Midvale City Newsletter | March 2021

In The Middle of Everything City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047

801-567-7200 801-567-7200 801-567-7265 801-567-7250 801-567-7228 801-567-7211 801-567-7235 801-363-9995 801-567-7285 385-468-3350 385-468-7387 801-743-7000 801-743-7200 801-840-4000 801-567-7230

MIDVALE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS MAYOR Robert Hale Email: Rhale@midvale.com

801-567-7204

CITY COUNCIL District 1 - Quinn Sperry Email: qsperry@midvale.com District 2 - Paul Glover Email: pglover@midvale.com District 3 - Heidi Robinson Email: Hrobinson@midvale.com District 4 - Bryant Brown Email: bbrown@midvale.com District 5 - Dustin Gettel Email: dgettel@midvale.com

WHO TO CALL FOR… Water Bills Ordering A New Trash Can Reserving the Bowery Permits GRAMA requests Court Paying For Traffic School Business Licensing Property Questions Cemetery Water Line Breaks Planning and Zoning Code Enforcement Building inspections Graffiti

801-567-7200 801-567-7202 801-567-7202 801-567-7212 801-567-7207 801-567-7265 801-567-7202 801-567-7213 801-567-7246 801-567-7235 801-256-2575 801-567-7231 801-567-7208 801-567-7228 385-468-9769

EMERGENCY OR DISASTER CONTACT Public Works Fire Dispatch – Unified Fire Authority Midvale Police Precinct or Police Dispatch Unified Police Department EMERGENCY

CITY NEWSLETTER

The Heart of the Matter

MIDVALE CITY DIRECTORY City Hall Finance/Utilities Court City Attorney’s Office City Recorder/Human Resources Community Development Public Works Ace Disposal/Recycling Midvale Historical Museum Midvale Senior Center SL County Animal Services Police Dispatch Unified Fire Authority Fire Dispatch Communications

MARCH 2021

801-567-7235 801-840-4000 385-468-9350 801-743-7000

911

By Mayor Robert Hale

ENDURANCE, ASPIRATIONS AND HOPE As the Utah State Legislature brings to a close another 45-day session, I want to express appreciation to each of our legislators, senators and representatives, lobbyists, staff and residents who have taken interest and time to make their opinions known on some of the 1,100+ bills that were part of the 2021 session. There were many that had a direct or indirect impact on the City of Midvale. Fortunately, almost all passed bills so far were favorable to helping our City maintain its position as a centrally located and beneficial location to live, work and recreate.

By now, you are each aware of the momentous campaign to inoculate all against the potential devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic virus. I have had the fortune of volunteering at the Mountain America Expo Center for the last six weeks registering for their second dose individuals right after who had received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. I must tell you here that I have never seen so many happy senior citizens 70+ years old! They have lived in a state of suspension, isolation, and some fear that their advanced years would be cut drastically shorter without this inoculation. At the age of 70, people generally understand the risks of life, the benefits of making good health decisions over and over and over. They have learned what is good science and medicine.

The lack of precipitation through the winter months has led statisticians to predict a higher probability that we will have a water shortage this summer and fall. We must all be judicious in the use of all our resources. Let’s make good use of our soil, air and water

this year. With the growing season upon us, gardens, orchards, and landscaping will take up more of our time. I hope all who have the resources are learning how to grow some of your favorite vegetables. My wife and I have been savoring eve-more scarce bottles of our favorite homemade butternut squash soup from last October clear into late February!

Even in condominiums, small grow boxes can be prepared and situated to take advantage of sunshine on many patios. South-, westand east-facing windows also provide much needed sunlight to flowers, fruiting plants, vegetables and herbs. North-facing units have their challenges, for sure, but many flowers flourish on the north side where the sun is not burning the tender leaves, i.e., begonias.

In our neighborhoods, there will be increasing activities, walking, jogging, and exercising of all sorts. Safety when crossing streets or while near curbs is important. If on a bike or a scooter, ALWAYS obey traffic rules and regulations. Animal owners: small plastic bags make for good neighbors! Please clean up after your pets. Few things discourage use of sidewalks and lawns more than unattended animal waste.

Use this month of March to identify and accumulate bulky waste items in preparation for next month. April will bring the semi-annual bulk pick up dates for our residential areas. That will be a great time to place items on the curbside – according to the scheduled dates for your area and according to the acceptance guidelines. So, don’t wait! Another set of dates will not come until the fall. Take advantage of these bulk pick up dates and follow the important guidelines to ensure your items are picked up.

Midvale City Wins Budget Award The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has honored Midvale City with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for fiscal year 2021. This award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting and was the City’s first submission for this prestigious award.

The GFOA presented this award to Midvale City in recognition of the commitment of the City for meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting and the quality of the budget based on the following categories: 1) As a policy document, 2) As a financial plan, 3) As an operations guide, and 4) As a communications device. To qualify, Midvale City’s budget was subjected to a strict review of independent financial experts and must meet an extensive list of criteria.

The Government Finance Officers Association is a nonprofit professional organization serving more than 20,500 government finance professionals across the United States and Canada. The GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is the only national award program in governmental budgeting.

The Distinguished Budget Award is a continued commitment to optimize our fiscal responsibility and to operate in a transparent and accountable manner for our City and our citizens. The finance department works year-round on planning, developing and managing the City’s operating budget. The department has been also

awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Reporting by the GFOA. The City’s fiscal year 2021 budget, along with the recently completed fiscal year 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, are available on the City’s website at: www.midvalecity.org/departments/administrative-services/finance

In The Middle of Everything Do You Have The Write Stuff ?

MIDVALE ARTS COUNCIL TO HOST FIRST ANNUAL LITERARY FESTIVAL MARCH 26-27 Calling all writers! Midvale would love to showcase your works through a Literary Festival the last weekend in March. For this first festival the Midvale Arts Council is looking for entries in “Poetry” and “Short Story”. There will also be a 24-hour “Flash Fiction” contest for both categories starting on March 19th.

“Our Arts Festival has always been a great way to show the creativity of the Midvale Residents,” said MAC Board Member Bob Bedore.

“We felt it was time to show more of this creativity and give our writers a chance to shine.”

The festival is open for submissions and those interested can go to Midvalearts.com for the details. The short stories and poems will be highlighted on both the website and the Arts Council’s Facebook page.

Some selections will be presented as readings performed by local actors.

For the “Flash Fiction” competition, writers will be given 24 hours to complete either a story or poem with specific guidelines.

The short story contest will see authors work with a location, item, and genre that must go into their 1,000-word (or less) story. For the poetry side, writers will be given a theme, object, and word that must all make up their poem. Submissions will be judged by a group of local writers to help achieve 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mentions for each category. Those wishing to join can register and will be given their suggestions on March 19th and will have 24 hours to get in their submissions.

“It is hoped that this festival will grow and grow as we strive to make it better each year,” continued Bedore. “We’re looking to make this something everyone is looking forward to each year.”

Again, for more information, please visit the Midvale Arts Council website at midvalearts.com.

Be a Responsible & Respectful Pet Owner Salt Lake County Animal Services A friendly reminder from Salt Lake County Animal Services, and your neighbors. Some people love dogs. Some people do NOT love dogs. AND no one likes to step in dog feces.

Solution: Keep your dogs on leash anywhere OFF your property. Keep them on leash walking in your neighborhood, at parks, on trails, in any open space, unless it visibly says, “This is an Off-Leash Dog Park” or “Dogs Can Be Off Leash.” Otherwise, you and your dog are breaking the law.

Solution: Carry dog waste bags. They sell them at a variety of stores, are available online, etc. Or reuse your plastic bags from the store. Not cleaning up after your dog is breaking the law and is a public health issue.

These laws can be found in your jurisdiction’s municipal codes. You can also find links to them on our website, AdoptUtahPets.org, and visit the “LAWS” section. If you see someone violating these laws, speak-up or call your local animal control.

In our jurisdiction?

Call Dispatch at 801-840-4000 or email animalcontrol@slco.org.

WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG

Resolve to be More Prepared- It’s Not Luck

By Julie Harvey, Municipal Emergency Management Planner The Cambridge Dictionary defines luck as “the force that causes things, especially good things, to happen to you by chance and not as a result of your own efforts or abilities.” Preparedness for emergencies is not luck, it is making a conscious effort to take steps to have the knowledge and supplies available if the need should ever arise.

There are many ways to take action and prepare before a disaster occurs. Simple actions at home and in your neighborhood can make a big difference! The twelve actions that follow include some of the most important ways to help yourself, your family, and your community increase your preparedness.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has information on many of the above actions in the pamphlet Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness. You can find this pamphlet at https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/are-you-ready-guide.pdf It isn’t luck that provides peace of mind and the knowledge of what to do if there’s an emergency, it is preparation and practice. Take some time to do both, today!

Tax Assistance for Seniors Due to COVID-19 and limited volunteers this year, there will be fewer places to have your taxes done for free. Unfortunately, Midvale Senior Center will not be a host site during 2021; however, we wanted to let you know of some options available to you.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides in-person and virtual tax assistance to anyone free of charge; however, they have a special focus on those over 50 or have low-to-moderate income. You can have an IRS-certified volunteer help you prepare your taxes, have an IRS-certified volunteer coach you or use free software to prepare your taxes on your own. To learn more about what AARP offers visit taxaide.aarpfoundation.org.

Westminster Tax Clinic is an official IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. They are providing free tax preparation and filing until April 15. You may call 801-210-8291 or visit westminstercollege. edu/taxclinic to make an appointment.

Utah Tax Help is also available. Dial 211 on your phone or go to 211ut.org. Utah 211 is helping schedule appointments for Utah Tax Help. Because of the pandemic Utah Tax Help will operate differently this year.

There are three options for receiving help: • Clients continue to have the option to prepare their own taxes online for free through utahtaxhelp.org.

• At a scheduled time, clients take required tax documents to a Contact Site in their area for in-person help with tax preparation.

• At a scheduled time, clients meet at a virtual Contact Site via Zoom where a Utah Tax Help staff or volunteer will help complete tax online preparation.

MARCH 2021 CITY NEWSLETTER WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG

COVID VACCINE INFORMATION On February 25, 2021, the Salt Lake County Health Department implemented Governor Spencer Cox’s announcement expanding COVID-19 vaccine eligibility in Utah.

• People 65 and Older: Visit vaccinate.utah.gov to make a first-dose vaccine appointment. Call 385-468-7468 if you prefer to not schedule online; please be prepared for long wait times if you choose to call.

• People 16+ who have a qualifying medical condition: Visit the Salt Lake County Health Department website https:// slco.org/health/COVID-19/vaccine/qualifying-conditions/ conditions/ to schedule your first-dose vaccine appointment.

Note that people under 18 will require parental consent at the time of vaccination, and they are only eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

• Healthcare Workers: The Salt Lake County Health Department no longer has first-dose appointments for healthcare

PEOPLE 65 AND OLDER AND PEOPLE 16+ WHO HAVE A QUALIFYING MEDICAL CONDITION CAN NOW MAKE VACCINE APPOINTMENTS

workers. You may be vaccinated by a local pharmacy listed below under Other Sources for Vaccine.

• Second Doses: You will have the opportunity to make your second-dose appointment at the time you receive your first dose. If you did not schedule your second dose at the time of your first dose, call 385-468-7468. The appointment line is staffed Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturday from 10am to 6pm. You may only schedule your second dose AFTER you’ve received your first dose.

• Other Sources for Vaccine: Some Salt Lake County locations of the below retail pharmacies are offering vaccine to the eligible priority groups. Visit vaccinate.utah.gov for more details.

• Dan’s Fresh Market • Fresh Market • Harmon’s • Macey’s • Smith’s • Walgreens • Walmart