July 2020 | Vol. 20 Iss. 07
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‘BELOVED MAYOR,’ TRAILBLAZER DIES AFTER SERVING MIDVALE 68 YEARS By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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verlooking I-15 in the heart of Salt Lake Valley is an electronic billboard paying tribute to a beloved mayor, just days after JoAnn Seghini died. Seghini served two decades as Midvale mayor and three terms as city council member—as well as serving as an elementary teacher then up to an assistant superintendent over curriculum for Jordan School District. She was 82. An outpouring of tributes came about from the community, friends and colleagues when news hit that Midvale’s first female mayor and first female city councilwoman died June 19 after suffering several recent strokes. Seghini retired from the helm of the city 2 1/2 years ago. Current Midvale Mayor Robert Hale posted on the city’s Facebook site: “Mayor Seghini was a dedicated public servant who served Midvale for more than 68 years.” It continued with “Using her endless energy, she led, uplifted, and championed the residents, non-profits and businesses of Midvale City.” Former city council member and current planning and zoning member Colleen Costello said helping was “part of her DNA.” “She always had this ability that she could help—whatever she can do, wherever she could, her door was always open,” said Costello, who spent the last 40 years working alongside her. “She poured her heart into everything.” City Manager Kane Loader, who knew Seghini for more Former Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini cuts the ribbon to Midvale Middle School Aug. 8, 2017 to welcome students to a home with upgraded technolthan 30 years, agreed. ogy capabilities. (Julie Slama/City Journals) Continued page 3
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Continued from front page “She always looked out for those who were the most in need,” he said. “Midvale is the city with the heart.” Seghini championed to have The Road Home overflow shelter in Midvale, along with the LifeStart Village transitional housing, a women’s and children’s shelter and build up the Midvale Boys & Girls Club. Wasatch Property Management CEO Dell Loy Hansen worked with Seghini on city housing projects for seniors and the homeless. “Mayor Seghini was one of those people that you meet in life that has the ability to see what people need and knows how to effectively fulfill those needs through government,” he said. In fact, it is in Jordan Bluffs on a former EPA Superfund site he’s developing where a street is named after her. Midvale’s slag site was listed on the EPA Superfund list for 24 years before being removed five years ago. Costello’s father worked in the smelter until it closed in 1958. “It looked like a pile of black mountains,” she said. “We were actually the poster child for the EPA. Midvale has absolutely prospered with her at the helm.” The redevelopment site has led to businesses relocating to Midvale, offering the community thousands of jobs, Midvale City Economic Development Director Christopher Butte said. He said Seghini led the 1996 annexation of of Union Fort and South Union Fort that doubled the size of Midvale in land and population. “She had to tackle difficult issues,” Butte said. “It put Midvale on the grid.” While serving as mayor—after working for Jordan School District for 36 years—she would be known to slip into an elementary classroom to read and support Hillcrest’s performing arts programs. In 2017, she told the Midvale Journal, “I’ve had many titles, but the one I am the most proud of is teacher.” However, her hardest decision, Loader said, involved her loyalty to Jordan District during the issue of the district split and formation of the Canyons District. Part of the
issue of staying with Jordan District was Midvale’s secondary school students would be bused to West Jordan as their schools were to be torn down. “She said, ‘I’m going to stay neutral on this until I hear from the people and how the people want to vote,’” he said. “Once the decision was made, she jumped in with both feet; she put full effort into making Canyons School District happen. She said it was the best decision for the people of Midvale.” Seghini was proud when two new schools were constructed, and two others began their rebuilds. Costello said it was the teacher in her that “always saw the potential” in people. About 15 years ago, Seghini wanted more high school students to have that opportunity and changed the Miss Midvale pageant to the Midvale Youth Ambassador scholarship program “to emphasize the importance of education and service to the community,” said Candy Tippets, who was the Youth Ambassador volunteer director and now serves on the city’s planning and zoning committee. “She wanted it to be more inclusive. She wanted the underserved populations to be served. She cared about Midvale.” It’s the city where she grew up and returned to raise her two sons as a single mother, Costello said. Seghini’s first job was at Vincent Drug on Main Street where she served milkshakes and malts. Costello, eight years younger than Seghini, went to school with her brother, John. Seghini’s father, Ben Bagley, was an attorney for the city and her mother was active in civic clubs and organizations. “JoAnn went to Jordan High (and had all her high school credits so) by the age of 16, she started at the University of Utah,” she said. While wearing poodle skirts and saddle shoes, writing for the Beetdiggers’ newspaper and being on the debate team, Seghini was accepted on an early admission scholarship sponsored by the Ford Foundation. She went on to earn her master’s and doctorate degrees. “She was brilliant; she was absolutely brilliant,” Loader said. “She could pick things up so quickly. She was just very per-
Former Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini, seen here in her office, in the same building where 19 other pictures of Midvale mayors – all men – hang on the wall. (Photo courtesy of Midvale City)
ceptive.” She also knew how to work with others and how to get them to work together, he said. “She was the voice of reason on the City Council,” he said. “There was always contention on the council between members themselves and the mayor and they would put her in the middle of things to calm things down. That was the first thing I noticed about her is her ability to bring out civility and respect.” Costello said she was officially a parttime mayor, but full-time by commitment and her love for the city. Loader remembers when Seghini was recuperating from surgery during her last mayoral term, he filled in attending the government-related boards and commissions of the 34 boards Seghini was active in—and said he was “frazzled.” He asked how she did it. Her answer: “’You got to love it.’ She loved serving the people,” he said. “She’s the most conscientious public servant I’ve ever known.” That service stems from her faith, Costello said, who was active in Saint Therese Catholic Church with Seghini. U.S. Rep. Ben McAdams agreed Segh-
ini’s dedication came from “deep religious faith and really believed putting that belief into action. Mayor Seghini is one of the most caring and compassionate people I’ve ever met. She brings a sense of duty and caring to the job and it was contagious. She inspired all of us (mayors of cities and the county) to be better people, better public servants. She would always encourage us to pause, to think about why we are doing what we are doing and usually have us come together.” McAdams said his “dear friend and mentor” worried children in the Boys & Girls Club wouldn’t have proper attire for the summertime recreation, so Seghini headed up a drive to provide them the needed supplies and clothing. “She was always aware, always making it a kinder, gentler place,” he said. “She earned respect; she didn’t pound her fist. She didn’t compromise her values. There were no limits where she could go (to serve in office). She was happy serving Midvale. She moved Midvale forward in ways that the city will see successes for decades to come.” More on the full story of Seghini and her life can be found at midvalejournal.com.
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July 2020 | Page 3
Places to explore while staying close to home By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com
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t’s summertime in Midvale, but this year is different. Many, if not all, of the summer festivals and celebrations we’re used to have been canceled or postponed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still get out and learn more about our city. Thinking about the hardships of the past might help bring some perspective to our current situation.
cated at 7192 S. Union Park Ave., is a replica of the original home that was dismantled in 1994 to make way for retail space and parking. At that point, it was believed to be the oldest pioneer home still standing on its original site. The 1,620-square-foot building is currently vacant, though it was most recently occupied by Prettyman Construction. The current owners of the shopping Shops at Fort Union/Union Fort center have been rolling out changes to the The Shops at Fort Union was built on surrounding streetscape, including improved land that was once known as Union Fort. The pedestrian access and more sidewalks. community of Union was settled by pioneers in Union Park To the west of the old Union Fort site is 1849. Five years later they built walls of rock, clay and adobe 12-feet high to protect the 23 Union Park. A hidden gem, the oasis offers an expanse of green grass to explore under the homes and a school from perceived threats. The Jehu Cox house is the most visible shade of mature cottonwood trees. A memorial stands in tribute to Midreminder of the settlement. The structure, lo-
Pony Express Station Marker: 7158 S. State St.
Jehu Cox House replica: 7192 S. Union Park Ave.
Black Goose Design/Sharon Steel Smelter office building: 7652 S. Holden St.
Union Park: 7360 S. 700 East
Midvale Performing Arts Center/ Former City Hall: 695 W. Center St.
A replica of the Jehu Cox house is surrounded by the Shops at Fort Union. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)
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vale residents who served during World War that the monument was dedicated before the I. The choice of wording, “To the honor of 1940s, when World War II took place. our boys who served in world war,” indicates Pony Express Station Marker
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The famed Pony Express Trail was a cross-country mail delivery system that operated from 1860 to 1861. The trail featured 184 stations between Missouri and California and one was right here in Midvale. Known as Traveler’s Rest, the small adobe building offered a respite for riders between the station in Salt Lake City in the north and Point of the Mountain to the south. A historical marker stands on a patch grass near Shane Co. on State Street.
Main Street (5th Avenue to Center Street)
Midvale’s Main Street is lined with charming vintage architecture and shade trees. The most iconic building was once home to Vincent Drug. The iconic storefront was featured in several TV shows and movies, including “The Sandlot.” The drug store and soda shop closed for business in 2003, but tourists still come by to snap photos. At the southeast corner of Main and Center streets stands the former Midvale City Hall. Built in 1939, the building is an example of the Art Modern style and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is now the Midvale Performing Arts Center.
tions have since been cleaned up and are now built up or slated for development. The last remaining relic of the smelting industry is a stately red brick building at 7652 S. Holden St. that served as the administrative building for the Sharon Steel Corporation more than 100 years ago. Nancy Long purchased the building in 1985 and opened Black Goose Design, an interior design and homewares shop. Long then went on to create the nearby Gardner Village, which her two children now own and operate. According to the Black Goose Design website, the building has also been home to a rec center, a doctor’s office and a seamstress shop. But it still features the original radiators, hardwood floors and two walk-in safes where the worker’s payroll was once guarded. One safe currently contains discounted items, the other holds fabric samples. l
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Smelting, the process of extracting metal from ore, took place in Midvale for nearly 100 years— from 1872 to 1971. Access to The former Sharon Steel Smelter office building on railroads and a source of water (the Jordan Holden Street now houses a high-end home furnishRiver) made it an ideal site. The large parcels ings store. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals) of land that were contaminated by the opera-
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Briscoe remembered as a humble, confident communicator and leader of Canyons School District By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
A
couple years ago, Superintendent Jim Briscoe brought apples to each Canyons School District school in honor of apple appreciation week. “It was his way of showing appreciation for the hard work of the teachers and administrators, but it was also him sharing his love of apples as he’s an apple connoisseur,” Brighton Principal Tom Sherwood said. “He’s visible, letting people know he cares, but he always puts someone else in the spotlight.” On Jan. 13, Briscoe may have caught many colleagues off guard when he announced his retirement. He will step down June 30 to be replaced by Juab School District Superintendent Rick L. Robins. Briscoe, who worked 38 years in public education, served six of his years in Canyons School District’s 11-year history. “He is a great guy, providing healing when it was sorely needed in the school district,” Board of Education member Mont Millerberg said. “We were a new district, with growing pains, and Jim came from out of state, got out to the schools and met families. He listened to people, valued community opinion and provided real leadership with his calm demeanor.” Board President Nancy Tingey, who sat on the superintendent search subcommittee, agrees: “He immediately fit in. His experience, his passion, his dedication of education is very evident. He’s an educator in every sense of the word. He’s friendly; he’s approachable. He’s very intuitive about people and issues; he really gets to the heart of an issue. He visits classrooms and when invited, he’ll come and read to kids.” She said that early on, Briscoe would go into faculty lunchrooms to join them for lunch. “He’s such a people person and wanted to get to know them as people. It surprised and impressed them,” she said. “He often talks about his time in the classroom. That is his foundation of experiences and values and helps him so he can relate to not only teachers, but parents and students. He has an ability to connect with the people whether its individually or a large group. He’s able to relate with everyone.” Sherwood recalls sitting on top of Brighton High’s football press box with Briscoe, watching the Bengals play, talking candidly. “He loves football (Briscoe was a threeyear letterman at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater), and wrestling (he lettered as a college freshman). He loves sports—skiing, fishing, hunting. He also is very quick with a joke or a funny story, but at the same time, he’s always very gracious and generous with praise. He will recognize a department or
Page 6 | July 2020
people who do exceptional or positive things. He makes people feel valued and he always is praising the Board,” Sherwood said. Briscoe said he always wanted to be a teacher, crediting his own teachers as role models. “I always knew, especially in high school, there was no question in my mind, I was going to college to be a teacher,” he said. “I enjoy the relationships, getting to know my teachers and felt they were interested in me as a person. I always thought it was a positive thing that these teachers had so much impact on so many kids’ lives.” After teaching, he served as a principal in Wisconsin and Illinois, before serving as a superintendent for two Chicago school districts. However, nothing surprised him moving from 6,000 students to Canyons’ 34,000 students. “From the day I got off the plane and walked into this community, I could feel that the people just love being a part of this community and want to give back and help others, help the students and help the school district,” Briscoe said in his first interview with the City Journals in 2014. Once he settled in, Briscoe looked at the culture of the schools. “I needed to better understand how to address that as quickly as I could, to improve the culture in the school system, to make teachers feel valued, to make all the support staff feel valued, to make sure principals felt supported, parents and teachers had opportunities for feedback and in all the issues we deal with, it all boils down to making people feel valued in the organization,” he said. “I think I’m a leader when I need to be. I’m a facilitator when I need to be. I’m a colleague when I need to be and just another resident and patron when I need to be. I think they’re all my kids. I think every time I have a discussion with the administrators and board members, I always remember that every kid in this district is my responsibility. Every student here is important to me.” Almost immediately, Briscoe addressed and resolved issues that frustrated patrons. After one year of no early Friday dismissals in elementary school, he restored them so faculty could hold professional development trainings. He added elementary school “Brain Booster” rotations of STEM, art, drama, PE, and library times. Briscoe also resolved the boundary changes when many Alta High students shifted to Corner Canyon High, leaving a disparity in enrollment, Canyons Chief Financial Officer and Business Administrator Leon Wilcox recalled. “He always listens; he takes calls,” Wilcox said. “He’s out in the community, talking
Canyons School District Superintendent Jim Briscoe has served 34,000 students for six years; he will retire June 30. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
to people. They all may not always agree with his decision, but he listens and lets them feel valued. He gets along great with students, business partners, bus drivers, lunch workers, principals and teachers, instructional specialists, custodians, parents, our (Canyons Education) Foundation and (Canyons) Board (of Education), legislators, mayors, and even taxpayers who don’t have kids in the system.” Briscoe used his ability to relate to people when he talked to the community and stakeholders, gaining support for the 2017 $283-million bond which voters approved to rebuild Hillcrest and Brighton high schools, Union Middle School, Midvalley and Peruvian Park elementaries; build a White City as well as a Draper elementary, remodel Alta High and has already added a classroom wing and expanded the cafeteria at Corner Canyon High. He supports students’ academic achievements as their test scores are “well above state average,” with state year-end testing and as more students are graduating, Wilcox said. “Canyons School District as a whole… we were at 83, 84% graduation rate…now, we’re almost 90% districtwide, which is a massive, huge increase in graduation rate, which we are all really proud of,” Briscoe said, adding that graduates of Diamond Ridge High, which was started under his tenure, have contributed to that increase. He also has talked with students individually, getting to know and help them. Sandy Elementary Principal Christie Webb remembers Briscoe visiting at her former school when a student was in the office after making a poor decision. “He helped the student understand the poor choice that was made and realize a dif-
ferent decision should be made,” she said. “He is great with kids and he likes kids. He’s been wonderful, supportive of teachers and administration, respectful of parents, and communicates well our wants and needs to the Board. He always thinks through his decision process and looks for the impact of what his decisions are and communicates that.” Another thing Webb and others have appreciated is Briscoe’s leadership in developing a responsive services department that can provide social and emotional wellness resources and curriculum to students and educators. “He also put a full-time counselor or psychologist in each elementary school and said to let him know if more help is needed,” Webb said. The past two years, Briscoe has supported the Board’s push to increase teachers’ salaries, which when announced last year at the teacher-of-the-year ceremony, was met with standing applause. Tingey said she appreciates Briscoe’s weekly district updates he delivers to the Board. “He’s got a humble confidence,” Tingey said. “He approaches the duties and challenges, drawing on his experience, not only his, but of others and the skills and talents of others. He understands the teamwork. He’s a hard worker. He’s always thinking and analyzing; he’s quick to jump and help wherever help is needed. He’s always calm, and even when, and especially when, things don’t go as planned, he will take the time to work through the issues.” That calm leadership was apparent especially in his final few months during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wilcox said. “Two weeks before school was closed,
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In July 2019, Canyons School District Superintendent Jim Briscoe helps to cut and serve cake to the community to celebrate Canyons District’s 10-year anniversary. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
he was already thinking about so many issues from lunches to making sure there was a platform for student learning from hot spots to grading, and of course, graduation and yearend events,” Wilcox said. “He was thinking of every possible contingency out there and brought in principals and others, and asked them, ‘what am I missing?’ He wanted to know how else he could support them to keep the education and learning for students going.” While Briscoe is retiring, he doesn’t want the attention focused on him. The inside joke is that he shut down the schools to avoid having a retirement gala. “I have received calls and emails from principals, teachers and parents thanking me for my service,” Briscoe said. “I’m a superintendent and one person in the organization, and I appreciate some of the kind words of what people have said, but it’s a result of a lot of hard work from our school board, our
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MidvaleJournal.com
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July 2020 | Page 7
What’s your legacy?
Hillcrest High seniors receive coin to commemorate ‘unimaginable’ graduating year By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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hortly after the drive-by commencement, Hillcrest High graduates received a commemorative medallion reminding them to “go forward and never doubt your ability to change the future.” It was a gift from Hillcrest High PTSA. “We normally hold a graduation night party, but we weren’t able to do that this year (because of the social distancing response to the COVID-19 pandemic),” Hillcrest PTSA President Karen Conder said. “We talked to the students and asked what they’d like. They said they’d like to have something they could keep to remember their graduation.” While the school distributed Class of 2020 yard signs, Conder said the PTSA looked at something that would last. “We wanted them to have something special,” she said. After investigating several ideas, the PTSA board decided the coin was the ideal gift. “I think seniors will feel loved and honored and when they see this, they’ll feel they’re important and have accomplished their graduation goal,” Conder said. The 2.5-millimeter thick coin is coated with antique nickel. The front shows the 58-year-old school building encircled with the words “Hillcrest High School Class of 2020 – Husky Strong” in green enamel. The back of the coin shows the Husky logo with their graduation quote from President Franklin D. Roosevelt: “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” In the sleeve, the PTSA included: “Side
Hillcrest High student body president Kate Timmerman holds her Class of 2020 commemorative coin, a gift from the school PTSA. (Photo courtesy of Stacey Timmerman)
one represents you, the class of 2020. Be Husky Strong forever. Side two represents your future. Be proud to be a Husky.” Graduating student body president Kate Timmerman received the first coin. “The coin was a perfect symbol of the years that we have had at Hillcrest,” she said. “It was so nice to get something that we could keep for a long time, and remember our unique and unimaginable year that we had specifically for our senior year. It’s something that I’ll keep with me forever.” This year, Hillcrest PTSA also provided two $400 college scholarships based on academics and service to the school and community to two graduating seniors: Anna Curtis and Jackson Metzger. Hillcrest PTSA provides programs and activities for the Hillcrest community, including student leadership club, Husky Heroes, Reflections, parent information nights, safe graduation night party, teacher grants and student scholarships. l
Hillcrest High Class of 2020 received a commemorative coin to remember their graduation and the end of their unique senior year. (Karen Conder/ Hillcrest High PTSA)
Midvale City Journal
FOOD DRIVES HELP HUNDREDS OF MIDVALE RESIDENTS By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com
H
ard-to-find items like toilet paper and cleaning supplies are slowly reappearing on grocery store shelves. But what about households that can’t afford to buy them? The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is available for people experiencing financial hardship. However, common household items, such as cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items and pet food are not eligible through this program. “A lot of people approached me for help,” said Annette Miller, cofounder and director of UnityintheCommUnity, a Midvale-based nonprofit. “So I thought let’s have a food drive and try to provide things they cannot purchase with food stamps.” With help from Mayor Robert Hale, Midvale City and Utah Community Action, Miller connected with churches and top corporations in Midvale to gather money, donations and volunteers. The first food/commodities drive took place at 97 W. 7500 South on May 9. “People really came out of the woodwork to help support us,” Miller said. “They really rallied around the Midvale citizens. The state was in red (high risk phase of the coronavirus outbreak) that first Saturday, and we received $3,400 from people who drove over and handed us checks.” In addition to cash, people from Midvale and surrounding communities dropped off food, toilet paper and cleaning Volunteers from Utah Disaster Kleenup drop off donations at the Feeding Midvale food/commodity drive on May 9. (Photo courtesy Utah Disaster supplies. “We held it at the stake center because it’s big,” Miller Kleenup) said. “The stake president helped with parking, and all social with donated items was empty. Midvale and Taylorsville. The need for social distancing has distance guidelines were followed.” As they left, participants took a survey asking what items temporarily halted classes. UnityintheCommUnity has 195 Volunteers processed and organized the donations, and on they would appreciate at the next distribution day. The food students, many without reliable access to internet. May 16 Midvale residents were invited to the same location to drive organizers responded by working to collect different “We aren’t able to coordinate classes online, but we’re pick out the items they needed. items in June, specifically snack items for kids like string still helping with finding jobs and food,” Miller said. “Many “We used a model from New York where people come cheese, yogurt, fig bars and graham crackers in addition to people lost jobs temporarily. So we’re providing resources, inand ‘shop,’” Miller said. “They can go down the aisles and items like diapers and cleaning supplies. cluding the food drives to keep families afloat.” choose the items they want, rather than taking home boxes of Miller noted that Utah Disaster Kleenup and the Wat MuA third food/commodities drive and distribution day are preselected items.” nisrirattanir Buddhist temple on 80th South have been partic- pending. If organizers are able to gather enough resources, the Approximately 200 individuals and families participated ularly generous. events will be held the second and third Saturdays in July. in the distribution day on May 16. They were then eligible to “Two families from Nepal brought in $200 worth of doFor more information visit UnityintheCommUnity’s receive additional fresh food items from the Copperview Food nated Asian food, and those items were snapped up quickly,” Facebook page or email annette@unityinthecommunity.net. & Resource Center, which is operated by Utah Community Miller said. “The goal is to get help and cooperation from residents,” Action at 8446 S. Harrison St. UnityintheCommUnity normally provides free math, Miller said. “As members of a community we should help each By the end of the distribution day, the room once filled English, Spanish and citizenship prep courses at locations in other.” l
Volunteers collect donations at the Feeding Midvale food/commodity drive on May 9. (Photo courtesy UnityintheCommUnity)
MidvaleJournal.com
Volunteers prepare donations of food and pantry items for Midvale residents in need on May 16. (Photo courtesy UnityintheCommUnity)
July 2020 | Page 9
View of the Midvale police from many sides By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com
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Atlanta police chief steps down after shooting.” “Salt Lake City protesters call for defunding police, not kneeling with them.” “Black Lives Matter protests across the US and world.” Such headlines from across the country tell us that the relationship between police officers and residents is strained.
UPD on protocol and professionalism
Midvale Unified Police Department (UPD) Chief Randy Thomas said, “UPD was one of the largest contributors to the Salt Lake City agents downtown [on May 30]. The stories of having rocks, bricks, water bottles thrown, in essence being assaulted the entire time. Not only were multiple officers hurt but multiple citizens were hurt. Incredible damage to property. “One question is regarding our training and our protocol and professionalism: UPD training does evolve. It looks for opportunity to create new and resourceful training,” he said. “I look forward to improvement not only to the tensions that are out there but looking in the mirror of our individual police department policy, our protocol. We want to recognize what’s out there and improve ourselves.” “Any time we don’t, I think we’ve failed,” Thomas said. Regarding police body cameras in Midvale, Thomas said, “Twenty-one out of our
30 officers in Midvale do [have body cameras].” Why doesn’t every officer have one? “It’s not a high cost up front, but...to actually store the data and when people request the body camera footage, we have to look through it, redact [excess footage], and release it in a timely fashion...is labor intensive. There’s obviously storage for the video, it’s improved over the years but it’s still pricey. “The company that sells the camera requires a license for every single camera from the private vendor to use their product. It’s an annual fee, $948 per year, [per camera]. “I think we should all have them or none of us have them. We put a camera on [our two motor officers] because even on citations they constantly, it provides an accurate record. The rest it’s been a little bit more random, we have not targeted any officers due to misconduct or suspicion of misconduct,” Thomas said. The Midvale Precinct has also been receiving flowers and treats in the past few weeks from grateful residents. “We’ve never had so many doughnuts delivered in my entire life. I can’t eat another doughnut,” Thomas said.
How residents feel
But what about Midvale? What about the city’s police officers who respond to your calls? What headlines come from Midvale residents? The following comments are from Mid-
vale residents (collected from the Midvale Residents Facebook page) and Midvale Unified Police Department Chief. Resident Heidi Lins, who is white, said, “They always come to our block party and act like one of the neighbors, friendly, helpful, and one of ‘us.’” “We were pulled over, my teenager was just on a permit, because our insurance hadn’t reported on a new vehicle. The officer made sure to ask all the right questions and stopped to understand what we were talking about. We had donated an old vehicle, but kept the plates, and the DMV said it might take a couple days to hit the system... which it did. Never, ever had a concern about our police service,” Lins said. Resident Renee Peterson, who is Black, said, “My son was chased home one day by some kids. They said “Hey man, I like your Js’ (Michael Jordan shoes).’ He said, ‘Thank you’ and they said, ‘Well, give them here n----.’ And he just took out running. This was in 2016. He came home, told me what happened. It took forever for the police to come out. When they finally came out they really weren’t interested in what I was saying, they didn’t write down the description of the car. ‘OK, thank you, we hear your concerns. We’re glad he’s alright,’ and they trot off. “I don’t call them if I do have trouble, I handle it myself. But it’s just reality,” Peterson said.
Resident Jared Maxfield, who is white, used to work for a local burger restaurant in Midvale. “One day we had a man come in attempting to use counterfeit money. The Midvale UPD came to help. The man fled the scene just before they arrived. The officers involved performed a respectful and professional investigation. They interviewed my coworkers and treated each witness’s testimony with equal importance, regardless of the race or nation of origin each employee represented.” l
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Midvale Unified Police Department Chief Randy Thomas addresses City Council in June about police policies.
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Midvale City Journal
In The Middle of Everything City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047 MIDVALE CITY DIRECTORY City Hall Finance/Utilities Court City Attorney’s Office City Recorder/Human Resources Community Development Public Works Ace Disposal/Recycling City Museum Midvale Senior Center SL County Animal Services Midvale Precinct UPD Police Dispatch Unified Fire Authority Fire Dispatch Communications
801-567-7200 801-567-7200 801-255-4234 801-567-7250 801-567-7228 801-567-7211 801-567-7235 801-363-9995 801-569-8040 385-468-3350 385-468-7387 385-468-9350 801-743-7000 801-743-7200 801-840-4000 801-567-7230
MIDVALE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS MAYOR Robert Hale Email: Rhale@midvale.com
801-567-7204
CITY COUNCIL District 1 - Quinn Sperry Email: qsperry@midvale.com District 2 - Paul Glover Email: pglover@midvale.com District 3 - Heidi Robinson Email: Hrobinson@midvale.com District 4 - Bryant Brown Email: bbrown@midvale.com District 5 - Dustin Gettel Email: dgettel@midvale.com
WHO TO CALL FOR… Water Bills Ordering A New Trash Can Reserving the Bowery Permits GRAMA requests Court Paying For Traffic School Business Licensing Property Questions Cemetery Water Line Breaks Planning and Zoning Code Enforcement Building inspections Graffiti
801-567-7200 801-567-7202 801-567-7202 801-567-7212 801-567-7207 801-255-4234 801-567-7202 801-567-7213 801-567-7246 801-567-7235 801-256-2575 801-567-7231 801-567-7208 801-567-7228 385-468-9769
EMERGENCY OR DISASTER CONTACT Public Works Fire Dispatch – Unified Fire Authority Midvale Police Precinct or Police Dispatch Unified Police Department EMERGENCY
801-567-7235 801-840-4000 801-468-9350 801-743-7000
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JULY 2020 CITY NEWSLETTER
The Heart of the Matter I look forward to July each year for its throwback to history. We celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence on the 4th. I hope you have read this document recently for it renews afresh the deep-seated desire of all of us to shed any possible governance without representation. We relive the entrance of Brigham Young with the leading parties of exiled pioneers on the 24th, who had been forced from their comfortable homes on the banks of the Mississippi River just a year and a half earlier due to religious intolerance. In addition, we celebrate many family get-togethers for birthdays, reunions and getaways. Each of these reasons to celebrate July remind us of our individuality and unity as community. Be safe – stay safe! There is much talk these days about our relationships with our fellow humans on this planet. My news is full of reports of incidents – both uplifting and shameful – of how citizens of this free nation are disrespectful of others who look different, think different, act different, and/or believe different. I have carried on conversations with others of my age (70’s) who have lived in these United States all their lives. We have witnessed and lived through the end of the Korean Conflict in the 1950’s, the race riots and the Viet Nam Conflict of the 1960’s, Women’s Rights movements of the 70’s and 80’s, the rise of mind-altering drug use over the last 60 years, and the effects of the sexual revolution. There has been no shortage of reasons to think “It can’t get any worse!” We have all learned that there are good, better and best ways to communicate our thoughts and descriptions to one another. I and most of those of my era have learned to get along with all others that think and act different than ourselves. My family is made up of mixed race and national origin sons-in-law. In addition, we have taken into our home over the years individuals who needed
By Mayor Robert Hale
a safe place to live for extended months and years while they built a firm foundation for their future, two were black, two were white. Each of these have now gone on to either a law, accounting, teaching or better employment. We welcomed English-language students from Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Spain, Thailand, Japan, China and Korea for two weeks to four months each. I served a 27-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ to Brazil, learned Portuguese, and acquired a love for Bossa-Nova and Gaúcho music genres. Susan and I spent 23 months in Brazil just four years ago assisting hundreds of families gain more self-reliance through education, employment and business-building. Multi-culturalism is a way of life for us! I welcomed a friendly offer from a black neighbor who saw my wife and I laboring to clean up our back-fence line. He offered to help wield an ax, pick and shovel to take out a small but obstinate tree trunk under the fence. We worked together for a couple of hours before the evening came upon us. The Consul for Mexico invited me to spend most of an hour with him on a Live Facebook broadcast about the affairs of our City, the Census 2002, and COVID-19. The points I am making are these: We are all children of Divinity; we can choose to live harmoniously; we can choose to be a contribution to the welfare of our family and community; we can choose to participate in our self-governance; we can choose to maintain good health habits; we can choose to take advantage of the healthcare that is freely available to us; we can choose to assist the elderly, feeble, weak, unstable among us; we can choose to sustain those who are building our people, community, religious congregations, and government. Midvale is a Unity of Communities! It has worked best, and it will always work best, if we communicate and work together. Remember: We were born with two ears and one mouth! We are to listen twice as much as we speak. Thank you, Midvale, for working so well together!
Complete your 2020 Census Today Did you know that you can help Midvale and Salt Lake County unlock millions of dollars in federal funding? It’s easy. All you have to do is complete your 2020 Census questionnaire. It will only take about 10 minutes, and you can do it in one of three ways: 1. Go to www.my2020Census.gov 2. Call 844-330-2020 3. Mail your paper census form The U.S. Census Bureau has extended the deadline to August 14, but why wait? If you complete your Census now, you will prevent a knock on the door this summer. So far, 62.5% of Midvale City households have responded. Now, that sounds rather low, but we are close to the state rate (64%) and above the national rate (60.4%), so that’s good news. But we can do better than that!
The higher our 2020 Census count, the more federal funding we will receive. And the numbers we provide now will stay with us for the next 10 years! With so much at stake for Midvale City, we need to ensure a complete and accurate census. Each of you plays a crucial role in census outreach. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to participate in Census 2020. You may be concerned about your personal information getting out but rest assured. It’s against the law for the U.S. Census Bureau to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or your household. You can complete the questionnaire feeling confident that your privacy is protected. Learn more about the Census at www.2020Census.gov. Remember, Midvale City needs you! Only you can ensure that your family is counted. Together, we can shape our future, starting with the 2020 Census.
In The Middle of Everything
WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG
Midvale City Property Tax Midvale City is proposing to recapture General Obligation bond property tax revenue previously collected for general City operations. In the eyes of the state, it is considered a property tax increase (more on this later). However, for the average Midvale City resident, it will be property tax neutral (in other words, the Midvale City portion of a taxpayer’s property tax assessment will be relatively the same). Here are some frequently asked questions that will hopefully give some insight into how property tax is calculated and why the funds are needed:
Instead of letting this drop off, the City is proposing to add this portion of the tax rate to the City’s general property tax “bucket.” While the average Midvale City resident will not see a difference on the Midvale City portion of their property tax, because the City is proposing to increase the general property tax “bucket” (and decrease the General Obligation property tax “bucket”), it is required to be advertised as a property tax increase.
WHAT WILL THIS REVENUE BE USED FOR? HOW IS PROPERTY TAX CALCULATED? The City’s costs have increased each year since the last property tax increase was imThe Salt Lake County auditor calculates what is called a “certified tax rate” each year for plemented in 2006. For example, Public Safety costs and supplies used by City employees each entity. In the simplest terms, this formula is as follows: have increased. Approximately $200,000 of the $403,295 will be used to fund Unified Police Department’s increased member assessment. The remainder will be used for debt Previous Year Property Tax Revenue + New Growth + GO Bond Debt Service service on the City’s City Hall/Justice Court/Park Improvement/Street Lighting bonds isAssessed Property Tax Value sued in October 2012. The tax rate formula is designed to give Midvale City the same amount of property tax received in the prior year, plus any new growth that happened in the City (such as new homes, new businesses, etc.). This rate is then applied to the assessed taxable value for every property within Midvale. The formula does not give the City any automatic increases, outside of new growth within the City (for example, no inflationary increases are built into the formula). Property taxes do not automatically go up when a property’s value goes up (the Certified Tax Rate actually goes down in that circumstance to ensure the City receives the same amount of money as the prior year). It is important to note the property tax received for new growth is used to provide core services to the new residents (such as police service, street plowing, etc.). If the City wants to receive more revenue than the Certified Tax Rate calculates, it must go through a process called Truth in Taxation, which is outlined in state code. This process involves a public hearing and multiple notices across multiple platforms (such as the newspaper and websites) before the proposed tax rate may be voted on. HOW CAN THIS PROPOSAL BE BOTH A TAX INCREASE AND REVENUE NEUTRAL TO TAXPAYERS? The Certified Tax Rate used to calculate a taxpayer’s property tax liability for Midvale City each year is made up of different “buckets,” or categories. In the case of Midvale City, there is a general property tax category and a General Obligation Bond debt service category (both are added together to arrive at the Certified Tax Rate). Twenty years ago, a General Obligation bond (voted on by Midvale residents) was issued to construct the Police building (which currently houses the Unified Police Department’s Midvale precinct). Each year, debt service payments owing on these bonds were added into the Certified Tax Rate calculation. At the end of this current fiscal year (June 30th), the bond will be paid off. Normally, this category of the property tax liability would drop off, decreasing the average resident’s property tax bill $32 (this just the Midvale City portion, other entities may lower or raise taxes).
WOULD THIS GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND RECAPTURE BE HAPPENING IF COVID-19 HAD NOT HAPPENED? Since the City issued bonds in 2012 for the new City Hall building, it has always been anticipated the Public Safety General Obligation bond payments would be recaptured to help pay for these bonds. The City has taken many other steps to reduce expenses in light of the COVID-19 pandemic (such as cutting operating budgets and delaying capital projects), and is planning on using 10% of its “rainy day” funds to make ends meet. If the City Council chooses to not approve this bond recapture, the City will need to either use a quarter of its “rainy day” funds or look at more drastic budget reductions (which would involve lower service levels for Midvale City residents).
Fireworks & Pets
Salt Lake County Animal Services
Keep your pet safe during fireworks season. Throughout July, Salt Lake County Animal Services sees an increase in lost pet’s due to the number of pets who escape from their homes or yards because of the noisy fireworks. Here are a few tips to make sure your pet stays safe: 1. Be sure your pet is wearing their ID tag and that their information is up-to date. 2. Keep windows and doors closed, we often hear of pets breaking out screens when they get scared. 3. Leave your pet at home when you head out to set off or see fireworks. Don’t leave them in the car, it’s too hot and too noisy. They would prefer to be at home with a tasty treat or food puzzle. 4. Provide a safe place for them to retreat (hide) when the fireworks start going off. Close bedroom doors to prevent them from getting stuck under beds. Take them to the basement, turn on some mellow music, and snuggle with them. 5. Take your dog for a walk earlier in the day before the fireworks start going off. If you find a lost pet, contact Animal Control Dispatch at 801-743-7000 to have an officer come get the animal. Salt Lake County Animal Services is located at 511 W 3900 S, SLC, 84123. Questions? Email animal@slco.org or call 385-468-7387.
JULY 2020 CITY NEWSLETTER WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG
Don’t Miss the Virtual Harvest Days Scavenger Hunt – July 27 through July 30, 2020 Even though we can’t be together to celebrate Harvest Days, the summer just isn’t the same without some type of celebration! After all, for more than 80 years, Midvale City has come together to celebrate the harvest of friendship and community found in the middle of everything. So, Midvale City is hosting the Harvest Days Virtual Scavenger Hunt from July 27 through July 30. The scavenger hunt is designed to give everyone something fun, creative, and safe to do while social distancing. The hunt will begin at 8:00 a.m. on July 27 where teams of around five people will earn points by taking pictures and videos of themselves doing any number of things on a provided “mission” list. The scavenger hunt will end at 10:00 p.m. on July 30. Samples of missions include: • Challenge someone to a bubblegum blowing contest. Post a picture of the biggest bubble! • Yell “Andy’s coming!” and have everyone collapse lifeless to the floor. • Singing a boy band song with kitchen utensils. • Find a photo of an Arts Council Hall of Honors Inductee and share the name and photo! For extra points, share something special about the inductee. • Support a local business - Follow Hand & Stone Spa on Instagram at @HandAndStoneMidvale and thank them for donating to the hunt! Depending on the action, participants can earn a varying number of points, and the team with the most amount of points at the end of the four days wins the grand prize. Other teams will be entered into a raffle to win additional prizes. The scavenger hunt is run through the GooseChase app, and can be completed in English or Spanish. The GooseChase app is free and available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play. Once the app has been downloaded, players can join the hunt by entering a code. Visit www.MidvaleCity.org/ScavengerHunt AFTER JULY 7, 2020 to obtain the code and learn how to play!
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Husky football hopes to be back on track after rough few years, with new training facility and added coaching staff By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
A
t 9 a.m., June 1, 65 high school boys showed up excited for football practice. However, this practice looked different. Before they took the field, they responded to COVID-19 questions and had their temperatures checked. They stretched and did agility workouts 6 feet apart—and there were no tackle drills. “It looked different, but it was good to see the team,” said Brock Bryant, second-year Hillcrest High head football coach and world history teacher. “I missed these kids.” As of press deadline, the Utah High School Activities Association hadn’t made a decision whether fall sports will be played. “We’re taking it day by day practicing and planning like there will be a season. Even if we get four or five games in, it’s better than nothing,” he said. The Huskies plan to roll out their season Aug. 7 with their green and white game that includes a booster club sponsored tour beforehand of the new sports facilities, which includes a weight room overlooking the football field, a state-of-the art training room as well as an indoor practice field. There also are plans to sell dinner, which would serve as a team fundraiser. At the green and white game, there are plans to sell media guides, which would include the roster, managers, coaches, schedule, cheer squad and more. The proceeds would be earmarked for the football program, Bryant said. “Football is an expensive program,” he said. “To have a successful program, we need
to raise $30,000 to $60,000 every year for uniforms and spirit packs and all. Helmets alone are $200 a pop. The kids have done an awesome job with the cookie dough and (beef) jerky sales they had, and the community has been willing to buy items, make donations and support us.” The team also is sponsoring banner sales which businesses can purchase to be displayed on the campus. However, unless circumstances change, the Huskies may not be playing their first game in their new uniforms and helmets which are to sport a Husky paw. “Right now, the new uniforms with the new logo are sitting in an Under Armor factory in China that has been closed for a while. We’re hoping they’ll reopen in July,” he said. Much of the offseason has had a different look as camps the team planned to attend have been canceled. Bryant has communicated over Zoom with his team’s small group of pack leaders, who then communicate and rally the team. In the past, the packs work together, competing from the fastest 40-yard dashes to the best in an obstacle course. Yet, they come together both on the field and off, such as for team dinners and the annual team family barbecue. “I’m excited for this year and pleased with the relationships these kids are making with the school and community,” he said. “There is a great tradition in football here at Hillcrest and what they’re in need of is consistency. The team has been through a lot of
adversity and that is helping them deal with COVID-19 and laying the foundation for the future.” Bryant, who is in his first head coaching year, has 20 years of coaching experience, including recently at Cyprus, Hunter and Olympus highs, the latter where he lettered three years in football as offensive and defensive lineman and two in baseball. He also played on scholarship his freshman year in college at New Mexico Military Institute. He completed his first year in the program as the fifth coach in five years, which included the school’s beloved coach Cazzie Brown, who unexpectedly died before the season began two years ago. “Football is the greatest sport in the world. It helped me be who I am as a person, as a coach, with teammates. It taught me life lessons. These boys are learning leadership. Leadership is a relationship. They’re establishing good relationships with the community, their classmates, each other and learning how to be productive citizens in life,” Bryant said. As part of that philosophy, Bryant introduced a black shirt program to bolster such things as grade point averages (GPA) and citizenship. He supports a Husky Hour study hall and if his players aren’t maintaining a 3.0 GPA, then they need to have parents and teachers sign a tracking card to make them aware of any missing assignments. “The players aren’t wanting to let their packs down. Players are telling other players to get their grades up for the weekly checks.
Hillcrest High head football coach Brock Bryant says the Husky program is teaching the players leadership and relationships. (Photo courtesy of Hillcrest High)
Every player is striving for these goals. If we have 20 black shirts, we’d compete for region champs. Our average GPA was 2.5 when I arrived a year ago, now it’s 3.3. It’s really been a turnaround in terms of character and grades. We aren’t aiming for success. It will come to us when we do these things right,” he said. Parent and booster club president Holly Greenwood is happy her senior, Max, is playing under Bryant. “He’s done a great job with the program,” she said. “He’s put focus on academics and broken the team into packs and they hold each other accountable. The morale has gotten better and with the new facility, it is becoming a solid and attractive program.” Bryant and his staff, which includes six new assistants to bring the coaching staff up to 12, are seeing the difference on the field as well. Bryant said they plan to keep the power high 2 back set to control the clock offensively and the 4-2-5 defense to build consistency with the team. Hillcrest, which ended last season 2-9 with wins over Providence Hall and Cottonwood, is opting to play with a number of independent high school teams this year—Timpanogos, Judge, Payson and Cottonwood, who decided to leave the region. “It will help us learn to be competitive. Last season, with 22 seniors, we lead Highland, who then was ranked No. 1 in 5A at half, 14-0. We had a jump on Brighton, 7-0. We’re celebrating every little success. It takes pride to build a program and in five years, with retention, we’ll be competing for the region championship,” Bryant said. “This year, the team is young again and wants and needs discipline. We’re ranked toward the bottom, Last year, Hillcrest jumped out to a 14-0 lead against Highland, but this year, a young Husky football team will need to prove themselves, said head football coach Brock so we’ll need to prove ourselves. We’re going Bryant, who is in his second season. (Julie Slama/City Journals) to thrive and do great things.” l
MidvaleJournal.com
July 2020 | Page 15
Waste collection fees, taxes may be rising in Midvale By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com
M
idvale City officials and staff are recommending a tax increase this year. The City will hold a Truth in Taxation meeting (a public hearing open to all residents) on Aug. 11. Residents will not see a tax increase on their bills if the City Council approves the rate increase. If the rate increase is not approved, resident’s Midvale portion of their tax bill will reduce about $32. The tax increase is not asking for additional funds, but is filling a gap that is now open after debts were paid off by the city. Laura Magness, public information officer for Midvale, said that, “Staff proposes increasing the revenue generated by the Certified Tax Rate by $403,295. This is the amount of revenue the City previously received for debt service on the Public Safety General Obligation Bonds. This revenue will be used to fund the proposed UPD (Unified Police Department) Member Assessment Increase ($250,000) and debt service on the Municipal Building Authority Bonds ($676,406).” “It’s important to note that everything is final until (Truth in Taxation hearing in August),” Magness said. Because Midvale paid off a bond for the UPD building, the tax increase will collect nearly the same amount of money. A resident’s tax bill is divided among several tax collecting entities. Canyons School District, Salt Lake County Library and South Salt Lake Valley Mosquito Abatement District are just some of the tax collectors. As an example, if $2,529 is paid per year, per household, Midvale City only receives about $200 of that sum. Why does Midvale even need to raise taxes? Why doesn’t new building and higher property values bring more money to the city? Kyle Maurer, administrative services director for Midvale explained: “How the rate is calculated is the county takes our previous year property tax revenue and then adds any new growth. When an assessed value goes up, when we’re in a period where home values go up for example, the tax rate goes down because we’re still receiving that same amount of money,” Maurer said. “I’m sure we all remember in 2008 with the downturn of the housing market. The overall tax rate went up to keep us up with the same amount of revenue.” Waste Collection Fee Increase Trans-Jordan Landfill, where all Midvale’s garbage is dumped, has raised the cost for every truck that dumps trash. Ace Disposal that picks up the trash is also raising its rate for collection. This means the cost per trash can will increase for every resident. The increase on one waste and one recycling can will be $1.29 per month, which ends up to be about $15.50 more per year, per house. Costs for trash collection and dumping have been rising for several years. Part of the
Page 16 | July 2020
issue is the landfill is slowly reaching capacity. When it is full, trash will be hauled to a Utah County landfill. Community Outreach for Trans-Jordan Landfill Jill Fletcher said, “Our physical landfill location has between 10-12 years until full capacity. Between now and then we will build a transfer station.” “The waste will then be delivered to a transfer station where it will be processed and loaded into large hauling trucks. The waste will be taken to the Bayview Landfill in Utah County,” Fletcher said. Trans-Jordan will also be making changes to the green waste program in the future. “With green waste ceasing at Trans-Jordan in the near future we are proposing to eliminate the green waste dumpster program,” Maurer said. Councilmember Dustin Gettel was concerned that residents would no longer have a place to put their lawn clippings, tree trimmings and other organic waste. “What would our residents do with their green waste?” Gettel asked. Mixing green waste with other garbage produces methane gas, which can then be turned into energy. “Methane gas is a natural process that happens when waste decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen). …[W]e have installed a collection system to collect the methane gas before it enters the atmosphere. [It is] collected and passed to three onsite generators that convert the methane into energy,” Fletcher said. “Currently, we are generating 4.5 megawatts of renewable energy,” Fletcher said. Midvale Administrative Services Director Kyle Maurer presents a recommended tax increase for the city, “That is equivalent to generating 4,500 but also explained that some of the increase will be filling a gap from the completion of a debt payoff. (Erin homes with electricity.” l Dixon/City Journals)
Waste collection fees will increase for Midvale residents. (Photo by Justus Menke on Unsplash)
Midvale City Journal
Canyons School District sack meals scheduled through July By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
COMFORT SOLUTIONS HVAC NEWSLETTER - ASK THE PROS!
Summer is around the corner and many homeowners ask “Should I Replace or Repair my central air conditioner?” The Pro’s at Comfort solutions can help. Are you deciding whether to replace or repair your air conditioner? There are a few important factors that can help you decide the best choice for your home and family. As we spend more time in our homes during these uncertain times your families comfort and safety should be considered first. Next consider efficiency, cost and equipment life expectancy. Finally, what works best for your budget? Canyons School District students will have several locations to pick up a free summer sack lunch and breakfast. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
C
anyons School District recently released its summer meal schedule through July for pick up at seven schools. All sites will operate from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., weekdays, with the exception of July 6 and July 24 when no service will be provided. Free sack lunches and breakfasts are available for children age 18 and younger. Adults may purchase meals at the sites for $2 for breakfast and $3.50 for lunch. The grab-and-go meals will be available at Bell View Elementary, 9800 S. 800 East,
Sandy; Copperview Elementary, 8449 S. Monroe St., Midvale; East Midvale Elementary, 6990 S. 300 East, Midvale; Midvale Elementary, 7830 Chapel St., Midvale; Park Lane Elementary, 9955 S. Eastdell (2300 E.), Sandy; Sandy Elementary, 8725 S. 280 East, Sandy; Willow Springs Elementary, 13288 S. Lone Rock Dr. (465 East), Draper; Butler Middle, 7530 South 2700 East, Cottonwood Heights; Union Middle, 615 E. 8000 South, Sandy; and Jordan High, 95 E. Beetdigger Blvd., Sandy. l
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SHOULD I REPLACE MY AC? Here are some general guidelines when considering upgrading/replacing your central air conditioner. Most manufactures current life expectancy for your HVAC equipment is 18-20 years. If you have had small repairs during the 18-20 years of running your equipment and your central air all of a sudden stops working. It may be time to look at replacing your AC/Furnace system. With that age of equipment repair cost can get expensive and those funds could be better used to replace vs repair. When you consider replacing your HVAC equipment you will likely gain higher efficiency equipment, reduced operating cost and more comfortable living environment. Ask for details on Variable speed, 18-20 Seer and smart phone controls. A new system will be reliable for years to come and keep your family comfortable year round.
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July 2020 | Page 17
Pandemic: How to save money and support the local economy
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Bryan Dean
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The world is a new place, at least for now there is a new normal. Many of us are waiting to see if the new normal will become the normal, or if the old normal will come back. Either way for now we have to live in this pandemic shaped economy. According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis the personal savings rate hit a historic high of 33%. With the uncertainty of the current situation, and scars from the 2008 recession still fresh, it’s understandable that people would be very hesitant to spend. Not to mention how much toilet paper can one person stockpile? But there is another side of the story, the economy. If everyone stops spending then everyone would stop earning. So how does one balance the line, spend enough to keep the economy strong but save enough to be responsible. I propose that the answer to that question is not how much you spend, rather how and where you spend it. Here are five ways to balance the save money vs. build the economy problem. 1. Buy Local has to be a priority now. Over the last 10 years
our economy has been strong. Its been OK, not awesome, but OK if people shifted some of their spending from local. But remember the more local you spend your money the stronger your local economy is. Now buying local is not as easy at it sounds. Sure it is easy to make the choice to buy your products at a local store instead of Amazon or a website. But it goes deeper than that. Every shopping decision has a different factor of localness. For instance if you need to buy a power tool or some home improvement product, you can buy it from Lowes or you can buy it from a locally owned hardware store. Both Lowes and the hardware store create local jobs, and they both pay local taxes. but more of the profit at the hardware store will stay local. Look for local products. Harmons grocery stores does a great job at showing you what products are local. I wish all stores did this. Last month I was at a hardware store, OK honestly I was at Lowes, I needed a ladder. As I looked at the assortment I realized that
Little Giant ladder systems were a Utah business, so it was an easy decision. 2. Buy Services not Products. If you are trying to help the economy you will likely do more good buying services rather than products. Let’s consider an example. When you purchase a lawn mower, the majority of the purchase price goes to the manufacturer which is probably not a Utah Company. But when you pay someone to mow your lawn, nearly all of it stays local. The person who is mowing your lawn is much more likely to do business with the business you work for than say Honda. 3. Launch a side hustle or two. I realize that this is not really saving money, unless you consider the age old advice a dollar saved is a dollar earned, then this is just the flip side of that. In today’s world there are an abundance of ways you can start a side hustle. Sell some of your unneeded stuff on eBay, breed your dog (everyone wants some type of oodle these days), rent out storage on apps like Neighbor, drive for Uber or Lyft, I saw a new App to rent your RV,
and there is one to rent your car, or second home, or bedroom in your first home. 4. Get rid of the storage unit. I laugh everytime I pass one of these storage unit businesses. I realize that there are certain legitimate reasons that one would need to rent a storage unit, but I don't think most people are using it for that type of reason. I remember my dad taking me to a storage unit that he rented. It was full of things, I don't know where it all came from but every few months we would go down and sort through some things, and take some new items to add to the collection. Even at a young age, I remeber sitting there on the back of his truck thinking, “if you put this stuff here because we don't need it, then why do we own it.” I implore you stop buying stuff you don't need and for sure stop paying for storage on stuff you don't use, and for most of you if you put it in the storage unit you probably don't need it, clean it out, sell it, and save that monthly storage unit fee. l
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Page 18 | July 2020
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Midvale City Journal
Life
Laughter AND
by
PERI KINDER
Food & Pandemic
This stupid pandemic has changed our relationship with food. With most restaurants and bars closed, people are looking for new ways to stay nourished and inebriated. Working from home for several weeks, we prepared three meals a day, plus snacks, for five people and a needy puppy. And by “snacks” I mean we pretty much ate all day long. We wore a groove in the tile from the living room to the pantry. When the lock-down started, I innocently said, “Think of the money we’ll save by not eating at restaurants. We’re going to lose so much weight not eating fast food!” Things went downhill fast. Not only do we spend a dump truck load of money for groceries each week, but we’re stress-eating 24 hours a day. I’ve baked cookies, cakes, muffins and brownies – and that was just this morning. My daughter and I take turns making meals. We try to find things everyone will enjoy, which is absolutely impossible. We have lots of pasta and rice dishes, fish sticks and take-out pizza. My daughter is a vegetarian, so her meals are full of veggies, chickpeas and quinoa, or what my hus-
band calls “sadness foods.” One vegetarian dinner started the “Things I would never eat, even if I was going to die” conversation. My husband’s list is basically vegetables, but I have a bounty of foods I would never want to eat again. Things I was forced to eat as a child top my list. For not growing up in the Great Depression, my mom was
said, “Those are just the eyes of the potato” which gave me a potato phobia for several decades as I envisioned eating little potato eyeballs. My grandma made lima beans to spite me. She’d serve a big bowl of pale-green mushiness mixed with greasy, globular pork fat, then shame me for not eating it.
adept at whipping up meals that could have been served in a Dickensian orphanage. She’d buy things at the grocery store and I’d cry because I knew what was coming. Jars of dried beef? Creamed chipped beef on toast. Sour cream? “Beef” stroganoff made with noodles, sour cream gravy and textured vegetable protein. Once I complained about lumpy mashed potatoes and my dad
“When I was a little girl, I’d be happy and grateful for lima beans,” she’d say. “I wasn’t spoiled.” “Were lima beans invented when you were a little girl?” I’d ask, which usually got me another spoonful of the vile stuff. Stewed tomatoes, tapioca pudding (eyeballs again), my dad’s flour pudding (don’t ask), deviled eggs (obviously) and potato salad (eww) round out my list
of things I’ll never eat again. But back to today, where my food choices are substantially subpar. If I’m going to die from a ridiculous coronavirus, I might as well eat what I want. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. And it’s not some murderous chef with a flamethrower. Following COVID-19 restrictions, some restaurants are opening again. The hubbie and I donned our face masks, took a swig of hand sanitizer, put on some plastic gloves and hit a Mexican restaurant for the first time in months. The chile verde almost brought me to tears. The margarita definitely did. It will be an interesting summer as picnics, BBQs, family reunions and vacations are being reimagined. So many of our celebrations revolve around food and sharing it with the people we love. The trick is finding the balance to do it safely. Our dishwasher runs nonstop. The grandkids (and husband) complain about eating asparagus. But we’re creating new recipes, experimenting with flavors and planting a garden. We’re finding new ways to stay nourished and inebriated. l
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‘BELOVED MAYOR,’ TRAILBLAZER DIES AFTER SERVING MIDVALE 68 YEARS By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
O
verlooking I-15 in the heart of Salt Lake Valley is an electronic billboard paying tribute to a beloved mayor, just days after JoAnn Seghini died. Seghini served two decades as Midvale mayor and three terms as city council member—as well as serving as an elementary teacher then up to an assistant superintendent over curriculum for Jordan School District. She was 82. An outpouring of tributes came about from the community, friends and colleagues when news hit that Midvale’s first female mayor and first female city councilwoman died June 19 after suffering several recent strokes. Seghini retired from the helm of the city 2 1/2 years ago. Current Midvale Mayor Robert Hale posted on the city’s Facebook site: “Mayor Seghini was a dedicated public servant who served Midvale for more than 68 years.” It continued with “Using her endless energy, she led, uplifted, and championed the residents, non-profits and businesses of Midvale City.” Former city council member and current planning and zoning member Colleen Costello said helping was “part of her DNA.” “She always had this ability that she could help—whatever she can do, wherever she could, her door was always open,” said Costello, who spent the last 40 years working alongside her. “She poured her heart into everything.” City Manager Kane Loader, who knew Seghini for more Former Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini cuts the ribbon to Midvale Middle School Aug. 8, 2017 to welcome students to a home with upgraded technolthan 30 years, agreed. ogy capabilities. (Julie Slama/City Journals) Continued page 3
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