Taylorsville City Newsletter | April 2023

Springtime Draws City’s Focus to Water Conservation, Waterwise Planting

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

With the record snowfall these past few months, we are employing the Boy Scout motto to “always be prepared.” So, while we should not be overly concerned and certainly not panicked, we do want to prepare for the possibility of ooding this spring as temperatures warm and the snow melts.

You can nd excellent mitigation tips from Be Ready Utah (online at beready.utah.gov), which advises prevention steps such as maintaining water runo and drainage around your home including cleaning gutters and storm drains, improving lot grading, installing a rain barrel and reducing impervious surfaces. Consider, for instance, that water runs o concrete and asphalt almost immediately and can exceed capacity of storm drains quickly during heavy precipitation. Installing rain gardens, vegetated swales or pervious pavements, which allow more water to be absorbed into the ground, can help.

Salt Lake County also has some outstanding resources regarding potential spring runoff, the snowpack and current stream data. That information, including interactive mapping, can be found online at slcoem.org. Salt Lake County Emergency Management is currently operating under an “enhanced watch” status for possible ooding.

In that regard, the county’s Public Works department held a two-day sandbagging event this past month where individuals and groups could volunteer to ll sandbags. Volunteers may also contact Salt Lake County Flood Control at 1-385-468-6600 for other opportunities to help, or telephone our own City Hall at 801-963-5400. We are gathering names and contact information from individuals or groups willing to be recontacted if we have emergency need of volunteers.

As Gov. Spencer Cox warned in his monthly news conference this past month, ooding is the No. 1 disaster risk in Utah. He issued an executive order granting state employees of executive branch agencies paid time to volunteer for ood mitigation. The governor also advised to keep children away from fast-moving water, remember not to drive in ooded streets and listen to weather alerts when storms are coming, especially if you’re outdoors.

We learned a great deal from the snowmelt and runo 40 years ago, in 1983, when our state experienced extreme ooding and even saw a river of water owing down State Street. We all came together then to prevent disaster, and I know we will do so again if needed.

I am grateful for the e orts of our community and individuals always willing to help. Because of this, I am not afraid, and I know that we will be prepared to handle any situation.

—Mayor Kristie S. Overson

With spring now here, city leaders are focused on making it easier for residents to take care of their yards and home landscapes — all while saving money and water in the process. In doing their part, they also are “ ipping the strip” at City Hall.

A new city ordinance makes taking care of parking strips in front of homes easier, too. The City Council passed the ordinance in the fall in anticipation of spring planting. The e orts are being made to help conserve water as the state faces another drought year, with low rainfall and high temperatures expected again this summer.

“We are very grateful for the record amounts of snow we received during these past winter months, but we know that will not solve the drought we are facing as a state and region,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “So, we want to do our part to be mindful and conserve water.

“Of course, that includes all of us,” she added. “I am confident that as we come together as a city, residents and businesses of Taylorsville, we can make a di erence.”

The city’s new ordinance, No. 22-08, establishes general landscaping standards for parking strips. Under the ordinance, residents are encouraged to keep their parking strips free of weeds and use a combination of materials in lling the space, including hardscape such as gravel, rocks and boulders, vegetation and/or pedestrian pathways.

While keeping the lawn in a parking strip is still allowed, the ordinance claries that a mix of materials and vegetation typically used to design waterwise landscaping is encouraged. The hope is that the new code will “maintain community

Mayor Kristie S. Overson

EVENTS APRIL 2023

April 5 & 19 – 6:30 p.m.

City Council Meeting @ City Hall and online. Watch a livestream of the meeting on the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov

April 6 – 7 p.m.

Taylorsville Localscapes class @ City Hall. Register at www.taylorsvilleut.gov/services/localscapes

April 9 – All day Happy Easter!

April 11 – 7 p.m. & April 25 – 6 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.

April 13 & 14 – 7 p.m.

“Footloose” tryouts @ City Hall. All performers, ages 15 and up, are invited to try out for the Taylorsville Arts Council production.

April 22 – All day

Earth Day. (Taylorsville’s Annual Cleanup Day, previously held on Earth Day, is set for June 10. See www.taylorsvilleut.gov for details.)

UPCOMING: May 5 – 5 p.m.

Starry Nights @the Plaza kicks o the 2023 season with the food trucks from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and local rock band De Novo playing at 6:30. (See ad on page 3).

UPCOMING: May 18 – 7 p.m.

An Evening of Art @ the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. Hear from artists Ben Hammond and Justin Wheatley. (See ad on Page 6).

Find our calendar of events every month on the city’s website, where you can also submit your own events for possible publication. Go to www.taylorsvilleut.gov

Demolition

of Vacant Store Makes Way for New Development

The old Kmart store at the corner of 5400 South and Bangerter Highway came tumbling down this past month to make way for a new mixed-use project, called Volta. The coming development will feature 647 residential units, swimming pools, a clubhouse, retail space and other amenities.

“It’s really exciting to see the vacant building come down and know that we’re turning a page,” said Mayor Kristie Overson, noting that the old store has been vacant for almost 11 years.

The new Volta development will be built on the 16 1/2-acre site, including just over 15 acres comprising the current shopping center and an additional acre that is the pad location on the northeast corner. The Thackeray Company, based in Salt Lake City, plans to construct at least 10,000 square feet of retail space in addition to the apartment units. The plan also calls for 996 parking stalls.

There will be four, ve-story buildings that will be 100% residential, and the front building closest to 5400 south will be a mixed-use, three-story building. The project will be built in three phases. The rst phase will be the northern portion of the project, the three buildings closest to 5400 South. Phase 2 will be the southeast quadrant of the project and the parking structure. Phase 3 will focus on the southwest quadrant.

“This is going to be something new and remarkable in Taylorsville and the Salt Lake Valley,” Mayor Overson said. “This is something we’ve been waiting for.”

COUNCIL CORNER

By Council Member Bob Knudsen

The massive winter snowstorm of Feb. 22 brought much-needed moisture for our state, but it also inconvenienced many people in regard to commuting and the necessity of clearing sidewalk paths and driveways. The storm was so substantial that many of our city neighborhood streets saw no attention from plows, as they were running constantly down the major arterial roadways.

During that time, I worked to care for my immediate needs, as well as those of neighbors around me whose health is such that they cannot safely move heavy snow. While working, I saw many more neighbors who were doing the same thing, including several who were using their ATVs, tractors, etc., all in hopes of helping their neighbors.

Seeing these actions of my immediate neighbors and knowing of so many others that were taking place in our city, which I did not see, reminds me of a quote from Fred Rogers, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always nd people who are helping.’” When we extend help, we are able to be tools to make things a little less scary for others, those who may be unable to do something on their own. For some, the amount of snow received was scary, but many helpers made it better for those in need.

Be Kind, Engage in Service and Look for the Helpers

This spring and summer, we have more opportunities to help one another as it relates to tidying up around our area. Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District (WFWRD) is starting their Seasonal Container Reservation Program, which took the place of the traditional “dumpster days,” where they would line our streets with dumpsters for bulk garbage. This started during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a way to continue with this service. Simply go to the WFWRD website, and you can sign up to host a dumpster in your driveway for your needs, as well as those of your neighbors. Taylorsville is the rst community to be served by this program for 2023, so make sure that if you are interested in participating or helping others, appropriate steps are taken.

In addition, our Green Committee will be hosting its Annual City Cleanup at Taylorsville High School on June 10. This gives a chance for many unusual items to be disposed of properly, including hazardous wastes such as paints or other similar items. The many volunteers including the Taylorsville High Football Team make unloading vehicles very quick. Find event details on the city’s website, social media pages or in upcoming issues of the Journal.

There are many opportunities for everyone to share and help raise up the community in which we live. From the city side, there are many opportunities to volunteer with our many citizen committees. For individual neighborhoods, there are many

WATERWISE PLANTING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

opportunities to lift one another up through rendering service. As we see things around us develop, may we all work to be kind and seek opportunities to be a helper, one who will be there to make the world a better place. We do not have to do a grandiose act but can do so through small and simple things. Many times, the small and simple things that are done consistently over time mean more than a singular grandiose act. May we all seek to be the best friends and neighbors that we can be.

character, promote pedestrian safety and walkability, and support water conservation principles,” said city planning assistant Terryne Bergeson.

At City Hall, work to “ ip the strip” along 5400 South was expected to begin this month. The lawn in the parking strip out front, on the south-end of Centennial Plaza, will be removed and around 120 to 150 waterwise plants will be planted there and in the center median along Centennial Boulevard, said facilities manager Joey Bona. The two areas cover roughly 6,000 square feet.

Gravel and drought-tolerant grasses also will be used in the xeriscaping e ort. “The idea is to minimize some of the space that’s not necessarily used and that is a ected by tra c,” Bona said. “We want to get the water to where it should be.”

A crew of ve or six employees with the city’s landscape contractor will do the work, which is estimated to take about two weeks to complete. The new landscaping will be funded through a grant from Salt Lake County, in partnership with H20 Collective and the League of Cities and Towns. The grant, awarded to the city this past month, also will fund water conservation e orts and waterwise planting at Labrum and Vista parks.

In addition, the Green Committee will be holding a series of Localscapes classes again this spring and summer. The rst one is scheduled for April 6 from 7 to 8 p.m. at City Hall. You can register for the class at www.taylorsvilleut.gov/services/localscapes

“We want to be conscientious stewards of the environment as we continue to employ water-saving solutions,” Mayor Overson said. “We appreciate our partnerships with Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District, the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District and Salt Lake County for helping us to conserve water. We hope to continue to make signi cant strides in this area.”

We are excited to announce that Starry Nights @ the Plaza is returning this summer and kicks off on Friday, May 5. Food trucks will be at Centennial Plaza each Friday from 5 to 8:30 p m through September 15th. In addition to food trucks, Starry Nights events will feature free live music, outdoor movies and/or other activities every Friday evening! Look for a complete list of events in next month's journal! Bring your family or friends, along with a blanket or chair for seating, and enjoy an evening out together on the plaza!

LEFT TO RIGHT: Bob Knudsen, Chair (District 5), Curt Cochran, Vice Chair (District 2), Anna Barbieri, (District 3), Meredith Harker, (District 4) and Ernest Burgess (District 1)

Local rock band De Novo will kick off the season on May 5 @ 6:30

TVPD Demonstrates Use of Multiple STEM Tools

Check this space each month for news about the Taylorsville Police Department (TVPD) and their valuable service to our community.

TVPD joined several community education and outreach groups for Head Start’s Family Engagement Night, hosted at Taylorsville High School this past month.

Since the educational topic was STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), TVPD showed off a number of the STEMbased tools we use on the job. Among them are speed lasers, drones, cameras, radios, Kevlar vest/plates, police shields, police vehicles and computers.

Of course, the favorite tool was the drone, which was demonstrated by TVPD drone pilot Officer List. Second favorite was the speed laser that we used at the Engagement Night to calculate how fast students could run. Running speeds ranged between 4 and 13 mph (depending on leg length).

TVPD EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to O cer Hood, our TVPD Employee of the Month. Prior to joining TVPD, O cer Hood served as an o cer with both the Los Angeles County Sheri ’s O ce and West Jordan Police Department.

O cer Hood has an extensive background in law enforcement. He has served in numerous positions and is an extremely well-rounded o cer. Positions he has held include patrol o cer, lead patrol shift o cer, lead shift o cer, (SWAT) Special Weapons and Tactics officer, (HRT) Hostage Rescue Team member, (VFAST) Violent Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team, (SRO) School Resource O cer, juvenile crimes detective, property crimes detective, eld training o cer, phlebotomist and peer support o cer.

O cer Hood, who holds a degree in criminal justice, is currently working as a patrol/lead o cer, a member of our SWAT team and a lead firearms instructor. He was nominated as Employee of the Month by Det. Andrew for his intervention in a violent domestic dispute that began in Taylorsville.

Det. Andrew described the overall situation as “ongoing and volatile,” involving a suspect who had a history of violent and reckless behavior. O cer Hood was made aware of the suspect’s whereabouts, which at the time was outside of Taylorsville. Additionally, it was learned that the suspect was currently engaged in another violent domestic dispute that involved a rearm.

In coordinating with the local jurisdiction, Officer Hood helped paint the full picture regarding the suspect’s overall violent criminal behavior. He was able to use his extensive training to calmly direct the needed resources in bringing about the suspect’s arrest.

In his free time, O cer Hood enjoys spending time with his family. His hobbies include camping, hiking, four-wheeling, soccer, swimming, scuba diving and traveling the world. O cer Hood is extremely approachable and humble. He is a great asset to TVPD. Thank you, O cer Hood, for your service and dedication to law enforcement and for choosing to be a part of Team Taylorsville!

Taylorsville Arts Council production

City Leaders Welcome Several New Businesses to Taylorsville

A number of Ribbon Cutting events celebrated grand openings of businesses in Taylorsville over the past few months. Among them are:

TAQUERIA MARTINI A family-owned restaurant, Taqueria Martini serves up tacos, tamales, tortas, burritos, quesadillas, carnitas and much more.

They are also open for breakfast, but co-owner Patricia Galicia says they’re especially known for their two specialty desserts, mini churros with ice cream and tiramisu. “All of our food is freshly made and delicious," she said. "We always have di erent special meals featured.”

Theirs is a true family venture owned by Galicia and her husband, Martin, whose daughters and other family members also work at the restaurant. Taqueria Martini is located at 1732 W. 5400 South.

“What a wonderful location, and you have made your restaurant so inviting and the food scrumptious,” Mayor Kristie Overson said at their grand opening in January.

Taqueria Martini is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can also call for takeout, 801-609-7606.

Patty Shack is open from Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

SPILL THE TEA — Drop by Spill the Tea for all kinds of specialty drinks from a smooth bubble tea to their Brown Sugar Fresh Milk, Jasmine Milk Tea, Ube Taro Horchata and more. The café is now open for business in Taylorsville at 2971 W. 4700 South.

Owner Danna Bui-Negrete says they are happy to be in the city. She and her staff also celebrated with a Ribbon Cutting, along with city officials and representatives from ChamberWest.

PATTY SHACK — “Level up your burger game with the patty daddy triple patty burger with pastrami bacon and cheese.” That’s Patty Shack’s tagline and you can now get one in Taylorsville, along with a cheeseburger, pastrami burger, fries and more.

“We are overjoyed to be here with this wonderful city,” said Bryson Singletary, who owns the restaurant with Justin Newbold and Jared Newbold.

Patty Shack is located at 1207 W. 4800 South. Along with the owners and sta , city o cials and representatives from ChamberWest celebrated the restaurant's opening in the fall.

“It was a party,” Mayor Overson said. “We enjoyed great burgers and those really good fries. We’re happy for them and wish them well in their new business.”

“We have specialty glitter drinks and specialty toppings like heartshaped toppings, star-shaped toppings,” she said. “We are about to do large, order-to-cater for local businesses or events.”

Mayor Overson commended the café on their welcoming and cozy atmosphere and friendly sta . “It is so much fun to be here,” she said. “Your drinks are delicious, and the variety of your menu is impressive.”

Spill the Tea is open Monday through Saturday, from noon to 7:30 p.m.

Read additional details and more about other new businesses opening in Taylorsville on the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov.

AN EVENING OF ART

Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES

Taylorsville Settlers were Instrumental in Sheep Industry

By Susan Yadeskie, Historic Preservation Committee Chair

Keeping a small ock of sheep was important to the Salt Lake Valley pioneers. The sheep gave them wool to weave for blankets and clothes and to spin for knitting, and they provided meat to feed their families. As stated in Utah – A Centennial history published in 1949, in the ve pioneer companies arriving in 1848, there were 654 sheep that came into the Salt Lake Valley.

By 1860, there were 37,332 mature sheep in the valley. The sheep industry would grow because of the grazing land that was abundant, especially in the high mountains. However, the territorial Legislature felt the industry was still lagging so, in 1869, legislators exempted it from taxation. In 1892, there were 2.8 million sheep in the territory!

Don’t Miss These Library Events

The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of April. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events:

BOOK SPINE POETRY CONTEST

Monday, April 3-Saturday, April 15

Create your own poem using the titles on the spine of di erent books and email a photo of your entry. Stop by the library to pick up an entry form for speci c details. Entries due by Saturday, April 15.

TEEN FLASHLIGHT EASTER EGG HUNT

Thursday, April 6, 9:05 p.m.

Teens, join in the library’s egg hunt. Please dress for the weather, bring your ashlight and a bag. The hunt will include eggs with candy and other prizes on the grass. Registration began Wednesday, March 8.

ADULT VIRTUAL LECTURE | RMS Titanic: Hubris and Horror: Birth of the Modern Age

Tuesday, April 11, 7 p.m.

Register at: thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries

Mark Wilkins, a curator of Maritime History, will chronicle the loss of the RMS Titanic on April 14-15, 1912, and explore the social, economic and psychological impact of this chilling event.

Taylorsville had two prominent sheep ranching families, the Harkers and the Bennions. Joseph Harker was the rst to settle “Over Jordan.” The Bennions soon followed with John Bennion building a home on the east of the Harker property and Samuel Bennion on the west side. There was not a great deal of knowledge on preserving grazing lands in the early days of sheep ranching. Their herds increased. Therefore, the Harkers and the Bennions would drive their sheep west to what is now known as Tooele County.

Homes were built in Rush Valley where the Harker and Bennion plural wives lived much of the time. The older boys of the three families would also live there and run the sheep ranches, with Joseph Harker, Samuel and John Bennion going out regularly to oversee the business. Today, there is even a monument to the Bennions in Rush Valley about 100 yards from Samuel’s original dwelling.

It is not known for certain all the breeds of sheep Taylorsville ranchers raised. Joseph Harker raised Cotswold sheep for their long coats of wool that were high producing. John Bennion writes in his journal in October 1859 of breeding his ewes with two purebred bucks, one a Southdown, developed in Sussex, England, and one a Leister, also known for their long hair. At sheering in 1930, the Rambouillet breed would yield 9.4 pounds of wool.

Farmers and ranchers would show the beauty and value of their stock at agricultural fairs. In 1856, John Bennion writes to his father-in-law and motherin-law, the Wainwrights, that “a state fair was held the rst week in October … for the rst I took in some sheep that took the prize for the best ram and ewe. … This fair created quite an interest among the people and no doubt will have a good e ect in improving agricultural and manufacturing pursuits.” In May 1894, the Salt Lake Herald, a well-known newspaper of the day, wrote in an article “Arranging for the Upcoming Fair” that the Territorial Fair was in its 21st year. The article indicated that “Joseph Harker, of Taylorsville was in the city yesterday, having brought to market 1,000 pounds of wool from his herd of thoroughbred Cotswold sheep. Some of the wool was fourteen inches long and as ne as silk. Mr. Harker is the father of the sheep industry in this territory.”

But eventually, grazing land became depleted. Much of the land was used to grow corn, alfalfa and sugar. Children and grandchildren built their homes on the Harkers, Bennions, Mackays, Butter elds, Bringhursts, and many other pioneer ranches and farms. Times change. Opportunities are di erent. However, we must never forget the industriousness of the early settlers who pave the way to the success of our home, our Taylorsville community!

POETRY MONTH: INTERACTIVE POEMS ADVENTURE

Wednesday, April 12-Tuesday, April 18

Immerse yourself in poetry. Interact with poems through touch, sound and play. Drop by the Taylorsville Branch anytime between April 12 to 18.

BEING A RENTER IN UTAH: UNDERSTANDING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS

Monday, April 17, 6 p.m.

Get help understanding your rights as a renter. Presented by People's Legal Aid, topics include signing a lease, the eviction process, debt collection lawsuits and other legal resources.

ADULT VIRTUAL LECTURE | Shakespeare's First Folio: The 400th Anniversary

Monday, April 24, 7 p.m.

Register at: thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries

Shakespeare's First Folio was published in 1623. Dr. Mark Matheson will highlight this achievement and the unique impact of the works of William Shakespeare on the world.

Leister Rambouillet Cotswold

APRIL UPDATES

Seasonal Container Reservation Program

The Seasonal Container Reservation Program is o cially underway! Set your reminders. Reservations open for containers on the dates below: ZONE RESERVATIONS OPEN CONTAINERS AVAILABLE

1 March 20 April 10 to 17

2 March 27 April 18 to 25

3 April 3

April 26 to May 4

Containers will be dropped o sometime between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the scheduled day. WFWRD staff will try to ensure that residents have up to 24 hours with the container. Driveways must be cleared, accessible and have enough room (approximately 10 feet x 20 feet) for the container to be placed o the street and public sidewalk. If the driveway is inaccessible, the container will not be delivered, and you will lose your opportunity for the container at your residence. Please visit the WFWRD website to see what is and isn’t allowed in the containers.

Practice Patience when Watering this Spring

Sometimes it’s hard to wait but waiting is a good practice in the spring when it comes to landscape watering. By delaying watering your lawn before Mother’s Day, roots will have grown deeper, and your lawn will be healthier. This delayed watering bene ts the lawn in hotter months when the surface dries out quickly, as the roots can access water deeper in the soil. So, check this handy guide for tips and remember when watering, patience is a virtue.

Recycling & Earth Day

Earth Day is coming up on April 22. Help celebrate by reducing the use of disposable plastics and recycling clean. For more information on Earth Day events and sustainable practices visit: www.earthday.org. To help residents of the district practice clean recycling habits, WFWRD has recycling guides that can be found on their website. For recycling tips and to nd the answers to your recycling questions, use the QR code or follow WFWRD on Instagram (@wasatchfrontwaste).