ournal THE CITY
Davis County
YOURCOMMUNITYNEWSPAPER
Unified Sports – more than a game
Athletes of all abilities compete in State Championship Page 8
Special Small Business Section
A highlight of Davis County businesses Page 25
EOC plays key role in disaster response and recovery
The 17,300 square foot facility, located on the Justice Complex campus, is the first of its kind in the county and is also one of the safest.
FARMINGTON—The new Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been completed and is ready to provide emergency services to Davis County residents and all 15 cities. The 17,300 square foot facility, located on the Justice Complex campus, is the first of its kind in the county and is also one of the safest. “The center has long been needed and will provide essential support services to our community,” said Mitch Matern, Justice Complex Facilities Manager, at a ribbon cutting and open house celebration March 27. “This facility will serve as a primary gathering place for first responders during emergencies, providing the tactical space necessary for developing critical plans and resolutions.”
This building is much overdue, said Davis County Sheriff Kelly Sparks. “For well over 40 years the Sheriff’s Office has been tasked with overseeing emergency management. Emergency management means planning for, preventing, preparing for, responding to, recovering from and mitigating all kinds of emergencies, natural disasters and other emergency events that occur in our county.”
Davis County has never had a dedicated emergency operations center before, he said. “When emergencies happen it’s all hands on deck and there’s a need for a lot of coordination. We have suffered from a lack of being able to properly coordinate an EOC.”
By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com
Sparks said when he became sheriff about seven years ago, they started having conversations with the commissioners that were then in place. “We started taking tours. Curtis Koch, who was the Clerk/Auditor at the time, was involved in that, looking for ways to fund it. Fortunately, we were able to obtain some funds from the state and local fiscal recovery fund, which was part of the COVID-19 recovery and so this building was built with those funds.”
This has been something that has been
much needed, he said. “Davis County is the third most populous county in the state. We’re probably one of the only major counties that did not have an EOC.”
Here are a few facts:
• Geopier foundation is engineered to withstand earthquake shaking and liquefaction
• Emergency generator backup power to keep the facility operational in a sustained power outage
• Natural lighting and security features
• Starlink satellite internet, phone, and radio redundancy communications capabilities
• A Joint Information Center (JIC) with an LED wall for press conference messaging and a media staging area for public information dissemination
• Communications technology to foster interoperability with the 15 cities, regional partners, Utah Division of Emergency Management, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• The latest GIS mapping technology allowing first responders and residents to transmit damage information to the EOC dashboard instantaneously, so EOC staff can assess which areas are hardest hit and dispatch assistance to streamline our response and expedite recovery
“I think that one of the most important things to understand or recognize is where there’s a vision that things are going to be OK,” said Commission Chair John Crofts. “I think this building represents the vision of Davis County in the future of protecting our residents.”
Emergency management is comprehensive, he said. “It isn’t just responding to disasters. It’s preparing and mitigating disasters. Davis County is one of the counties that has been recognized throughout the state and the country for their mitigation work.”
Davis County is growing fast, said Ember Herrick, Davis County Emergency Manager. “Our emergency preparedness and response capabilities need to expand with our growing population.”l
Davis County Sheriff Kelly Sparks (left) cuts the ribbon to open the new Emergency Operations Center. It will provide emergency services to Davis County residents and all 15 cities. Photo by Becky Ginos
Joint Replacement
TA New Chapter for Pain-Free Living: Modern Joint Replacement at CommonSpirit
ired of nagging joint pain dictating your life?
The good news: joint replacement surgery has made significant advancements in recent years. Forget the daunting tales of long hospital stays and arduous recoveries. Surgery today is all about quicker recovery, less pain, and a faster return to the activities you love. This isn’t just about fixing a joint; it’s about reclaiming your freedom, and CommonSpirit is at the forefront of this transformation.
What’s driving this revolution? Minimally invasive techniques. Imagine surgery with smaller incisions and less disruption to your muscles and tissues. This “less is more” approach translates directly into less post-operative pain, reduced blood loss, and significantly shorter hospital stays.
“Joint replacement surgery once meant a long, difficult recovery. Now, thanks to minimally invasive techniques, patients are getting back on their feet and regaining their independence far more quickly, significantly improving their quality of life,” said Michael Blatter, an orthopedic surgeon at Holy Cross Hospital – Davis.
This means you can get back to golfing, gardening, playing with grandkids with renewed vigor.
But the journey to rapid recovery begins even
before surgery. We believe in empowering our patients, and that’s why pre-operative education is a cornerstone of our approach. Our comprehensive classes walk you through every step, covering everything from physical therapy exercises and navigating stairs to home safety. We emphasize two crucial rules: no falls and no infections. Patients consistently tell us they feel better prepared and more confident heading into surgery, which dramatically improves their outcomes.
Our commitment to your well-being extends with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols. This isn’t just about the surgery itself; it’s a carefully coordinated care pathway. ERAS focuses on preparing your body for a smoother recovery through optimized nutrition, multimodal pain management that reduces reliance on opioids, and getting you up and moving just hours after surgery. It all works together to reduce complications, enhance your comfort, and get you home safely and sooner.
And speaking of cutting-edge, robot-assisted surgery has become a game-changer. While a surgeon is always in control, robotic systems provide unparalleled precision, allowing for less invasive procedures, greater accuracy in implant
Nurture what’s next.
Women’s health care for every
stage
placement, and ultimately, quicker recovery times. This advanced technology ensures your joint replacement is tailored with remarkable exactness.
“Many joint replacement procedures can now be done same day. And with our current techniques and technologies, we are able to facilitate a quicker recovery and healing process for joint replacement. Our patients are able to get back to the activities they enjoy more quickly. For many of our patients, joint replacement is a game changer,” said Dr. Kevin Sagers, an orthopedic surgeon at Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley.
At CommonSpirit, we understand that living with joint pain can feel limiting. But with these modern advancements, the path to renewed mobility and a significantly improved quality of life is clearer and more accessible than ever. We’re dedicated to providing not just exceptional medical care, but a supportive and empowering experience that truly makes a difference. If you’re ready to explore how modern joint replacement can transform your life, we invite you to discover the CommonSpirit difference – where your rapid recovery is our priority.
For more information or to find a provider visit mountain.commonspirit.org
of you. Learn more about the services, care providers and mission-driven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.
At CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.
Women go through many changes in their lives. And we believe every milestone matters. Our health care experts can help you face your next phase with confidence – because each chapter deserves to be celebrated.
Find care near you at mountain.commonspirit.org.
New Kaysville Field House breaks ground, will benefit city and school
The facility, part of a voter approved bond, is anticipated to open in 2027.
By Becky Ginos becky.g@thecityjournals.com
Davis
School District administrators and Kaysville City leaders broke ground March 26 on a new field house at Kaysville Junior High that will serve both the school and Kaysville residents. The facility, part of a voter approved bond, is anticipated to open in 2027.
Davis School District in partnership with Kaysville City worked to provide a space for student recreation during the day and for the city to use the facility in the evening and on weekends.
“The (current) gym is pretty tiny,” said Kaysville Junior High Principal Mark Pendleton. “It’s old. The floor is old. Most schools have more space. This is our only one.”
There’s no room for school plays, concerts and other activities, he said. “This will have two full size courts. It allows so much more. It’s bigger. There’s a track they can run on, a dance room, just all around more things students can do.”
The building is separate from the school, said Pendleton. “The kids will have to walk a little bit for sporting events, etc.”
Pendleton said the school will have it during school hours. “The city will have it from about 5 p.m. on for residents to play and exercise and on weekends.”
The current gym will become sort of an auditorium, he said. “It will have retractable chairs, and new flooring where students can hold assemblies and performances. They’ll take out the locker room and turn it into a theater class behind the stage. It will be done both inside and outside by 2027.”
Partnering has allowed the city and the school district to make a bigger and better investment for the community, said Kaysville Mayor Tamara Tran. “The city’s needs are primarily in the evenings, weekends and summers, while the school’s needs are primarily on weekday days during the school year. It’s a smart and efficient way to partner and leverage resources.”
Tran shared the story behind the “Field House” name. “The name ‘field house’ is a deliberate nod to something meaningful in Kaysville’s history,” she said. “For many, the term ‘field house’ brings back memories of the old Sam Morgan Field House at Davis High School, which was removed over 20 years ago during the high school’s renovation.”
The Sam Morgan Field House was where friendships were formed, rivalries played out, and many memories were
made, said Tran. “We are excited for the opportunities for new memories, friendships and community connection that the Kaysville Field House will bring to generations of our residents.”
The facility features:
• Four full-size basketball courts
• Elevated indoor walking/jogging track
• Fitness and multi-use rooms
Uses include:
• Youth programs like Junior Jazz basketball
• Adult recreation leagues
• Indoor pickleball
• Fitness classes like yoga
• Year-round walking space for seniors and families
“Kaysville has long offered outstanding recreation programs – but we’ve simply run out of space to meet the demand,” Tran said. “The field house changes that. Our residents have continued to ask as we’ve held open houses and surveys for a facility like this.”
“The kids feel like it belongs to them,” said Pendleton. “They’re excited to play there and that it will be there for them.”
“Years from now, when people talk about where they learned to play, to compete, to stay healthy, or simply to connect – they’ll talk about this place,” said Tran. “And they’ll remember that it started right here, today.”
The field house will be located next to the school at 100 East 350 South, Kaysville. l
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Kaysville Junior High student body officers turn the dirt at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Kaysville Field House. The new building will be used by both the school and city. Courtesy DSD
Copper Rock golf championship set for May 14-16
Theroad to the LPGA Tour begins with the Epson Tour, and again this month, 132 of the best female golfers on the planet will reconvene for the Copper Rock Championship May 14-16 in Hurricane, Utah. Golfers will compete for $250,000 in prize money and points in the season-long Epson Tour standings.
There were 15 players who gained LPGA status during last year’s Epson Tour season, and 13 of them finished in the top 30 at Copper Rock in 2025. Champion Gina Kim won twice on the Epson last season and is now playing on the LPGA Tour.
Exemptions this year went to four golfers:
Navy Hubbs is a junior at Salem Hills High School who has verbally committed to Boise State University. She started playing golf at the age of 12 and quickly developed a passion for the game. Since then, she has enjoyed competing in both local and national tournaments, gaining valuable experience and continually challenging herself against strong competition.
Hubbs is known for her calm presence on the course and the strong work ethic she brings to improving her game. She approaches competition with focus and determination while enjoying the process of learning and growing as a golfer and developing friendships with others on and off the course.
Maria Jose “MJ” Barragan is a standout collegiate golfer for Brigham Young University, known for her consistency, competitiveness and upward trajectory on the women’s golf scene. A native of Morelia, Mexico, Barragan has quickly become one of BYU’s most impactful players, combining sharp scoring with a calm mindset under pressure. She owns a career-low 18-hole score of 68 (4-under) and a lowest 54-hole score of 210 (−6), achieved at the 2024 Red Raider Invitational where she claimed her best finish with a victory. Barragan has also posted
recognized for her competitive excellence and advocacy for women’s golf. An inaugural member of the women’s golf team at Dixie State University (now Utah Tech), she was a twotime PacWest Conference Champion, Conference Player of the Year and an All-American. She competed professionally on the Cactus Tour and is a seven-time Utah PGA Women’s Player of the Year (2019-25), a four-time Women’s Utah PGA Match Play Champion, and the 2025 Utah Section Assistant Professional of the Year. Her career includes numerous Utah Section victories, multiple top-10 finishes in both men’s and women’s events, and an overall championship at The Copper Club Open.
strong rounds in key events including the opening rounds of the 2025 San Diego State Classic and the 2025 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, and she played a pivotal role in BYU’s 2025 USF Invitational win with a 7273-69 (214) performance.
Off the course, Barragan is equally distinguished. She’s majoring in pre-business and has earned recognition for her academic achievements, being named to the 2025 CSC Academic All-District team. In amateur golf, she finished runner-up at the 2025 Women’s Mexico Amateur in a dramatic playoff and represented Mexico at the Pan American Games in Paraguay, showcasing her talent on the international stage.
Gabby Barker is a professional golfer known for her resilience, consistency and purpose-driven approach to the game. A standout junior and collegiate competitor, Barker built
her foundation through years of high-level tournament play before turning professional and committing fully to the grind of tour golf. Since turning pro, Barker has competed across multiple professional circuits, including the Epson Tour and various mini tours, steadily gaining experience at the highest levels of women’s golf.
Her career has been shaped by perseverance, adaptability and a deep belief in longterm growth — both on and off the course. In addition to her competitive career, Barker is the first female Native American professional golfer, a milestone she carries with pride and responsibility. She uses her platform to inspire younger athletes, advocate for representation in golf, and share the realities of pursuing a professional sports career.
Haley Sturgeon is an accomplished golf professional and respected leader in Utah golf,
There are always so many things to enjoy during and around the Copper Rock Championship. On Tuesday, May 12, RAM Aerospace presents the 2026 RAM Women’s Business Luncheon. The theme is “Rising Together: Personal Growth and Professional Influence.” Keynote speaker is Stephanie Palmer, Director of Radio Sales for KSL NewsRadio, FM 100.3, The Arrow and the KSL Sports Zone. Whitney Harris, Director of People and Culture at RAM Aviation, will join in that discussion. The luncheon will run from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A free Junior Clinic will be held on Championship Saturday, May 16, at noon. Signups for the clinic and RSVP for the luncheon can be made at Copperrockchampionship.com. There will also be a free photo booth on Championship Saturday, and food trucks will be onsite including Corn Dog Company and Chicharos Tacos.
To get tickets to the tournament go to Copperrockchampionship.com and choose from General Admission, Club 17 or Copper Rock Club tickets, and the website details those options.
Copper Rock is located at 1567 W. Copper Rock Parkway in Hurricane. l
2025 Champion Gina Kim
Young golfers can participate in a free Junior Clinic on Championship Saturday at noon.
Haley Sturgeon
Maria Jose “MJ” Barragan
Gabby Barker
Navy Hubbs
Photos courtesy of Copper Rock
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Ina high school gym, the sounds are familiar – balls bouncing, high tops squeaking on the court and teammates cheering.
But unified basketball is not just a game; it’s a space where students of all abilities come together as teammates, playing together on the floor to build friendships, con-
More than a game
fidence and community through sports. The focus isn’t only on winning, it’s on inclusion, sportsmanship and connection.
At Woods Cross High, the spirit carried all the way to the biggest moment of the season, the state championship. In a close match every minute of the game, the Wildcats were tied with Spanish Fork High in regulation and at the end of overtime.
In the double overtime, the first basket wins the game – and the Wildcats didn’t disappoint the loud crowd of fans at the Delta Center as they were bringing home the trophy to their hometown fans.
While the opportunity to play at the state championship was exciting, the players say playing unified basketball is more than a title.
Across Utah, with more than 250 Utah high school unified teams, other players emphasize the game has given them friendship, growth and joy.
Jordan High also won a state title in its division, beating Highland High.
Jordan senior Alejandro Beltran Lopez plays with pride and purpose.
“I want to continue my dad’s legacy in playing sports,” he said. “He taught me a little and coach taught me more; Dad’s happy for me.”
Beltran Lopez said unified sports helped pave friendships with his teammates, from eating lunch together to watching the movie, “Elf.”
“We’ve had others at school support us too,” he said. “Unified soccer was fun; we wanted to beat Bingham at state championship (played at America First Field last fall), but it’s OK we lost because being a good sport means accepting defeat.”
His teammate, junior and peer tutor Sawyer Herzog, unified sports extends beyond the court.
“I love this,” he said. “We’ve become friends and I probably wouldn’t have met him if not. We’ve become genuine friends. We hang out, doing puzzles, watching Switch TV, talking, I help with math and ELA (English Language Arts). My whole family loves him.”
At Alta High, senior and peer leadership
team member Macey Rockwood sees unified sports as something bigger.
“The goal of PLT is to make the community better, so through unified sports, we can support them,” she said. “Everyone deserves a community.”
Rockwood has refereed and ran the score table at unified tournaments and enjoys helping others succeed.
“It’s satisfying to help others have fun and have a sense of accomplishment,” she said.
For players like Corner Canyon sophomore Mia Lems, the competition still matters, but so does kindness.
“I like to take down the other team,” she said. “I’ve made friends with other teams too. I like to give them handshakes and clap and give high-5s for making good shots.”
Corner Canyon finished as state runners-up in their division at the state championship.
Lems’ teammate, senior Fisher Ghiz, didn’t realize how much unified basketball would change him.
“It has taught me patience; it has taught me how to make friends with those different than
me,” Ghiz said. “I used to be shy, but they’re so social, I’ve become more outward. This is awesome. I want to keep playing in college.”
Across more than 250 Utah high school unified teams, other players emphasize the game has given them friendship, growth and joy.
At Hunter High, senior Maelie Jorgensen loves “the good environment where everyone has fun playing and being together” while teammate sophomore Bentley Wright said the teammates’ friendships stretch into lunch tables and school dances. On the court, Wright, like Granger High’s freshman Jhanpeer Macha Dias, loves the celebration after a basket that comes with dance moves and cheers.
Hunter High also played at the state championships, beating Olympus High in its division. Skyline High also finished second at state in its division.
Murray High’s Parker May loves the game, especially shooting the ball, and playing with friends while teammate senior Hayden Gardner added he loves the confidence his teammates have gained over the season.
Murray High senior Ethan Teusher added: “There is simple joy in spending time together whether we’re playing basketball or a game of Uno.”
Nearby Copper Hills High finished second in its division at state while Herriman High won its division for the state title.
After West Jordan senior Robert West said he hoped his team would practice more early in the season, the Jaguars finished second at state in its division.
West Jordan senior Colton Reid refereed unified basketball last year, but decided to participate this year.
“It’s the greatest thing and something I didn’t want to miss out on,” Reid said. “I’ve made some good friends and great memories playing unified basketball.l
A Woods Cross unified cheerleader poses after performing a routine at the unified state championships. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Woods Cross wins the unified state championship game. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
DSD Art Show bridges student work to professional art world
Bountiful Davis Arts Center announces the Davis School District Art Show winners at a special awards event.
By Becky Ginos becky.g@thecityjournals.com
BOUNTIFUL—The winners of the Davis School District
Art Show were announced at a special awards event and exhibit of student art at the Bountiful Davis Arts Center (BDAC) April 10. BDAC partnered with Davis School District in an effort to connect education with the broader art community.
“The DSD show isn’t just an exhibition; it is a milestone for student artists,” said Executive Director, Sarina Ehrgott. “Of over 550 submissions, only 145 were selected. That process alone reflects what artists experience in the real world: selection, refinement, and resilience. At BDAC, our role is to create a bridge from student work to the professional art world. We provide a professional gallery setting, a juried process, and public exposure to a broad audience.”
For many of these students, this is their first time seeing their work treated as serious art, she said. “Emerging artists don’t just need talent. They need opportunities, feedback, and visibility. With the DSD show, we try to provide validation in their practice, the context of their peers in similar age groups and mediums, and aspirations for understanding what they can achieve.”
BDAC, in partnership with DSD, awarded a total of $2,410 to students for their artistic merit. Winners were selected in several categories: Sculpture; Print making; Photog-
raphy; Painting; Mixed media; Jewelry; Glass art; Drawing; Digital art and Ceramics. Lexi Reese won “Best in Show for “Girl Who is Seen.”
Last year’s winner, Zerthun Mekuria was selected as Junior Artist-in-Residence in 2025 and she has a solo show, “Painting What I Cannot Pronounce,” as part of being the Best in Show last year. Mekuria spent last summer as the Ju-
nior Artist-in-Residence.
“What we see in this exhibition is not just student work,” said Ehrgott. “It is the beginning of artistic careers, creative confidence, and a lifelong engagement with the arts. BDAC is proud to be a part of that journey.”
The BDAC is located at 90 N. Main Street. The exhibit will be on display through May 8. l
FAMILY PROTECTION
• Special Needs Trusts
• Guardianships
• Pre & Post-nuptial Agreements
• Adoptions
• Domestic Partner Trusts
• Name Changes
• Pet Trusts
• Asset Protection
PROBATE & ESTATES
• Letters Testamentary
• Formal & Informal Probate
• Intestate Succession (No Will)
• Small Estate A davits
• Survivorship A davits
• Spousal Claims
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
• Mediation
• Elder Care Disputes
• Estate & Trust Disputes
• Elder Exploitation & Abuse
• Estate & Trust Litigation
TRUSTS & WILLS
• Living & Family Trusts
• Simple & Complex Wills
• Trust Administration
• Irrevocable Trusts
• Assist Trustees, Executors & Heirs
• Trust Review Service
BUSINESS PROTECTION
• Corporations
• Partnerships
• Limited Liability Companies
• Non-pro t Organizations
• Buy-Sell Agreements
• Quiet Title Actions
ELDER LAW
• Powers of Attorney
• Guardianships
• Conservatorships
• Living Wills
• Competency Issues
• Medicaid Planning
• VA Aid & Attendance Planning
Robyn Rowe Walton Attorney at Law
Britten J. Hepworth Attorney at Law
First Place in sculpture “Canopy of Time” by Hallie Beckstead. “Balance” by Corbin Carpinelli, First place – Photography.
First Place in Glass Art, “Rose” by Maggie Whitmer. Courtesy/BDAC
Kaysville Police Officers have
By Cindi Mansell c.mansell@mycityjournals.com
As warmer weather draws more residents outdoors, Kaysville’s streets, trails, and parks are seeing a surge in activity – and with it, a growing number of safety concerns involving e-bikes, scooters, and electric motorcycles.
According to the Kaysville Police Department, officers have recently seen an uptick in unsafe and illegal riding practices. Reported issues include underage individuals operating electric motorcycles, riders not wearing helmets, and frequent violations of traffic laws. Police also cite improper use of sidewalks and trails, along with damage to city parks and public spaces.
“These devices can be a convenient and enjoyable way to get around,” police officials said, “but when used improperly, they can pose serious risks to both riders and the community.”
Understanding the type of vehicle being used – and where it is legally allowed – is a key part of staying safe. E-bikes are divided into three classifications:
• Class 1: Pedal-assist only, with a maximum speed of 20 mph.
• Class 2: Equipped with a throttle, also limited to 20 mph.
• Class 3: Pedal-assist up to 28 mph and equipped with a speedometer.
Higher-powered electric motorcycles fall outside these classifications and are not considered bicycles. As a result, they require proper registration and licensing and are prohibited from operating on sidewalks, trails, and in city parks.
Kaysville Police are taking a proactive approach to address these concerns, including issuing warnings to educate riders; issuing citations when violations occur; and impounding vehicles when necessary. Enforcement will continue to increase in areas where unsafe or illegal riding is occurring.
The department emphasizes that maintaining safety is a shared responsibility. Riders are encouraged to follow traffic laws, respect posted regulations, ride only in permitted areas, meet age requirements, and wear proper safety gear. Officials warn that continued misuse could lead to stricter regulations and reduced access to public spaces.
By taking a few extra moments to ride responsibly, residents can help prevent accidents, protect public property, and ensure that electric vehicles remain a safe and welcome part of the community.l
Centerville adopts new waterefficient landscaping standards
Centerville has implemented new water-efficient landscaping ordinances that limit turf areas and mandate smart irrigation for new developments to align with Utah state standards. These changes, effective May 1 ensure residents remain eligible for state-sponsored conservation rebates and help address regional water shortages.
By Linda Petersen l.petersen@mycityjournals.com
CentervilleCity has implemented new requirements for water-efficient landscaping throughout the city. This move is designed to assist homeowners and businesses in becoming eligible for water conservation incentive programs administered by the State and local water conservancy districts. The city council unanimously passed the ordinance change at its April 7 meeting.
The changes were made to ensure residents remain eligible for state rebate programs while addressing regional water shortages, city officials said. It also brings local code into alignment with State of Utah conservation requirements.
This decision follows nearly a year of meetings between city leadership and the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District to help bring the city’s zoning code into alignment with new state conservation requirements.
The ordinance introduces specific lawn and turf restrictions for all new development applications submitted on or after May 1, 2026. Under these new rules, lawn and turf are prohibited in all park strips and any landscaped areas less than 8 feet wide.
Along with water conservation these changes limiting our hardscape to those things … will help us maintain more efficiently our storm drain system and not send
bark and mulch down the storm drain, City Attorney Lisa Romney said.
For single-family residential lots, turf is limited to a maximum of 35% of the total landscaped area in front and side yards. Commercial, industrial and multifamily projects can only have a maximum of 15 percent turf across their total landscaped areas.
The city is also requiring all new irrigation systems to be automatic and equipped with rain delay sensors or WaterSense labeled smart controllers to reduce water waste.
To minimize loss from wind and evaporation, irrigation is only allowed between the hours of 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. In areas where secondary water is available culinary water cannot be used to water landscaped areas.
Current residences with established lawns are largely grandfathered in as their landscaping will not meet the new standards. Only If a single-family home undergoes a total demolition and rebuild, or a remodel that increases the home’s square footage by more than 50 percent would the new changes apply. Construction of accessory structures like sheds or detached garages will not trigger a requirement to replace existing lawn.
For new projects, in addition to the grass limits, under the change, the city also highly recommends that 90 percent of all plant materials be drought-tolerant and water-efficient. The city is also recommending such practices as performing soil scarification (breaking up the soil so it isn’t so packed down) and mixing in natural materials like compost or peat moss at least six inches deep.
With these changes Centerville aims to assist homeowners and businesses in becoming eligible for water conservation incentive programs like “Cash-for-Grass” or “Flipyour-Strip” rebates and WaterSense Smart Controller Incentives through state-sponsored programs like “Slow the Flow” or those offered directly by the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. l
North Salt Lake Submits Grant Application for Hiking Trail Application
North Salt Lake submits application for a $15,000 grant to Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation for a construction project connecting the Bonneville Shoreline Trail with the Wild Rose Trail system.
By Megan Fisher m.fisher@davisjournal.com
Utahis famed for the beauty of the land and its residents are frequently found in the great outdoors. People rock climb the crags of St. George, scale the side of Mount Timpanogos, or ski the slopes of Park City. North Salt Lake City is a particularly beautiful spot, with plenty of hills on which to hike and gaze out at the Great Salt Lake.
A top priority for North Salt Lake Trails and Active Transportation committee is the construction of a trail connecting the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and the Wild Rose Trail system. In a meeting March 13, City Council members unanimously approved the submission of an application for a $15,000 grant from the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation’s Outdoor Recreation Grant (UDORG) program. The money will go toward the construction project; an approximately 1,300 foot extension of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail crossing from North Salt Lake into Salt Lake City proper, and an approximately 1,300 connection between the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and the Wild Rose Trail system. North Salt Lake will match the grant, contributing the rest of the funds for the $30,000 project.
Currently, the Bonneville Shoreline Trail is 173 miles, spanning the bench left by the prehistoric lake from the Idaho border to just beyond Spanish Fork. When the trail was built in Davis County it was done without any connection to a previously existing trail head.
“It went right up to the county line and then just ended,” said Sherrie Pace, Community Development director for North Salt Lake. This forces hikers to trek up a steep hillside by a human-made trail, through vegetation and loose rocks, in order to get to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. This is a major safety concern. These safety concerns make the construction of a trail connecting the Bonneville Shoreline with the Wild Rose Trail system a top priority for city officials.
North Salt Lake will own the trail and be in charge of maintenance and development, but ownership may be transferred to Salt Lake City at some point in the future.
The land is currently owned by the U.S. Forest Service and so is subject to environmental review. The letter of approval for construction on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail in Davis County expires in 2026. North Salt Lake may be able to use the letter of approval to bypass some of the environmental reviews as they were done by Davis County under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In order for this to happen the project needs to be completed before the letter of approval expires.
This construction will be the first of many trailhead projects for North Salt Lake. It is planned that $30,000 will be set aside in the city’s yearly budget for the maintenance of the connecting trail, and many future trail development projects. l
Map of the proposed construction project to connect the Bonneville Shoreline Trail with the Wild Rose Trail system in North Salt Lake. Courtesy/NSL
UDOT presents new FrontRunner 2X project
Altering their system to keep up with the state’s rising population, the Utah Department of Transportation is informing cities about their FrontRunner 2x project.
By Simon Mortensen s.mortensen@davisjournal.com
Few states have experienced the amount of growth that Utah has undergone since the turn of the decade. According to Federal Reserve Economic Data, over 250,000 individuals have become residents in the state since 2020 – a change that has tested the area’s infrastructure and altered the landscape of the Wasatch Front.
As more people have moved to Utah, the rise in commuters traveling to cities like Salt Lake and Provo has increased. In places like West Bountiful last Tuesday, the Utah Department of Transportation has begun pitching their solution.
Increasing the frequency of train pickups, the organization has announced plans to roll out their FrontRunner 2X project.
“We love working on this project,” said Brian Allen, Transit Project director at the Department of Transportation. “Providing more convenient transportation options is really what UDOT’s all about. Providing
that multimodal balance of not only cars, but connecting trails to transit to vehicles, and looking at the transportation system as a whole.”
According to UDOT, the FrontRunner 2X initiative will extend double lanes in key areas, allowing the rail system to efficiently handle 10 new trains. Once construction is complete, pickup frequency at stations will increase from every 30 minutes during peak hours to every 15.
The project – which is set to receive funding from grants – is currently in the design phase, with official renderings expected to be released at the end of the year. Aim-
ing to start construction in 2027, Allen says FrontRunner 2X should be finished by 2030.
“The biggest items in the project are just working with the railroad,” said Allen. “The FrontRunner has its own right of way, but it runs right next to Union Pacific, so we’re working on agreements with Union Pacific and grant funding agreements with the federal transit administration. Those are the two main scheduled drivers.”
According to UDOT, FrontRunner ridership to key destinations is currently at 90% capacity during peak hours. The 2X project is expected to increase that capacity by 53%, and make the train 17% faster than I-15 by
2050. Pickup frequency during off-peak hours will also decrease from every hour to every 30 minutes.
“They really see [FrontRunner] moving from what’s called a commuter rail, where you’re just using the peak hour rail to more regional rail, where you see a lot of people, for example, going to UVU from maybe Draper, things like that. It really provides a lot of flexibility to use FrontRunner more as a backbone of the system,” said Allen.
Construction for FrontRunner 2X is expected to begin in half of the alignment area. Quiet zones will remain in effect throughout the development process. l
FrontRunner 2X is expected to increase pickup frequency from every 30 minutes during peak hours to every 15. Photo by Simon Mortensen
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New state-of-the-art Temple Square Visitors’ Center set to open May 18
The visitors’ center is a milestone ahead of the Salt Lake Temple Celebration, scheduled from April 5, 2027, through Oct. 1, 2027.
By Becky Ginos becky.g@thecityjournals.com
SALT LAKE CITY—The Salt Lake Temple restoration is soon to be completed in 2027. In addition to the temple a new Temple Square Visitors’ Center will open to the public May 18, 2026.
The 39,800-square-foot state-of-the-art center follows the pioneer trek that began with Brigham Young’s 1847 declaration: “Here we will build a temple to our God.”
The facility features the Christus Statue on the main level of the west wing and the Salt Lake Temple Scale Model revealing the interior rooms as narration and music explain what happens in temples.
A new sculpture of Jesus Christ called “Come unto Me” was commissioned for Temple Square and inspired by the Savior’s words in John 15:5. The statue reflects the Savior’s love and care for all.
Interactive displays include media walls, videos, photos and audio exhibits as well as a scaled model of 11 temples from around the world. A unique addition is the Inside a Temple Tour that takes guests through what the interior of a temple is like and to understand its purpose.
“Our Church leaders really wanted the
focus to be on Jesus Christ and the fact that this is His house,” said Elder Brent H. Nielson, an emeritus General Authority Seventy and coordinator for the Salt Lake Temple Celebration. “The visitors’ center gives those not of our faith an opportunity to see inside a temple and better understand what happens there.”
“This visitor center sits in the shadow of the Salt Lake City Temple,” said Young Women President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Emily Belle Freeman at a media preview tour. “Now you may think you have been to a visitor center experience with us before and I am going to tell you this is not that. This experience is like you have never had before and we are so excited about this.”
Freeman said the hope is to be a place where all will feel welcome. “We are hoping this will be a place where you can feel reverence, and we are hoping this is a place where you will come to learn that Jesus Christ is the center of our faith.”
“To all those who come in, hopefully they find a place which is joyful and full of great experiences for individuals, for families, for everybody who’s coming,” said Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Dieter F. Uchtdorf. “The openness is reflected here with all these windows and wonderful glass and wood and the temple behind us and the statue of Jesus Christ right here with us. It reminds me that this beautiful material is at the highest level of quality you can imagine.”
A full-scale replica of a temple baptistry room in the Temple Square Visitors’ Center. In the temple, baptisms and other essential ordinances are performed by the living on behalf of those who have died without the opportunity. Such ordinances extend the saving grace of Jesus Christ to all people. This service for others is offered in love. ©2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Looking back, how did this all come about? “It came about because a small group of people, many years ago, 200 years ago almost, found a way to worship God in the same similar way as it was done when Jesus Christ walked here.”
These people came together in the eastern part of the United States and unfortunately they weren’t very welcomed, he said. “So they looked for a place far away out of this circumstance of persecution to find a place where they could live their religion, have freedom of religion and they found this place.”
They came here in the middle of the desert and four days after they arrived here they decided this is the spot to build the house of
the Lord, said Uchtdorf. “These people settled here and within a few years built this temple. And since they were not only busy building this temple it lasted 40 years.”
The visitors’ center is a milestone ahead of the Salt Lake Temple Celebration, scheduled from April 5, 2027, through Oct. 1, 2027. “We expect $5 million visitors in six months,” Uchtdorf said. “It is something significant and so we hope that the world will come.”
How and when to visit the Temple Square Visitors’ Center
Hours: Beginning May 18, 2026, the Temple Square Visitors’ Center will be open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is located on the south side of Temple Square.
For more information and to book tour reservations, please visit TempleSquare.org.l
Patrons visit the “Come Unto Me” statue in the Temple Square Visitors’ Center. The statue by Swiss artist Christian Bolt sits at the center point of the lower level. It is carved from Carrara marble and depicts the Savior of the world extending an invitation of peace and compassion. ©2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Son’s dyslexia inspires local author to write reading books
What do students with dyslexia need to learn to read? What happens in the brain when someone learns to read? Teacher Lindsay Kemeny did a deep dive to answer these questions.
By Becky Ginos becky.g@thecityjournals.com
started out as a way to help her son who was diagnosed with dyslexia, Kaysville Elementary kindergarten teacher Lindsay Kemeny developed a curriculum that is now being used nationwide.
“It was my first year teaching kindergarten,” she said. “I had taught second grade previously. You spend all of this time in kindergarten teaching the letter names and sounds and I was so excited to bring my students back to my small group table and show them that now you know these letter sounds you can read.”
Kemeny said the books available to her were through a big box curriculum. “These were predictable, repetitive texts.”
There’s a lot of these books written where the whole point is to get students to memorize the pattern and look at the picture to figure out what the word is, she said. “There isn’t research to support any of that. It’s actually creating some really bad habits where we could
Kaysville
teach much more effectively.”
Kemeny said her son was in second grade at the time. “He had been struggling to learn how to read. I was really kind of embarrassed because I’m a teacher. I’m doing all these things I was taught in college.”
Nothing seemed to be helping, she said. “We finally did some outside testing that year and we found out he has dyslexia, dysgraph-
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ia, dyscalculia. That’s a reading disability, writing disability and math disability. So that really started me on this journey.”
It really caused her to take a deep dive, said Kemeny. “What do students with dyslexia need to learn to read? What happens in the brain when we learn to read?”
Kemeny said she just felt like a starved animal. “I couldn’t get enough. I was reading, watching things, listening to lectures on phonics and different things. The more I learned the angrier I got because I found out a lot of stuff I had been taught in college and in my years of teaching some of it had been debunked by research.”
That’s where it all started, she said. “I really wanted to make sure I was doing the best I could for the students in my classroom and making sure that what I was doing was aligned with research.”
Kemeny said she started working with her son as well as making changes in the classroom. That’s when she wrote her first book, “7 Mighty Moves.” “They represent the seven changes that I could organize into these seven overreaching categories to more effectively teach my students.”
There’s a whole other side to this, she said. “My son was diagnosed with depression at the same time he was diagnosed with dyslexia. His depression all centered around his struggles learning to read.”
He said and did things that no mother should have to hear and no child should have to feel, said Kemeny. “It was kind of trauma night after night. He would scream that he wished he were dead.”
Kemeny said it took her a bit until she understood what to do. “When I did I started working with him every day and then we really saw results. We did all of these things for his depression and when things got so bad we took him to a professional. But I found that out of everything I did the thing that helped the most was the ability to read because as his reading improved his self-esteem improved.”
It was gradual but really neat and beautiful to see him change. “That’s why I’m so passionate about this,” she said. “I just think teaching kids to read is one of the greatest gifts we can give them because it just opens up windows of opportunity for them.”
Kemeny has written three books for teachers and travels all over the country sharing her curriculum. Her books are “7 Mighty Moves,” “7 Mighty Moves: Reading Resources,” and the third one is “Rock Your Literacy Block” and she also has “Dacodable Comics” for children.
“A lot of times when I speak I share my son’s story,” she said. “I’m always telling him ‘this is because of you.’ It’s neat to see what’s come out of the hard experiences that we’ve had.” l
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Kaysville Fire Department sees surge in calls, prepares for growth
Kaysville fire crews handled a growing number of calls in 2025, often juggling overlapping emergencies while continuing extensive training to meet increasing demand.
By Cindi Mansell c.mansell@mycityjournals.com
In2025, the Kaysville Fire Department responded to 2,326 calls for service, representing an 18.6% increase from 2024. Looking at the longer trend, call volume has
increased 63% from 2015 to 2025, which averages about 5% growth per year over the past decade. If this trend continues, the department is projected to respond to nearly 3,000 calls per year by 2030.
As call volume increases, so does the number of overlapping incidents – situations where multiple emergencies occur at the same time within the city. In 2025, there were 448 instances where multiple calls were happening simultaneously, and it was not uncommon to see three or four incidents occurring at the same time. Overall, about 1 in every 5 calls occurred while another incident was already in progress.
Firefighters also responded to 60 incidents involving fire or explosion, averaging about five fires per month. These incidents included structure fires, vehicle fires, and brush fires. While medical calls remain the most common type of response in Kaysville, fires and technical rescue incidents are considered low-frequency, high-risk events because they present the greatest danger to both the community and firefighters.
To ensure readiness for these situations, Kaysville’s full-time firefighters collectively completed more than 5,600 hours of training in 2025. The department operates with a team of 13
full-time and 19 part-time, serving a population of 33,252 residents from a single station around the clock. Its annual budget is $4.3 million.
Beyond emergency response, the department remains active in the community through events such as Fill the Fire Truck, the Easter Egg Hunt, Trunk or Treat, the 5K Burn Camp Fun Run, School Field Day hose downs, duck rescues, and don’t forget the Lemonade Stand Challenge.
Despite increasing demand, department leaders say their focus remains on preparedness, training, and maintaining a high level of service.l
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Customers browse the aisles at the new Switchpoint Exchange thrift store in Layton. Every dollar spent goes to sustain and support the Teen Living Center.
Shop with purpose – thrift store aids at-risk youth and Teen Living Center
Switchpoint Exchange Thrift Store opens
By Becky Ginos becky.g@thecityjournals.com
LAYTON—It
was an exciting day March 25 as community members, city officials and First Lady Abby Cox gathered for the grand opening of the Switchpoint Exchange. The thrift store is a social enterprise to help sustain and support the Teen Living Center (TLC), a place for youth experiencing homelessness.
The Switchpoint Exchange is designed to give students a place they can work and develop the skills needed to lead a productive life.
“It’s the community that helped build this facility,” said General Manager, Caid Lunt. “One hundred percent of the proceeds from this facility will go back to supporting projects like the TLC and other projects we’re working on to end homelessness.”
Switchpoint, a nonprofit organization, operates the TLC. “We operate across the
state,” said Switchpoint CEO, Carol Hollowell. “We focus on different types of programs. So some of that is emergency shelters, some of it is food pantry, soup kitchen and housing is a big one for us.”
There are about 700 units of housing right now in the state, she said. “And we’ve got another couple hundred under construction. What brought us to Davis County was the TLC. We have just been so blessed to operate that and to get to know the kids that need our help.”
One of the things that Switchpoint does in all of the areas they’re in is have social enterprises like this, Hollowell said. “Social enterprises do a couple of things for us. One, it creates income which we desperately need because the governor’s budget cannot support everything for us right?”
Number two, it provides work opportunities, she said. “It’s a big thing in all of our areas that clients get a chance to work, have dignity and get a paycheck.”
“I’m just blocks away from one of the happiest places of my childhood,” said Cox.
“I spent so many happy times here in this area and I think about my childhood and those joyful things.”
Cox said everyone needs to be able to reach out to the most vulnerable kids in the state. “That’s what we’re doing here, and that’s what Switchpoint is all about. That’s what the teen center is all about. It’s making sure that those kiddos that need us – we’re there for them.”
“I’m excited for this to open,” said Layton Mayor Joy Petro. “I hope that all of you will continue to contribute in any type of donations possible. Whether it’s funding or whether it’s items for these kids to resell, or just support in other ways. Especially when you tie it back into education and how valuable it is for us to take care of the next generation.”
“I live at the TLC,” said student Jason Sandoval. “It’s pretty great. I’ve lived there for almost two and a half years now. It’s a good place to live for kids who are in need of help.”
Sandoval has worked at the store since they started to set everything up. “I love the community here and the people that work here.”
“We’ve got corporations,” said Davis Chamber President/CEO Angie Osguthorpe. “We’ve got students, we’ve got private donations. We’ve got government, we’ve got all of these coming together.”
Isn’t that what it’s about? she said. “We take care of our community. I love that, especially in today’s world, that’s what it should be. It should be where we are taking care of our own.”
There are three key ways to make an impact.
• Donate gently used items for the shop. They take donations daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Volunteer. Sign up today for a shift to assist in the store. https://pointapp.org/ orgs/8171
• Shop. Stop by and find incredible treasures that will not only bless your life but the lives of many of our youth experiencing crisis.
Switchpoint Exchange is located at 860 North Fairfield Rd., Layton. For more information call 801-423-5523. l
Centerville City Council finalizes RAP Tax reauthorization
On March 24 the Centerville City Council officially adopts an ordinance implementing a voter-approved 10-year extension of the Recreation, Arts, and Parks (RAP) tax. This measure ensures a steady stream of funding for local parks and recreation and cultural projects through 2036.
By Linda Petersen l.petersen@mycityjournals.co
Following strong support from local voters last fall, the Centerville City Council took the final legislative steps on March 24 in a short, special meeting to officially reauthorize the city’s Recreation, Arts, and Parks tax. The ordinance, known as Ordinance
No. 2026-07, formalizes the results of the November 2025 municipal election, where 62 percent of voters chose to extend the tax for another decade.
Because the measure was approved by a direct vote of the people, at that meeting Mayor Clark Wilkinson verified with city attorney Lisa Romney that a further public hearing was not required before the council’s adoption of the new code.
The RAP tax is a local sales and use tax of one-tenth of one percent – 1 cent for every $10 spent on qualifying transactions within city limits. It does not apply to most grocery items or high-cost purchases like vehicle sales. Because Centerville is a regional shopping hub, city leaders say an estimated 60 percent of the revenue is generated by visitors and non-residents shopping at local businesses, such as those in the Centerville Marketplace.
The tax is designed to fund “quality of life” amenities that might otherwise require funding from property taxes. Under the new 10-year authorization, which officially took effect April 1, the revenue will continue to provide support in three areas:
The majority of the funds generated – about 85 percent – will go to parks and recreation. This remains the largest priority. These RAP funds are earmarked for renovations at Island View Park, along with new playground equipment, and pickleball courts at Community Park. It will also help support maintenance of the city’s trail systems and hillside preservation.
About 5 percent will be used for arts and culture, primarily to help fund the CenterPoint Legacy Theatre, a joint venture with Bountiful City. Another 5 percent will go to the Whitaker Museum for the ongoing preservation of Centerville’s historical records
and artifacts. The remaining funds will be used for community events, such as the Summer Concert Series, or as matching funds for specialized grants.
Centerville originally implemented the RAP tax in the mid-2000s. Utah state law requires that these taxes be put back on the ballot for voter approval every 10 years to ensure they still align with the community’s priorities. By adopting the code amendment, the City Council has ensured there will be a steady stream of funding in these areas for city improvements through 2036.
The tax is retroactive to the date in November when the city notified the Utah State Tax Commission the reauthorization had been approved by the voters, Romney told Wilkinson and the city council that evening. Residents can expect to see these funds put to work in local parks and cultural programs starting this summer. l
Switchpoint CEO, Carol Hollowell cuts the ribbon to open the new Switchpoint Exchange thrift store in Layton. Photos by Becky Ginos
From competitors to co-creators of hope: Utah trades launch ‘Trades for Wishes’
By Rebecca Olds rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com
Businessowners in Utah’s trades are teaming up with Make-A-Wish Utah to help grant children’s wishes in the state and give “the gift of hope” with a program they are deeming “Trades for Wishes.”
Leading the efforts are two would-be competitors — TruePros Heating and Air owner Katy Higgins, A Plus Garage Doors owner Carrie Kelsch, along with Ellen Rohrer of ServiceTitan and Summer Ehrmann of Make-A-Wish Utah — are joining forces and raising funds that will help grant wishes of Utah children across the state.
“What started as a single moment quickly became something bigger,” said Higgins.
“Other companies began asking how they could be part of it. That’s when we realized this could be more than a one-time effort — it could be a movement.”
Eleven companies are currently involved, Ehrmann said, “with new partners making fundraising commitments each week.”
“This community-led initiative brings our mission to life: to grant life-changing wishes for Utah’s kids fighting critical illnesses,” Ehrmann said. “As Make-A-Wish Utah charges nothing for its services and receives no government funding, we rely on the support of Utah communities to grant Utah wishes.”
TruePros worked with Ehrmann and Make-A-Wish Utah to help grant wishes for kids like Kyson last year. The company raised $25,000, earned by setting aside $25 per install. Kyson’s wish was to go to Walt Disney World.
Kelsch also attended a wish proclamation event for Kyson, hosted by Higgins. Both Higgins and Kelsch have experienced the power of Make-A-Wish Utah, with Higgins’s daughter and Kelsch’s niece and, by extension, her daughter, being wish recipients.
Higgins ’ 27-year-old stepdaughter, Seattle, had her own wish granted 20 years ago.
Seattle is blind, deaf and mute, and lives
full-time with Higgins and her husband. Despite her severe condition, Higgins said they are on “borrowed time” as Seattle is one of the oldest living people with her disease.
Her legacy is cemented at the Make-AWish Utah facility, where her story is featured in the organization’s third scrapbook and her star remains in their ceiling’s constellation.
“The work they do down there is incredible,” Higgins said
Currently, there are more than 270 Utah children waiting for their wishes to be granted.
The group started “Trades for Wishes” with the conservative goal to raise $100,000 in 2026, $75,000 more than what TruePros raised alone in 2025 for Kyson.
But it has quickly gained traction, and by the end of April, the program has already exceeded Higgins’ starting goal. Now, Kelsch said, they are thinking bigger for the end of the year, closer to the $1 million mark, surpassing all other Make-A-Wish Utah fundraising initiatives.
“I don’t want people to feel like they’re not big enough to contribute, and I don’t want them to feel like they’re too big to contribute,” Higgins said. “This is all about doing your part in your own way and your own time.”
Even after a devastating winter in 2026 due to lack of snow that put financial strain on many small businesses, Higgins is encouraging creative giving, big or small. Each company can work with Make-A-Wish Utah to build a customized fundraising plan tailored to the goals and values of each company.
It’s a way to give back in a different way than Utah’s trade companies are already doing, Kelsch said.
“Think about what the trades have built for you,” said Kelsh. “They build all your houses, they do all the plumbing and the HVAC and the garage doors and roofs — they build communities.”
They are inviting all trade companies in Utah to join “Trades for Wishes” and join in a large celebration on December 12, on the Day of the Trades. At that event, the Trades
for Wishes companies and staff will gather to surprise a Utah wish child with the news that their wish will be granted.
Higgins and Kelsch imagine a parking lot full of vans from all trades rounded up, branded apparel everywhere and a grinning kid in the middle of it — really bringing a “human element.”
Ultimately, it comes down to what that
grinning kid represents. Medical studies published in the Journal of Pediatric Medicine show that kids who receive wishes do better than kids who don’t. Higgins called it “ a gift of hope.”
“We’re the ones taking care of the weather, the sewer, the water, the roofs, the garage doors, the electricity,” said Higgins. “What about the children?l
Carrie Kelsch, owner of A Plus Garage Doors, and Katy Higgins, owner of TruePros Heating and Air, are teaming up to make children’s wishes come true. (Courtesy Katy Higgins)
‘Twig’ temporary South Branch Library opens on Main Street
The temporary location will be available to patrons while the South Branch is being remodeled.
By Becky Ginos becky.g@thecityjournals.com
BOUNTIFUL—Although
the South Branch Library has closed its doors for the next 18 months, patrons can still get their reading fix. A temporary location, affectionately called the “Twig,” is open for business in the old Wight House clothing store building on Main Street in Bountiful.
“We’ve leased it,” said Davis County Library Director Josh Johnson. “They’ve been very gracious to let us do some things. We went through a couple of different ideas of how to organize it. The branch manager actually came up with the final plan.”
All of the books from the old building that we’re keeping in the collection went to other branches, he said. “So they’re all still available for people.”
Johnson said one of the things they knew the library needed was some meeting space. “We knew we couldn’t do a regular auditorium or conference rooms. But we knew we needed something particularly for children because they’re some of our most avid physical users.”
There is an open area at the front with what used to be a dress display, he said. “The question is what can we do in a physical space. So one of the things here is all of these things (tables, chairs) can be moved for story time or that kind of thing.”
People can put books on hold and have them sent here, said Johnson. “We’ve had such good feedback. If you’re here there’s kind of a light and kind of almost boutique feel. Probably because it used to be a dress shop.”
It’s a great location, he said. “You can stop by on your way to do something downtown. So the idea is that we do have some programming here, but it’s mostly the small programming so we can control the space a little better.”
Honestly, 6,500 square feet sounds like a lot, Johnson said. “But it’s not that much square feet for what we do.”
The Twig will start doing 3D printing now that it’s open, he said. “I think they’re mesmerizing. Patrons can bring in a file and we’ll open the file for them and we might help them alter it a little bit if they don’t know how to 3D print. We charge by weight.”
For the most part they bring in their file and we print it for them, said Johnson. “It’s worked out really well. There may be some opportunity in the future to let people do it themselves.”
They also have a telescope that can be checked out. “In the old building it was never here,” he said. “People just checked it out. When it’s first come first serve it drives people crazy.”
Public internet and a printer are all still available and desks for quiet study are along the back wall. “This is actually where the dressing room used to be,” Johnson said. “There are magazines and DVDs too.”
With the limited space adults are probably a little more willing to put something on hold, he said. “But the kids want something now.”
“I’ve worked at the library for about seven years,” said Abigail Clawson. “The new setup is wonderful. I think it’s great that we’re still able to provide a lot of our normal services. I think a lot of people were really sad to think our building was going to be closed for so long.”
There are several things that were left behind in the building that they’re using such as shelves and an archway in the middle that they decided to keep, said Johnson. “I wasn’t sure about it at first.”
The facilities department built the desks, he said. “There’s a lot of stuff that we just can’t do that they found a way to do.”
Johnson said they’ve had a lot of compliments on the temporary space. “A couple people have said ‘hey you should just stay here.’ We just went through a lot of trouble to get the other building to be where it needs to be. I’ll stick with that one. But it (Twig) is a great location.”
The Twig is located at 85 North Main Street in Bountiful. l
Kayla Camp and her children Elijah, 5 and Matilda, 8 months play a game at the grand opening of the ‘Twig.’ The temporary library is in the old Wight House dress shop building on Main Street. Photo by Becky Ginos
Kaysville survey seeks input on community well-being
Kaysville officials are encouraging residents to take 10 minutes to complete this statewide survey.
By Cindi Mansell c.mansell@mycityjournals.com
City officials are urging residents to take part in a brief but impactful survey that could help shape the future of their community. The 2026 Utah Wellbeing Survey, part of the broader Utah Wellbeing Project led by researchers at Utah State University, is now
open. Kaysville residents are encouraged to spend about 10 minutes completing the questionnaire, which gathers insight into how people across the state perceive their quality of life.
Kaysville is among dozens of cities participating in the statewide effort, which aims to better understand the conditions that contribute to well-being in Utah communities. Survey results will be shared with local leaders and used to inform planning and policy decisions.
“This is an opportunity for residents to have a direct voice in the future of Kays-
ville,” city officials said. “The feedback helps us better understand what matters most to our community.” Researchers say past survey results have revealed both strengths and challenges in Northern Utah communities, offering valuable guidance for city leaders.
The survey explores a wide range of topics, including personal well-being, financial stability, access to recreation, and perceptions of growth and economic development. It also asks residents how connected they feel to their community and what they value most about living in Kaysville.
Participation is open to adults 18 and older who live in Kaysville, either full or part time. While the survey does not collect identifying information, participants are advised that open-ended responses may include details that could be recognizable. However, all public reporting is conducted at the city level, not the individual level.
Respondents may skip any questions they prefer not to answer, and officials ask that residents complete the survey only once. De-identified data may be retained for future research.
The study can be accessed at https:// tinyurl.com/Kaysville2026 and has been approved by the Utah State University Institu-
tional Review Board. Those with questions about the survey can contact project lead Courtney Flint at (435) 797-8635 or Courtney.flint@usu.edu.. l
Small business SECTION
A publication covering the local business world around Davis County
Bountiful merchants hope spring boosts new Downtown Stroll
By Gail Newbold | andersennewbold@gmail.com
Bountiful’s new monthly Main Street Stroll aims to become a community staple, with merchants betting that spring weather and live entertainment will turn modest crowds into steady foot traffic.
Laughter rings out as joyful families and couples on date nights stroll Bountiful’s Main Street ducking into art galleries and boutiques while enjoying yummy snacks from local shops and food trucks.
That description may not capture the reality of the Bountiful Main Street Stroll quite yet, but local merchants have high hopes it soon will as the warmer weather
and longer evenings draw people out.
Beginning last September, the Bountiful Main Street Merchant Association launched the event held from 5 to 8 p.m. the first Friday of each month. Participating businesses keep their doors open later than usual and include art galleries, boutiques, a used book store, yarn store, ice cream shop, restaurants, dance wear shop, bakery and many more.
“Our goal is to have more activities and events on our Historic Main Street and get community members out there and more involved,” said Heather Cunningham, president of the association and communications director for the Strategic Planning Group, located on Main Street in the old Bountiful Lumber Building.
“We have a theme for each month’s stroll,” she continued. “In February it was a Valentine motif with related movies and games. Last month the theme was March madness and in April we focused on Easter and had an egg hunt and other activities.”
The stroll is more than just a way to get people to spend money downtown. According to Cunningham, it’s important to local merchants that people know what downtown has to offer and enjoy the benefits and even the beauty of visiting these unique shops in person. There’s also value in building relationships face to face.
Merchants hope that as word spreads about the event, crowds will grow and over time it will become a “can’t miss” activity. Based on the experiences of other communities like Park City with similar monthly strolls, it could take a good year for that to happen. Other cities have seen great success.
“We had a pretty good turnout in September at our first stroll,” said Cunningham, “and maybe even into October. But
the cold months were challenging and we had rain at some. There were a lot more people at the March stroll. The Book Garden was packed as they were doing their free book days. It was fun seeing how lively everything was. We’re hoping for good weather moving forward, and are planning to add musicians, buskers and food trucks in the parking lot of CleanKIX.”
Even businesses who choose not to stay open late for the event are encouraged to add to the festivities by sprucing up their storefronts or setting up an inter-
active game like cornhole or a chessboard. Promotion for the stroll has included posts on Bountiful Main Street’s Instagram and Facebook, downtown signs, the city and mayor’s newsletters, and word-ofmouth from local merchants.
“Most of our merchants have been positive and hopeful so far,” said Cunningham. “Some have definitely seen an increase in foot traffic and are excited to see what spring and summer will bring. Time will tell. It’s been fun to see more people out walking around on the street.”
An employee at The Book Garden hands out bee-friendly plants to visitors during the Easter Main Street Stroll on Bountiful’s Historic Main Street. Photo by Heather Cunningham
Live music from local buskers fills the street during the Easter Main Street Stroll, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere for attendees. Photo by Heather Cunningham
From garage to growth: Gal’s Garage builds more than barn doors
By Stephanie Morales | s.morales@davisjournal.com
What started as a simple idea in a garage has grown into a thriving, design-driven business rooted in grit, creativity and heart.
The owner of Gal’s Garage Rachel Walker didn’t set out with a massive operation in mind – just a practical problem to solve.
“I had a bunch of friends that were paying such a ridiculous amount (for barn doors),” she said. “I thought, if we could just create barn doors on our own at a really reasonable price, that would be a win-win.”
So she started small – building a few barn doors in her garage. But what happened next was anything but small.
“Within the first week and a half, we did $17,000 in barn doors,” Walker said. “It just blew up overnight.”
That rapid success meant immediate growing pains. Staff were hired within the first month, and the business quickly outgrew its original space.
One of the biggest early challenges was scaling without losing quality.
“I’m a perfectionist,” she said. “I wanted every single customer to have an extraordinary experience, but there’s only one of me.”
Learning how to train a team while
Clients work directly with designers in the showroom to create spaces that are both functional and beautiful.
“To be able to sit down with a designer and think through the flow of a kitchen or workspace – that’s huge,” said Walker. “Cabinetry is a big investment, and you want to get it right.”
Her experience in a male-dominated field has also shaped her leadership.
“There have definitely been times I’ve been underestimated,” she said. “You just have to show people what you can do. Provide an amazing product – and ironically, they always come back.”
Behind the success, however, are long hours and difficult trade-offs – especially as a mother.
She started the business eight years ago with young children, often bringing them to work – even building them a treehouse in the shop. Still, balancing business and family hasn’t always been easy.
orders and keep your sanity.”
Through it all, one lesson stands out.
“You can do hard things,” she said. “You can grow in a field you know nothing about and become really good at it.”
For her, the reward isn’t just in what she builds – it’s in the ability to keep creating.
“If I’m not creating, I’m depressed,” she said. “This gives me the opportunity to make something beautiful every day.”
And while the business continues to grow, she hasn’t lost sight of what matters most.
“No matter how successful you are,” Walker said, “the most important work will always be within the walls of your own home.”
Gal’s Garage is located at 469 Market Street in Kaysville.
maintaining that same level of care was a steep learning curve – but one that paid off. Today, that personalized, family-like approach remains a defining part of the business.
What sets Gal’s Garage apart, she says, is its strong focus on design – and the perspective that comes from being a woman-owned business.
“In a hundred years, nobody will care about the cabinets we installed,” she said. “But my children will remember the time I spent with them.”
That perspective has shaped how she approaches both work and life.
“If I could go back, I would slow down,” Walker said. “We grew really fast. I would’ve told myself it’s OK to take fewer
A home with barn doors by Gal’s Garage. Photo by Stephanie Morales
Gal’s Garage owner Rachel Walker started small – building a few barn doors in her garage at first. Courtesy photo
Local resources support entrepreneurs
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Six ways to get help starting or growing your business.
Starting a new business can be a massive undertaking. Creating a business plan, obtaining loans and developing marketing strategies can feel overwhelming. But in Utah, several organizations want you to succeed and offer resources, mentoring and connections to help build a sustainable business. Here are six places to start.
Utah Small Business Development Center. Located at Salt Lake Community College Miller Campus in Sandy and in Kaysville at Davis Technical College, the SBDC offers free business consulting. Whether your business is just an idea or a built-out concept, working with SBDC professionals can increase your chance of success.
SBDC also provides information about financing, customer relations, employee management and business accounting through the Entrepreneur Academy, workshops and training classes. It also hosts networking events to build support so your business can thrive. To learn more, visit utahsbdc.org.
Suazo Business Center. Nearly 10% of Utah businesses are owned by Latino or Hispanic entrepreneurs. Suazo Business Center is often a first step for members of underserved communities to help them build and grow a thriving company. Bilingual consultants offer advising appointments to create an understanding of small business while providing guidance and mentorship.
With locations in Salt Lake and Ogden, Suazo Business Center has classes in Spanish and English to cover topics like QuickBooks, business development, legal structure, accounting and financing. It also has a series of workshops to tackle issues from HR to government contracts. For more information, visit suazocenter.org.
SCORE Utah. With free business mentoring and low-cost educational workshops, SCORE Utah can help expand your network and grow your business. Its online courses allow entrepreneurs to explore all areas of business ownership, including e-commerce, customer service, crisis management and online marketing.
SCORE Academy premium courses offer inexpensive training in grant writing, AI for business or sales, and marketing strategy. Additionally, SCORE will provide a free mentor who will partner with you on your business journey. Mentors give advice and educate business owners to help them feel supported. To learn more, visit score. org/utah.
Utah Microloan Fund. For business owners who might have a low credit score or no access to collateral, the Utah Microloan Fund is a “lender of last resort” that
can help entrepreneurs who can’t get traditional business loans. It can offer lending to higher-risk clients because its purpose is about creating impact, not profit.
For 35 years, the organization has funded microloans to help people build their dreams. By providing training and financing to businesses that don’t qualify for traditional funding, the Utah Microloan Fund is a resource for those who have been declined for a bank loan. The microloans are set at a fixed rate, with up to six years for repayment.
Plus, its popular Banking on Women program helps women create a business plan and apply for funding to make it a success. Visit utahmicroloanfund.org/orientation for more information.
Local Chambers of Commerce. For advocacy and networking, the local Chamber of Commerce is a great place to connect with like-minded business owners, find opportunities for promotion and get your company involved with volunteer activities.
The Salt Lake Chamber is the biggest
the primary organization for businesses in Davis County.
There are also specialized chambers, including the Utah Black Chamber, the Utah
answer to your prayers. Spice Kitchen provides hands-on learning for refugees and other disadvantaged community members interested in creating a food business.
Small business owners in Utah have many resources and organizations available to help make their dreams a reality. (Stock photo)
Community Connection and Self-Care
Construction begins on new hotel at former J&L nursery site
MOM’S DAY TO SHINE
By Becky Ginos | becky.g@thecityjournals.com
SATURDAY, MAY 9 | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Join us for crafts, a sound-bath experience, giveaways, and more!
Sound-bath from 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM by Divine Yoga Studio
Support Mental Health In Our Community Purchase a Spark Sign for the North Davis Project Illumination fundraiser www.projectillumination.org/home
A Towneplace Suites by Marriott will replace the Holiday Inn Express after it was taken over for the I-15 expansion.
BOUNTIFUL—A new Towneplace Suites by Marriott is underway next to Culver’s in Bountiful on the lot that was previously J&L Garden Center. The hotel is replacing the Holiday Inn Express across the street that was taken over by the state for the I-15 expansion.
The 52,402 square foot hotel will have 87 rooms and include an indoor pool and other amenities. Wright Development is the developing company and Somerset Construction, which is a subsidiary, will be working on the project.
“When we lost our building a couple of years ago I got notice from UTA,” said Mohammad Islam, CEO of the company that owns and operates the hotel. “So the first thing I did was look for land to replace it. We got lucky that our friend Wright Development bought this land.”
They didn’t have any hotel experience, he said. “They wanted to build apartments here, then they reached out to me and we became partners. Then I bought back the land.”
Islam said they are very proud to be in the city. “People are nice. Customers are good people and all the employees are much better to manage. We are hoping to do more.”
As construction began the crew found some remnants of the nursery.
“We were digging down over to do the foundation and we were finding concrete nine feet or so down,” said Wright Development Superintendent Ryan Smith, whose family owned
J&L. “I talked to my dad and he said my grandpa was always trying to push the creek over and so he poured that concrete to do it.”
Smith said it used to come into this property a little bit so his grandpa just slowly pushed it back more and more. “Every now and then it floods now because of its sharp end.”
Seeing the property used in this way Smith said is cool. “My grandpa always wanted to build a hotel here which is fun. It’s a small world.”
Completion is anticipated for February 2027, he said. “That’s what we’re shooting for. Hopefully it’s another good winter next year like we had this year.”
“We’re really excited to have this hotel,” said Bountiful Mayor Kate Bradshaw. “We haven’t had a hotel I don’t think since the Bountiful Hotel and saloon days. We have a lot of events that come through the recreation district or other things and people need somewhere to stay and we want to make sure that they have an option to stay in Bountiful. As they’re doing I-15 projects the city is happy they can still have a local option.”
Bradshaw said she’s glad to see the lot built on. “As someone who grew up in Bountiful, it was just the J&L Nursery. So since the nursery closed and this property kind of sat for a bit it was great to see Culver’s come in. It’ll be wonderful to see this other piece fully activate and help build out this kind of edge on the north end.”
Mohammad Islam, CEO and Bountiful Mayor
Kate Bradshaw turn dirt for a new Towneplace Suites by Marriott going in next to Culver’s.
Photo by Becky Ginos
Rendering of the new Towneplace Suites by Marriott being built on the old J&L Garden Center site. The hotel will have 87 rooms and an indoor pool. Courtesy
New Jersey transplant brings East Coast bagels to Bountiful
By Kerry Angelbuer | k.angelbuer@mycityjournals.com
Starting as an at-home business during COVID, Cheryl’s Bagels now has a storefront in Bountiful selling authentic East Coast bagels.
Before COVID, Cheryl Mignone started thinking about where she would like to retire and realized that she didn’t want to wait. She loved the people in Utah and decided to give up the “chaotic, frantic vibe” of New Jersey for the more “relaxed, warm and inviting vibe” of Utah. With a bachelor’s in business administration and a master’s in healthcare administration, she never pictured opening up a bagel shop. She believes, however, that giving up her job in the financial department at an East Coast university and getting to Utah was particularly well timed. COVID hit her relatives back in New Jersey much harder than her experience in Utah.
During COVID, when everyone around her was baking sour dough, she realized that she really missed the bagels that she could get back home. No one had a bagel recipe, adjusted for high altitude, that was like the chewy, crispy bagels she could get back home. She once brought six dozen bagels home in a suitcase from a visit back east and froze them for family use, but making them seemed a better option. It took her six months to perfect the recipe for her family. Neighbors who had tasted the bagels, asked if she would consider selling them. She was somewhat reluctant but gave it a try. People would order them on Instagram and then come pick them
up at her house. Her business thrived and soon became too large to sustain out of her home. In 2023, she opened her storefront, Cheryl’s Bagels at 273 West 500 South in Bountiful. “Start your day Cheryl’s way” reflects their early day focus.
The menu at her shop reflects strong family ties with bagel sandwiches named for both her parents and her two boys. “The James” for example, named for her youngest son who will soon graduate from the University of Utah reflects her son’s spicy tastes: egg, bacon, pepper jack and cheddar jalapeño cream cheese. One of her offerings is the “Bee Sting” which is the brainchild of the O’Bagel shop in Hoboken, New Jersey which is another breakfast sandwich egg, sausage, scallion cream cheese and hot honey.
Mignone and her nine part-time employees make 25 to 70 dozen bagels per day depending on special orders and demand. Although each bagel takes three days to mix, proof, boil and bake, Mignone’s passion for the perfect fresh bagel means that any bagel that doesn’t sell the day it is baked it is donated. Fresh bagels should be delicious enough that they don’t need to be toasted – in fact they can be “eaten like a donut” one delicious bite at a time. Mignone is all “about community” and has many loyal customers that were there at the beginning and keep coming back and bringing their friends and growing families.
Cheryl’s Bagels is open 7:30 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
COATS KIDS CARSHOW SHOW FOR
Cheryl Mignone, a New Jersey native, owns a small business in Bountiful selling authentic East Coast bagels, chewy and crisp – always fresh. Courtesy photo
City adopts rules for hydrant meters and noise permits
North Salt Lake City Council passed Resolution 2026-13R which raises the bond to use a water hydrant meters, and sets the fee for a noise disturbance permit at $175.
By Megan Fisher m.fisher@davisjournal.com
During the North Salt Lake City Council meeting March 13, two changes were made regarding fees for city services. Up until very recently, a $2,000 bond was required to be paid for the use of a water hydrant meter in a construction project, which would then be refunded when the appliance
was returned to City Hall in the same quality as it was found. The bond is to ensure that damage brought upon the water hydrant meter during the course of construction can be fixed, or the meter replaced, if necessary. Total replacement costs could come to as much as $2,887. After much deliberation, mainly between Sherrie Pace, City Development Director, and Jon Lovato, Water Superintendent, it was determined that the $2,000 bond was not sufficient.
With the approval of Resolution 2026-13R the bond price was raised to $3,000, thereby ensuring full coverage of the cost to fix any potential damage or replace a hydrant meter.
Last year, North Salt Lake adopted amendments to their noise ordinances. Sec-
QUALITY MANAGER
GUSTO BRAZIL - Full-time
Send resume and cover letter to roger@gustobrazil.com
850 S 3600 W STE F SALT LAKE CITY UT - (801) 648-9096 - Salary $78,250.00
• Develop and maintain HACCP/Preventive Controls, GMP, allergen control, sanitation verification, and environmental monitoring programs.
• Create/update SOPs, inspection protocols, and quality manuals to meet FDA/USDA and GFSI (BRCGS/SQF/FSSC 22000) standards.
• Monitor quality data using FMEA, PPAP, SPC; identify trends and implement corrective actions.
• Lead internal audits and prepare for external customer, regulatory, and certification audits.
• Train and supervise QA/QC staff; support continuous improvement (Kaizen, 5S).
• Work with suppliers on raw material compliance and corrective actions.
• Manage documentation systems for traceability (batch records, inspections, audits).
• Stop production for serious defects/food safety risks; lead rootcause investigations.
• Partner with Operations/Maintenance to reduce defects and downtime and improve yield/ efficiency.
**Requirements:**
• Minimum 2 years QA/QC experience in manufacturing (food or related).
**Preferred:**
• Knowledge of HACCP/GMP, SPC, metrology, mechanical drawings; ISO 9001/14001 auditing; Kaizen/5S.
• Ability to lead teams, conduct audits, and implement CAPA.
FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST
RICHMARK PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC - Full-time Send resume and cover letter to recruitment.richmark@hotmail.com
134 S 400 E SALT LAKE CITY UT - (970) 352-9446 - Salary $50,762.00
• Prepare, review, and maintain accurate financial statements, reports, and records.
• Manage accounts payable and receivable, reconciliations, and general ledger functions.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow monitoring to support strategic decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with tax regulations and assist with tax filings.
• Conduct financial analysis and provide actionable insights for process optimization and cost savings.
• Support audits and maintain compliance with internal policies and external regulations.
• Utilize Excel (including advanced functions such as macros, pivot tables, and VLOOKUP/PROCH), QuickBooks, and ERP systems for data management and reporting.
• Collaborate with management to streamline processes and improve financial controls.
• Negotiate contracts and vendor agreements to optimize operational costs. **Requirements:**
• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in finance and accounting**
• Excel (including advanced functions such as macros, pivot tables, and VLOOKUP/ PROCH), QuickBooks, and ERP systems.
tion 4-4-9 of the city code allows for an application to be submitted for a permit allowing for noise disturbances outside of the city’s permitted hours. From 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. between 60 dBA (Weighted Sound Pressure Level) or 10 above the ambient sound is allowed, and at night from 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. between 50 and 75 dBA or 5 above ambient sound is allowed. When the amendment was added to city code it did not have a fee associated with the permit, though it did say that
Notice is hereby given that on the 13th day of May, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Davis County Administration Building at 61 South Main Street, Farmington, Utah 84025, Room 303. The Davis County Controller, Scott Parke, will offer for sale at public auction and sell to the highest bidder pursuant to the provisions of Section 59-2-1351.1 Utah Code, the following described real property located in Davis County and now delinquent and subject to tax sale. No bid less than the total amount of taxes, penalties, interest and costs which are a charge on the real estate will be accepted.
01-113-0049 Abel, Joe Shannon & Dauneen, Property address: 149 South 350 East, North Salt Lake, UT .26 acres $1,813.05
02-173-0010 Green, Steven R & Kristine C, Property address: Centerville, UT .01 acres
$122.70
03-038-0029 Eggett, Jeri Ann, Property address: 1260 South 200 West, Bountiful, UT .49 acres $12,410.86
03-114-3202 Richey, Joshua, Property address: 650 South Main Street #3202, Bountiful, UT .00 acres $9,122.86
04-046-0034 Barela, Manuel Joe Jr, Property address: Mountain Side close to Bountiful, UT 9.40 acres
$1,556.55
04-046-0036 Salcido, Merardo, Property address: Mountain Side close to Bountiful, UT 5.15 acres $955.86
05-022-0037 Rawson, Laprele, Property address: 2332 South 300 East, Bountiful, UT .33 acres $33,256.02
05-066-0205 Hatch, Kenneth L, Property address: 571 East Chelsea Drive, Bountiful, UT .449 acres $47,891.02
05-069-0023 Rasmussen, Cory A, Property address: Bountiful, UT .308 acres $3,096.61 05-071-0010 Salazar, Evelia C, Property address: Bountiful, UT .193 acres $1,401.57
06-033-0029 Bobs Tree Service Incorporated, Property address: Woods Cross, UT 5.071 acres $75,017.60
06-034-0168 Illing, Carol Anne, Property address: West Bountiful, UT .05758 acres
$470.99
06-249-0012 Uplinger, Jennifer A, Property address: 1561 South 1450 West, Woods Cross, UT .18 acres $16,000.47
08-010-0127 GMW Development Inc., Property address: Kaysville, UT .01 acres
$117.91
08-049-0080 Gordon, Michelle E, Property address: 1467 N Cherry Blossom Drive, Farmington, UT .33 acres $13,706.32
08-347-0208 Haun, Andrea, Property address: 516 South 1175 West, Farmington, UT .81 acres $33,512.24
08-639-0001 Clark, Andrew Ellsworth & Megan Oshea, Property address: 368 West State Street, Farmington, UT .46 acres
one would be established.
Resolution 2026-13R sets the application fee at $175. The number was chosen with the recommendation of city staff, who researched the application fees at nearby cities, which were in the $100-$250 range. City staff wanted the fee to be low, but not so low that it’s easier to buy the noise disturbance permit than take the steps to not violate the ordinance.
Resolution 2026- 13R passed unanimously, and went into effect immediately. l
$15,148.97
09-053-0036 Halls, Kenneth C & Susan E, Property address: Layton, UT .148 acres $872.91
09-067-0322 Young, Frank, Property address: 2264 North 2650 East, Layton, UT .28 acres $20,954.50
09-171-0061 Tingey, Merrill & Nicole, Property address: Layton, UT .02 acres $125.78
09-226-0002 Esskay Investment Company –ETAL, Property address: 2137 North 2800 East, Layton, UT .349 acres $10,835.80
09-310-0004 Gilleland, Brooke, Property address: 2475 East 1900 North, Layton, UT .00 acres $5,477.02
10-139-0031 Peterson, Mikyong, Property address: 1121 North 150 West, Layton, UT .14 acres $9,786.85
11-002-0080 Shurtliff, Robert L, Property Address: Layton, UT .05 acres $239.49
11-232-0920 Dorius, Val E, Property address: 1005 E 750 South, Layton, UT .162 acres $14,025.73
12-325-0730 Dorius, Val, Property address: 1403 North 2525 West, Layton, UT .19 acres $13,114.11
12-660-0312 Gougousis, Chris Tony & Tricia Macy-Chan, Property address: 3001 South 1325 West, Syracuse, UT .34 acres $20,764.52
12-726-0002 - 12-726-0007 CEMKG LC, Property address: 2107 West 1700 South, Syracuse, UT 1.344 acres $59,408.28
13-057-0005 Graham, Shawn D, Property address: Sunset, UT .025 acres $156.16
The above amount is representative of the taxes, penalties, and interest through May 13, 2026. It does not include any costs related to the sale such as advertising, mailings or title reports. For a current payoff, please contact the Davis County Treasurer’s office @ 801451-3243. Payments may be made in the form of check or cash or Card payment including processing fee.
Once the County Auditor has closed the sale of a particular parcel of property as a result of accepting a bid on the parcel, the successful bidder or purchaser of the property may not unilaterally rescind the bid. The County legislative body, after acceptance of a bid, may enforce the terms of the bid by obtaining a legal judgment against the purchaser in the amount of the bid, plus interest and attorney’s fees. Section 59-2-1351.1
Keep in mind that the sale is a “buyer beware” sale. If you purchase property, you will later be provided with a recorded Tax Deed, which is similar to a Quit Claim Deed. It is your obligation to have researched each property you’re interested in.
When astronaut Neil Armstrong took those first steps on the moon, I had just celebrated my first birthday. I don’t remember either event, but the entire world held its breath as it watched Apollo 11 land, while I shoved my hands into a birthday cake.
That moon mission used less technology than your bathroom scale. It was basically human calculations, a slide rule and a Rand McNally paper map that guided those astronauts on the first lunar road trip.
We were told that space was the final frontier; space was the future. We learned that, like age and teenagers, space isn’t forgiving.
As a Murray High School senior, my home ec advisor wheeled a TV into the classroom to watch the Space Shuttle Challenger carry the first teacher, Christa McAuliffe, into space. We were speechless when the shuttle blew up at 46,000 feet. In February 2003, I watched the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster unfold as the spacecraft disintegrated on re-entry.
To say I was apprehensive watching the Artemis II mission launch to the moon would be an astronomical understatement.
On April 1, NASA perched the Orion space capsule atop a 300-foot rocket, one of the most powerful ever built. It launched a team of four astronauts 250,000 miles away from Earth, the farthest humans have ever traveled, discounting alien abductions, of course.
Unlike the catapulted station wagon that
Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
Copy, Moon Joy
somehow got us to the moon during Apollo missions, Orion uses autonomous navigation and extreme precision, carrying astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit for the first time in more than 50 years, traveling at speeds up to 25,000 mph.
It was the 10th manned moon exploration, or for conspiracy theorists, the 10th “faked” moon mission. The entire adventure was livestreamed so we could travel together.
Space exploration is equal parts wonder, technology and angst. During the 10-day moon trip, I endured galactic levels of anxiety. Launch sent my blood pressure soaring. My jaw clenched while they circled the moon on April 6, and my internal organs somersaulted during splashdown on April 10.
I was hyperaware that dreams explode and rockets fall apart.
Apollo missions were built on bravery, and America was racing to beat Russians to the moon. Now, Artemis is an international collaboration, one that should remind us we only sur-
vive this wild ride by working together.
In Greek mythology, Artemis is Apollo’s twin sister and goddess of the moon. It is an apt comparison: while the first moon missions had bro energy, the Artemis program continues the story in a wiser, more thoughtful way.
Women play key roles in the Artemis program. Besides the first female to fly on a moon mission, there are female science officers, mission leads and launch directors. In fact, for the first time in NASA’s history, the current astronaut class has more women than men.
If I could do math while enduring crushing g-forces and the stomach-dropping sensation of freefall, I would definitely have been in the space program. Instead, I appreciate the life of an astronaut from the comfort of my recliner.
Apollo gave us “One giant leap,” Challenger dropped us to our knees and Artemis refocused our gaze. These missions remind us to look to the stars, but also look to our beautiful, blue planet. We only have each other. We should start acting like it.
As I approach my next birthday, one I hope I remember, I raise a glass to the dreamers, the heroes, to the brilliant engineers in mission control and the fearless astronauts who explore new paths. It reminds us that even when the story goes wrong, we need to keep looking up.
Peri Kinder is an award-winning columnist and journalist who has written for The City Journals since 2004. She can be reached at peri.k@thecityjournals.com
