banking industry. Having dealt with challenging times in Chicago, where he was raised, he also thought it important to give back to the community. Starting a community newsletter seemed like a natural progression. He put together the newsletter using what was then one of the first publishing software programs, called Publish It, and putting his stories on floppy disks. He would hang the newsletter on neighbors’ front doors with rubber bands. “I think back on how busy my world was then, in a good way, and there’s no way I could do that now,” said David, who also served on then-Gov. Jon Huntsman’s Ethnic Advisory Board and Salt Lake City’s Black Chamber of Commerce at the beginning of its tenure. His son and stepsons, who attended Bennion Junior High and Taylorsville High School, are now grown and have since moved out of state. His son is a sheriff in the city of Chicago; one stepson now lives in California where he teaches at a Catholic school, and another does government work in Arizona. The community has changed, too, David said, also in a good way. There is more traffic now but it is well organized, and the I-215 sound barriers he and his neighbors sought have quieted the noise, as they had hoped. He’s thrilled they will be able to walk to the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center next to City Hall to take in a show, and the city remains vibrant and cohesive with good people and friendly neighbors. It is a passing of time now encapsulated in his Bennion Cove News Brief. (Read three of the issues in full on the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov). “It was a good hobby,” David said. “It gave me a little sense of what I wanted to do, which was filmmaking and telling engaging stories. I just love hearing stories. I’m there with popcorn to hear some of the wonders of how people see the world.”
Remember: Parking for More than 24 Hours is Prohibited The Code Enforcement Department offers the following reminder about inoperable vehicles: According to City of Taylorsville Ordinance 9.08.030( C )14, an inoperable vehicle is defined as one “not currently registered or licensed in this state or another state, or a vehicle that is or has any of the following conditions: dismantled, broken windows, flat tires, no tires, missing doors, missing windows, missing fenders, missing hood, missing trunk, will not start, or is in a condition as to devalue surrounding properties (conservation of values).” The intent of this ordinance is to free up valuable parking space to allow working cars to park off road and in the driveway. Many of Taylorsville’s residential roads are narrow which makes it difficult to negotiate around vehicles parked on the roadway. This is increasingly important when emergency vehicles are trying to save lives in emergency situations. Roadway parking, during snow removal, is prohibited. Snowplows require a wide berth to remove the snow from the roadways.
Cars parked on the roadway prevent this invaluable service. Vehicles parked on the roadway may receive a citation, be towed, or both at the owner’s expense. Parking on the roadway is subject to other rules outside of snow removal. Vehicles parked for more than 24 hours consecutively is prohibited. If unmoved during the prescribed time frame, a warning will be given. If the warning fails to achieve the desired effect, a citation, impound or both may occur. A frequently asked question: Can I park on the front yard or lawn? The answer is ‘no.’ Refer to City Code 13.24.040. (A). All vehicles must park on approved hard surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, brick or similar hard surfaces. If you have a vehicle that you don’t intend to repair and you don’t know what to do with it, you can donate it and get a tax deduction. There are many charities that accept cars as donations. Just search online for “donate car to charity near me” to find one.
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| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
City of Taylorsville Newsletter
Enjoy a Specialty Soda at Bubbles Drinks and More
New Hamlet Homes Community Dog Park Opens
A new specialty drinks shop has opened in Taylorville. Bubbles Drinks and More has started up at 3970 W. 5400 South. “It’s such a cute shop, with its retro wood paneling and bright pink walls,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “It makes you feel happy being here.” Mayor Overson was among the city officials, as well as representatives from ChamberWest, who welcomed Bubbles Drinks and More to Taylorsville at a Ribbon Cutting ceremony on Nov. 20. The shop is owned by Dean Lehwalder and Nathan Lui. “We love seeking the growth in Taylorsville,” said Lehwalder. “This is a great place. I thank you all for welcoming us here. Taylorsville has been so easy to work with and the most helpful.” Bubbles Drinks and More offers boba drinks, sodas in all flavors and snacks, as well as convenient drive-thru service. They currently are open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. They plan to open earlier once the coronavirus pandemic wanes. For more information, look online at bubblesdrinks.com, or call 801-968-1316. “Bubbles would like to thank Taylorsville City staff for working with us to open this new location and we look forward to becoming a part of the Taylorsville community,” Lehwalder said.
The Hamlet Homes Muirhouse Community in Taylorsville has a new dog park. It officially opened this fall with a Ribbon Cutting, hosted by ChamberWest. City officials also were on hand to celebrate the event on Oct. 30. The park, called Whiskey Berry Dog Park, is named after Hamlet Homes employee Natalie Berry’s late dog, Whiskey. A plaque was installed at its entrance. “What a fun place for residents and their dogs,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “This is a wonderful addition to the community, and we know it will be enjoyed by many.” To mark the occasion, a pet costume contest also was organized near the entrance of the dog park, and dog winners were awarded prizes. The dog park is part of the Muirhouse Community Park, located at 3868 W. Kinglassie Lane. In addition to the enclosed dog park, features of the community park include pavilions, benches, a large open space and beautiful landscaping. Hamlet Homes’ Muirhouse townhome community in Taylorsville features two floor plans, and a tour of their model homes can be scheduled. Hamlet Homes is a leader of urban redevelopment, transit-oriented communities. Since the company’s founding in 1994, the company has built over 3,500 homes in 53 communities.
Taylorsville Community Gardens The Taylorsville Community Greenhouse will open at the end of February for spring planting. Cost is $25.
If you are interested, call Toni Lenning at 801-414-4192
Swig Opens at Taylorsville’s Town Center Swig is now open in Taylorsville. The drinks and sweets store at 1815 W. 4700 South celebrated with a grand opening open house on Dec. 4. They are located in the Town Center in front of the new Taylorsville Macey’s grocery store. Mayor Kristie Overson was among the city officials attending Swig’s grand opening day. “We are so pleased to welcome Swig to Taylorsville,” she said. “It’s a great place for a pick-me-up at midday, and they have so many delectable treats to choose from.” Choose from a variety of fun soda flavors such as their Raspberry Dream, Shark Attack or Pretty in Pink drinks, as well as hot chocolate and their famous cold sugar cookies, whoopee pie, dirt ball and other cookies. Swig was started in 2010 in Saint George, Utah, by owner and founder Nicole Tanner, who was brainstorming with her husband one night about possible business ideas. He suggested a driveby drink shop, something they both agreed could be successful. They opened their first location across the street from Dixie State University in April 2010. Swig has since expanded into multiple states and more than two dozen locations in Utah. The Taylorville store is open 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. See more information on their, swignsweets.com
January 2021
Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES This month’s article highlights the life of Jeanette (Jennie) Bennion Gerrard. Jennie Bennion Gerrard was born Dec. 18, 1879, in Vernon, Utah. She was the eldest of Joseph B. and Mary Ann Sharp Bennion’s seven children, and spent her first eight years in Vernon, where her father farmed and owned sheep. They moved to Taylorsville, arriving on the hot, dry day of July 9, 1881. Their Jennie Bennion Gerrard is pictured home was still being built, requiring in 1937, when she was a Relief plastering and yet-unfinished carpentry Society president in her church. work. There was no shade and no water. Altogether, it was a very uninviting prospect for a new home. (This was the old home next to the house, which is no longer standing, of Ron Peterson). It was one of the first homes on 4800 South. One month after their arrival, her sister Minnie Harker was born, and several years later, another brother Adam S. Bennion, who was an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and sister Effie Paxton were born. Jennie was baptized into the church in the Jordan River. Seven years after their arrival in Taylorsville, her father died, leaving her mother a widow with five living children; Jennie was 14. True to the ideals of both the Sharps and the Bennions, the widowed mother “carried on,” and Jennie found herself at a very young age helping to supplement her mother’s income by working in the store at 1355 W. 4800 South. This store sold everything from coal to gasoline, yard goods to foodstuffs. For an eight- or 10-hour day, the pay was small at $1 per day. Although she was deprived at an early age of the companionship of her father, their home was one of love and affection and was a gathering place for the young people in the community. The youth were always welcomed, and her mother being an excellent cook, always provided them with many goodies. Jennie grew up with the ideals of her church. She held many church positions, including Relief Society president for many years, during a time when donations and tithing were paid in farm produce and In 1959, Jennie Gerrard was honored at commodities. She would drive the Taylorsville Golden Memories Gala around her neighborhood in at the old Assembly Hall on 4800 South. a horse-drawn buggy, picking up members’ donations and taking them to the bishop’s storehouse. On Oct. 27, 1898, she married John Thomas Gerrard, who came to America as a young boy from England, and they had three children — Thomas Lowell, Erma and Clarence. Erma died in infancy, and Clarence at age 19 from complications resulting from an accident. Lowell lived to adulthood, leaving Jennie with three surviving grandsons and 10 great-grandchildren.
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
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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
Start a New Year of Learning at the Taylorsville Library The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of January. Also, note its holiday hours below. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events:
Virtual Adult Lecture
Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and the Utah Connection Tuesday, Jan. 19, 7 p.m. Learn about the fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, with Michael W. Homer, who is a member of the Baker Street Irregulars. Explore the formation of Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, his use of science and deductive reasoning, and the Utah connection. You must register for this event to receive the link to the WebEx virtual lecture. https://tinyurl.com/y584cl8u As presenter, Homer has written numerous articles about Doyle and Holmes. Homer is a trial lawyer, Honorary Italian Consul in Utah, a Fellow of the Utah State Historical Society, Chair of the J. Willard Marriott Library Advisory Board, University of Utah, and member of Board of Advisors, Office of Undergraduate Advancement, University of Utah.
A Night of Masks and Monsters Thursday, Jan. 14, 6-10 p.m. A Dungeons and Dragons holiday one-shot for third-level characters. Lord Marquis Prospero di Maschera throws exclusive masquerade parties every week, and you have been invited. This oneshot is great for beginners and experienced players alike. Premade third-level character sheets will be available. If you would like to make your own character, please follow these guidelines: Use standard array for your ability scores. [15,14,13,12,10,8]; Only use material from the player's handbook and one other official source book; No evil aligned characters; Character should be at third-level for this adventure. You must register for this event to receive information to play. https://tinyurl.com/yyo2dof9 NOTE: The library will be closed Friday and Saturday, Jan. 1-2, for the New Year’s holiday, and Monday, Jan. 18 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. January 2021 | Page
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| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
City of Taylorsville Newsletter
Catch a Glimpse of Spring with Garden Park Classes Excited to see those spring flowers? The Conservation Garden Park is offering free classes to inspire, educate and empower our communities to create and enjoy waterwise landscapes. Located on 10 acres in West Jordan, the Garden Park is easily accessible from all Wasatch Front communities. The Garden Park began with six examples of waterwise landscaping in a mock residential setting. It has since expanded to include interactive exhibits for educating the public on water-wise design, planting and irrigation — becoming one of Utah’s premier water conservation teaching and demonstration gardens. Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District, as a member agency of Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, encourages its customers to explore this valuable resource. Sign up for classes by going online to conservationgardenpark.org.
JANUARY WFWRD UPDATES 2021 RATES & FEES WFWRD’s Administrative Control Board approved the district’s Budget & Fee Schedule for 2021. The base fee for residential services will remain at $17 per month ($204 per year). Although there is not a fee increase to the residential base fee, the following has been approved for 2021: • Subscription Curbside Green Waste fees will increase from $9.50 per month to $10.50 per month, for the first can. (Fees for additional Green Waste cans will remain the same.) • 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. All fee increases are due to continually increasing disposal and operating costs. A complete listing of rates and fees, along with the district’s budget presentation, can be found on its website, at: https://wasatchfrontwaste.org/rates-fees. You can view a recording of the public hearing on the WFWRD Facebook page.
CURBSIDE CHRISTMAS TREE COLLECTION
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 CITY CEMETERY PLOTS AVAILABLE Page 18 | January 2021
WFWRD will be collecting Christmas trees during the month of January. For collection, place your undecorated tree on your curb. The trees will be collected the day after your regular collection day during the month of January. If drivers don't get your tree one week, they will be back the following week. Please call the WFWRD office, or chat with them on their website for additional information. • Please remove all snow off the tree. • Trees cannot be accepted with decorations, lights, tree stands or flocking. • Do not place the tree in your garbage, recycling or green waste can. • If the tree is over 8 feet tall, please cut it into smaller sections. • Artificial trees cannot be accepted.
RECYCLING REMINDER As gifts and presents are exchanged this season, please remember that paper-based wrapping paper is recyclable; but plastic or Mylar wrapping, and bows/ribbons, are not recyclable.
Taylorsville City Journal
Ski resorts open with COVID-19 protections in place By Tavia Dutson | t.dutson@mycityjournals.com
A
s Utahns enter a new season during the COVID-19 pandemic, they can turn to the mountains for a safe place to recreate. Although resorts up Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons were forced to close early during the spring of the 2019-20 season, they have been working tirelessly to provide locals with a safe 2020-21 season. Ski resorts started planning for this season as soon as they shut down in mid-March but have had to adjust those plans as the COVID-19 epidemic progressed. As the rest of the state adjusted to each new mandate as it came, resorts were charged with predicting how current protocols would affect a season that was still months away. “We had to wait for so many pieces to fall into place, and there were so many things that we just couldn’t see from that far out. The conversation has been ongoing throughout the year,” said Sara Huey, communications manager for Solitude Mountain Resort. Utah resorts were tasked with altering their operations to fit this unprecedented season, but they were not without help. Many Utah resorts have ties to ski resorts all over the world. By looking to resorts in Australia and South America, they were able to see how resorts in the Southern hemisphere dealt with their winter season. The southern hemisphere gets the majority of their snowfall from June to December. “We looked to see what they were doing, what worked for them, what didn’t work,” said Andria Huskinson, communications manager for Alta Ski Resort. These foreign ties have been helpful in winter planning, but the camaraderie among the resorts in the Cottonwood canyons is what will keep the resorts open with the ever-changing nature of this season. “Utah is such a unique environment for operating a ski resort because we really do all have each other’s backs,” Huey said. “We work together really closely when it comes to the nitty gritty of day-to-day operations and sharing insight on what’s working, new ideas, and things like that.” Although there will likely be changes in state mandates and protocols throughout the winter, ski resorts have proven to be flexible. Resorts with summer operations have already been adjusting throughout the summer while allowing guests. Changes to expect In accordance with state laws, all four ski resorts in the Cottonwoods (Alta, Brighton, Solitude and Snowbird) will be requiring face coverings inside restaurants and lodges and outside when a distance of 6 feet cannot be maintained. Although neck gaiters are allowed, skiers are encouraged to fold their gaiters or double up to ensure safety. Physical distancing will be maintained at resorts in high traffic areas. To keep social distancing in lift lines, Alta Ski Resort has coined
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
Skiers ride the chair lift on Opening Day at Solitude after months away. (Photo Credit Eric Schramm and Solitude Mountain Resort)
a new term. “In our lift lanes we have what we call ghost lanes. There will be a line for skiers separated by an empty line,” Huskinson said. “And naturally your skis in front and back keep you separated.” Many resorts have used the pandemic to update their technology. Upgrades that have been passed over due to budget restraints are suddenly in high demand. Snowbird has added a new app that helps determine wait times on ski lifts and Solitude has added touchless pay for parking. “We are often limited by budget, which we balance with need. The pandemic shifted that balance and suddenly we anticipated a demand among our guests. In order to mitigate transmission, we needed to prioritize these changes,” Huey said. Resorts are combining these new technologies with data they have collected through the years. Solitude looked to statistics to determine how to keep their resort at capacity. Solitude has ended same day lift ticket sales so that they can use their estimates to stay under capacity. The pandemic has demanded these changes, but many of the initiatives will have long-lasting positive effects. “Ultimately, I think our efforts to address the pinch points through arrival where people are necessarily concentrated will contribute to a more streamlined experience even years down the road,” Huey said. Although restaurants on the slopes are only operating at half capacity, guests still have many of the same options. Alta Ski Resort has even added two more grab and go food
trucks in each of their parking lots to spread out guests while still offering an array of options. Restaurants will be unavailable as “warming spots” this winter and resorts are encouraging skiers to use their cars to warm up and take a break during the day. As far as travel to and from resorts, the Utah Department of Transportation will be working closely with the resorts and the Unified Police Department to keep roadways safe as they have in years past. For information on road conditions, visit udot.utah.gov. What looks the same In these unprecedented times, skiers can rest easy knowing their favorite resorts will look largely the same. Resorts are committed to providing the same top-tier experience that Utah skiing is known for. The nature of skiing as a physically distanced sport has allowed ski resorts to make small modifications to their operations that ultimately keep people doing what they love. “Passholders should expect an experience that is pretty familiar to them. They should be able to arrive, park and head to the lift as usual,” Huey said. Many resorts are still offering lessons to those looking to learn a new skill. Alta Ski Resort is only allowing private lessons, but they will look very similar to past years. Solitude is offering group lessons to ages 7+ and have only omitted the lunchtime gathering to limit time spent inside. Something that will always stay the same is the terrain. The Cottonwood canyons have near limitless space for skiers and snowboarders to explore. Being out on the mountain will
feel just as it always has. Many resorts doubt they will reach the capacities set this year because of the vast area. Resorts like Solitude and Alta have been limited in past years by their parking ability, so veteran skiers can expect similar resort availability this year. Check websites for updated information As the ski resorts stay flexible and continue updating to meet state guidelines, they ask that skiers keep an eye on their websites and social media channels. With all the changes, it is best to stay informed before heading up for a day on the mountain. “We’re telling people to know before you go. We’re really encouraging people to check the website before they even get in the car to come up,” Huskinson said. All Utah resort websites have up-to-date info on what they are doing to combat the COVID-19 epidemic. For resorts like Alta that limit parking, they will use their website to give estimates on when parking will fill up. Knowing before you go will help skiers stay safe while providing them with more information than ever. Lastly, ski resorts ask that guests be patient with employees and other skiers. As this is a new experience for everyone, there will likely be small hiccups along the way. “We are doing our best to communicate clearly what people can expect,” Huey said. “We need to be nimble and we need to anticipate that change is likely. We just ask that people be patient with that process.” l
January 2021 | Page 19
Best photos of 2020: Taylorsville
Clockwise: High school track meet held at the oval Caption: The Olympic Oval hosted a premier indoor high school track meet where several indoor personal records were set. (Greg James/City Journals) Chase Hansen (R) explains Project Empathy to “Good Morning America� hosts Michael Strahan and Robin Roberts. (Photo courtesy John Hansen) Seamstress demands have been so high at White Elegance, even company co-founder Anna Barbieri has been logging time at the company sewing machines. White Elegance has turned from making dresses to medical gowns and protective masks, to assist with the on-going pandemic. (Courtesy Anna Barbieri) University of Utah student Nic Park, of Taylorsville, was honored as a top sales performer by an international educational materials marketing company. (Courtesy Southwestern Advantage) Bennion Junior High eighth grader Easton Ney finished second at the Granite School District west divisionals. (Greg James/City Journals)
Page 20 | January 2021
Taylorsville City Journal
Above: Kierra Kemp is one of four girls riding for the West Granite Composite Mountain Biking Team. She competes in the freshman girls division. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Davis) Right: For Zoom meetings, it was business attire on top but sweats and fuzzy slippers below. Aimee Winder Newton finished third in voting during the GOP convention on April 25. (Photo courtesy Aimee Winder Newton)
Joshua sits with his grandmother, the inspiration for this year’s winning poem, “I Look Within to Remember You.” (Photo courtesy Carrie Johnson) Librarians record programs for kids to watch online while the buildings remain closed. (Photo courtesy Sara Neal) Empty of students, the hallway at Westbrook is filled with boxes as teachers prepare to move their classroom to a new school with the closure of the school. It now serves as a temporary home for West Lake STEM Junior High. (Photo courtesy Crista Holt) Maren Curtis teaching English at a woman’s shelter in West Bengal, India. Maren was awarded the President’s Scholarship from the University of Utah, as well as the coveted National Merit Scholarship. (Photo courtesy Maren Curtis)
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
January 2021 | Page 21
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January 2021 | Page 23
This school year, COVID-19 hasn’t closed Granite Park Junior High School. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)
Adaptation is key to students’ success in 2020 and beyond By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com
O
n March 13, 2020, a decision by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert started a ball rolling that affected learning in 2020 for students, their families, teachers, staff and district staff. The shutdown he announced was only to last two weeks. The two weeks turned into eight weeks or more. After a summer of preparation by the Granite School District (GSD), a new school year started with students in the classroom for four days a week. Friday is teacher prep day and student online day. It didn’t take long until schools, mostly high schools and middle/junior high schools, reached the limit of 15 COVID-19 cases and were shutting down for deep cleaning and forcing all students and teachers back into an online environment. The Salt Lake Tribune reported on Nov. 29, 2020 that “at least 72 schools in Utah have had COVID-19 outbreaks and shifted to fully or partially online in response.” Since March, students, families, teachers and districts have had to adapt, often quickly. How has this changing landscape changed learning in 2020? Students “The problem is that with the switch to
Page 24 | January 2021
distance [learning] last spring and the back and forth this year, we have many students failing. And the mental issues are real, lots of depression and loneliness going on. We are focusing on putting services in place to fill these gaps,” said Sharla Bynum, Gear Up coordinator at Cottonwood High School. Among the services are additional virtual homework help provided by teachers. Promise SSL offers homework help at the Best Buy Promise SSL Teen Tech Center. Also, the Salt Lake County Library System provides homework help with live tutoring from Brainfuse. Among the services of Brainfuse, a national education organization, are real-time tutors. The library also offers at-home science experiments, math help, and ideas for physical education. American education is interaction focused—interactions between students, interactions between student and teacher, interactions between students, parents and teachers. This year, such interactions are complicated. In most cases, students sit further apart than usual. Often, they are behind clear plastic desk dividers. In elementary schools, students are assigned a place to sit for lunch, which is the only time they can take off their
masks. Assemblies are held virtually as students are in class, which makes it hard on the cheer squad. Beyond the academics is a lack of informal interactions. Humans are social animals, especially teenagers. “Even at school, I feel isolated,” a Taylorsville high school student said. Another student waited for weeks to try out for the varsity basketball team. The tryouts kept getting moved because of a school shutdown or the governor’s ban on after-school activities. Rite of passage events such as Junior Prom or Homecoming dance were canceled or held unofficially by parents, with its own set of concerns. Yearbook Day was quite different since students couldn’t hang out in the halls writing, “Have a fun summer” or “See you in September.” Drama students’ dreams of singing and acting on the big stage weren’t realized last spring, and guidelines for this year continue to unfold. “The students, by and large, do not like virtual learning,” said a high school teacher from South Salt Lake City. “They miss being with their friends and participating in all the activities that have been canceled or altered
due to COVID. Students are not allowed to attend sporting events, choir concerts and assemblies are virtual, and I project them to a single class period in my room. It’s not the same. Most have resigned themselves to the fact that this is the way it is until this thing is over, but they are not happy about it.” Families Childcare issues have the most impact on families. School provides a safe, supervised environment for children and youth. However, when schools shut down entirely like last March, parents had to find alternatives. Some worked from home. Some took time off as they could. Others quit their jobs. Even when schools opened in August, Friday was still an issue. Traditionally, Fridays were a short day, but now parents must find all-day childcare because students are home. Added to this is the potential problem that parents often have 24 hours or less to find childcare when they receive notice from the school that their child must quarantine for two weeks or that the school must shut down for deep cleaning. “Since school started, each child has had at least two weeks of online learning,” said Meredith Harker, mother of three
Taylorsville City Journal
Empty classrooms were a common sight in 2020. (Unsplash)
school-aged sons. “I am most concerned when my sixth grader had to stay home alone. The rest of us had to go to school and work. I don’t know how parents do it with younger children.” Another issue is how children adapted to an asynchronous online environment. Asynchronous allows students to go online at their choosing, but it can also lead to procrastination. The ability to adjust is as different as each student. A socially-oriented student might get easily distracted by social media. Other students miss the interaction with teachers. Others don’t feel as challenged online. Makell Rogers, a mother of four, said her kids improved with the return of a routine—having four school days and one online. “The one day at home is still sometimes challenging for one or two of them, but most of them enjoy being able to get their schoolwork done earlier in the morning to have more time to play,” Rogers said. “Parental involvement is key,” said Harker, who is also a third-grade teacher at Calvin Smith. “I am lucky because my students are involved in the Chinese immersion program with high parental involvement. I see other teachers struggling much more.” Teachers Utah Education Association (UEA) recently surveyed teachers and found that 88% feel “overwhelmed” and “stressed.” UEA received more than 300 pages of comments that they are analyzing now. Summarizing his experience, the SSL teacher said, “It’s stressful, especially since we are usually told what to expect at the last minute, but it’s 2020, and we just have to roll with it.” In March, teachers had a few days to adjust to a different teaching environment.
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
In a classroom setting, teachers can see students’ expressions to know if they are understanding the concepts. Teachers do their best explaining concepts with asynchronous online, but in a real sense, a teacher puts the training together and throws it over the wall hoping students get it. “I just don’t know my online students as well as those in my classroom,” Harker said. The SSL teacher spoke about problems last spring, such as not taking attendance or having due dates on assignments. He said the result was “only a few high-achieving students came to our virtual meetings,” and no due dates “led to a lot of procrastination.” He reported, “This year, during our second round of shutdown, the district fixed these issues, and I was allowed to take attendance, so I had much higher participation in my virtual sessions. The students all agreed that they liked it a lot better. I feel like my students ended last year behind but are on track this year with what they need to know.” At school, students see plastic partitions and directional arrows everywhere. Plastic partitions are in the office, counselors’ office, and maybe around the teacher’s desk or their desk. Students can walk only one way down hallways. Everyone is wearing a mask. Teachers can take them off while teaching word pronunciation. “Teachers are working hard to make sure all students have access to quality instruction each day,” Granite Park Junior High School Principal Chris Griffiths said. “To help teachers manage the implementation of both learning modalities, teachers have more planning time on Fridays which are now distance learning days for all students. This gives teachers opportunities to plan and work with students individual-
One-way halls in schools help keep social distancing measures in place. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)
ly that need extra help. Our teachers are working so hard, and I am so proud of their dedication to our students.” “We love our teachers and how they help our children see their full potential and how they have made it enjoyable w Earlier this year, GSD reported that nearly 40% of students did not sign on, or they only signed on once between March and the end of the school year. This year, “Much better…around 4% of distance learners are not engaging,” Ben Horsley, director of Communications and Community Outreach for GSD. Speaking about schools shutting down this year, Horsley said, “It is challenging, but not unforeseen. We knew when putting our plans together back in July that these dismissals would occur, which is why we are one of the few districts that required our teachers to do both in-person and distance instruction. This makes the transition between these dismissals much easier for students and staff.”
One of the issues the district has worked to resolve is the digital divide. GSD purchased Chromebooks for each student. “Each Granite Park student, both faceto-face learners and distance learners, have been given a Chromebook to use this year. Our students have done an amazing job of coming to school prepared each day with their Chromebooks. Many families have been given a hotspot as well to help with internet needs,” Griffiths said. Horsley mentioned that while they have provided many mobile hotspots, there are still more available. When asked to describe learning in 2020, Horsley replied, “Unique and will shape instruction for the next 20 years. Distance learning will become part of our services as there will invariably be families who need this type of instruction for many years to come.” l
January 2021 | Page 25
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goal is to get rid of the financial obstacle to medical care. “I can’t say enough about what a blessing to our family it is, to have found Medallus. We are self-employed and pay about $1,600 [every month] for a $5,000 deductible health insurance policy. We have a family membership with Medallus and use them for literally everything. In the last few months, we’ve been seen for a sprained ankle, sinus infection, accidental essential oil spill in the eyes, and the stomach flu…,” Prater said. After an initial $20 registration fee and a 12-month contract, Utahns are ready to know exactly what their appointment will cost before they even walk into their doctor’s office. But affordability isn’t the only thing bringing people into Medallus’ nine urgent and primary care clinics, quality of care also recommends Medallus. “We just wanted to say thank you so much for going the extra mile the other day when we stopped in. I know you probably didn’t think much of it but for me, as a mom, it meant a ton that you called your other location and connected us with another amazing doctor. It saved me the worry and hassle of trying to do it all on my own with an upset little boy, so thank you!” one patient wrote of Medallus.
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January 2021 | Page 27
Local organization raising awareness of radon gas dangers By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com
J
an Poulsen was 60 years old when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She was confused because she had never smoked a day in her life. After a little research, she learned that her cancer was caused by a chemical in her very own home, one that is invisible, odorless, tasteless and otherwise impossible to detect without a test: Radon. Poulsen was lucky in that she was able to beat her cancer diagnosis, but only after having undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy and surgeries, including the removal of one of her lungs. But many are not so lucky. Each year, radon is responsible for an estimated 21,000 deaths in the United States alone, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Exposure to radon usually happens in one’s own home. The gas forms naturally when uranium in soil or rock breaks down, according to the American Lung Association. It then “enters a home through cracks in walls, basement floors, foundations and other openings.” Luckily there are relatively inexpensive tests available to measure the level of radon gas in a home. The only problem is that they need to be done regularly. Poulsen’s home was tested for radon over a decade before her diagnosis and the results showed a radon level of 2.2 pCi/L, much less
than the recommended action level of 4.0. However, radon levels can rise over time and home renovations can also lead to increased exposure. Poulsen’s family, for example, added a walk-out basement. Following her diagnosis, they had their home tested again and the result was 24.9 pci/L, more than six times the recommended EPA action level. “If we had known, we would have had our house tested and remediated immediately after we had it remodeled,” said Poulsen. Poulsen’s journey led her to help form the Utah Radon Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of this rarely-talked-about issue. They hold regular radon awareness seminars, offer free testing kits to qualified individuals and lobby local lawmakers to adopt reasonable measures related to radon safety. This month, for example, they’ll be encouraging a number of Utah cities including Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Herriman, Millcreek, Sandy and South Jordan to join the EPA and many others across the country in designating January as Radon Action Month. National Radon Action Month “provides a fresh opportunity at the beginning of each new year for all Americans to protect their families by becoming more aware of radon, testing their home, and mitigating radon if the
Common radon entry points found in homes. (Courtesy Wikimedia Commons)
test finds a high level of radon,” according to the URC website. They will also be offering free radon testing for homeowners of those six cities during
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1. MOVIES: In how many movies did Sean Connery play the character James Bond? 2. ADVERTISING SLOGANS: What product is touted as “the fabric of our lives”? 3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How many laps do drivers have to complete in the Indianapolis 500 race? 4. HISTORY: How many Pyramids of Giza (Eqypt) were constructed? 5. MUSIC: Which pop song repeats the chorus, “Why can’t you see? You belong with me”? 6. LITERATURE: What kind of novel is written in a series of letters? 7. MEASUREMENTS: How many cups are in 1 pint? 8. MYTHOLOGY: What is the home of the Greek gods? 9. ANATOMY: How much of the adult human body is made up of water? 10. GEOGRAPHY: What is the most densely populated continent on Earth? Trivia Test Answerst 1. Seven; 2. Cotton; 3. 200; 4. Three; 5. “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift; 6. Epistolary; 7. 2 cups; 8. Olympus; 9. About 60%; 10. Asia
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January 2021 | Page 29
Salt Lake County concludes budget process with no tax increase
Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Council | District 3
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With the final approval of the 2021 Salt Lake County budget drawing near, I wanted to share some of the proactive steps we have taken as your County Council to tighten up spending. In June, because of concerns surrounding revenue impacts from COVID-19, we scoured our budget to find as many cuts as possible – leading to a massive $77 million budget reduction. Because of all the cuts we made in June, and because sales tax revenue did not fall as much as we anticipated, we ultimately had a fairly uneventful budget season. As we strive to be as fiscally prudent as possible, one of our top priorities is maintaining our AAA bond rating. We are one of only 27 counties in the entire nation with this highest-achievable bond rating. Keeping this bond rating results in much lower interest rates on bonds and loans. Here are some key principles I have always prioritized during the budget process, this year included. First and foremost, tax dollars don’t “belong” to the county. The funds are yours. Taxpayers entrust the county, or any government for that matter, with a portion of their hard-earned money because they expect that entity to pro-
vide essential services for society to function. There is no amount of tax dollars that is too small to be scrutinized. That is why I push back aggressively anytime I hear someone flippantly say, “It’s only x dollars… so we shouldn’t worry about it.” Any expenditure, whether it is $10 or $10 million, should be reviewed, and if it can’t be fully justified to the taxpayers, it should be cut. Second, I believe that all government functions should be viewed in two different categories: “need to have” and “nice to have.” The “need to have” list obviously includes things that are statutorily required of the county to perform, think constitutionally mandated services such as criminal justice and election administration. I also consider public safety to be in the “need to have” category, since keeping our residents safe is a core function of government. However, just because they are essential does not mean they are above scrutiny, because efficiencies can still be found. The “nice to have” list includes quality of life services the county provides, as well as any other program or initiative that can easily be described as a benefit to county residents, but
not necessarily considered essential. Libraries and open space some of the things in this category. The separation of these two categories demonstrates the same principle that every family in our county goes through in their annual budgets. They strive to live within their means and focus on essential family expenditures sometimes at the expense of luxuries. Lastly, I review each aspect of our budget and ask, “Is this the proper role of county government?” I’ve said many times that government can’t and shouldn’t be all things to all people. There are many programs or services that are better suited to other government entities, nonprofits, or the private sector. Particularly in a tight budget year, it’s important to review each program, service, or expenditure and ask that question again and again. I’m confident that these principles are the essence of good budgeting and fiscal discipline, and I will always advocate for this approach any time government is entrusted with taxpayer dollars. You can rest assured that for 2021, Salt Lake County has a balanced budget with no tax increase.
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Taylorsville City Journal
Making the grade
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When my kids were little, I did a bit of substitute teaching. After I accidentally threw an encyclopedia and flipped a desk over, I realized teaching elementary school probably wasn’t for me. Teachers are comprised of strong stuff. The molten lava that flows through their veins gives them courage and an unbreakable gaze. A skeleton made of graphene (200 times stronger than steel) keeps them steady and protects their hearts. And those hearts beat a consistent tempo that opens doors to new worlds and encourages students to find their own rhythm. But teachers are exhausted. I attended Viewmont Elementary during the 1900s, where teachers were the top of the food chain. I worshiped the good ones, feared the difficult ones, and loathed the mean ones. I remember the “trip” our kindergarten class took to Hawaii where we ate coconut and learned the hula. And the teacher who caught us eating snowballs, so she melted snow to show us the dirt and grime. (I haven’t eaten a snowball in more than 45 years.) Or the teacher who shamed me for not knowing the word “chandelier.” School was where I learned
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social skills. Okay, I learned them poorly, but I did learn some. I interacted with people my age where we talked about our favorite TV shows, what we had for dinner and whether my crush winked at me or had a tic. Today, students feel lost. My 8-year-old grandson started the school year online, changed to in-person learning, then went back online. He might enjoy hanging out with his mom, grandma, and little demon of a sister, but he misses his friends. Imagine trying to learn long division on a Zoom call. I couldn’t even learn it in person. Or imagine
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hosting a virtual call for a class of first graders who have the attention span of a meatball. My mom thought education was vital, but if she had to supervise online learning for me and my four siblings, she would have sold us to the circus. Teachers are struggling. Kids are struggling. Parents are struggling. If we’ve learned one thing this crappy year, it’s that superheroes walk among us. Healthcare workers and winemakers are tied for the top spot on my list, with teachers, students, and parents finishing a close second by demon-
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strating unprecedented resilience. Many kids are failing this year, but are they really? Can you fail when a global pandemic changes the rules? When teachers adapt daily to shifting conditions? Can you fail when parents work full-time jobs at home while staying on top of online assignments and hybrid schedules? Teachers are a mighty mix of educator/guidance counselor/ cheerleader/cruise director, and this year their creativity and patience has been tested. It brings to mind my husband’s favorite quote, “Looks like I picked the wrong [year] to stop sniffing glue.” This is a thank you to the teachers who work with my grandchildren. The teachers who are innovative and kind. The teachers who show up like a boss and get to work. This is also a thank you to the students who have proven to be flexible and strong. They’re all doing the best they can as they watch adults try to figure everything out. Maybe we write this school year off; maybe it’s not the year to learn geometry or teach Latin. Perhaps it’s the year we value kindness, connection, and self-care for everyone involved. I promise, there’ll be much less encyclopedia throwing and desk flipping.
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January 2021 | Vol. 8 Iss. 01
FREE CORONAVIRUS CREATES COUNTLESS HEADACHES BUT DOES NOT HARM CITY (OR ITS TAXPAYERS) FINANCIALLY By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
W
ith its tragic death and hospitalization numbers worldwide, it seems only natural to assume COVID-19 would have an equally devastating impact financially on municipalities across the country. Certainly, the pandemic has crushed a number of small businesses, while landing millions of Americans on unemployment. But truth be told, from a strictly economic perspective, the coronavirus has created a financial windfall for Taylorsville and many other cities. “This pandemic year of 2020 was truly the best of times and the worst of times,” Mayor Kristie Overson said during the final city council meeting of the year. “Our city sales tax numbers look very good, up 10% from last year.” Later in the same council meeting, an economic report credited the city’s “diversified tax base” as a key reason why city coffers did not take the hit most were expecting. One person pointed out, “when there was a run on toilet paper—and all those shelves were empty—sales tax was paid on every roll.” Bottom line: In a year many of us want to forget, quickly, there was one silver lining. City officials report there is no fear of a looming property tax hike due to revenue decreases caused by the pandemic. In fact, during the fourth quarter of 2020, it could be argued Taylorsville had “too much” money, courtesy of Uncle Sam. As part of the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) economic stimulus bill, Salt Lake County received a pool of money to distribute to municipalities based on their populations. Through that formula, Taylorsville received $1,778,142 in July. However, the funds arrived with two significant strings
When not leading city council meetings, chairwoman Meredith Harker kept in touch with her elementary school students early in the pandemic, by conducting a book exchange through her classroom window. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
attached: the money could only be spent on things directly ad- challenges for city officials, as they determined how to properly dressing COVID-19 and all of the money had to be spent by the spend nearly $1.8 million in five months. But it was nothing end of the calendar year. Any unspent portion of the funding they could not handle. would have to be returned to the feds. The real challenge came three months later, when com Those stipulations on the federal grant funding created Continued page 5
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