Getting to Know TVPD

from Taylorsville City Newsletter | February 2022

by The City Journals

Frequently Called Numbers

TVPD Celebrates Fifth-Grade Holiday Card Design Winners

Get to know the new TVPD. Check this space each month for articles highlighting the units and employees that make up the Taylorsville City Police Department.

Congratulations to our two 2021 Taylorsville fth-grade holiday card design winners — Nevaeh Teo of Acradia Elementary (Mrs. Hunsaker’s class) and Ezekiel Cryer of Fox Hills Elementary (Mrs. Kambouris’ class).

It has been a long tradition of the Taylorsville Police Department to solicit help from local fifth-graders to design our o cial holiday card. In addition to having their drawings featured on the card, the winners will be taken to lunch by Mayor Kristie Overson, Chief Brady Cottam and Dets. Kyle Andrew and Daniel Christensen, who act as liaisons with our local elementary schools. The goal of this program is simply to provide positive experiences between our law enforcement officers and local fth-grade and elementary school-age students.

More than 250 entries were submitted to our holiday card contest this year. As the winners, Ezekiel and Nevaeh, along with their families, attended the Jan. 5 City Council meeting where they were introduced to the council and administration. It was a full house as many of our elected o cials were also sworn in that night. Ezekiel and Nevaeh did not shy at the opportunity; they stood before a packed house and were presented as the card winners.

Nevaeh’s mom describes her as a blessing to their family and someone who is always kind and willing to help. Nevaeh enjoys P.E. and social studies classes, playing board games and volleyball. Ezekiel is described as fun and outgoing. He loves math, video games, sports and music. Both Ezekiel and Nevaeh, of course, also love drawing.

We thank both students, as well as all the fifth-graders who participated. We are also grateful to all educators in the community — their great examples — and recognize the role each plays in shaping our future generations.

TVPD Employee of the Month

Please join us in congratulating Records Manager Donny Gasu as our TVPD Employee of the Month. Gasu is a member of our civilian sta and has over 10 years’ experience working in Law Enforcement. Gasu has worked for both Uni ed Police Department and Taylorsville Police Department. He has also worked directly for the City of Taylorsville as emergency planning manager. In total, he has served the citizens of Taylorsville for more than 12 years. Gasu has served in various capacities, which include evidence technician, emergency planning manager and records manager.

Gasu always has a positive attitude and is willing to tackle any challenge or task that is assigned to him. It is this positive attitude that prompted Chief Brady Cottam to nominate Gasu as Employee of the Month. Chief Cottam described Gasu’s positive attitude as contagious and called his work ethic and willingness to learn as unmatched.

As TVPD continues to evolve and implement innovative ideas, Gasu was tasked with creating a new statistical tracking method for the department. This data will be presented at City Council meetings to our local elected, city and police administration o cials on a regular basis. Gasu was able to create this while also staying on top of his regularly assigned duties. This newly designed statistical presentation method will help our city leaders determine how to best allocate resources within TVPD and Taylorsville City.

We appreciate Gasu’s dedication to the citizens of Taylorsville and Team Taylorsville. We thank him for his service!

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 | PAGE 5 Youth Council Participates in Day at Legislature

Taylorsville GIS Planner Honored for Redistricting Efforts

The Taylorsville Youth Council spent the day at the Legislature this past month. They joined Mayor Kristie Overson, Council Members Anna Barbieri, Ernest Burgess and Meredith Harker, and Youth Council Advisor Kris Heineman for the Utah League of Cities & Towns Local Elected O cials Day at the Utah State Capitol.

It is a yearly tradition for the Youth Council to attend the day, which provides an excellent opportunity for the youth to talk to legislators and see rst-hand how the process works.

“It was a really fun day for the kids, and it was interesting to see their perspectives,” said Mayor Overson. “Our youth handled themselves very well. They were well-spoken and articulate, and we want to thank them for representing Taylorsville so well.”

In addition to touring the Capitol Jan. 19, the Youth Council met with legislators, as well as Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson. They listened to a oor session, learned about the process to design a new state flag, were invited to lunch and took a tour of the building. It was all part of the council mission to provide opportunities for young people to learn about and participate in local government.

Taylorsville GIS Planner Karyn Kerdol was honored before the City Council this past month for her invaluable volunteer e orts assisting the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission. Last May, the commission put out a call throughout the Wasatch Front for volunteers to assist with mapping. Kerdol was among those who stepped forward, volunteering her time and e orts to run the GIS (geographic information system) software. “What was really nice,” said Utah Independent Redistricting Commissioner Jeff Baker, “was that she didn’t just drive the software, she did much more than that; she would engage with us.” Throughout the process, Kerdol o ered advice and direction on the mapping process, Baker noted. During a time where the commission staff was taxed heavily with various different administrative duties in addition to GIS planning, “volunteers such as Karyn literally made the di erence between the commission failing and the commission succeeding,” he said. “And we did succeed in our work.” Kerdol was awarded a plaque recognizing her “service and dedication to the people of Utah and the 2021 Utah Independent Redistricting Commission. Your e ort and sacri ce helped create opportunities for all Utahns to have a voice in the redistricting process.”

Mayor Kristie Overson said the commendation is well deserved. “Karyn is an invaluable part of Team Taylorsville,” she said. “Not only do we depend on her work, which is impeccable, but we are so grateful to have her as a friend. Her cheery and helpful nature brings sunshine to City Hall.”

The Utah Independent Redistricting Commission was created in 2018 through the passage of Utah Proposition 4. It was composed of seven commissioners – appointed by both Democratic and Republican party leaders – with the chair appointed by the governor. Their job was to recommend maps of congressional, state Senate, state House and state school board districts for nal consideration by the Legislature.

Special Pricing for Taylorsville Residents

TAYLORSVILLE CITY CEMETERY PLOTS AVAILABLE

PLEASE CONTACT LEE BENNION — 801.834.4325

STATE LEGISLATORS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

House in 2016. She is an associate professor of psychology at Salt Lake Community College, where she was named a Distinguished Faculty Lecturer. To contact Rep. Kwan, call 385-249-0683 or kkwan@le.utah.gov.

Sen. Wayne Harper, District 6. Sen. Harper is a long-time resident of Taylorsville, where he works as the city’s Economic Development Director. Sen. Harper was rst elected to the Legislature as a member of the House of Representatives. To contact Sen. Harper, call 801-566-5466 or email wharper@le.utah.gov.

Sen. Karen Mayne, District 5. Sen. Mayne is the Minority Leader in the Utah State Senate. She is retired after working as a para-educator with the Granite School District. To contact Sen. Mayne, call 801-232-6648 or email kmayne@le.utah.gov.

“We enjoy such a good relationship with each,” Mayor Overson said. “Our legislators are attentive and responsive. I have full con dence in them and their abilities.”

E orts and potential bills discussed at the city luncheon with legislators included:

• Increasing the level of up-front funding to local re departments that provide support to outof- state agencies (such as the extensive res that occurred in California). • Allowing for workers compensation coverage for volunteer workers (they are currently not covered). • Clarifying who pays for criminal evidence retention costs. • De ning standards of classi cation for condemned housing. • Various transportation projects (4700 South, Redwood Road BRT, bridge repairs).

In addition to the legislative luncheon, Mayor Overson and members of the Taylorsville Youth Council participated in the Utah League of Cities & Towns (ULCT) Local Elected O cials Day on Jan. 19. It is a yearly tradition for the Youth Council to attend the day, which provides an excellent opportunity for the youth to talk to legislators and see rst-hand how the process works. (See pictures on Page 5).

Mayor Overson also plans to attend the ULCT Legislative Policy Committee meeting, held every Monday (except President’s Day) at noon in Room 210 of the Senate Building on the Capitol campus.