Taylorsville Journal | November 2021 by The City Journals

November 2021 | Vol. 8 Iss. 11

FREE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CURRENT AND PAST, UNVEIL CENTENNIAL PLAZA OUTSIDE CITY HALL By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

ou know the evening is going to be unusual when you hear a “classical” version of the Guns N’ Roses signature rock song “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” More unusual: the group performing it is called the “Vitamin String Quartet.” And odder still, the “DJ” cranking the hits—on Oct. 15, outside Taylorsville City Hall—is City Attorney (and part-time rocker in his own right) Tracy Cowdell. But somehow it all seemed appropriate because the most unusual thing of the entire evening—after a near-20-year wait—was witnessing Taylorsville City campus visitors finally seeing something other than barren, raw, isanything-ever-going-in-there dirt, south of city hall. At a cost of “a little more than $3 million dollars,” the acreage is now officially home to Centennial Plaza. “Our Centennial Plaza is everything we thought it would be and something Taylorsville residents will be able to visit and enjoy for years to come,” Mayor Kristie Overson told a crowd of about 50 onlookers, just before the early evening ribbon cutting. “This will be a wonderful place for movies in the park, a farmers market, outdoor arts performances and many other activities. We are overjoyed with how it turned out.”

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Following Overson’s brief comments, a somewhat chilled crowd walked out to the new city campus waterwall/gateway signs, near 5400 South, to witness the ribbon cutting. There the mayor was joined by current city council members Anna Barbieri, Ernest Burgess, Curt Cochran and Meredith Harker, along with former councilwoman (2010–2017) Dama Barbour. Barbour was on the city council at a time when Taylorsville was receiving many offers to purchase portions of the open space that now house the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center and Centennial Plaza. Her eyes misted, as she recalled the tenacity the council showed in not selling out. “The minute the city bought this land (20plus years ago) I had a concept of what it could be: a community gathering place,” Barbour said. “I wanted people to enjoy coming here because the site was more than just the police department and municipal court. Sure, those are important. But they don’t often make people smile. This will make people smile.” Barbour said the closest they ever came to selling part of the acreage while she was on the city council was about 10 years ago, when a private company wanted a portion of it to construct

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Elected officials current and past cut the grand opening ribbon on the new $3-million Centennial Plaza, in front of Taylorsville City Hall, on October 15. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

a senior care center. “They wanted the southeast corner of the (19.6-acre) property, right where the performing arts center is now,” she said. “I lobbied hard against that. It was a real debate, because the city could have used the money then (just after the 2007–2009 Great Recession). Thankfully

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we held out, and you can see what’s there now.” As Barbour said that, she gestured to the $40 million MVPAC, which opened last summer. Salt Lake County funded the art center construction and operates the facility now on acreage leased from Taylorsville City. Continued page 4

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Continued from front page During her remarks prior to the ribbon cutting, Overson also introduced something new in conjunction with the Centennial Plaza grand opening: the Plaza +ART program. Through this new program, six Utah and Idaho artists are now displaying their sculpture work throughout the plaza. Among the six artists are a current Taylorsville father and his son, who no longer lives here, but graduated from Taylorsville High School not too many years ago. “We are so excited to get this program going here in Taylorsville,” Dan Toone said. “This has been a dream of mine for several years now. We hope there will be a couple of new [sculpture] pedestals added each year and that the community will come to know and appreciate it more over time.” Dan Toone’s piece, titled “Within a Dream,” is a 36-inch diameter sphere, made of aluminum fins welded together. Powder blue in color and positioned near the new outdoor amphitheater, the sphere and pedestal weigh about 150 pounds. Meanwhile, Dan Toone’s son Josh, the Taylorsville High School graduate who now lives in Hyrum, has his sculpture, “Specter,” on a pedestal south of his father’s. The piece is a silver-colored cube supported by two copper-colored arches. The other four artists displaying sculptures in the Plaza +ART program are: Doug Adams (“North Forty”), Deveren Farley (“Guitar”), Ben Hammond (“Mother & Child”) and Gary Lee Price (“Celebration”). Dan Toone says the six pieces will remain in Centennial Plaza at least one year and are for sale. At the end of the year, Taylorsville City officials retain the option to purchase any pieces for permanent display. Those that leave their podiums will be replaced by new sculptures. Up and down the roster, Taylorsville City Council members joined Overson after the ribbon cutting in expression pride and pleasure with how Centennial Plaza turned out. “It is absolutely marvelous,” Barbieri said. “The art piece of it is so ingenious. It will bring a lot of new people. The whole thing is fresh

Journals T H E

The grand new waterwall/gateway sign near 5400 South, illuminates at night to welcome visitors to the Taylorsville City campus. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

and new.” “It’s beautiful and great—the best thing we could have put here,” Burgess said. “This plaza will certainly be used.” “In a sense this has been a long time coming, but in another sense, the time [constructing Centennial Plaza] went by quick,” Cochran said. “I’m particularly excited about the amphitheater. The city can use that in so many ways to make it a focal gathering point.” “It’s so exciting to see it all come to fruition,” Harker said. “I was here to see the plans put together for the plaza. Seeing the real thing is great. I am just excited we don’t have to drive by a dirt field [to visit city hall] anymore.” Harker is the city council liaison to the volunteer Parks & Recreation Committee. That group hosted the city’s first Centennial Plaza event. A month before the Oct. 15 ribbon cutting and just days after the grass was laid, committee members posted their inflatable movie screen in the new $750,000 amphitheater to show their final outdoor movie of the season. Taylorsville City Planner Mark McGrath was as involved as anyone with the design of Centennial Plaza. He too is pleased with the fi-

nal product. “We’ve had the ‘bones’ of this design for about 10 years now,” McGrath said. “I think the public will love it. Has the world ever needed a community gathering place more than it does now?” For the record, although the final price of Centennial Plaza was north of $3 million, much of the funding came from outside Taylorsville City. Three years ago, the city received a $1.4 million grant for the project from the Salt Lake County Tourism, Recreation, Cultural & Convention Advisory Board. And many years before that, city officials set aside $1.2 million after selling a small portion of the land (on the southwest corner) to what is now the St. Mark’s Taylorsville Emergency Center. One final former city official who attended the Centennial Plaza ribbon cutting was familiar with the property long before any of the others. Original Taylorsville City Councilman Jim Dunnigan served on the council from the city’s 1996 incorporation through 2002. He was on the city team that identified the property and secured its purchase more than 20 years ago.

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“There were not a lot of large tracts of land available to buy in Taylorsville, even way back then,” Dunnigan said. “We wanted to find something pretty centrally located in the city, which we did. I really like the new grand entrance [to the city campus] with the water feature [running down the wall, behind the raised lettering]. It makes a powerful statement for the city. I think they have done a wonderful job.” Since leaving the city council in January 2003, Dunnigan has represented Taylorsville residents in his Utah House of Representatives District 39 seat. Following the Oct. 15 Centennial Plaza ribbon cutting, the area will be largely dormant for the next few months, as Old Man Winter pays his annual visit. But starting next spring, city officials promise the new area will be abuzz with activity. Elected officials are confident it won’t be long before those burnt-in memories of barren dirt outside Taylorsville City Hall will fade, with each passing outdoor concert, farmers’ market and movie in the park.l

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Junior golf wins team championship and teaches young golfers By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

n Utah, junior golf is for athletes as young as four years old and includes more experienced players up to high school age students ready for competition. “I would suggest a program like the ones this state has,” Todd Bingham said. His son Jordan graduated from Bingham High School this past year and is playing college golf at McCook Community College in Nebraska. He introduced Jordan to the game when he was six years old, but he did not have the programs that are now available for younger players. US kids, a youth golf program, was established originally to help kids find equipment that fit correctly. In 2002 its first national tour event was held to encourage kids to learn a lifelong game and develop family memories. The kids world championships are held every year in North Carolina. The event brings approximately 2,000 players from around the world to compete at all levels. Team Utah won the junior league championship Oct. 11 in Scottsdale, Arizona. In the teams debut event, Utah defeated team Connecticut 7.5 to 4.5 to win the title. “It was just amazing,” Utah captain Tele Wightman told Fairways Media at the Scottsdale event. “There were such good teams, but we really believe in ourselves.”

The team included Wightman (PGA pro), coach Jeff Pederson, Jordan Ofahengaue (11, from Lehi), Ryder Huish (11, Highland), Austin Shelly (13, Salt Lake City), Jack Summerhays (13, Kaysville), Mo LeCheminant (13, Vineyard), Tyse Bowman (13, Draper), Jaxson Erickson (14, Riverton) and Will Pederson (14, Holladay). Their home course is Thanksgiving Point in Lehi. “I wish they had the team stuff when my son was little. Utah winning (a championship) is just really cool,” Bingham said. Winning golf tournaments is only a small part of the PGA kids programs. Glenmoor Golf Course offers an introduction golf class to educate new golfers in common golf knowledge and gameplay, and etiquette for players, spectators and supporters. The First Tee program is required training for youth golfers to advance to the next levels of competitive play. Courses also offer group lessons of limited size. This encourages golfers to improve faster and compete against other golfers. The Utah Junior Golf Association offers tournaments for ages 7-18. Jordan Bingham, who is currently golfing at McCook, was an All-State honorable mention in 2020. Jordan finished tied for ninth overall in

The Utah PGA junior golf series hosted the tiny tykes program at Fore Lakes Golf Course in Taylorsville to end the season. (photo courtesy of Utah PGA kids)

the final fall tournament in October. He shot a six over 146 in the two-day tournament. McCook finished second overall to Eastern Wyoming College. “He (Jordan) wanted a place where he could golf and study what he wanted,” Jor-

dan’s father Todd said. “He is doing so well as a freshman golfer.” Youth golf programs can be found at any local golf course. The players are taught and can compete at several places around the valley. l

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Kids shop for clothes, school supplies thanks to foundation, companies By Summer Seschillie | s.seschillie@mycityjournals.com

aturday mornings are often reserved for sleeping in, catching up on shows or even working. But for approximately 425 students attending school within the Granite School District, they spent one Saturday on a shopping spree provided by Discover Financial and the Granite Education Foundation. Each child had $200 to spend on school clothes or supplies of their choosing. The students, who were chosen by social workers with the Granite School District, shopped at the West Valley Kohl’s, which closed their store to the general public for the morning and afternoon. “Granite has more than 35,000 kids who live at or below poverty,” said Justin Anderson, chief marketing officer of the Granite Education Foundation. “We know we can’t do this for everybody, but we want to work with the social workers, with the principals, with the teachers, to really identify the kids who could really use a hand, who are in extreme circumstances.” Anderson expressed gratitude

toward other companies who also participated in the event, such as Friends for Sight, Foundation 4 Life, Malouf, Costa Vida, Burger King, Salt Lake Community College, and Best Seat in the House, a nonprofit organization based in Salt Lake City. “As far as the services provided—the dental, the vision, the health screenings, the pillows that they’re getting out there—we’re getting all of these companies and sponsors who want to come and be involved, and really help however they can,” he said. “It’s so much fun to see.” “It’s been amazing,” said Rich Simon, the director of operations for personal loans at Discover Financial. “We are doing so much good with the population of kids here that many of them have never been shopping before, they’ve never owned anything new. They’re having a new experience not only from a shopping perspective, but hopefully [this] will give them the confidence to fit in with their peer groups at school.” l

A volunteer employee from Discover Financial partnered with three siblings, assisting them in picking out their school clothes at Kohl’s on a Saturday morning. (Summer Seschillie/City Journals)

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Taylorsville Boy Scout Troop 117 recently assisted with some fall yardwork at the Heritage Center. The Troop makes free use of the adjacent dairy store for their weekly meetings, when COVID-19 allows. (Susan Yadeskie)

Taylorsville Bennion Heritage Center seeking National Register of Historic Places designation By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

t was just about a year ago when members of the Taylorsville Historic Preservation Committee began lending a hand to their neighbors, just down the road from them on 4800 South. That’s when the owners of the Al-rasool Islamic Center (1247 West 4800 South) asked the committee for assistance in beginning the paperwork required for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Just a couple of blocks west of the Islamic Center, the Preservation Committee’s “headquarters” is the Taylorsville Bennion Heritage Center (1488 West 4800 South). “We were happy to assist them, and we knew at the time we would also be seeking a spot on the National Register,” Historic Preservation Committee Chair Susan Yadeskie said. “They were a little further along in the process last year. But we’re ready to go now.” Perhaps it’s appropriate the Islamic Center got moving earlier, since it is housed in an older building. The center is in a former Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward house, built in 1894. The onetime farmhouse now serving as the Heritage Center was constructed in 1906. In addition to the prestige a position on the National Register of Historic Places offers, the listing also opens doors to more grant funding. To understand that connection, you have to wade a bit into the National Park Service “weeds.” According to its website (nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com), “The National Register of Historic Places is the Nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate

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The historic Taylorsville Bennion Heritage Center still looks marvelous from a distance. But a closer peek reveals several areas where the 115-year-old home needs repairs. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

and protect our historic and archeological resources.” The National Park Service operates something called the “Certified Local Government” program, which provides grant funding for historic preservation. Once a structure is CLG certified, more Uncle Sam funding becomes available for structural repairs, something Yadeskie says the Heritage Center desperately needs. “Taylorsville City has always been very generous to us by paying [Heritage Center] utilities and providing a modest annual budget,” she said. “But this home is more than 100 years old and needs more extensive repairs. The outside eves are getting so bad, repair crews will have to work off of old photos to determine how they should look. We don’t have a specific bid for all the repairs the house needs, but there’s a lot.” Yadeskie isn’t sure how long the process will take to earn a spot on the National Register, but she’s pleased to finally get that ball rolling. She recently updated Taylorsville City Council members about the process, while also reporting her committee is now thriving. “Our committee has great teamwork, with

Taylorsville City Journal

What’s your legacy?

Taylorsville Youth Council Ambassador Brandon Sorensen lends a volunteer hand at the Taylorsville Bennion Heritage Center. (Susan Yadeskie)

a lot of camaraderie and mutual respect,” she told them. “In March through December of 2020, a total of 1,267 volunteer hours were devoted to the Heritage Center. And in January through August of this year, we had 1390 volunteer hours.” Yadeskie reports the nationally accepted value of a volunteer hour is $23, meaning those 2,657 volunteer hours over a 17-month period saved the city $61,111. Among the most active volunteers at the Heritage Center, aside from Historic Preservation Committee members, are the Boy Scouts and adult leaders from Taylorsville BSA Troop 117. They provide a work crew at the museum once a month in exchange for being allowed to use the adjacent dairy store building for their weekly meetings. “It’s an amazing, symbiotic relationship we have with them,” said Scoutmaster Steve Plothow. “They have been very generous to provide us with a place to meet, and our boys volunteer time outside the museum. The Scouts mostly trim shrubs, clean flowerbeds and rake. They’ve also done some painting on the picket fence around the old schoolhouse.” The troop only recently returned to meeting inside the dairy store on Oct. 14. Before that, for several months, warm and dry weather allowed them to meet on the spacious lawn area east of the historic house. Mayor Kristie Overson is among the city officials grateful to the Scouts and other volunteers who keep the Taylorsville Bennion Heritage Center in operation. “It was such a good investment [in 2001] for the city to purchase that home,” Overson said. “The museum is beautiful, and it would not be that way, without our volunteers. We support [the Historic Preservation Committee] in applying for the Historic Register. Anytime we can recognize the past, it’s a good thing. Our roots for many Taylorsville residents run very deep. Honoring and recognizing our history is important.” Overson also made a recent “donation” to the Historic Preservation Committee, by allowing the city’s Communication Director Kim Horiuchi to put in some time on a special project at the Heritage Center. “When coronavirus forced us to cancel

TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

our elementary school tours in the spring of 2020, students and teachers were disappointed,” Yadeskie said. “So, this spring, Kim Horiuchi and her daughter videotaped ten vignettes to post online. We invited school teachers to make use of them, since we still weren’t able to host in-person student field trips. Kim and her daughter did all the filming on a single day (March 26), and they were uploaded to the [Taylorsville City] website just a month later (April 24). I was amazed how fast they got them done, and they look great.” The four- to-seven-minute videos highlight the bedrooms, kitchen, music room and even bathrooms in the old farmhouse, along with the playhouse, blacksmith shop and schoolhouse outside. Even the many animals cared for on the Heritage Center property are highlighted. The videos are available at taylorsvilleut.gov/our-city/museum/virtual-tour. “My daughter, Rylee Horiuchi, and I spent a Saturday at the museum filming,” Kim Horiuchi said. “Then Rylee took a couple of weeks editing the videos.” “The filming was very insightful, and I learned a lot about our history,” University of Utah graduate Rylee Horiuchi added. “It was an easy process because the speakers had everything well-rehearsed. You could tell they have given these talks many times.” Even as the video vignettes continue to collect online “hits,” Taylorsville Bennion Heritage Center volunteers plan to resume in-person elementary school field trips next spring. Those are coordinated by Historic Preservation Committee member, and past committee chair, Joan White. “We didn’t host any field trips in 2020, and only two of them last year, so we are excited to have the kids returning this spring,” White said. “Normally we host 12 to 15 student tours, each with about 50 to 75 kids.” The Taylorsville Bennion Heritage Center won’t enjoy a position on the National Register of Historic Places by then. But Yadeskie is confident they will be closer. After that, the paperwork will begin on grant requests to fund the kinds of repairs community volunteers can’t handle on their own.l

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ChamberWest hosts elected and business leaders on a junket to our nation’s capital By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

aylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson was one of more than two dozen Utahns who traveled to Washington D.C. late last month, to meet with all six members of our state’s congressional delegation: Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney, along with Representatives Blake Moore (Dist. 1), Chris Stewart (Dist. 2), John Curtis (Dist. 3) and Burgess Owens (Dist. 4). “I really enjoyed hearing from our business owners; it was a very dynamic trip,” Overson said. “It was exciting to meet with all of our elected representatives. And we spoke with representatives from several other states also.” ChamberWest President Barbara Riddle and her staff coordinated the junket. However, the 28 Utahns who flew out on Sept. 26 and back on Oct. 1, came from all over our state. “We had 18 people from ChamberWest: myself and 17 members, including Mayor Overson from Taylorsville and Mayor [Ron] Bigelow from West Valley City,” Riddle said. “The other 10 people on the trip came from the St. George, Davis and South Valley Chambers of Commerce. We are trying to make this an annual trip. We went in 2018 and 2019, but the pandemic forced us to cancel last year.” That particular week was a busy one in our nation’s capital, as the race was on to pass President Joe Biden’s $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Bill, along with the larger $3.5 trillion Reconciliation Bill. As the visiting Utahns met with the various elected officials, they say those measures dominated the conversation. Before meeting with any elected officials, the visitors’ first official event was a field trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a two-hour train ride away, on Sept. 27. “That was my first visit to Philadelphia, and it was really exciting,” Overson said. “That’s where our [United States] history began, and a great way to begin our trip. We saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. It was delightful.” One of the Taylorsville businessmen who attended the tour was Nick Markosian, owner of Markosian Auto (4238 South Redwood Road). He enjoyed the way the Utah group was treated before they ever arrived in the City of Brotherly Love. “We really got the VIP treatment from the subway people and Amtrak people,” Markosian said. “They ushered us around so professionally and provided us with a great waiting room. It was first class.” Nick has operated Markosian Auto 21 years, eight at its Redwood Road location. His wife, Jen, accompanied him on the trip. Why did they pay their own way to go? “Well, let’s just say [ChamberWest

Page 10 | November 2021

Mayor Kristie Overson (front right) waits in Senator Mike Lee’s Washington DC office with members of his staff. (Barbara Riddle)

President] Barbara [Riddle] is a good closer; she convinced me,” he said. “I think it’s important [Taylorsville business owners] get to know our elected representatives. You never know when you might need help with some piece of legislation. It was a great trip, and we’ll probably go again next year, if they do it again.” After returning from Philadelphia, the Utah visitors spent that Monday evening at the prestigious Taiwanese Twin Oaks Estate, where they enjoyed dinner at the invite of Sen. Mike Lee. His Communication Director is Lee Lonsberry. “There is a strong business relationship between our state of Utah and Taiwan, and our office also has a great relationship with the Taiwanese friendship house,” Lonsberry said. “[Lee] wanted to do something special, because he believes relationships with the Utah business community is important. Traditionally, when constituents meet with the Senator in D.C., they are just quick stops. These kinds of trips allow for more robust exchanges.” Markosian says another highlight of the trip came two days later when the Utah delegation met with Rep. Stewart, a member of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. “We met Chris Stewart in the Intelligence Committee meeting room, and he told us about the kinds of things the committee deals with,” Markosian said. “I really liked him; he’s a very down-to-earth guy. But I don’t know how representatives can sleep at night after hearing all those things.” The Utah visitors also received an update from the United States Chamber of Commerce. And several, if not all, of them attended the annual Congressional Baseball Game, a charity fundraising tradition that’s been around since 1909.

Utah Senator Mike Lee spoke to 28 visitors from our state recently – including Mayor Kristie Overson – at the Taiwanese Twin Oaks Estate in Washington DC. (Lee Lonsberry)

Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson (center, yellow jacket) was part of a Utah delegation that recently spent several days in Washington DC, meeting with our state’s House and Senate members. (Barbara Riddle)

On the day before their return to Utah (Sept. 30), legislative analysts from Lee’s office led the group in a discussion of how bills become laws. That meeting was held in the Russell Senate Office Building, just across Constitution Avenue from the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court building and the Library

of Congress. “The whole week was great,” Overson said. “Our Taylorsville businesses are so important to us. It was great to spend time with our business leaders. I enjoyed hearing their questions and learning about the concerns and challenges they face.”l

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Guaranteed not to clog for as long as you own your home, or we will clean your gutters for free! November 2021 | Page 11

Taylorsville Youth Council members get sworn in and immediately spring into action By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

ike so many other things, COVID-19 took a bite out of the Taylorsville Youth Council last year, reducing their membership and slate of activities. But the 15 members of this year’s Youth Council and their adviser, Taylorsville City Council Coordinator Kris Heineman, are hoping for a return to normal during this 2021–2022 school year. “These students really are the cream of the crop,” Heineman said. “I love working with them. They do so much for the community. I think this year will be a lot better than last year. According to the longtime adviser, this year’s Taylorsville Youth Council is the first-ever to include more males than females, by the narrowest 8–7 margin. The group is nearly equally divided among high school grades, with five sophomores, six juniors and four seniors. Junior Chayson Gale attends Murray High School, while all of the other 14 are Taylorsville High School students. During these pandemic times, it was an unusually large crowd who packed into the Oct. 6 Taylorsville City Council meeting, where the 15 Youth Council members were sworn into their positions. But once that ceremony was completed, early in the meeting, the room quickly resumed its crickets-chirping headcount, as proud parents and their cameras accompanied the students outside for photo ops. “I enjoy youth council because we are proactive; we want to make a change in the world,” said the group’s chairman, senior Brandon Sorensen. “We strive to make a difference in our community. And we want to show people, even though we are younger, we can be a productive part of society.” Heineman describes Brandon as “our biggest go-getter.” He’s also one of the council’s two student ambassadors, along with youth council mayor Emma Powers, another Taylorsville High senior. “I’m not a Taylorsville resident; I live in Kearns, but I have always attended Taylorsville schools,” Emma said. “I joined the youth council [like Brandon, two years ago, as a sophomore] because I wanted to be more involved in the Taylorsville community. And I applied to be a youth ambassador because the [required] community service project sounded like fun.”

Page 12 | November 2021

The Taylorsville City Council funds $750 college scholarships for each of its youth ambassadors, provided they fulfill all their duties and plan, coordinate and carry out a service project. Emma plans to complete a community clothing donation drive, while Brandon is coordinating with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive. “We’ll actually have two blood drive on two different days, in two locations,” Brandon said. “I’ve already found enough interest among Taylorsville High School students to have one donation day there. We’re still working to determine the date and location for the second blood drive day for the public.” As for Emma’s clothing drive, she’s now putting together advertising fliers about the event. She hopes to gather at least 60 pounds of gently worn pants, shirts, coats and other clothing articles. “Our collection date is Dec. 11,” she said. “So right now, we’re working to get the word out.” Like most Taylorsville Youth Council members, Brandon and Emma are active in a variety of extracurricular activities at their school. For starters, they’ll each be busy this month with the Taylorsville High School production of “White Christmas.” Emma will play her alto saxophone in the orchestra pit, while Brandon will play Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby’s lead role in the 1954 film). The first major activities for the entire Taylorsville Youth Council will come during the holidays. On Dec. 4, members will assist with the annual “Saturday with Santa” event at the Taylorsville Bennion Heritage Center. And later that month, council members will provide a sub for Santa holiday for a needy Taylorsville family. “We are really excited about this group of youth council members,” Mayor Kristie Overson said of the 15 high schoolers. “The youth are an important part of the makeup of Taylorsville. This is a great opportunity to introduce them to government. Maybe someday they will become involved in city government.” Before any of that happens, the teens and Heineman are simply hoping ongoing COVID-19 challenges won’t force them to cancel as many of their normal youth council activities as they did a year ago. l

Youth Council members Brandon Sorensen, Dillon Nguyen, Maryn Seaman, Jenna Marchant and Morgan Thompson do some volunteer yardwork at the Taylorsville Bennion Heritage Center. (Susan Yadeskie)

Taylorsville City Journal

Comcast makes a $1 billion commitment to digital equity

omcast Corporation, the global media and technology company, connects people to moments that matter. In fact, over the last 10 years, Comcast has connected more than 160,000 people in Utah to low-cost, high-speed, in-home internet services. Now, the company is doubling-down on its commitment to help low-income families in the state gain access to the internet. “Utah is one of the most collaborative states we work with across the country when it comes to helping its citizens gain digital equity,” said J.D. Keller, senior vice president, Comcast Mountain West Region. “Leaders from the state, county and city are working together as we open more free WiFi Lift Zones, connect more families to the Internet at home, and increase speeds for businesses and families across the state.” Comcast has pledged $1 billion to establish WiFi-connected safe spaces, or Lift Zones, in 35 community centers in Utah, and more than 1,000 zones across the country. These centers help students participate in online learning and will connect more than 8 million low-income people to the internet. The COVID-19 crisis put low-income students at risk and Comcast’s Internet Essential Partnership Program is focused on creating digital equity, allowing students to continue their schooling, even when they can’t attend class. Just this year, Comcast estimates students across America will complete more than 25 million hours of remote learning lessons at the hundreds of Lift Zone locations that have already opened. “We are delighted to work with such outstanding corporate partners, such as Comcast, as we connect more Utahns to the Internet,” said Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox. “Utah is regularly lauded for its innovative vision in numerous categories, and increasing our digital access helps everyone, including families, students and businesses.”

The Comcast investment includes laptop and computer donations, more than $100,000 in digital equity grants for local Utah nonprofit community organizations, and continued investment in the company’s landmark Internet Essentials program. Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said Comcast is advancing the county’s effort in supporting economic prosperity throughout the Salt Lake Valley. The county is responsible for launching unique digital equity initiatives to connect its community. “We have one of the most forward-thinking counties in the country and having such a robust partnership with leaders in government and community organizations means we can connect the pivot points quicker and more securely for all involved,” Wilson said. “We’re committed to digital equity. Our Salt Lake County libraries have more than 300 hotspots and 150 Chromebooks in circulation to assist residents with digital needs in their homes.” As Salt Lake County collaborates with Comcast, the country’s largest internet provider, programs in the area will benefit from the partnership. Comcast recently gifted Neighborhood House with 300 computers and laptops to help clients in its programs, and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake was awarded a financial grant to support its mission to empower youth and guide them toward success. “We are very grateful for this timely grant from Comcast,” said Amanda Ree Hughes, president and CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake. “Comcast is a 360-partner because they give more than just dollars for computers and programs. Their employees bring skills, experience and knowledge to create a whole solution in providing access and technology to help our kids succeed.”

Keller commends Utah for its “can-do attitude” and the willingness of state and county leaders to create long-lasting collaborations that will benefit students and impact Utah’s prosperity. “Together, we have been able to connect tens of thousands of Utahns to the power of the internet at home and to the endless opportunity, education, growth, and discovery it provides,” Keller said. “Today, we are rededicating ourselves to this mission to ensure the next generation of students in Utah has the tools, resources, and abilities to succeed in an increasingly digital world. “Whenever we can help our community neighbors connect to reliable, high-speed internet access, we work to do that. It helps keep us all moving forward one family, one organization, and one community at a time.” l

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Taylorsville City Journal

City of Taylorsville Newsletter 2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400

MAYOR'S MESSAGE

www.taylorsvilleut.gov

November 2021

‘A Living Room for the Community,’ Centennial Plaza is Now Open

Dear Friends and Neighbors, I can’t tell you how thrilled I am with our new Centennial Plaza, connecting City Hall and the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. Its opening, celebrated this past month, was a long time coming and took much Mayor Kristie S. Overson effort, years of planning and a shared vision of community and bringing people together. And the day is now here! From an idea sketched on a piece of paper, our beautiful plaza has become a reality. It is a place where we can gather, connect and celebrate all things Taylorsville with food, culture and fun. I hope you will take a stroll along its many pathways. View the beautiful sculptures placed in the plaza as part of our new Plaza +ART program. Take in the lovely greenery and arbors. Bring a lunch to eat in the pavilion or picnic areas. See the stage, concessions area and impressive waterwall signs at the entrance. The plaza sits on 19.6 acres that provide both a beautiful setting as well as a functional and versatile space where all kinds of community gatherings and celebrations can take place. We envision movies in the park, farmer’s markets, arts festivals, food festivals and outdoor performing arts here. Notice, too, the plaza’s symmetry and how it ties City Hall and the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center into one community-centric space. Spend some time exploring; I’m certain it will be well worth your time. This space was named “Centennial Plaza” earlier this year in reflection of our 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 — or 100 years after Utah became a state. The name “Centennial Plaza” seemed to perfectly encapsulate where we came from and where we are going. The six wonderful sculptures placed at the plaza through our Plaza +ART program also are a nod to our recent history. The sculptures work in concert with the nine bronze statutes depicting veterans and their work that were installed outside City Hall in 2011 — further tying together our City Hall campus. The new sculptures add such an elegance and touch of splendor to this space. Some also bring a whimsy to enjoy. We envision some permanent art pieces, while others will rotate through the plaza as additional sculptures are featured. The artwork is all by local and area artists, whom you can read more about on Page 6 of this section. So, please enjoy. I can’t wait for everyone to experience our plaza’s many features and facets. I know that’s where I’ll be every chance I can get. –Mayor Kristie S. Overson

WHAT’S INSIDE – NOVEMBER 2021 Frequently Called Numbers, Page 2 Council Corner, Page 3 Getting to Know TVPD, Page 4 Heritage Remembrances, Page 7 Environment, Page 8

Centennial Plaza in front of Taylorsville City Hall is officially open. It was built as a gathering place — featuring walking paths and greenery, an outdoor stage, arbors and picnic areas, a concessions facility and several installation areas for public art. “It is a focal point, a true centerpiece, of our city,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “We anticipate the space will be a ‘living room for the community’ for all to enjoy.” Mayor Overson gave remarks at the grand opening on Oct. 15 and led those gathered down Centennial Way to the plaza’s entrance, where a ribbon cutting took place. After the ribbon was cut, the Centennial Plaza sign was lit, and water splashed down over its metallic letters. The beautiful ambience prompted oohs and aahs all around. “The campus is especially lovely at night with its lighted buildings and walkways,” Mayor Overson noted. “We are overjoyed with how it turned out.“ As part of the grand opening event, the city also unveiled several new public art pieces, launching its Plaza +ART program in which local artists and their work will be featured at the plaza on an ongoing basis. Several of the artists were on hand to talk about their work (see Page 6 of this section). The plaza was constructed by Hogan Construction and sits on 19.6 acres. “Our Centennial Plaza is everything we hoped it would be,” Mayor Overson said. “We look forward to enjoying this gathering space together for many, many years.”

PAGE 2

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EVENTS NOVEMBER 2021 Nov. 2 – All Day Election Day. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. You can also deposit your ballot in Salt Lake County drop boxes, including the one in front of City Hall, before 8 p.m.

Nov. 3 & 17 – 6:30 p.m. City Council Meeting @ City Hall and online. Watch a live-stream of the meeting on the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov

Nov. 7 – 2 a.m. Daylight Saving Time ends. Move your clocks back one hour.

Nov. 9 – 7 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.

Nov. 11 – All Day Veterans Day. City Offices are closed in observance, reopening on Nov. 12.

Nov. 25 – All Day Thanksgiving. City Offices are closed Thursday and Friday.

Dec. 2, 3 & 4 – 7:30 p.m. Winter Wonderettes @ Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. (See Page 7)

Dec. 4 – 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday with Santa @ Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center. (See Page 7 and accompanying ad on this page) 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

City of Taylorsville Newsletter Summit Vista Celebrates New Meadow Peak Assisted Living Center The Meadow Peak facility within the Summit Vista retirement community marked the opening of its memory care and assisted living sections with a Ribbon Cutting on Sept. 16. Built by the Gardner Co., Meadow Peak includes 54 assisted living apartments including 22 studios, 20 with one bedroom and 12 with two bedrooms, as well as 20 memory care suites. Services include pharmacy, mail, transportation, religious services, beautician, barber, laundry, housekeeping and more. On hand to cut the ribbon was one of Meadow Peak’s first residents, Walter, who threw his cowboy hat into the air afterward in celebration. Mayor Kristie Overson, who gave welcoming remarks, thanked Summit Vista for all their contributions to the community. “Residents of Summit Vista are not only residents of Taylorsville but cherished friends and neighbors,” she said. “The construction itself has redefined Taylorsville, turning the immediate area from empty, undeveloped land into a true gem.”

November 2021

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |

COUNCIL CORNER

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We Reflect on Change and Gratitude at This Time of Year

By Council Member Curt Cochran Every year at this time, I tend to think specifically about two topics: change and giving thanks. I guess that is one thing that has not changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. I, like most, take this time to count my blessings and give thanks for the things in our lives that we have done, we’ve earned, we’ve been given, and the opportunities that life has presented us. Sometimes, these are not as obvious to us as they should be, or we take for granted the things we have because we are possibly focused on the things we still want to achieve. I am thankful that we live in the United States of America because there are so many around the world who do not live in a country that has the freedoms that we Americans have. I am thankful for my family and friends because there are so many who are alone and would love to part of a family. I am thankful for my job that provides for my family because there are so many without good jobs that will allow them to take care of their families the way they would like to. I am thankful that I have been able to provide my family a home because there are so many who are homeless. I am also thankful for my health, as so many battle health issues whether COVID related or something else. As I mentioned at the beginning, I also reflect back on change over the last year. As a city, we have had many changes within our borders and there is not room here enough to list them all, but a few come to mind:

• Target – Can you believe that Target celebrated its one-year anniversary in Taylorsville in October? I can remember as if it were yesterday conversations we had as city leaders on the desires to have an anchor store such as Target within the city boundaries. It took several years of consistent persistence, but it finally came to fruition. • Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center – For those who have lived in Taylorsville a long time, you probably remember that area being strawberry fields with a big barn and a white farmhouse. I am so impressed with the city leaders who came before us who had the vision and saw the opportunity of what a strawberry farm could eventually become. While the Performing Arts Center was not necessarily at the top of the proposed land uses for that property, I am impressed that the city waited for the right opportunity to present itself. • Centennial Plaza in front of City Hall – Once again, the city saw opportunity where others may have only seen dirt. Possibilities had been brought up over the years but my hats off to both the current administration and those before who insisted on building something for everyone that we can be proud of. Centennial Plaza opened last month and will be a focal gathering place for city events for years to come. • 6200 South and 5400 South along Bangerter Highway flyover projects.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Dan Armstrong (District 5), Curt Cochran, Chair (District 2), Meredith Harker (District 4), Anna Barbieri, Vice Chair (District 3), and Ernest Burgess (District 1)

• Approvals for a mixed-use development being constructed at the old Kmart property on 5400 S. Bangerter, including apartments and supporting retail space. • And don’t forget Google Fiber internet installation throughout the city! All in all, I think that we have a lot to be thankful for not only in our personal lives but also as a city. The thing for all of us to remember is that the only thing that does not change is that change is inevitable.

Youth Council Members are ‘Cream of the Crop’ This year’s Youth Council has been sworn in and is ready to work. In all, the Youth Council includes 15 students in grades 10, 11 and 12. It is the first year that the boys have outnumbered the girls with a ratio of 8 to 7, said Taylorsville Youth Council advisor Kris Heineman. The council was sworn in by Mayor Kristie Overson at the City Council’s Oct. 6 meeting. “I would like to thank you parents, grandparents and family that are here today supporting your children,” Heineman said prior to the swearing-in ceremony. “It is such a great program for these kids. They love it; they love learning about government. They love learning about their city and serving where they can. “They’re just, as I always say, the cream of the crop,” she said, “and they show it every year. They represent Taylorsville very, very well.” Mayor Overson agreed, congratulating the students and thanking them for their service. “They are true leaders,” she said. “Not only do they work to represent the city among their peers, they are continuously doing service projects and lending their hand to the community.” With their Oath of Office, Youth Council members pledged to support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Utah and discharge the duties of their office with fidelity. In addition to Youth Ambassadors Brandon Sorensen and Emma Powers, the Youth Council also includes Byron McDougal, Chayson Gale, Dillon Nguyen, Jenna Marchant, Karsyr Childs, Mackenzie Hathaway, Maryn Seaman, Mason Harker, Morgan Thompson, Oselle Capener, Ryan Buchanan, Tyne Vanderbilt and Walker Christopherson. The Youth Ambassadors are senior students who have spent at least a year on the Youth Council and must organize and complete their own service project. They represent the city at ribbon cuttings and business openings, as well as Taylorsville Dayzz, and they receive a special uniform to wear. As president of his school’s Key Club, Sorensen said he will be organizing two blood drives. Powers said she will hold a citywide clothing drive as her service project.

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City of Taylorsville Newsletter

| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

Meet Our Property Crimes, School Resource & Directed Enforcement Unit Get to know the new TVPD. Check this space each month for articles highlighting the units and employees that make up the Taylorsville City Police Department. While property crimes occur year-round and are always significantly impactful, they can carry extra frustration this time of the year during the holidays. We encourage everyone to be vigilant in helping to prevent property crimes, which include any type of burglary, fraud, forgery, theft or vandalism. Detectives Chelsea Winslow and Brayden Hamatake are focused in this area. When they were recently assigned to look into a package theft, a good home surveillance system proved to be a great resource. It was used to ID the suspect and vehicle used. By searching multiple databases to locate the vehicle involved, they were able to arrest the suspect who was charged with multiple felonies including mail theft,

theft by receiving, unlawful possession of another’s credit card and retail theft. This is one small example of the multiple cases Detectives Winslow and Hamatake have solved. We specifically mention this case as package thefts prove to be a continuous problem. Please consider package pickup locations or installing a camera with package delivery notifications. When a package is delivered, consider a trustworthy source to quickly secure the package. T VPD’s property crimes, school resource and directed enforcement detectives fall under one unit supervised by Sgt. Scott Lloyd. Sgt. Lloyd has served for more than 24 years in Taylorsville in patrol, motors (traffic), person crimes, local gang units, property crimes and direct enforcement. Another detective in this unit is Steve Jensen, one of our fraud/forgery experts. These cases are extremely complex and often involve multiple suspects, countless victims, and occur in multiple locations. The documentation of these investigations can be hundreds of pages. Det. Jensen has been successful in several investigations and has been able to pursue both state and even federal charges in many instances. In addition, Kyle Andrew and Daniel Christensen are community-oriented detectives. They work with various community organizations, including Neighborhood Watch groups and our area schools, on crime prevention and education. They also assist the homeless in providing them the needed resources to progress while providing

Snow Removal is Outlined in City Code With winter almost 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!

abatement resolutions to problem areas. The detectives focus on smaller issues with the goal of preventing larger issues from occurring. In their free time, officers in this unit can be found working on cars, riding ATVs, participating in sports, coaching, hunting, fishing, camping, snowboarding, rock climbing, riding motorcycles and simply spending time with their families.

TVPD EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH TVPD Victim Advocate (VA) Merari Lopez was awarded Employee of the Month. She was nominated by Sgt. Aaron Cheshire who oversees the Major Investigation unit that handles all investigations related to persons crimes. VA Lopez was described as infused in this unit. She is a part of our civilian team, which we highlighted in last month’s Taylorsville Newsletter article. Sgt. Cheshire described VA Lopez as truly caring for those she is serving and always going above and beyond to help anyone in need. She is the lead over the TVPD VA program and has supervised in building it from the ground up. Lopez has served as a VA for both South Valley Services and the West Valley Police Department. We congratulate VA Lopez and are honored to have her as part of TVPD and Team Taylorsville!

TVPD Makes Multiple Arrests in Two-Night OP TVPD conducted a successful two-night proactive enforcement operation (OP) this past month. These OPS give officers extra time, paid through grants, to focus on enforcement beyond their day-to-day responsibilities. Over the course of 12 hours, 18 TVPD officers initiated more than 65 contacts, made 10 arrests, recovered three stolen vehicles and seized over 6.5 grams of methamphetamine, 4 grams of heroin, 1.7 grams of cocaine, THC cartridges, unlawfully possessed prescriptions pills and marijuana. In addition, several stolen credit cards, IDs and checks were recovered. Arrests were made on suspicion of felony aggravated robbery and kidnapping, DUI and on several warrants. Additionally, six vehicles were impounded and nine citations were issued. “We commend all officers involved for their good work and especially want to thank Mayor Kristie Overson, Council Members Meredith Harker and Anna Barbieri, and City Administrator John Taylor for joining us,” said Chief Brady Cottam. The operation was conducted Sept. 17 and 18.

November 2021

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |

PAGE 5

Nonprofit Group Plants Gardens in 2 Taylorsville Backyards The Green Urban Lunchbox has made its way to Taylorsville and recently converted two residents’ backyards into gardens to redistribute produce to farmer’s markets serving senior citizens. The Green Urban Lunchbox is a nonprofit organization, based in South Salt Lake City, whose mission is to empower people to connect to food in their community by revitalizing urban spaces and building a resilient food culture. The Green Urban Lunchbox has three programs: FruitShare, where volunteers harvest Utah residents’ fruit trees in their backyards; a farmer training program called Small Farm Initiative, which teaches people how to farm along with teaching the business side of farming, and Back-Farms, the program that has begun operating Taylorsville. This Back-Farms program builds gardens in the backyards of senior citizens and then redistributes the produce grown there to the rest of the community. Volunteers with Back-Farms build the gardens and take care of every aspect, from prepping the soil, irrigation, planting, weeding, pest control and harvesting. (Pictured is one of the gardens they planted in Taylorsville). “We try to have all of our spots filled by March,” said Back-Farms coordinator Jessica Collette. “We like to put in gardens close to other gardens; it makes it a lot easier. We’d love to expand more in Taylorsville.” Once the produce is harvested, one-third of it goes to the homeowner, one-third is given to the volunteers and the last third is redistributed to free senior farmer’s markets, including the farmer’s market at the Taylorsville Senior Center. The Green Urban Lunchbox’s Back-Farms program has the capacity to host 40 gardens at a time, and they are usually recruiting for a few gardens at the end of each winter. If you are over age 65 and have the space in your backyard to build a garden but are unable to care for it on your own, you can fill out an application at thegreenurbanlunchbox.com to have the Green Urban Lunchbox build a garden. You can also apply to be a volunteer.

The City of Taylorsville and ChamberWest have renewed the Shop Local program for a second year. The program, in which residents receive two $15 certificates to spend at participating businesses in Taylorsville, runs from Sept. 15 to Nov. 12, or until funds run out. See more info at:

www.taylorsvilleut.gov

PAGE 6

City of Taylorsville Newsletter

| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

City Launches Plaza +ART Program with New Sculpture Display With the opening of Centennial Plaza in front of Taylorsville City Hall, the city has launched its new Plaza +ART program that will feature public art on the plaza on a rotating basis. In kicking off the program, six sculptures by local and area artists have been placed throughout the plaza. Some of the sculptures will be permanent art pieces, while others will rotate through the plaza as additional sculptures are featured. The six sculptures displayed at the plaza now are: 1. “Mother and Child” by Ben Hammond. The artist is a resident of Utah County and is represented by galleries in Salt Lake City and St. George. The sculpture is located at the northeast corner of the plaza, in front of the Arts Center. See more about Hammond online @benhammondfineart

2. “North Forty” by Doug Adams. The artist is from Malad, Idaho, and is represented by galleries in Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah. His art piece is located at the southeast corner of the plaza. See more about Adams online @dougadamsbells 3. “Guitar” by Deveren Farley. The artist is a resident of Lindon, Utah. His sculpture is located at the northeast corner of the plaza near the new concessions facility. You can find out more about him online @deverenbfarley 4. “Celebration” by Gary Lee Price. The artist resides in Utah and Arizona and is represented by many galleries across the country. His sculpture is located at the north side of the plaza, west of Centennial Way. See more about him online @glp_sculptor 5. “Within A Dream” by Dan Toone. The artist is a Taylorsville resident and is represented by galleries in Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. His art piece is located on the northwest corner of the plaza. Find out more about him and his work online @dantoonemetalsculptur 6. “Specter” by Joshua Toone. The artist resides in Hyrum, Utah, and is a graduate of Taylorsville High. He is represented by 15th Street Gallery in Salt Lake City. His sculpture is located at the southwest side of the plaza. Find out more about him online at @joshuatoonemetalsculpture

November 2021 Taylorsville Bennion Heritage

REMEMBRANCES

History of Saturday with Santa, an Evolution of Fun By Susan Yadeskie — Historic Preservation Committee Chair We remember Dec. 4, 2004, as a particularly fun day at the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center. It was the afternoon of our museum’s grand opening. And who do you think came to visit? It was Santa himself! As far as records at the museum show, Saturday with Santa truly began in Taylorsville that year. Santa rode in a Unified Fire Department truck and was escorted by Salt Lake County Sheriff ’s deputies. Santa visited at Walmart (5469 S. Redwood Road), Harmons grocery store (5454 S. Redwood Road), Big Kmart (3835 W. 5400 South), and finally, the historic museum (1488 W. 4800 South). There have been wonderful helpers over the years to make this event a joyful success. First among them are the Youth Ambassadors and Taylorsville Youth Council. Some of our Santas have included long-time Taylorsville residents Gil Pherson, former Taylorsville Mayor Larry Johnson and Evan Lovelace. The Unified Fire Department and the Salt Lake County Sheriff 's Office helped us until approximately 2010. The Taylorsville Preservation Committee had the privilege of becoming the sponsor of Saturday with Santa. There were several years with Santa and hot chocolate. In 2018, the Parks and Recreation and Cultural Diversity committees volunteered to help with our project. It has blossomed into an amazing afternoon with games, treats and entertainment. Please join us this year, on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 2 to 4 p.m. to bring our celebration full circle with this year’s Saturday with Santa event at the heritage museum, 1488 W. 4800 South. (The wearing of protective masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus is encouraged). The museum and the preservation committee will complete 18 years of involvement and love of this activity for families of Taylorsville City!

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |

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Don’t Miss These Library Events The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of November. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events: Senior Book Club at the Taylorsville Senior Center Monday, Nov. 8, 11 a.m. Attend a lively discussion of a variety of fiction and nonfiction books. Newcomers are welcome! The book club will be led by a librarian from the Taylorsville Library. Check out thecountylibrary.org/events for information on the book that the group will be discussing. The Senior Book Club will meet at the Taylorsville Senior Center, 4743 W. Plymouth View Drive. Virtual Adult Lecture | Lessons from Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment Monday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m. Celebrate Dostoevsky's 200th anniversary this month with Dr. Andrew Drozd, an associate professor of Russian at the University of Alabama. Learn how Fyodor Dostoevsky's life influenced his famous novel, “Crime and Punishment.” Drozd has a bachelor’s degree in History and Russian Area Studies from Louisiana State University, master’s degrees in History and Russian Literature from the University of Texas, and a PhD in Russian Literature from Indiana University. He has been a faculty member at the University of Alabama since 1995. Register at thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries Virtual Adult Lecture | Preserving Native Languages Monday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m. Dr. Raina Heaton will discuss the current state of language vitality and endangerment across the globe, and the results of the efforts of linguists and language communities over the last 30 years. Heaton is an assistant professor of Native American Studies and the Assistant Curator for the Native American Languages department at the Sam Noble Museum in Norman, Okla. As a linguist, she has a decade of ongoing work in language documentation and revitalization in Indigenous communities in North, Central and South Americas. Register at thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries

The Taylorsville Arts Council Presents

December 2nd, 3rd & 4th 7:30 p.m.

Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center 2525 W. Taylorsville Blvd. Tickets are $10

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November 2021 | Page 21

ANNUAL COLLECTION DAY PAGE 8

| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

City of Taylorsville Newsletter With Gratitude, Let’s Do Our Part to Conserve Water

NOVEMBER UPDATES Fall Leaf Collection The annual Fall Leaf Collection Program will begin on Oct. 15 and last through Nov. 30. During this time Taylorsville residents can pick up leaf bags at: • Taylorsville City Hall: 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd. • Taylorsville Library: 4870 S. 2700 West Leaf bags can be dropped off at: • Valley Ball Complex: 5100 S. 2700 West • Vista Park 2055 W. 5000 South

In November, we celebrate a day of Thanksgiving along with a day of appreciation for the veterans who have served to maintain our freedom. An unknown author said, “Freedom is never free.” We as a country are thankful for that precious freedom and have used it to construct an infrastructure supporting the needs of the people like no other. We all currently benefit from readily available, safe and reliable water and sewer services. Now it is time we consider water conservation for all those who will need water in the future. As you consider implementing your personal strategy for water conservation, here are some easy habits to establish:

WFWRD leaf bags are limited to 10 bags per household, and available while supplies last. Residents can also use and drop off their own purchased leaf bags or lawn bags, as long as they only contain leaves.

WFWRD Remains Competitive Amid National Driver Shortage

• Carefully and properly shut down your sprinkling system for the season, making sure the stop and waste valve is off with no leaks. A leak of 1/32 inch — roughly the size of a pencil lead —would cause a loss of 6,000 gallons per month! • When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load. • When shopping for a new washing machine, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some can save up to 20 gallons of water per load. As salary markets continue to escalate, along with a national shortage of commercial driver license (CDL) drivers, WFWRD has worked to remain competitive to attract the needed staff to deliver services to residents. The district has increased wages for staff over the past few years to keep up with the rising markets. So far, WFWRD has been able to absorb these increased costs with the decreased cost of processing recyclables. As a result, WFWRD does not anticipate a fee increase to base services in 2022.

Take WFWRD’s Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey WFWRD is gearing up for its annual Customer Satisfaction Survey. This year’s survey will be administered by Y2 Analytics. If the district has your email address, you will receive an email invitation to take this survey. If you do not receive an email invitation, please check the district’s website or social media pages for links to take the survey. The survey will be open in mid-November. All WFWRD customers are invited to take it.

Check Facebook and Twitter for WFWRD Service Updates As the cold winter months approach, bad weather can affect WFWRD’s ability to provide timely service to your neighborhood. The best way to learn about service delays is to check the social media pages. Follow Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District on Facebook (facebook.com/wasatchfrontwaste) and Twitter (twitter.com/WFWRD1) for the latest updates and to receive waste and recycling tips.

• Limit the amount of water when brushing your teeth. When we do our part to conserve water today, we help provide water for future generations to come. If you have any questions, please contact Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District by calling 801-968-9081 or visiting www.tbid.org. Follow TBID on Facebook and Twitter.

R E C Y C L I N G

The rate of property tax a city gets remains stable from year to year, unless there is a truth-in-taxation meeting. (Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels)

How does your city know how much property tax to collect? By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com

ach year, Salt Lake County sets a new property tax rate for each city. First, a city will receive the same dollar amount as the previous year. If they received $15 million from property taxes in 2020, the city will receive $15 million from those same property owners in 2021. The property tax rate then calculated is set based on the values of all the properties in that city. If values go up, the tax rate decreases. If values go down, the tax rate increases. If there has been any population growth, the city will receive extra. “New growth adds to the city revenue at the same property tax rate as the other properties and becomes part of the calculation the next year,” West Jordan Finance Director Danyce Steck said. If a city collects $15 million in 2020, they may collect $15 million and an additional $200,000 if there is new growth in 2021. Then 2022 would bring the city $15,200,000. Any time a city wants to do a different rate than set by Salt Lake County, a truth-in-taxation meeting that involves the

public is required. The rate change can only happen once a year. Because the property tax rate, the percentage, changes year to year, if the city “raises taxes,” the percentage owners will pay is not always higher for the residents than it was in the past. Councils usually consider adjusting the rate when the income of the previous year is not enough to pay for what is needed in the next year. For example, West Jordan performed the truth-in-taxation process this year. Last year their tax rate was 0.1899%. The county then set the new rate for this year at 0.1732%. The council raised this year’s rate by 3.2% and properties will now pay 0.1788%. Residents pay less than commercial property owners. “All property’s value is set by Salt Lake County, but residential properties receive a 45% discount. This discounted value becomes the taxable value and is used to calculate the property tax bill,” Steck said. l

Residential Assessed Value

Business $ 350,000

$ 350,000

Less: 45% Residential Discount

(157,500)

Taxable Value

$ 192,500

$ 350,000

Multiplied by: Property Tax Rate

0.001788

$ 344

$ 626

Property Tax Bill

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November 2021 | Page 23

Mountain biking team encourages families to be involved By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

earns Senior Joseph Davis was introduced to mountain biking two years ago by a friend. Now his younger brother and sister have started competing and it has turned into a full family adventure. “We were all in to support our kids,” Joseph’s mom, Melissa Davis, said. “With all three of them involved, we have had to find

ways to make it work.” Joseph, Hyrum and Alexia are all competing this season in the Utah High School Cycling League. They each ride in their own age group and ability levels. Their season hinges on them having equipment and the ability to race. “We needed to find a way to pay for all

West Granite rider Kason Holt finished his two laps at Eagle Mountain in 52 minutes and 14 seconds for eighth place in his division. (Greg James/City Journals)

of the stuff,” Melissa Davis said. “Bake sales and yard care—you name it, we did it. We spent a couple of weekends making dozens of cookies and passing them out to our neighbors, all to keep this season going.” The team is full of these kinds of stories. Parents cook lunch, fix bikes, transport the equipment to the race site and organize the team’s rest area. The West Granite Composite Mountain Biking team is composed of kids from Kearns, Hunter, Granger and Cyprus high schools and the junior high teams that feed into those schools. The team began the season in July. It practiced twice a week at Lodestone park in West Valley. Members even worked with the county to add training trails to the park. They also traveled to available trails to practice skills that would help them on the racecourse. The racing season began in August at Powder Mountain ski resort. Members also ran in Cedar City, Price and Eagle Mountain. “We have loved to watch and support the kids,” Melissa Davis said. “Our team cheers loud for everyone, and we like to see them all do better.” The West Granite Composite team has 30 riders this season. It includes junior high and high school student-athletes. Some are more experienced than others, but each races

every week with others of equal ability. The league had 6,300 participants this season. It has raced in four regions across the state and is scheduled to hold the state finals Oct. 28–29 in St. George (after press deadline). “Our league grew more than we expected this season,” Atack said. “In some of our race venues, we are bursting at the seams. We also had a tough weather year with several lightning delays and rain. We will be headed to St George for our finals with approximately 2,100 riders who have qualified.” The league culture is different than most people of experienced. “Mountain biking culture is different than a lot of the other sporting cultures,” Atack said. “Everyone helps each other. They are racing for a team but also for themselves. The only way to get better is for you to get better. Everyone races, no one rides the bench.” The top finishers for West Granite Composite in the regional qualifier include an eighth-place finish by Kason Holt. Jack Haymond finished fourth, Eric Bucio 21st, Keira Kemp 28th and Lemont Weaver 30th. The team competes in division 3 of the central region. It had 24 riders compete at the regional qualifier. l

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Page 24 | November 2021

Taylorsville City Journal

Teen lifts to overcome, setting records along the way By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

vercoming difficult situations and setting goals has become important to Xaden Hampton, a junior on the Kearns High powerlifting club. The current 16-year-old deadlift world record is 639 pounds. Hampton lifted 550 pounds recently in his quest to overcome his demons. “I got started after I saw strongmen on the internet,” he said. “I thought it looked fun, and I wanted to be like that one day. thought it was possible, and I asked my mom for a weight set for Christmas.” Hampton has spent most of his life overcoming obstacles. As an elementary student, he was so upset with a teacher he punched the school door and broke his hand. He lost his great-grandmother and has been fatherless most of his life. After a couple of years in counseling, he has begun to understand and progress on his own path. “I tell him to follow his dreams,” Xaden’s mom Clerice Hampton said. “He makes me proud. He has overcome things as a 16-year-old. That most don’t. He was diagnosed with [Oppositional Defiant Disorder].” ODD is defined as a childhood mental disease that includes anger, irritability, arguing and vindictiveness toward author-

ity figures. “Some of this stuff was too much for his little mind to handle,” Clerice said. “He was not a bad kid, but he did not want to follow directions. We got him some help. Football coaches from schools all over have tried to get him to play and he tried his ninth grade year. He did not like it. It did not excite him one bit.” Hampton took weight training in the ninth grade; it was the class he excelled at. “His coaches in lifting have helped him discover a love for this sport,” Clerice said. “I look up my coaches because they ask me to follow them,” Hampton said. Powerlifting became a passion for Hampton by studying and watching it on the internet. As part of the Kearns High powerlifting club, he trains with as many as five other student-athletes regularly and plans to compete in the future. Lifting is more than lifting the weight off the ground. “Moving the weight is important, but is is also a mental type thing,” Hampton said. “I have to get past the mental barriers to get past the physical ones.” Recently, Clerice purchased items front the clothing line of Brian Shaw, the

winner of four World’s Strongest Man competitions and Hampton’s hero. She included in the order a note to Shaw about the impact he had made in her son’s life. “I ordered a hoodie and thanked him for being a role model to my son,” Clerice said. “[Shaw] hand-wrote a note to Xaden encouraging him to keep it up.” His role model writing a personal message gave him the motivation to continue. Hampton competes in the deadlift and recently set a personal best of 550pounds. His bench-press best is 225, and his back squat is 370 pounds. Training for lifting competitions includes more than just moving weight. “We work on strengthening our cores, legs and shoulders,” Hampton said. “I do lots of shoulder raises, lunges and other exercises, but preparing mentally is just as important. Usually, the day before a big lift I go over my process and think of things that will help me get the weight off the ground. Some lifters think about their ex or whatever it is to help them focus. It gives me a reason in my head to get the weight off the floor.” Hampton hopes to compete in strong man competitions in the future.l

Kearns junior Xaden Hampton deadlifted 550 lbs and hopes to set a world record. (Photo courtesy of Clerice Hampton)

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November 2021 | Page 25

World champion paraclimber shares story, empowers Girl Scouts to find their passion By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

bout 100 registered Girl Scouts had the opportunity to not only listen to a worldclass paraclimber share inspiring tales of mountain climbing, they also could choose to climb with her at the local Momentum indoor climbing facility. As part of the Girl Scouts of Utah’s Girls’ Empowered event, sixth- through 12th-grade girls listened as Maureen “Mo” Beck described competing at world championships and climbing the Lotus Flower Tower, a 2,200-foot granite rock face in the Cirque of the Unclimbables in Canada’s Northwest Ter-

ritories. That alone is challenging enough for many people; however, Beck did those one-handed as she was born without the lower part of her left arm. By coincidence, her love of mountain climbing came at about the same age as the girls in attendance while attending Girl Scout camp near Acadia National Park in Maine, where she grew up. “My counselor said that I may just want to sit this one out,” she remembered. “So, the little 12-year-old me just thought, ‘screw you,

I’m going to do it just because you think I can’t.’ I’m sure I didn’t do that well and didn’t make it to the top of the rock, but I wasn’t going to not do it. I never used not having my hand as an excuse.” She also used that same attitude to show her middle school coaches she could play soccer as the goalkeeper, the position where a player can use their hands; play softball— throwing the ball and catching it without a mitt; and play basketball—although she didn’t make that team since she missed tryouts. “I just wanted to show I was an athlete and could play; don’t count me out because I only have one hand. My grandma used to say that I was just being a smart-ass,” she said. But being defiant at Girl Scout camp meant more to the girl who once thought the best thing in the outdoors was hiking. “I fell in love with mountain climbing. It’s just me and the rock. It doesn’t care if I’m a girl. It doesn’t care if I don’t have a hand. It’s just there to be climbed. I knew then I wanted to be a climber and a good climber. Period. I had never known anything more than hiking. My parents weren’t climbers, so I went to the bookstore to buy magazines about mountain climbing.” With the help of friends, Beck developed her own style of climbing to accommodate not having a second hand. Her efforts didn’t stop there; she even tried ice climbing by attaching an ice tool to her prosthetic and also ducttaped a paddle to her prosthetic so she could canoe. Since then, most days Beck has given up wearing her prosthetic. “I had to figure out I can’t really wear a prosthetic to rock climb. It doesn’t help. So,

I’m just going to tape my arm so I can feel the rock and also, so I don’t leave a bloody trail behind,” she told the Scouts. However, if Beck wanted to become a better climber, she told the girls, she had to confront her ego. “I had to be honest that it’s hard for me to do some things physically or I was unable to—and that was hard to do,” she said. “I had to realize I didn’t have all the knowledge or all the strength. I finally got to the point where I said at least I have to try and ask questions. I had to admit I didn’t know if I wanted to learn.” Once she did that, Beck said climbing became even more enjoyable. She told the girls that her first climbing title, the first U.S. Nationals held in Atlanta in 2014, she won because she was the only one in her category. “I felt conflicted about that. Does it count? Can I brag about being first if I’m the only one? I settled on you can because often times, the battle is stepping out of your front door; the hardest part is showing up,” she said. Later, she acquired four more national titles. With only a couple competitive events for paraclimbers each year, Beck made each one count. In 2014, she won the gold at the Paraclimbing World Champions in Spain as one of 15 paraclimbing athletes representing the United States. Two years later in Paris when the next worlds were held, she repeated her title and was one of 50 U.S. athletes, showing that the sport is growing. One championship was a three-way tie because “the people who built the competition underestimated us because it was too easy,” Beck said.

World champion paraclimber Mo Beck tells local Girl Scouts that she never used not having a hand as an excuse and went on to win five national titles, two world championships and recently climbed a 2,200-foot granite rock face in the Cirque of the Unclimbables in Canada’s Northwest Territories. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Page 26 | November 2021

Taylorsville City Journal

Recently Jim Ewing, a climber with a prosthetic leg whom she didn’t know, asked her to join him climbing the Lotus Flower Tower; she reflected back on her decision when she said yes. “Society tells us, our parents tell us ‘no, we should stay safe. Our risks should be small, we should aim for incremental changes in our lives,’ but I think that’s wrong,” Beck said. “I think the more scared you are, the bigger risks you take, the worst that can happen when you take a risk is nothing changes. Failure is where you grow from. Failure when you take a risk is one of the best things that can happen. We’re so afraid of failure that we use it as an excuse to not grow. Life is too short for that.” Beck and the others were gone one month, most of it waiting for the weather to clear so they could climb. For 10 days leading up to the climb, they camped at the base of the peak, heating freeze-dried food on their backpacking stoves. When there was a break in the weather, they climbed part way up the steep cliff to a bivy ledge where they spent the night. “We finally got on mountain, and you can tell, I was a little less than stoked. The rock was still quite wet. I wasn’t ready for truly how loose and gross and mossy it was. Every single hitch that we did…was a full rope length; these were full 200-foot rope stretchers. So, when Jim would take off to lead, I would just be alone for so long during these

belays. I was freezing wet and thinking fairly dark thoughts: ‘This was a horrible mistake. I’m not having fun. I’m 1,000 miles away from my family (she’s married, living in Colorado). It’s August. I should be in Colorado right now getting sunburned, sport climbing and having fun at the beach,” she told the girls. “But I knew anytime I was in a dark place, there is always something on the other side.” After witnessing the northern lights that night and waking the next morning, Beck was excited, but her climbing partner was sick. Knowing this was their only chance, they ascended the mountain, anyway. They reached the top—and rappelled down for nine hours arriving in the dark. “We wanted this to be the first all-adaptive ascent. We thought about it more and adaptation doesn’t mean you have one hand you learn how to climb. Adaptation is more about taking what is wrong and figuring out how to make it work. I realized the more that went wrong with this trip, the more I learned,” said the woman who was named the 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. Now Beck is training for what she believes will be her last world championship before taking a break from competition. However, she isn’t ruling out the possibility of competing in paraclimbing if it is added to the Paralympic Games in 2028. Next, she wants to continue scaling peaks, maybe in Alaska.

Professional paraclimber Mo Beck speaks with girls after the Girl Scouts of Utah’s Girls’ Empowered event, encouraging them to find their passion. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

“Life isn’t over when you’re out of the spotlight and off of the podium, the world is still waiting,” she said, adding that now she teaches other adaptive climbers. “I want these girls to find their voice, their passion, what pumps them up. I’ve broken so many barriers now I want to empower them to push those farther,” she said. In addition to Beck, the Girl Scouts watched “The Empowerment Project,” a documentary made by women and featuring women across the country who were making a positive impact.

Girl Scouts of Utah CEO Lisa Hardin-Reynolds said that Girl Scouting gives girls opportunities—not only in the outdoors, but from STEM to life skills. “We encourage Girl Scouts to try new things because it could open up a new passion that they can do for their whole lives, just like it has for Mo,” she said. “We want to give them the opportunity to face challenges, lift each other up and see other women role models so they can see that anything is possible.” l

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Council narrowly passes development along 4700 South By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

n a tight 4-3 vote, the West Valley City Council approved a zone change near 3500 West and 4700 South that will see a 12-unit townhome development built. Property owners originally wanted 20 units on the 1.08 acre of land at 3540 W. 4700 South before lowering it to 14 and eventually 12 after feedback from city officials. Adam Maher, the designated agent for the owner, said they pursued other options such as office space, but felt a residential plan was more fitting. He explained prior to the vote that they went through the city’s process, which included making bigger units to incorporate basements, to make it “the best project it could be for the land, for the cost, for the area, and for what a lot of the citizens of West Valley are looking for: to not always be renters, but to be owners.” “We feel good about the plan we put together,” Maher said, and feels they’ve been “responsive to (city) staff every step along the way.” Usually during council meetings across the valley, when a higher density project comes before a city council, public comments tend to be disapproving. However during the September council meeting where the project was approved, two men spoke in favor highlighting the owner, Rogelio Franco, as an quality landlord. One of the men, William Bryan who cur-

rently lives in Taylorsville and works in West Valley, plans to buy one of the units of the newly approved development. He noted its affordability and his affability with Franco. “He likes to help, he’s here to make the city better,” Bryan told the council. The other man, Robert Beasley, said he currently lives in a two bedroom apartment with his wife and kids. They’re trying to build credit to buy a house, but it’s not possible for them right now with the current cost of housing. They plan to reserve a unit so their kids won’t have to change schools, he said, noting this “makes it possible for us to move up in our life.” “This is an opportunity in this market, the way it is, to do better for us,” Beasley said. “To give my son his own bedroom and get the space that we need…this is a small piece of land for something that could be so affordable for families like ours.” Franco said prior to the vote that cities are losing great people because they are being priced out, asking the council to ponder that opportunity to provide a home for those families. But not everybody was moved. Councilmembers had issues with what ends up on the property. Councilmember Tom Huynh said the council must think about the effect of their decisions long-term. West of the property is a

strip mall that Huynh said he would prefer the property connect with something commercial. Councilmember Steve Buhler pointed out that while he appreciates Franco being a “great landlord” and that they want “great landlords in the city,” the council has no say in the development’s affordability. “What the price of these units will be is completely out of our control, it’s not on our table at all,” he said. He also pointed out that if Franco decides to sell the property, and the zoning changes and condos are built, it’ll be controlled by the market. “It’s not going to reduce housing prices in the city.” Buhler, known for his stance on zone changes to require something unique, felt the same here. “We have a 35-square-mile city,” Buhler said. “Every inch is zoned. Owners can build as they see fit without coming to see the city council. They only need to come see the city council if they want to change the zoning. And for me, to change the zoning, it has to be something that’s special, it has to be something that’s ‘boy I’m glad you came, this looks like something we don’t have in the city, something we need, something that will be great.’ Then let’s change the zoning, let’s develop something special.” Councilmember Jake Fitisemanu Jr. said while he acknowledges the council’s lack of control over housing prices or landlords, giv-

A map of the property that will turn into a 12-unit townhome project. (Courtesy West Valley City)

ing people a place to live was more important. “When I talk to my neighbors, and I look at pending priorities here in the city,” he said. “I’m going to lean in favor of safe places for people to live with their families rather than storage units or commercial uses.” Buhler, Huynh and Councilmember Karen Lang were the dissenting votes while Fitisemanu Jr., Mayor Ron Bigelow and Councilmembers Lars Nordfelt and Don Christensen voted in favor. l

Some Holiday Prices May Not Be Merry, But Utah’s Economy Looks Bright By Robert Spendlove, Zions Bank Senior Economist

here are many reasons to be cheerful about Utah’s economy heading into the holiday season. While pandemic-related challenges – including supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and inflation – could make your holiday shopping a bit less merry this year, the overall economic picture looks bright. Utah’s economy now has 47,000 more jobs than it did at its pre-pandemic peak in February 2020. There’s only one other state – Idaho – that is above its employment in early 2020. And Utahns are ringing in the holidays with more economic optimism than the rest the nation. The University of Utah’s ConWomen: Your Voice Matters! of sumer Confidence survey was 83.0 in SepWe need more women in political tember, compared to 72.8 for the University office. We need you! of Michigan’s national Index of Consumer Join the Women’s Leadership Institute Sentiment. Both surveys use similar quesin its non-partisan, in-depth training tions and methodology. Consumers stepped up their spending for aspiring female political candidates. in the fall, which is good news for customThe seventh annual cohort has started, er-facing businesses after a summer of weakbut we have a couple spots still available! ening demand. The winter season should bring an additional lift to Utah’s retailers, LEARN MORE & REGISTER: with the average shopper spending nearly www.wliut.com/pds

Page 28 | November 2021

$1,000 on holiday purchases like gifts, food and decorations, according to the National Retail Federation. That’s on par with 2020 holiday spending, though holiday budgets won’t stretch as far this year. Consumer prices are up 5.4% compared to one year ago – the highest we’ve seen in 20 years. Meanwhile, producer prices – selling prices received by domestic producers for their output – have jumped 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. That’s an indication that inflation may stick around for a while. In addition to higher prices, holiday shoppers may deal with longer-than-usual lines and wait times because of the labor shortage, and out-of-stock items because of ongoing supply chain problems. This “everything shortage” we are seeing right now presents real challenges and is causing real struggles for families in Utah and around the country. It is a continual reminder that we remain in a COVID economy. As the pandemic transitions into an endemic, these temporary effects should dissipate – but it will take some time. However, Utah remains an example of economic success and strength. The state’s economy was not immune to the impacts of the recession, but it has recovered well and is again the envy of the nation. This should

make everyone’s holiday season a little brighter. Robert Spendlove is senior economist for Zions Bank, a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A

Taylorsville City Journal

Riders of all abilities race in high school cycling league By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

levate is the program in the Utah High School Cycling League for special needs students. In its eight years of existence, they have helped several student athletes participate just like every other rider in the program. “We wanted to bring more inclusivity into this league,” league director Dallen Atack said. “We wanted to make it available to special needs athletes.” This season the league has had about a dozen special needs student athletes participate. They are each members of individual teams across the state. They include riders that are legally blind, deaf, autistic or missing limbs. These riders participate just like the rest of the members of the team. In some cases, they may race a small loop near the start finish line, but other kids race a normal lap, and spectators would never know the difference. “It is based on the capacity of the team. If they have the ability to work with these kids we can get them to practice and the races,” Atack said. Each participant can be individually supervised as needed. “We had an athlete that was deaf and rode a little slower so we had a parent ride behind her so that the oncoming racers knew to steer around her,” Atack said. “Another was legally blind. A coach rode in front of

him to keep him safe. He could not see in front of him very well, but he was fast and usually had a small tumble during a race, but we made sure he stayed safe.” The league provided training for its coaches with the National Ability Center in Park City. The NAC draws from decades of experience working with people of all abilities, using special equipment as necessary and techniques and teaching methods within its 1,900 volunteers. “They helped us learn to work with the athletes and taught coaches skills for each individual athlete,” Atack said. “They have also helped acquire bikes with special equipment as needed.” The league has 6,300 participants this season. They raced in four regions across the state and are scheduled to hold the state finals Oct. 28-29 in St. George. “Our league grew more than we expected this season. In some of our race venues we are bursting at the seams. We also had a tough weather year with several lightning delays and rain. We will be headed to St. George for the finals with approximately 2,100 riders who have qualified,” Atack said. The league culture is different than most people have experienced. “Mountain bike culture is different than a lot of the other sporting cultures. Everyone

West Granite Composite rider Archie Wiley finished his lap at the Eagle Mountain course in 56 minutes, riders in the series race to improve each time they get on course. The league is trying to make the series available to everyone. (Greg James/City Journals)

helps each other. They are racing for a team, but also for themselves. The only way to get better is for you to get better. Everyone races, no one rides the bench,” Atack said. The riders race in divisions of skill and must pass levels of ability to advance.

“These Elevate riders are part of the team. It is a really neat program. We have had lots of fun with it,” Atack said. The league begins its season in July. Its teams practice two or three times a week and welcome riders of all abilities. l

is looking for champions in your community!

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November 2021 | Page 29

Utilizing your tax dollars in the best way possible

very fall, Salt Lake County goes through its annual budget process. As the government entity with the second largest government budget in Utah (coming behind only the state budget itself), there are a myriad of programs, services, and expenditures

Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Council | District 3

that comprise the now roughly $1.5 billion budget. On October 21st, Mayor Wilson presented her proposed budget to the county council. In subsequent weeks council members have the opportunity to review all new budgetary requests, ongoing expenditures, and any reinstatement of funding previously cut due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year the County will also review budgetary requests for funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Salt Lake County is a direct recipient of these federal dollars provided to support COVID-19 response efforts, replace lost public sector revenue, support immediate economic stabilization, and address systemic public health and economic challenges. One of the most important parts of being an elected official is acting as a steward of taxpayer dollars. Residents entrust those who run the government to judiciously use their tax dollars to perform essential functions for the community, and as such residents expect that every dollar spent by the government will be carefully scrutinized. Here are some key principles I prioritize during the budget process, this year included. First and foremost, tax dollars don’t “belong” to the county. The funds are

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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 provide essential services for society to function. 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 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 this 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. 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 are some of the things in this category. Lastly, I review each aspect of our budget and ask, “Is this the proper role of county government?” There are many programs or services that are better suited to other government entities, nonprofits, or the private sector. It is always 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 the government is entrusted with taxpayer dollars.

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Taylorsville City Journal

Life

Laughter AND

PERI KINDER

Talking Turkey

ne cool November morning, mom twisted my blonde hair into two braids and painted my face with orange and blue stripes. I put on a fringed vest made from a paper grocery bag (decorated with stick figures and animals), donned my construction paper headband with its fake feathers and walked uphill (both ways) in the snow to school. Along the way, I met up with friends dressed as Indians or outfitted in Pilgrim attire, with black, buckled hats or kitchen aprons. We were heading to our second-grade class party, unaware we were perpetuating a myth handed down for generations regarding the First Thanksgiving. We’d been taught the feast was a celebration of friendship, that the Indians didn’t want their BFFs to starve during the winter. We didn’t know Pilgrims were the guests that never leave, who end up stealing your bath towels and giving you smallpox. We also didn’t know ancestors of the Wampanoag Nation hadn’t been invited to the feast, but responded when they heard Pilgrims firing guns, and thought the settlers were under attack. But the Pilgrims were just shooting their rifles into the air, celebrating a successful harvest, like ya do. Have Americans always been gun lunatics? Our school Thanksgiving dinner consisted of turkey-shaped sugar cookies, banana bread, orange soda, candy corn and other

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forms of sugar, because that was one of the main food groups in the ’70s. Our meal was nothing like the first Thanksgiving where lobster or eel was probably the main course, not turkey. I don’t know how they stuffed an eel, but I’m sure it wasn’t pretty. The teacher told us to write down things we were grateful for. My list included my family, Nancy Drew mysteries and apple pie. We also brought offerings for a food drive where some lucky family in the neighborhood received 25 cans of cranberry sauce, four boxes of Stove Top stuffing and a case of olives. Maybe the Pilgrims also made gratitude lists, including finding a land so completely devoid of other humans that they could take whatever they wanted and build a country. Did they think the people native to this continent were just visiting? Lost? The official Thanksgiving holiday start-

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ed in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln was so tired of the Civil War, he just wanted a piece of pumpkin pie. Since then, in typical American style, the holiday evolved into a food orgy, consisting of overcooked turkey, mountains of mashed potatoes and nine different Jell-O salads. My food tracking app usually starts to smoke during dessert. Although it’s true Pilgrims celebrated days of thanksgiving, those observations usually involved fasting and prayer, not gluttony. These “thanksgivings” often occurred after a massacre of Native people. For instance, in 1637, Massachusetts Colony Governor John Winthrop called for a day of thanksgiving after hundreds of the Pequot tribe were massacred. Not really something you celebrate with grandma’s homemade rolls and jam. Along with your holiday celebration, maybe you can learn about the challenges still faced by Native Americans including poverty, domestic violence, healthcare and the continuation of harmful stereotypes. As a 7-year-old, I didn’t know cultural prejudice or appropriation was a thing. I didn’t realize the Disneyfied version of the first Thanksgiving wasn’t accurate, with its cartoonish Pilgrims, smiling Natives and bouncy soundtrack. But now I do. When you gain wisdom, you get to make better choices.

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November 2021 | Vol. 8 Iss. 11

FREE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CURRENT AND PAST, UNVEIL CENTENNIAL PLAZA OUTSIDE CITY HALL By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

Heritage Center seeking destination. Local Postal Customer ECRWSS

page 8

Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.

page 10

Elected officials current and past cut the grand opening ribbon on the new $3-million Centennial Plaza, in front of Taylorsville City Hall, on October 15. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

Local leaders in DC

page 24

Mountain biking involving families

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