Riverton Journal | January 2023

Sixth graders at Riverton Elementary are spreading the power of hope and positivity to their school and community through their recent Tree of Hope project.

“My sixth-grade students wrote and illustrated a picture book about the power of hope,” said Riverton Elementary sixth grade teacher Cassie Crandell. “In the book they personify the true stories of five survivor trees. Through telling these tree’s stories, they touch on anxiety, depression, loss of family, the fear of going through something unexpected as a child and the need for help from others. All of the stories end on a note of hope and resilience.”

Crandell’s idea for the project stemmed from her experience visiting the 9/11 memorial in New York City several years ago. She found the survivor tree at the memorial fascinating and wanted to teach her sixth-grade students about its significance, along with the importance of other survivor trees throughout the world, through this Tree of Hope project.

“A long time ago I visited the 9/11 memorial and they have the survivor tree there,” said Crandell. “I remember taking a picture of it and felt a connection with a tree that had survived so many things.”

This experience led Crandell to research different survivor trees throughout the world, and these trees became the subjects of the project.

“I did a Google search to find some of these trees and found a mural we could create and proposed it to my students,” said Crandell. “They loved it and took it from there. I guided

By Morgan Olsen | m.olsen@mycityjournals.com

Cassie Crandell and her sixth grade class who worked on the Tree of Hope project. (Morgan Olsen/City Journals)

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Left: A first-grader proudly displays his dumpling-making skills. (Xu Laoshi/Southland Elementary) Right: Spooky lights at the Sholtis home illuminate a terrifying scene during the Riverton Halloween Tour. (City Journals)

Left: Former Bluffdale Mayor Derk Timothy drives across the Porter Rockwell Bridge in August for the inaugural ride. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Fowler) Right: A display featuring 911 American flags was placed at Riverton City Park (1452 W. 12600 South) as part of the city’s day of service. (Courtesy of Riverton City)

Left: Jack Mortensen turns away from his defender. Mortensen scored a goal in the big-time victory over Herriman. (Justin Adams/City Journals) Right: Riverton City Council sees record attendance to council meeting by residents in effort to deny rezone. (Casey Saxton/Riverton City)

Riverton 2022

Owen Olsen raises the trophy to the crowd after the Silverwolves defeated American Fork twice in one day to win the state championship. (Photo by Pat McDonald)

Charlise Matsuda plays defensive middle linebacker for Summit Academy in Bluffdale. With the support of her family, Matsuda uses her autism to her advantage on the field and off. (Photo courtesy of Jarom Matsuda)

Riverton softball celebrates its state title, repeating as 6A champs. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

Left: Riverton keeper Kyle Wood makes a game-winning save during a penalty shootout against Mountain Ridge. (Justin Adams/City Journals) Right: Riverton High’s unified soccer team parades into the stadium for the state championships. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Clockwise: Upper Left: Parent volunteer Sarah Croff plays a fun math game with students at Summit Academy’s Math Night. (Diana Brantley/Summit Academy Bluffdale.) Middle: Riverton Elementary student Hadlee Hanosek enjoys a book in the outdoor classroom. (Joel Pullen/Riverton Elementary) Upper Right: Kristina Werner, founder of K Werner Designs YouTube channel shows how to create cards. (Kristina Werner) Bottom Right: Students design a prosthetic leg for their peer in the Exploring Technology class at Oquirrh Hills Middle School. (Jet Burnham/City Journals) Bottom Left: Carnival rides saw residents of all ages enjoy the fun at Riverton Town Days. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

Left: Mayor Natalie Hall takes the oath of office at Bluffdale City hall on Jan. 4. (Travis Barton/City Journals) Upper Middle: Mayor Trent Staggs gives his acceptance speech after being honored by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. (Casey Saxton/Riverton City) Bottom Middle: Former Mayor Derk Timothy laughs with friends while a slideshow of photos plays on the television behind him during the city-organized farewell open house at Bluffdale City Hall. Timothy served in the position for 12 years having lived in Bluffdale for the past 30. (Travis Barton/City Journals) Right: Craig Scott, Columbine Shooting survivor, speaks to an audience gathered at Riverton High School’s auditorium on Monday, Jan. 31. (Brook Bowen/Riverton City)

Sheldon Stewart bids farewell to Riverton City Council

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

After 11 years, Sheldon Stewart bid adieu to the Riverton City Council.

Stewart was elected to the District 5 seat on the Salt Lake County Council in November. He submitted his official resignation in December after a heartfelt final council meeting where Stewart was celebrated by past and present elected officials.

“I’ve been honored to serve alongside you for these past nine years, you’re going to be missed,” Mayor Trent Staggs said, before the city gifted Stewart a United States flag folded in a triangle as well as a plaque that notated his days of service.

Known as a “Riverton boy,” Stewart began serving on the council in 2011, but Staggs said the Riverton native’s service started long before that.

“Even though he’s been serving in an official capacity for 11 years, one would dare say he’s been advocating on behalf of Riverton his entire life,” Staggs said.

The mayor recalled when he was first elected to the City Council nine years ago, Stewart was one of the first ones to reach to him, taking Staggs to breakfast at IHOP.

“You wanted to talk about the future of the city,” he said. “It struck me how passionate you are and how much you really care about your community. This is truly a labor of love

for you.”

Among the highlights Staggs noted during Stewart’s time in office include sales tax revenue rising from $4 million to over $12 million, commercial arrivals such as Costco and Mountain View Village and a limited in-

crease in utility rates.

He emphasized Stewart’s involvement making Riverton a business-friendly city by eliminating business licensing fees, encouraging shop local campaigns, economic recovery during Covid times, and business sponsorships. Staggs noted his help with the new police department, fire service district and bringing animal control services back in house from the count.

“All of these moves have literally saved millions of dollars for Riverton city taxpayers,” Staggs said.

But for Stewart, their biggest accomplishment was adding prayer at the beginning of the council meetings.

“Even though I may disagree with fellow councilmembers, I think that prayer sets a tone for us,” he said after the city’s recognition.

Stewart was quick to express gratitude to his family as well as the councilmembers past and present.

“My friendship with these individuals has developed, I trust every single one of them and our strategic priorities are what aligned us,” he said before adding, “All those accomplishments the mayor mentioned included a staff that worked hard and made that happen.”

Staggs said the night was “bittersweet” as Stewart departed. But added Stewart would do

“great things” as county councilmember and “continue to fight and represent for Riverton and the entirety of the southwest.”

“Anyone who knows Sheldon, know him to be a vociferous proponent and defender of the southwest.”

That’s who Stewart will be representing now as he vacates his District 1 seat in Riverton to take a seat representing the county’s southwest.

In his farewell message in the Riverton city newsletter, he wrote it was honor to serve his hometown and will continue to serve it in a different role.

“It is my love and gratitude for what Riverton was, what it has become, where it is headed that continues to motivate me to serve,” he wrote.

Stewart wrote he plans to address how the southwest subsidizes services utilized in other areas of the county such as UTA, Salt Lake County Library and Unified Police.

Riverton’s empty council seat was slated to be filled during the Jan. 3 council meeting with eligible applicants throwing their names in the ring before the deadline on Dec. 29.

“The hardest thing I’ve ever done is to leave this position,” Stewart said during his last council meeting. “But I’m hoping we can make things happen at the county.” l

Santorini's Greek Grill has Opened its Fourth Location

For those of you who love Greek food, we have great news! Santorini’s Greek Grill has opened its fourth location in Mountain View Village, Riverton.

Santorini’s is committed to providing fast and fresh food made just the way you want it – it’s “Greek Your Way.” Our Build-YourOwn Pita or Bowl lets you choose from freshly grilled proteins, over 15 topping options, and 10 different made-from-scratch sauces; from traditional Tzatziki to our popular Lemon-Dill Dressing. You’ll find many ways to customize your meal, whether you want a filling pita or a salad on the lighter side.

Ingredients are freshly prepared, chopped, and cooked throughout the day or when the order is placed. Even our pitas are freshly baked in our ovens. Gyro meat is slow-roasted to perfection on an upright rotisserie grill, or choose our flavorful marinated steak or moist lemon chicken. We use the highest quality proteins and carefully grill them to perfection.

Franchise founder and CEO Sean Dehghani opened the first Santorini’s in Farmington in 2018, adding locations in Bountiful, Sandy, and now Riverton. Its success, he said, is due to three factors: “Customer experience, food quality, and speed.” He is excited to be in this area of the valley where there is so much growth, particularly within the vibrant community of Mountain View Village.

There are many options for gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free diets. One of our most popular proteins is our moist, tasty falafel, a favorite choice among our vegetarian and health-conscious customers.

Our portions are so generous we tie our pitas together with string – they’re guaranteed to satisfy even teenagers! A top-selling side dish is our Loaded Feta Fries topped with feta cheese, crunchy cabbage, and a tangy sauce. Brown Butter Cake is another customer favorite for special meals featuring a moist buttery cake, fresh berries, and a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream drizzled with honey. We also offer a Greek Yogurt Bar with local raw honey and fresh berries. There’s something for everyone!

It’s a family-friendly atmosphere featuring kids’ meals ranging from $5 - $6. We want to make it easy for families to come and enjoy their mealtime together. The interior is warm and inviting, with comfortable private booths and bar-style seating.

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Part of the Santorini way is to be involved in the local community. We love to help with fundraising events and support our schools, law enforcement, and other community organizations. Sean’s motto is “Give back and put good out there. We want to be a force for good and positively impact the neighborhoods where we do business.”

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SPONSORED COMMUNITY PARTNER

Sheldon Stewart served on the Riverton City Council for 11 years. He will now serve on the Salt Lake County Council. (Riverton City)

them, but they did all of the work.”

In order for this project to inspire and involve the entire school, Crandell found a mural the students could create together to showcase their feelings of hope and resilience.

“Each student was given a circle to color and draw or write what hope means to them,” Crandell said. “Each circle was put on the tree to remind students that together as a community, we can find hope with each other no matter what we have been through. We also printed and put the book on the wall by the tree for others to read.”

Crandell plans to have her students share the published hardcover book with each class at the school when the project is completed.

“When our hardcover book comes back from the publisher, we will invite each class to join us by our Tree of Hope and read them our book,” she said. “Our goal and hope with this project was to unite our school as a community and to help everyone find a sense of hope. These kids have been through so much in their young lives, but they are resilient, just like the five survivor trees.”

As an educator, Crandell feels a responsibility to teach her students the power of hope and the value resilience will have in their lives beyond their schooling years.

“I think that as a teacher it’s my responsibility to teach more than just curriculum,” Crandell said. “These kids are trying to figure out who they are, where they fit in, what kind

of person they’re going to be, and they have dealt with a lot. The world in general right now is hard and a lot of times the world feels heavy.”

Students enjoyed working on this project and felt inspired by the messages they worked together to create as a class.

“My favorite part was working on the different stories together because we had groups to work on each story with,” said Brooklyn, a sixth grader who helped with the project. “I loved seeing the colored circles going up on the tree. It was cool to see how the whole school came together to complete it.”

The sixth graders enjoyed working with their peers on the project, and felt they learned a lot about hope through their research.

“I like how it brought a message of hope,” said Felipe, another student who helped with the project. “I think the message is really powerful and can help people as they go through hard times. Hope can help us get through anything.”

Through working on this project, the students learned that hope can come through different channels in different situations.

“I learned it doesn’t always have to be a human who brings hope,” said Brooklyn. “These trees had hope and survived a lot. This project taught me that hope can come from anywhere.”

Although this story was initially intended to inspire the sixth graders who created it and their peers at Riverton Elementary, Crandell hopes the community will also benefit from

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the messages found in the stories of these five survivor trees.

“My hope is that the community will be reminded that we can be resilient and that we can have hope,” said Crandell. “Even these young kids can show us and can create something to remind us to have hope and resilience. It is not an easy world out there. Things can seem really bleak, but it’s inspiring that these

sixth graders can come together and create something that brings a school and a community together. It reminds us that there are these trees that have survived crazy circumstances and are still alive today. We can learn from these trees, and we can learn from each other that we will make it through together.”

Purchase a copy of the book, Blossoms of Hope, at bookemon.com. l

Jon graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies in 2012, then a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2015. Looking to expand his skill set, and broaden his ability to care for his patients, he went back to further his education once more and graduated with a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Utah in 2020. Prior to nursing school, Jon worked as a therapeutic preschool specialist at The Children’s Center in Salt Lake City which was ultimately the defining point that inspired him to seek a long-term career working with, and advocating for, children. He worked as a registered nurse at Primary Children’s Medical Center for over five years while working on his doctorate degree. Following graduation, he practiced family medicine for almost a year when he realized that pediatric and adolescent patients were the most fun and decided to switch to a pediatric care-focused clinic. Now he is excited to join Granger Pediatrics – Riverton and provide superior care for the children and adolescents of this rapidly growing community.

The Tree of Hope mural, created by Cassie Crandell’s sixth grade class at Riverton Elementary. (Cassie Crandell/Riverton Elementary)

Mountain Ridge High School junior Sam Chelius is interested in a career in floral design, but she doesn’t have to wait until she graduates high school to get started. Chelius is taking horticulture classes at the Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers. She has been able to use the skills and knowledge to make and sell school dance boutonnieres and corsages for friends and family members.

Students take JATC courses to prepare for college and careers.

“Every student has different needs and goals,” JATC South Campus CTE Coordinator Tami Clevenger said. “Some students take a program so they can work a higher paying or more flexible job while they put themselves through college after high school. Other students want to get a taste of what a career will be like, or they may have multiple career interests they want to explore.”

Riverton High senior Kole Tengberg is interested in a medical career, but he wasn’t sure if he would really enjoy the day-to-day tasks. So, he signed up to take biotechnology and medical forensics classes at JATC. After spending half of his school days at the JATC South Campus, working in a lab environment, using lab equipment and working on real-world scenarios, he said he can see himself enjoying this type of career.

Seeds of interest bloom at JATC

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

“I could definitely do this,” he said while working on a lab experiment to cut viral DNA using enzymes.

The medical forensic class, added to the biotechnology program this year, has become one of the most popular classes at the JATC South Campus.

JATC offers 27 classes which prepare students for careers and college in areas of engineering, health sciences, information technology, skilled and technical sciences, teacher education and agriculture.

Students earn high school credits in science, CTE or elective requirements as well as college credits for JATC classes. Currently, 60% of JATC’s classes offer concurrent enrollment college credits.

JATC classes take up two or four periods of a student’s schedule. Students take morning or afternoon classes at one of two JATC campuses (located in West Jordan and Riverton) and spend the other half of the day at their high school. Buses are provided to both locations from the high schools.

Many students follow their passion to the JATC.

Riverton High senior Brooklyn Ashcraft loves plants—she has about 80 at home. She hopes to turn her passion into a career in the field of ecology, studying the relationship be-

Burnham/City Journals)

tween plants and the environment. She took a few agricultural classes at Riverton High and now attends the JATC for the more advanced and hands-on classes.

“Instead of sitting at a desk and listening to the teacher talk, you actually get to do

MONICA HINZ, DO, JD Pediatrics

Monica Hinz joins Granger Medical Clinic as a recent graduate of University of Florida, Jacksonville’s pediatric residency. Following residency she served as a chief resident for one year. As a native Floridian, she and her family have loved moving to Utah this past summer and are enjoying all the natural beauty and outdoor activities that Salt Lake City area has to offer. Dr. Hinz is of Columbian descent and is fluent in Spanish. Dr. Hinz is passionate about not only helping her patients grow, but also ensuring the entire family unit is thriving.

COMMON AREAS OF TREATMENT

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• History and physical

• Newborn examinations

• Childhood immunizations

• Well child physicals

• Sports participation physicals

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evaluation and management

and depression evaluation and management

• Adolescent medicine exams

HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS

Lone Peak | Jordan Valley Medical Center | Riverton

hands-on learning,” Ashcraft said of her JATC courses.

Horticulture instructor Sydnee Roholt said students also learn the business side of the industry through real-world applications.

“We will do a lot of business concepts,”

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Students learn flower arranging, pricing and marketing in advanced horticulture classes at the JATC South Campus. (Jet

she said. “Whether students go into owning a landscaping business or a floral design as a hobby, they get real world experience.”

Students grow plants in the JATC greenhouse, selling poinsettias and cacti to the public each December and holding a flower sale in spring. They learn about pricing flower arrangements and about marketing. Horticulture students take on responsibilities as manager, marketer or planter in the greenhouse, which Roholt said prepares them for employment.

“They’re learning how to hold a job and how to present themselves and how to finish tasks in a given amount of time,” Roholt said. “When they leave, they have job experience in a greenhouse.”

JATC classes also provide opportunities for students to make connections with professionals and industry representatives who are invited to be guest speakers for classes or judges for student competitions.

“We’ve had a lot of opportunities to go and tour different facilities, we usually try to do a couple of field trips and then bring in professionals as much as possible,” engineering instructor Noelle Schick said. “We’re really trying to connect students to real world engineering as much as possible, so that what they’re learning in this class is directly applicable to what they would be doing when they go on to their future in engineering.”

She said as the engineering program and its reputation has grown, more companies are approaching her to arrange internships with students, including two engineering and one drone company.

Some students don’t have to wait until the end of their program to turn their skills into a job.

Once engineering pathway students complete a CAD class, they are qualified to work as drafters, gaining experience in the field and earning a good wage as they finish high school and college. Students taking biotechnology classes earn state certifications that help them qualify for jobs. Biotechnology instructor Mary Carlson said many of her former students have gone on to internships and jobs in various related fields, such as chemistry and bioinformatics. One student took an internship in Australia.

Even those who don’t pursue jobs in the field gain employable skills.

Schick said engineering students learn skills that are important in any career, such as working with a team, creative problem-solving, presentation skills and confidence.

“By the end of the class, I want to build their confidence in being able to solve any problem by knowing where to look for the resources and figuring out that they are capable of solving problems,” Schick said.

Schick left an engineering career to become an engineering teacher at the North Campus.

“I really like engaging with the students,” she said. “And I think engineering is a really fascinating field of study because you get to learn about the world around you and how it works. So I love transferring that excitement

about understanding how things work to the students and seeing them get excited to learn about it, as well, and apply what they’re learning about the world around them to make it better.”

Many JATC faculty members have real-world experience in their subjects in addition to their teaching certificate. South Campus Principal Sonja Burton-Juarez said this is what sets JATC classes apart from CTE classes offered at high schools.

“Really, the main difference is that most of our teachers come from industry occupations,” she said. “They have worked in a chosen profession, and they have chosen to come and teach our students. They want to share their real-life knowledge with our students.”

The JATC’s faculty includes fire sciences instructors who work for Unified Fire Authority, hair and nail instructors who own their own salons and aviation teachers who are pilots. There are health science, criminal justice and engineering instructors who worked in the professional field before becoming teachers.

While some introductory CTE courses are offered at high schools, the JATC offers introductory and advanced courses. For example, the introductory Engineering Principles class is offered at three Jordan District high schools with the same curriculum. However, JATC students have access to high tech equipment including laser cutters, and, thanks to generous parent donations, several 3D printers, including PLA, resin and (in the near future) carbon fiber printers for the 3D design assignments.

“They can create a product and then actually see it, from green models on their screen to an actual part,” engineering instructor Amber Saffen said.

The JATC offers advanced engineering pathways in aerospace and drones, architecture, civil engineering and construction, or robotics and electronics for students who want to get more technical knowledge in specific fields.

“Kids who come to the JATC, a lot of them have a very clear idea of what they want out of the experience and I really love facilitating that,” Saffen said. “They know what they want but they don’t always know how to get there, so I love being able to give them the resources, and set them on the path, and help them figure out the in between steps to get to where they want to go.”

Adilynne Hagen, a senior at Riverton High, fell in love with engineering at the JATC. She is taking aerospace and robotics classes.

“I’ve always really liked to work with my hands,” she said. “My dad was a mechanic and so I really was into mechanical engineering, so I wanted to see if I actually liked engineering or if it was just a random thought that I had. Once I came to the JATC, I fell in love with it.”

Some of her favorite hands-on projects have been converting a drone into an RC car and designing a “Back to the Future” themed playground.

JATC students have the opportunity to submit their classroom projects for student association competitions.

Clevenger said JATC students usually place in the top three at state and top 10 in nationals in these competitions.

Last year, 25 JATC students went to TSA nationals, four went to SkillsUSA nationals and six went to HOSA nationals. JATC students swept the Nail Technician categories, placed first in Game Design and took top awards in Web Design at the SkillsUSA state competition. At Educators Rising, they earned five first place spots at state and had three students finish in the top 10 at nationals. The JATC robotics team won TSA state and national competitions. And a JATC student placed third in the nation for her FFA agriscience fair project.

Like a high school, JATC has student leadership positions (called ambassadors) and school activities. Both campuses recently hosted a Halloween carnival and holiday activities such as turkey bowling and Christmas ornament decorating. The nails and hair design students demonstrate their skills with a fun halloween-themed showcase in the fall and a fashion show in the spring. Landscape architect students design a haunted house in the fall.

Applications for all JATC courses for the 2023-24 school year will be given equal consideration when received between Jan. 3 and Feb. 28. Applications and more information

can be found at www.jordantech.org.

There will be a JATC open house held Jan. 26 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the JATC North Campus at 9301 S. Wights Fort Road in West Jordan, and at the JATC South Campus at 12723 S. Park Avenue in Riverton. Parents and students can check out the campuses, tour the classrooms and speak with the instructors.

JATC staff members and student ambassadors work with middle school and high school counselors to get the word out to students about what the JATC offers with middle school expos and the annual open house.

“It’s always a shame when we talk to seniors and they’re like, ‘Oh, I would have been in pharmacy tech if I would have known, but I had no idea,’” North Campus CTE Coordinator Mandi Jensen said.

Applications for 2023-24 courses are due by Feb. 28. Go to www.jordantech.org for program information. l

12723 S. Park Avenue in Riverton

Meet Brian Barnett—the newest board member for the Jordan School District

By Camille Emmer | c.emmer@mycityjournals.com

The newly-elected Brian Barnett will be the new member of the board of education for the Jordan School District, representing portions of Riverton/Bluffdale.

Many of us are aware of the larger elected offices and what they do, but it can be difficult to be informed on all the elected offices in our local area. In a few sentences, here is a condensed version of the Board of Education and what it does.

The Jordan School District has a seven-member Board of Education, each board member is elected to represent their community. The Jordan School District website clarifies that, “The Board works with students, parents and District employees to provide students with educational opportunities, prepare for the world of work and develop attributes of citizenship necessary in a democratic society.” The Board of Education has authority over money, prioritizes issues and educational opportunities each year, and these priorities directly influence the success of our students.

Barnett was born in California and later moved to Utah. He graduated from Ben Lomond High School in Ogden. After a twoyear mission to Argentina, he went to Weber State where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

As a new Board member, Barnett recognizes the importance of education, specifically a teachers’ influence on students. One teacher who had a positive impact on his life was his sixth-grade teacher, Mr. Madsen. He saw leadership and organizational skills in Barnett and encouraged him to develop those natural qualities. Mr. Madsen’s positive influence helped him build his confidence and self-esteem. As he progressed in school, computers became compelling and interesting to him. He and his friends taught themselves on the Commodore 64 home computer and designed a few large-scale war strategy games. The computer games and interest in programming would later influence his college and career paths. He now owns a software company called CalcXML which licenses financial calculators to banks and insurance companies. They are used around the world.

Barnett’s family is also tremendously important to him. The family he grew up in, and the family he is raising now. He has three sisters and a brother. His parents as well as his siblings all live in Weber and Davis counties. He enjoyed his growing up, and says, “we all still get along great and love spending time together.” His parents were great examples of hard work, sacrifice, love and encouragement. They exemplified and taught their family traits such as caring for others, spending time with family and levelheadedness. They also instilled a duty to God and community.

Barnett married Jennifer Smith in 1988.

They have eight children, four boys and four girls. Six children are married, and the youngest two boys are still at home, 15 and 13 years old. They also have 14 grandchildren, all of whom are under the age of 6. After 34 years of marriage, Brian and Jennifer are still madly in love with each other. He lists his marriage and family as one of his proudest accomplishments.

Barnett only recently decided that being on the Board of Education was something that he wanted to do. His predecessor, Matt Young, a friend in the community, saw in Barnett qualities that would be beneficial as a Board Member and suggested that he run for election. Before deciding, he did research with his wife about the position, as well as talked to people, including Matt Young. Barnett and his wife then made a mutual decision that he had the time and the bandwidth to give back to a community that has given them so much.

As he becomes more accustomed to the job and the responsibilities that are included with it, his goals may evolve and change, but overall he hopes to provide meaningful counsel and advice as the schools navigate the inevitably difficult decisions in the future. His experience opening and running a small business, working with his own family and serving in community and church groups gives him resources and insights that will be a great contribution to the district and schools.

When asked what his friends and family would say about him to describe him, he said he hopes that they would say he is friendly and easy to get along with. These qualities will certainly be needed as he serves the community and the board. l

New Education Board Member Brian Barnett is excited to give back to community through service and hopes to make a positive impact during his tenure. (Photo courtesy Brian Barnett)

RIVERTON REVIEW

Official Newsletter of the Riverton, Utah City Government

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

2022: A Good Year for Riverton

By Mayor Trent Staggs

2022 was a good year for Riverton!

Here’s a look back at some of the biggest things that happened in our city last year:

Mountain View Village Phase 2 Opening

Phase 2 of Mountain View Village was opened to the public in July. This phase has brought dozens of specialty retail stores and new restaurants to Riverton, with more on the way. This phase is designed as a gathering place for the community.

Costco Wholesale Opening

Doors opened at Riverton’s new Costco in May, giving many southwest Salt Lake County residents a more convenient location to do large-scale shopping. Sales tax generated due to Costco will help the city keep fees and taxes low.

Cinemark Opening

Though part of Phase 2 of Mountain View Village, the opening of a 14-screen luxury Cinemark theater is a major milestone for

our community. The addition of a movie theater in Riverton means less people need to travel outside of our community to find entertainment.

Green Well Project Funding

Over $3 million in federal funding was secured through Salt Lake County to install a reverse osmosis plant on the city’s Green Well. This installation will take place in mid-2023. The project will allow the city to supplement water purchased from Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District to help keep culinary water rates low in the years ahead.

Improved Riverton City Signage

New signage was installed to help enhance our sense of community, regardless of what part of Riverton our citizens live. This included monument signage at major entrances, city boundary signage at entrances to Riverton from other cities and wayfinding signage in the Riverton Town Center.

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Google Fiber Installation

Google Fiber began installation of their network in Riverton in the fall of 2022. Installation is expected to be completed by the end of 2023, giving many residents an additional option for high-speed internet access. Providing residents with additional broadband options has been a priority for the city.

RPD Substation Opening

A substation for the Riverton Police Department was opened in Phase 2 of Mountain View Village. This substation will help RPD have a larger presence on the west side of town.

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Bangerter

/ 12600 S Interchange Completion

After nearly two years of construction, the freeway style interchange at Bangerter Highway and 12600 S was completed. This interchange has allowed traffic to flow more freely and has reduced congestion on 12600 S.

New Pickleball Courts

To help accommodate fast growing demand, four new pickleball courts were installed at Riverton City Park. These new courts allow more players to play more often.

8 10

Community Center Updates

The auditorium in the Sandra N. Lloyd Community Center has been updated with much-needed new flooring, new paint, new curtains and a new sound system. Updates will be made on the first floor of the building in 2023 through a Salt Lake County grant.

January 3

COUNCIL MESSAGE

Voter Turnout Matters

By Councilmember Tawnee McCay

It is important for all citizens to let their voice be heard and exercise their right to vote. With this belief in mind, Riverton City actively encouraged residents to vote in the November election. In reviewing the data after the election, voter turnout in Riverton was 67.08%. 17,227 Riverton residents voted in the election. An additional 8,453 residents are registered to vote but did not cast a ballot.

Here are a few interesting facts:

• Turnout in Riverton was 2.1% higher than overall Salt Lake County turnout.

• Riverton had a higher turnout percentage than Bluffdale, Draper and Herriman, but slightly lower than South Jordan.

• Turnout on the “East Side” of Salt Lake County was 69.4%. Turnout on the “West Side” of Salt Lake County was 59.8%. We suspect this difference in turnout had an impact on the result in the County Council AtLarge race and other races.

It is my hope that more eligible voters choose to vote in future elec-

tions. Communities with higher voter turnout like Cottonwood Heights, Holladay and Millcreek have much more influence on the results of countywide elections than communities with lower voter turnout.

Consider this. If turnout in cities on the west side of Salt Lake County matched that of Holladay at 76% turnout, there would have been an additional 43,315 votes cast. An additional 20,962 ballots would

have been cast on the east side if all communities matched the 76% turnout. An extra 64,277 votes cast in any county election would have had a significant impact on race outcomes. That’s why it’s always important to never discount the value of a single vote. Single votes add up and decide the outcomes of elections, and by extension, how our government operates.

PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE

Create a Family Emergency Plan

Unexpected disasters come in a myriad of ways. Whether the disaster is a house fire or flood, earthquake or tornado, every day, thousands of families are forced to make quick decisions that can have lasting consequences. Having an established family emergency plan can save critical time and allow the members of your family to remain safe and calm in tense situations.

There are three things you can do today to help your family prepare for an emergency: 1) consider the specific needs of your household, 2) fill out a Family Emergency Communication Plan, 3) practice your plan with your household.

Consider the specific needs of your household.

Some families have young kids, others have teenagers. Some families have pets while others live with grandparents. Whatever your daily needs and responsibilities involve, be sure to include them in your plan. Here are other factors you may want to consider:

• Different ages of members within your household

• Responsibilities for assisting others

• Dietary needs

• Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment

• Disabilities

• Pets or service animals

Fill out a Family Emergency Communication Plan.

Ready.gov has a ready-to-fill-out online form that you can submit to receive an emailed PDF copy. The plan includes important information such as home address and phone number, names of family members, emergency contacts and medical information. Fill out your own form by visiting ready.gov/plan-form

Practice your plan with your household.

Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in different situations. It is also a good idea to go over escape routes, meeting places and simple firstaid. Make sure questions are being asked to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Additional information on family emergency preparedness can be found at rivertonutah.gov/ preparedness.

2023 Riverton City Calendar Has Arrived!

The new 2023 Riverton Calendar will keep you in the know on events and happenings this year.

You should have received it in your mailbox already. If you haven’t received one, you can pick one up for free at the Recreation & Events window at Riverton City Hall.

Email Notifications

n rivertonutah.gov/subscribe Get the latest city updates, e-newsletters, event information and other news delivered right to your inbox.

Text Message Alerts

n rivertonutah.gov/alerts Get emergency alerts and notifications on important city updates on your cell phone 3-4 times per month.

Riverton Connect App

n rivertonutah.gov/app Report a problem, see the city calendar, get directions to parks and city facilities, and find city information right from your mobile device.

Social Media

n @rivertonutahgov

Connect with Riverton City to get quick updates, essential information, event details and more on the platforms you use.

Couch to 5K Training Program

Have you ever wanted to start running, but just aren’t sure how? Join us for a Couch to 5K program to gradually build up your running ability in just eight weeks. This program is for people looking for a structured introduction to running with support along the way. Cost is $30.

Includes free entry in the 4Life 5K on March 25, 2023, a race t-shirt, training support and much more.

Register at: rivertonutah.gov/couch-to-5k

Submissions Wanted

Young artists and creators age 18 and younger are invited submit artwork entries in the Not Your Parent’s Art Show.

• Artwork Entry Period: January 17-31

• Find details at rivertonutah.gov/exhibits.

Half Marathon & 4Life 5K

FEATURING

Justin Osmond

Monday, January 23, 7 p.m.

Riverton High School Auditorium 12476 S Silverwolf Way Riverton, Utah 84065

Join Riverton City and Jordan School District for an evening of motivation and inspiration with Justin Osmond.

Be part of a Riverton tradition and come participate in one of the valley’s best races. The race is designed for all ages and abilities with medals and prizes awarded for participants and winners.

General registration opens January 2 for the Riverton Half Marathon & 4Life 5K on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Races begin at 9 a.m. at Riverton City Park.

Register at: rivertonutah.gov/half

Join Riverton City and Riverton High School in this annual event as we walk in solidarity with those impacted by suicide and to promote suicide prevention.

• Saturday, January 28, 9 a.m., Riverton High School

This daddy-daughter date night near Valentine’s Day is a hit and sells out early! Suitable for girls ages 3-12. Register at rivertonutah.gov/ date-night.

• Friday, February 10, 6 p.m., Sandra N. Lloyd Community Center

The PBS Kids Utah Writers & Illustrators Exhibit celebrates 20 years of fostering creativity in young kids. Visit Monday – Wednesday, Noon to 5 p.m.

• Monday, January 9 - Wednesday, February 1, Old Dome Meeting Hall

Community leaders help school prepare for future curriculum, career skills through focus group research

By Camille Emmer | c.emmer@mycityjournals.com

Jim Moran is quoted to have said, “the future belongs to those who prepare for it.” This is exactly what Summit Academy High School was doing on Tuesday, Nov. 29 2022. The event was a Community Portrait of a Graduate focus group. This focus group was the last of a long series of groups including students from various grades, parents, teachers, and this final one with leaders from the business community, local government and university leaders. The goal was to discuss the knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes diverse groups believe every graduate needs in order to be prepared for the future.

“Our community wants to improve the school’s approach to better meet the individualized needs of students,” said Principal Diana Brantley. “We are setting the stage for students to have more ownership over their development of the skills and attributes they need for the future. Together, with our entire community, we are building the next generation.”

Although it is impossible to predict the future, it is possible to predict trends and focus on important skills to best prepare for it. Summit Academy is well positioned to

ANGELO PULGIANO, MD Internal Medicine

Dr. Pulgiano joins Granger Internal Medicine – Riverton from the University of Utah. He graduated with a Doctorate of Medicine degree from Saba University School of Medicine in the Caribbean Netherlands in 2002. He then completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in 2005.

Dr. Pulgiano is passionate about being a strong patient advocate and gives his best efforts to educate, support, and encourage each patient throughout all aspects of their care. He is a strong believer in preventative medicine, utilizing annual routine exams and age-appropriate screenings, combined with a healthy lifestyle.

Summit Academy hosted focus groups to help students prepare for life post-graduation. (Photo contributed)

do this because they strive for excellence and encourage their students to do the same. Summit Academy has a 16 to 1 student/ teacher ratio, 47% of the student body are in advanced courses and they also have dual immersion opportunities. Educational ambition and achievement are familiar to the school.

Summit Academy was created in 2004 by a group of parents who wanted to have more control over their students’ curriculum. In fact, the mission of Summit Academy is “to provide a rigorous educational environment based on the standards of high academic achievement and individualized instruction for the benefit of all students.” They also encourage parent involvement, technology and 21st century career exploration through curriculum, assessment and student-tracking.

As an estimate, U.S students spend roughly 5,700 hours in class in four years of high school, where they must learn math, English, a foreign language, history and fine arts, among numerous other subjects. These focus groups help Summit Academy guide their students to optimize each minute of high school for the greatest benefit of the students and help them prepare for the future.

The organizers wanted to start with broad concepts and whittle it down as the evening went on. The first activity started with having participants write the purposes

of education. There were many responses, but some were to prepare for future careers, to teach how to think, to encourage curiosity, as well as softer skills like teaching social skills, empathy and confidence.

Next, participants were asked to continue brainstorming the qualities and knowledge that businesses value in employees. Some of the answers included ability to problem solve and find solutions, communication, ability to write, leadership skills and technological skills.

Lastly, participants combined these two categories into what they felt were the most crucial to learn by the end of high school and that would be valuable skills for careers.

By the end of the focus group, participants had finalized the categories as mindset, leadership skills, social skills and general skills. Each group had slightly different priorities and results, and the school will now take these results and analyze and research the best way to incorporate the results into the Summit Academy curriculum next year and in the future.

The result of these focus groups benefits the students the most directly, but they also benefit the teachers and the community.

Nelson Mandela said it best when he said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

The world needs to be changed for the better and Summit Academy is helping their students be prepared for it. l

Local police and Jordan School District work together for not if, but when

By Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com

Columbine High School. Sandy Hook Elementary. Stoneman Douglas High School. Robb Elementary. St. Louis High School. We recognize these names not because of the stellar standardized testing scores or the outstanding sports seasons, but because at one time there was an active shooter on each of these campuses, and tragedy ensued.

According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, “Incidents are labeled as an ‘active shooter’ when the shooter killed and/or wounded victims, either targeted or random, within the school campus during a continuous episode of violence.”

The aforementioned list of schools are just the incidents that caught media attention, in large part, because of the number of casualties.

According to Everytown for Gun Safety Research*, “In 2022 there [were] at least 140 incidents of gunfire on school grounds, resulting in 46 deaths and 111 injuries nationally.”

*(At the time this article was written, data was up to date as of Nov. 4, 2022)

While there may be a lot of unanswered questions as a result of these horrific events, at a local level, there have come to be a lot of answers. These answers come in the form

of police officer training, and school district collaboration and school compliance.

Police officer training

Officer Shauna Becker has been with the South Jordan City Police Department for approximately four years and has been a school resource officer for two of those years at Mountain Creek Middle School. Her decision to join law enforcement was largely prompted by the terrible events that occurred in February 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. She said she was part of conversations after that incident that were, what she called, finger pointing conversations, focused on the could’ve, would’ve, should’ve.

“All of this negativity, and everyone pointing fingers, it made me realize we’re all a bunch of hypocrites,” Becker said.

Becker said that with all of the finger pointing going on, becoming a police officer was her effort to do something meaningful to protect those in her community. As a mother herself, she said that joining law enforcement has helped her to understand that there are other resource officers, on other school campuses, willing to ensure the safety of her own kids.

“And hopefully that gives another moth-

er some peace of mind knowing that I’m at the school protecting her kiddos,” Becker said.

Sgt. Eric Anderson is over the school resource officers within South Jordan City. There are 15 public schools, including 10 elementary, three middle, and two high schools within the city limits. There are currently no SROs specifically assigned at the charter schools or the private schools within South

Jordan, however South Jordan Police patrol the areas in and near those schools. Any call made by schools needing officer assistance will be dispatched to an SRO nearby. There are seven SROs within South Jordan City, including Anderson. These are sworn officers who have had at least a year of patrol experience.

If an active shooter situation were to occur on a school campus, the school resource

All schools within Jordan School District require visitors to enter the campus through the main office located at the front entrance of the school. (Rachel Aubrey/City Journals)

officer is the first point of contact. Anderson said that if a 911 call was made by school staff, officers within South Jordan, who share radio frequency with neighboring cities Herriman and Riverton police departments, would respond with great numbers.

“If that level of extreme happens…there is an active shooter in the school…I guarantee that everyone and anyone is going to show up on that type of incident,” Anderson said.

While it is a comfort to know that in the event of an active shooter on campus all hands would be on deck, Anderson said that could cause a lot of chaos. The South Jordan Police actively train for mitigation of that chaos, or incident command.

In addition, South Jordan Police has specific training for school resource officers including Avoid, Deny, Defend, Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events, and single man building clearing. While the thought of being shot at could possibly keep them awake at night, officers like Anderson, who has been a police officer for more than 21 years, Becker, and countless others, know the risks and are willing to put their uniforms on to protect and serve.

“Even the officers that are not school resource officers themselves, there is not one officer within South Jordan that would not run head first into a school, if need be,” Becker said. “Not one of them would hesitate.”

Jordan School District collaboration

At a district level, board member and First Vice President Bryce Dunford said in his six years on the board, he gets constant inquiries about safety, often from parents, wanting to know if their kids are safe at school. His message is that Jordan School District is taking all necessary measures, directly and indirectly, to work and partner with local law enforcement to ensure students are safe at school.

“I think parents would be very surprised to know how close that relationship is between the police departments and the school district,” Dunford said. “And everything they have asked us to do, we’ve done.”

Dunford said that when a report comes out about an active shooter on a school campus, such as Uvalde, Texas, Jordan School District personnel consume and examine every inch of it in an effort to ascertain how ready they are for when something similar happens closer to home.

“Safety has been the one thing where we [the board] have just been the most united,” Dunford said. “Very few people show any hesitance in doing something to make students safer.”

Dunford did, however, express hesitancy on giving away too many details about the specific preparation the district has in place. However, on Oct. 11, 2022, during a weekly school board meeting, which is available to the public, Deputy Chief Ken Wallentine, along with Lieutenant Richard Bell, both of West Jordan Police Department, were invit-

ed to engage with the board about the unique and ongoing collaboration between the police and the district.

Early in the conversation, Wallentine highlighted a specific example of collaboration that is currently in place, the use of SAFE UT, an app created “through bipartisan legislation in response to Utah’s unacceptably high youth suicide rate,” according to the Huntsman Mental Health Institute. The app is monitored by the district as well as the police department for tips about potential threats to students, teachers and staff.

“I do have a deep and abiding commitment to the schools of our community,” Wallentine said. “That commitment is also to the collaborative effort [the police department] enjoy with our schools.”

School resource officer training was brought up during the board meeting as well, specifically active shooter training.

“I am confident law enforcement in Jordan School District is very well trained,” Dunford said.

Wallentine made it a point in the meeting to emphasize that often, police do more than just enforce rules and laws. Sometimes the duties and responsibilities encompass emotional and mental needs as well as physical safety.

“We do our best to have our officers be seen as something other than the enforcer,” Wallentine said.

More than just a police officer, Becker is a familiar face in the school and a safe point

of contact for students. She cracks jokes with the middle schoolers, or she will be on elementary campuses and may sit and color with the kids during a DARE activity. Those simple interactions, according to Becker, could be students’ very first interaction with law enforcement.

School compliance

Even if there were enough personnel and funding to allow for a SRO at every school campus, the district has found ways to allow for infrastructure to be more secure. Beginning in 2018, Bingham High School underwent major renovations including fresh paint, new HVAC, ADA approved ramps and elevators and a renovation of the main office entrance. These renovations continue to happen in phases.

According to Bingham High School Vice Principal Art Erickson, there are more than 40 possible entrances into Bingham. While these entrances are to remain locked from the outside during school hours, forcing all those who want to enter to come through the main office, it is entirely possible for a door to be propped open for the purposes of convenience.

The tragedy in Ulvade, Texas started with a door. A door that had been propped open for a time, had been shut but not locked, thus allowing the shooter access to the school. Wallentine and the board acknowledged and addressed this in the board meeting with Emergency Operations Manager,

Lance Everill, as a possible breakdown in safety protocol.

Also mentioned in the Oct. 11 meeting were whether or not alarms should be adopted for propped open doors. With approximately 2,500 students at Bingham, there are students and staff coming and going at all times of day.

“Because of the ability we have for students to access part of their school day curriculum outside of the just being on campus proper, there is a need to allow them to come and to go,” Erickson said.

Rather than alarms, Erickson said he would love to see more full-time hall monitors who are able to interact with the students and who monitor halls for things like propped open doors. Another concern for Bingham High were dead spots within the school, areas where radio signal strength was subpar. According to Erikson, those issues have been addressed at Bingham.

“In our world, in law enforcement, we always train for not if, but when,” Anderson said.

To access the Oct. 11 board meeting recording visit https://jordandistrict.org/board/ meetings/.

For more information and statistics about school shootings in the US visit https://k12ssdb.org/. Note: in July 2022, the K-12SSDB became an independent, nonpartisan research project that is not affiliated with any institution or agency. l

JORDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT - Public Notices

SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILD FIND

Every child is entitled to a public education regardless of disability. Children with disabilities may go without services because families are not fully aware of their options. If you know of a child, birth to age 22, who is not receiving any education services or feel that your child may be in need of special education services, please contact your local school or call the Special Education Department in Jordan School District at (801) 567-8176

SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS DESTRUCTION

On January 31, 2023, Jordan School District will destroy special education records of students born prior to September, 1995. Former special education students who are 27 years old may request their records from the school last attended; otherwise, the records will be destroyed.

CARSON SMITH SCHOLARSHIP

Public school students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may be eligible for a scholarship to attend a private school through the Carson Smith Scholarship program. Further information is available at https://www.schools.utah.gov/

Jordan Education Foundation raised $75K for student shopping spree

Photos courtesy Jordan Education Foundation

Hundreds of teens who may have gone without gifts this holiday season got an early Christmas thanks to a caring community and the Jordan Education Foundation. The Foundation raised $75,000 to provide a holiday shopping spree for more than 500 students in need throughout Jordan School District at their annual “Christmas for Kids” event.

On Dec. 10, the students partnered with volunteer chaperones who took them shopping at Walmart in South Jordan for everything from clothes and boots to beds, comforters, warm coats, and more. Every student got to spend $150.00 on holiday gifts. Santa Claus was there to spread some holiday cheer along with firefighters, police, and city leaders. l

Now

Now

Silverwolves basketball off to strong start

Left: Zach Edwards boxes out on the road against Murray. The junior, known for his skills on the mound and behind the plate in baseball was chipping in eight points and six rebounds a game, giving them another athlete in the starting lineup. Middle: Head coach Garrett Wilson looks on during a 73-58 victory over Murray. The Silverwolves started the year 5-2 before the winter break. After two close victories over Fremont and Brighton to start the season, Riverton captured double-digit wins over Murray and Highland. Right: Senior Logan Dunfield prepares to take a free throw for the Silverwolves.

Left: During a home game against Bountiful, Riverton enjoyed a rambunctious student section. Middle: Anna Ross (above) and Amaya Afatasi (below) are two primary returning contributors for the Riverton Silverwolves. Riverton won its first five games over Maple Mountain, Viewmont, Highland, Cyprus and West before falling in a close game to Bountiful. Right: Hannah Shinall is part of the new-look Silverwolves team that started the year 6-2.

Photos by Travis Barton

Riverton football ends year in second round

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Top: The Riverton football team finished the year

third in region. After a first-round victory over Kearns 48-16, the Silverwolves fell 55-50 to Davis in the second round. Middle: Senior Jake Meyers threw for almost 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns on the year. Bottom Left: Dylan Turville kicks an extra point against Bingham. Bottom Right: The Riverton offense finished the year averaging 30 points per game, scoring 22+ points in all of their victories.

Photos by Pat McDonald

SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS DESTRUCTION

CARSON SMITH SCHOLARSHIP

Public school students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may be eligible for a scholarship to attend a private school through the Carson Smith Scholarship program. Further information is available at https://www.schools.utah.gov/

We are excited to welcome some of our newest chamber members. Goldenwest Credit Union and Keystone Chiropractic are our newest members of the Chamber. Keystone Chiropractic specializes in family wellness, prenatal care and pediatric care. Their new location will be open in February and we look forward to their grand opening. Goldenwest Credit Union in South Jordan recently joined the chamber. Gabriel Garcia has worked with the chamber in the past and when he took a new job he immediately joined. Goldenwest Credit Union is a great partner to the chamber and we look forward to continuing our relationship.

When you attend a ribbon cutting you get to meet the movers and shakers otherwise known as the decision makers of each company. What a great way to make a connection. We had a ribbon cutting for 801 Basketball and what an amazing company. When we got there, not only were the kids who participate in its program there but the NBA Africa and NBA Latin America teams practicing. If your kids are interested in basketball, check out 801 Basketball.

From the people who brought you Syncrete, nepotistic construction contracts and the ThrU Turn fiasco intersection, comes a mind-boggling project guaranteed to be unnecessary and over budget: the Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola.

The Utah Department of Transportation isn’t known for its rational, effective projects. It spent years studying the LCC traffic situation before making the wrong decision, but at least they didn’t go with the Little Cottonwood zeppelin.

Color me unimpressed with UDOT. Take 5400 South. Please. I travel this road every day and I know UDOT doesn’t understand east-west travel. Going from my home in Kearns to the I-15 interchange in Murray includes nearly 20 stoplights along that 7-mile stretch and I usually hit every. single. one.

There was a legend that if you drove exactly 42.3 mph, under the light of a full moon, you could travel 5400 South without stopping at one red light. Not true.

I blame my road rage on UDOT.

So, let’s talk about the gondola. With UDOT approving the nearly $600 million project, it must have overwhelming support. Nope. Local mayors, residents, environmental groups, Bigfoot and county leaders don’t want this to happen. A majority of the tens

Kinder Life and Laughter

of thousands of public comments are against the gondola.

Just a hair short of sketchy, Snowbird quietly bought land that could (will) be used for the gondola station at the base of Little Cottonwood. When the time comes, Snowbird will sell or donate (ha-ha) that land to the state.

Hikers, fishermen, sightseers and climbers don’t want the gondola. They don’t want to ride the entire length of the gondola system if their destination isn’t a ski resort. I guess UDOT could add a base-jumping experience if you want to parachute out of the gondola halfway up the canyon. But it will probably have an extra fee.

Measuring 8 miles, it will be the longest gondola system in the world and includes nearly two dozen towers, averaging 185 feet high. That’s about 17 stories. UDOT said the towers will be placed up the canyon by helicopters, like they’ll gently rest on the forest

floor where tree roots will wind around the base to hold them down, becoming part of the natural landscape.

No. Each tower will have a huge concrete base, requiring boulders and trees to be demolished. Not only that, but construction could disrupt animal migration patterns, pollute the watershed and highlight UDOT’s decision-making legacy.

UDOT explored options like rideshare programs, electric buses and road tolls that are less invasive, especially when trying to solve a traffic problem that only happens a few days a year. But those alternatives aren’t expensive and ridiculous, so that was a “no” vote from UDOT.

When you factor inflation, the project’s cost will be about $72 gajillion, paid for with “mystery funding” which we all know usually means “taxpayer dollars” in some fash-

ion. Even if you’ve never skied a day in your life, your tax dollars will probably help pay for a system designed by ski resorts, for ski resorts.

We’ve riddled this country with aging infrastructure. Obsolete railways, cables, steel and wiring lie unused and rusting. When the gondola becomes outdated, our grandchildren’s grandchildren will be stuck with the awful towers standing forever in the sacred space of Little Cottonwood.

UDOT’s track record is abysmal. I remember when it spent $700,000 to remove the stupid ThrU Turn on 5400 South. UDOT said the intersection wasn’t a mistake, just unnecessary.

That could be UDOT’s tagline: Building unnecessary mistakes. l

Peri