OCTOBER 2020
FREQUENTLY REQUESTED NUMBERS Attorney .................................. 801-264-2640 Business Licensing .................. 801-270-2432 Cemetery ................................ 801-264-2637 City Council ............................. 801-264-2603 Finance Department ............... 801-264-2513 FIRE DEPARTMENT Administrative Office .......... 801-264-2781 Non-Emergency Calls ......... 801-840-4000 General Information................ 801-264-2525 Heritage Center (Sr. Center)..... 801-264-2635 Human Resources.................... 801-264-2656 Library .................................... 801-264-2580 Mayor’s Office.......................... 801-264-2600 Municipal Court....................... 801-284-4280 Museum .................................. 801-264-2589 Murray Park Outdoor Pool ....... 801-266-9321 Murray Parkway Golf Course.... 801-262-4653 PARKS AND RECREATION Administrative Office .......... 801-264-2614 Rain-out Information ......... 801-264-2525 Park Center (indoor pool) ........ 801-284-4200 Passports................................. 801-264-2660 POLICE DEPARTMENT Administrative Office .......... 801-264-2673 Animal Control ................... 801-264-2671 Code Enforcement .............. 801-264-2673 Non-Emergency Calls ......... 801-840-4000 POWER DEPARTMENT Administrative Office .......... 801-264-2730 After Hours Emergency....... 801-264-9669 PUBLIC SERVICES Administrative Office .......... 801-270-2440 Building Inspection ............ 801-270-2431 Green Waste Trailers ........... 801-270-2440 Planning and Zoning .......... 801-270-2420 Solid Waste......................... 801-270-2440 Water, Sewer, Streets.......... 801-270-2440 Zoning Enforcement ........... 801-270-2426 UTILITIES After Hours Emergency....... 801-264-9669 Billing Questions ................ 801-264-2626
murray.utah.gov
Mayor’s Message The Time to Prepare is Now The unusual events of 2020 continue to serve as a reminder of the importance of emergency preparation. The pandemic had many people evaluating the need for a supply of essential goods and food. The earthquake reminded us of the need for emergency kits, emergency plans, emergency power sources, braced water heaters, and so on. Extreme heat and lack of rain contributed to wildfires. Each of us has needed a cool place to rest and recover from the heat this summer. The recent windstorms that battered the Wasatch Front caused damage to many homes and resulted in multiple power outages, some extended to five days and beyond, and emphasized the need to have a contingency plan in place in case of prolonged outages. These incidents during the past months have reminded me how vulnerable we are as individuals, yet how resilient we are as a community. Helping our neighbors in time of need is something that we are good at, but we need to plan to be prepared to meet our own needs as much as possible, and then be prepared to help our neighbors. The city has a limited emergency management staff to help navigate the complex State and Federal processes, and although the city will help where it can, individuals should not plan to rely upon the city in an emergency. The key to dealing with life’s unexpected events is preparation. Roger Maris once said, “you hit home runs not by chance, but by preparation.” How we each prepare will depend on our individual needs and circumstances. Battery powered lights are always a good idea to have on hand, but the batteries need to be checked on a regular basis. It may make sense for you to own a generator for keeping your refrigerator or freezer running in the event of a power outage, while others may make
MAYOR’S OFFICE
D. Blair Camp -Mayor mayor@murray.utah.gov 801-264-2600 5025 S. State Street Murray, Utah 84107
plans for family or friends to take food or bring in dry ice. Some may plan to evacuate when needed, while others may need assistance in evacuating. Some may need to plan for the care of their pets, while others do not. The point is that one size does not fit all, but what is universal is the need to have a plan! You may be asking “how do I make a plan?” There are many helpful resources available to the public to assist in a preparedness plan. The Ready. gov website (https://www.ready.gov) is a good resource for general preparedness information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The “Make a Plan” tab is a good starting point for anyone. The American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) has many tips and resources for emergency preparedness. The “Be Ready Utah” site (www.utah.gov/beready) is the emergency preparedness resource for the State of Utah. It contains helpful content and links in developing your emergency plan. And finally, our Murray City website (https://murray.utah.gov/1174/Emergency-Preparedness) has information on local resources for emergency planning including the Murray Family Emergency Handbook. In addition to these government resources, there are neighborhood groups and faith-based organizations to assist individuals and families in being prepared. We can see that there are no shortages of resources to help plan, so the next step is to do it! Whether you are making a new plan from scratch or dusting off and updating an old plan, the important thing is to do it! When the next unusual event strikes, will you have a plan? When the emergency hits, the time for planning and preparation has passed. Let’s be prepared to help ourselves, which in turn will enable us to help others during times of crisis.
Murray Fire Department reminds residents to “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!™ Murray City Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years —to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign. This year’s theme, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen,” is a means of educating everyone about the simple but important actions we can take to stay fire safe. According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Almost half (44%) of reported home fires started in the kitchen. Two-thirds (66%) of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials. Kitchen fires are 100% preventable if we all work together on improving kitchen safety. Staying in the kitchen, using a timer, and avoiding distractions, such as electronics or TV, are steps everyone can take to keep families safe in their homes. “A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented,” said Deputy Fire Marshal Pat Killion.
Here are a few safety tips to prevent cooking fires: • Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling. If you need to leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking. • You should be vigilant when cooking. You won’t be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medication or consumed alcohol that makes you drowsy. • Always keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby when you’re cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flame. Turn off the burner, and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool. • Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried. The Murray City Fire Department is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign. Adhering to COVID restrictions, a video is being made available to all 2nd grade students. Look for daily social media safety messages, and as you make your daily trek around Murray City, search for our traveling fire safety banner, a family-friendly game to raise awareness of the importance for fire safety. Murray Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2020 Fire Prevention Week theme. We look forward to providing additional fire safety tips in the future and hope you’ll join us in staying fire safe.