Taylorsville City Newsletter| March 2023

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to this summer and all the concerts, movies, food trucks, activities and more all coming to Centennial Plaza! The planning now underway for our next season of Starry Nights @the Plaza, as well as our Plaza +ART program, is the wellspring of this anticipation.

I’ve caught glimpses and hints of what’s coming and am eager to share the details with you. We launched Starry Nights @the Plaza this past summer and our upcoming series promises to be even better. We’ll have something to do every Friday night at our plaza in front of City Hall.

In addition to the Food Truck League food trucks, Friday Starry Nights events will feature live music, outdoor movies or other activities, depending on the night. We’ll post a full schedule of events on our website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov, in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, we are currently accepting applications for bands and other performers for the upcoming series. If you are interested in performing on the Centennial Plaza stage, you can nd details including an application on our website under the “Our City” and then “Starry Nights @the Plaza” tabs. The application deadline is March 31, and we’re hiring 16-plus paid acts!

In addition to the Performer Call, we’ve also put out an Artist Call seeking sculpture artists for next season’s Plaza +ART program. You can now view 14 beautiful sculptures at Centennial Plaza, and we’re hoping to display 18 sculptures over the 2023-24 season. Artist stipends of $500 will be provided to selected artists, whose sculptures will be exhibited at the plaza for the year. The application deadline for artists is also March 31, and details can be found online under “Our City” and then “Plaza +ART.”

We were able to add some funding to both of these programs, thus the call for performers and artists, thanks to a grant from the Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement. Our efforts to continue to build on these two programs is also in keeping with our latest citywide survey, in which residents indicated they would like to see more arts, music and food trucks among our community events (See the accompanying story for additional details about this latest survey).

I am delighted about both our Starry Nights @the Plaza series and Plaza +ART program, and hope to see you at Centennial Plaza. Let’s have some fun on Friday nights this summer!

—Mayor Kristie S. Overson

Survey: Quality of Life High in Taylorsville

Citywide

Taylorsville’s quality of life earns high marks in a new citywide survey that also indicates residents are happy with their elected o cials and the way the city is being run.

It is the fourth time in as many years that a comprehensive, citywide poll has been conducted for Taylorsville in an e ort to garner a benchmark and gauge of the health and wellness of the city and its services going forward.

On average, residents gave a score of 73 out of 100 for the city’s quality of life, with consistently high ratings across all council districts. A remarkable 83% also said they approve of the Mayor and City Council.

“Congratulations!” said Kyrene Gibb, vice president of research and municipal services for Y2 Analytics, who presented the ndings to the City Council at their Feb. 15 meeting. “Congress could only hope for such a high approval rating.”

She noted that when it comes to city services, residents are most satis ed with garbage collection, re and emergency services, culinary water delivery, community events, snow removal services, city parks and open spaces, and police services. Police services also received the largest share of residents’ service improvement budget allocation. In addition, almost two-thirds of residents agreed that the Taylorsville Police Department is professional and responsive.

The survey was conducted by Y2 Analytics from Nov. 12 to Dec. 29, 2022. In all, 468 residents completed the survey, representing a balanced geographic distribution of responses across the city and a 4.5 percent margin of error. The data were weighted to re ect the demographics of registered voters in Taylorsville, speci cally in regard to age, gender, home ownership and City Council district.

Gibb noted that this latest survey is consistent with previous surveys by the city. A majority (54%) of residents once again reported that Taylorsville is heading in the right direction, although this year’s result did represent a slight decline over previous years. Still, Gibb said, it is consistent with other municipal surveys her company has conducted this year across the state, seemingly indicative of a general malaise following a few difficult years including the coronavirus pandemic. “I can say this is not isolated to Taylorsville,” she said. “We’re seeing this among multiple clients.”

What residents like most about Taylorsville is its central location. “Almost all residents’ comments on what they like most about living in Taylorsville focus on its central location in the valley and easy access to the highway,” Gibb said. “And most residents are happy with the quality of life, so there are very few dissatis ed residents.”

Mayor Kristie S. Overson

EVENTS MARCH 2023

March 1 & 15 – 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

March 3 – 7:30 p.m.

The Taylorsville-SLCC Symphony Orchestra performs at Bennion Jr. High, 6055 S. 2700 West. Admission is free, although donations are welcomed.

March 4 – 10 a.m.

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

March 12 – 2 a.m.

Daylight Saving Time begins. Move your clocks ahead one hour.

March 14 – 7 p.m. & March 28 – 6 p.m.

Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.

March 16 & 17 – 6:30 p.m.

“Into the Woods Jr.” tryouts for performers ages 10 to 18 @ City Hall. (See ad on Page 5)

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

Also, a standing event every Thursday, from 2 to 4 p.m., at City Hall is the “Mayor is In.” During this time, Mayor Kristie Overson has open o ce hours to meet with residents about any issue on their minds. Drop by and meet with the Mayor. All are welcome.

CITYWIDE SURVEY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Residents indicated they especially like Taylorsville’s accessibility. They describe the community as one with nice neighbors and safe, friendly and quiet neighborhoods. Moreover, a whopping 87% said they would recommend the city to others as a good place to live, which is slightly higher than last year’s survey. “A majority of residents have positive views of Taylorsville,” Gibb noted. “Generally speaking, residents are happy.”

Residents expressed their most concern about crime, tra c, growth and housing.

Mayor Kristie Overson described this year’s survey as a good evaluation and useful reminder of the importance of focusing on the basics of municipal service, such as street lighting, roads and tra c calming. “It is helpful for us to identify what residents are thinking and areas where we might improve,” she said.

An overview of the survey results can be viewed on the city’s website at www.taylorsvilleut.gov

March 16-17

Wasatch Theatre Company presents MONOLOGUES FROM A MOVEMENT BY AMANDA CARAWAY

March 18

Salt Lake Symphony presents WELCOME, SPRING!

March 23-26

Wasatch Theatre Company presents THE MELANCHOLY PLAY BY SARAH RUHL

COUNCIL CORNER

By Council Member Curt Cochran

“You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming.”

I ran across this quote while deciding what to write about this month for our Council Corner, and it stuck with me. The quote was written by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda who was born in Parral, Chile, in 1904. Neruda died in 1973 but before he passed, he would be recognized as a world-renowned poet, diplomat and politician who won the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature in 1971.

Re ecting on the phrase again, it makes me think of not only spring and the “spring cleaning” that is about to hit the Cochran household both inside and out, but also that, no matter how badly we want a thing to stay the same, some things just can’t remain and need to change and, even more importantly, grow or improve.

Most of us know that Taylorsville has a rich, deep and important history in the Salt Lake Valley. I absolutely encourage you to visit the TaylorsvilleBennion Heritage Center, at 1488 W. 4800 South, when you have the chance. In fact, even better, stop reading right now and jot down a date in your calendar to visit. More information about the museum can be found on the city’s website at www.taylorsvilleut.gov.

Let’s Enjoy the Beauty of ‘New Flowers’ This Spring

When you visit the museum, you will quickly see that Taylorsville is not what it used to be. This is my reference to the “cut owers” in Neruda’s quote. Gone are the blacksmiths, the tack shops, soda fountains and one-room schoolhouses.

The new flowers, which have resulted from not being able to “keep spring from coming,” allude to my reference to spring cleaning. If you are a longtime Taylorsville resident, you’ve especially seen change in the last, oh, say 40 years. I hear family stories fondly remembering when the area south of 5400 South was nothing but farmland, and you could see all the way to the Point of the Mountain.

I could go on, but I think you get the point. It’s extremely important we remember the past — holding it near and dear to our hearts — but also equally important that we leave enough room in our hearts for new people, new businesses, new ideas and new opportunities.

Much of the “new owers” that we quite frankly cannot keep from coming will be people, housing, businesses and transportation. How we change our mindsets as a city, as a community, as neighborhoods and as individuals will help these new, inevitable events occur smoothly.

Lastly, I think back as to what it must have been like for the settlers of the Salt Lake Valley. As new settlers

New Culvert to Create Safe Walking Route for Junior High Students

A new culvert under construction at the corner of 2700 West and Longmeadow Drive will soon make it safer for area students to get to school.

The short area across the canal has no sidewalk on either side of 2700 West but the situation was made worse when a vehicle ran over the chain link fence on the east side, requiring city o cials to set up jersey barriers to protect the slim shoulder. Students were left with two untenable options, either walk along the banks much too close to the canal or step further into the busy road to avoid the barrier.

came in and wanted to make this area their home, I would like to think that those who came before welcomed them, their families, their businesses and their cultures with open arms and genuine interest to learn about them and how they could best incorporate their skills and customs into the community.

Spring is coming. Let’s remember to appreciate the cut owers of the past and enjoy the owers coming.

Many parents told their children to avoid the section altogether, either driving them the four blocks to Bennion Jr. High or requiring them to walk the long way around through the neighborhood, often in the dark in the early morning hours before school.

A concerned parent, Nicole McDermott, who is also a member of the Granite School Board, contacted the city for help. She was worried about the safety of the canal section itself but also noted that it has isolated the neighborhood and created an inconvenience for students as they have had to circumvent that small stretch.

She was joined this past month by another parent, Laura James, and 10 students who gathered at the canal to highlight the problem and thank City Council Member Anna Barbieri for her quick attention to xing it. “We are appreciative of the city for being so responsive and concerned about this area, as well,” McDermott said.

Once aware of the breadth of the problem, the City Council budgeted money to replace the old, corrugated metal pipe channeling the canal under the road with the new culvert. “I’m just so impressed with the work,” Barbieri said. “They’ve started construction, and it’s a major job. But it will be well worth it when it’s done.”

Placement of the culvert will provide extra width across the canal, enabling a sidewalk to be placed on either side of 2700 West. The work is expected to be complete in the next couple of months.

Registration for the 2023 Taylorsville Dayzz 5K and Kids Run is open! Register early for the best price! T-shirt or tank top, finishers medal, swag bag and chip timing all included for only $25 (5K) $15 (Kids Run) Scan the QR code below to register and for more details!

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)

TVPD Unveils New Color Scheme for Some Vehicles

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

You may have noticed a new look for our TVPD patrol vehicles. In addition to our white trucks, we've added some in black.

The new paint scheme is due to a shortage of available eet vehicles — something that government entities across the state have been facing. So, to both keep up with needs of filling our fleet vacancies in combination with maintaining fiscal responsibility, TVPD opted to go with the new paint scheme.

Both the white and black vehicles are marked with our TVPD badge and patch, as well as our @TVPDutah online emblem where you can nd our social media channels. We’re on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and you can also nd information about the department — as well as sign up for emailed updates — via our webpage www. taylorsvilleut.gov/services/tvpd

We’ve received a number of positive comments and compliments since announcing the new color scheme and hope you like it too!

TVPD EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to O cer Gordon who is our TVPD Employee of the Month. Prior to beginning his career in law enforcement more than eight year ago, O cer Gordon served four years in the United States Army where he was stationed in Fort Riley, Kan., as a M1A1 Tank Crewmember.

In 2010, O cer Gordon served a tour in Iraq. He was hired by TVPD upon its formation in 2021.

Officer Gordon has an extensive law enforcement background, working in both patrol and investigations. He has served as a patrol o cer, motorcycle o cer and instructor, tra c crash investigator, field training officer, crime scene technician, school resource o cer, drone operator, DUI task force member and public order unit o cer.

Officer Gordon has a calm, well-rounded demeanor. This, in combination with his extensive training, makes him an invaluable member of TVPD.

Officer Gordon’s main responsibility with TVPD is working as a patrol o cer. He responds to any type of police call for service that can be imagined. Det. Landol nominated O cer Gordon as our latest employee of the month. He described him as one who is polite and professional. “O cer Gordon provides outstanding service and valuable input while problem-solving and helping citizens overcome the barriers they are working through,” Det. Landol said.

O cer Gordon also serves as one of our drone operators. Sgt. Bennett recently noted that O cer Gordon has assisted in locating more outstanding suspects while utilizing his drone than any other drone operator in TVPD. Recently, O cer Gordon utilized his drone to locate two eeing suspects involved in drug distribution and illegal rearms possession.

In his free time, O cer Gordon enjoys spending time with his family and friends. His hobbies include camping, hiking, shing, kayaking, scuba diving and playing video games. Thank you, O cer Gordon, for your service and dedication to law enforcement and for choosing to be a part of Team Taylorsville.

Learn More About Our City, Access TVPD Reports Online

By Donna Pittman, Public Safety Committee

Did you know that you can access the Taylorsville Police Department’s quarterly reports online? These are the reports that are given to the City Council each operating year, beginning in July.

They show the types and numbers of police incidents occurring in our city and in each City Council district. There are two ways to nd the most recent quarterly reports of o enses and incidents:

First, go to TVPD’s page on the Taylorsville City website at www. taylorsvilleut.gov/services/tvpd. Scroll down to “TVPD Quarterly Reports.” Then, click on the report for the quarter to be viewed and scroll down to the area you want to see.

This information can also be accessed through the Taylorsville Public Safety Committee web page at www.taylorsvilleut.gov/ our-city/committees-volunteers. Scroll down to “Public Safety Committee” and select the TVPD Quarterly Report to be viewed.

The Public Safety Committee meets the rst Thursday of each month at 6 p.m., at the Taylorsville City O ces. All are welcome to attend.

TVPD Celebrates Winners of Holiday Card Contest

It’s still Christmas for the two winners of the Taylorsville Police Department’s holiday card contest. Fifth-grade students Maya and Dayana were recognized this past month for their artwork that claimed top prize among hundreds of drawings.

Each year, TVPD requests help from Taylorsville fifthgraders in designing the department’s official holiday card. And every year, the police department receives hundreds of fantastic drawings from each school. This year was no exception.

You may have seen the samplings of drawings posted to TVPD social media outlets throughout December. Picking the winning drawings as the o cial holiday card is never easy but two drawings stood out as particularly outstanding.

“It was such a wonderful event meeting with this year’s card winners,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “They

are two outstanding and bright school kids. It was my pleasure to be there with them.”

Maya’s drawing of the “City of Taylorsville” and Dayana’s drawing of “Police Navidad” both captured the holiday spirit and showcased City Hall and the Police Department in a delightful way. City and TVPD leaders, including Mayor Overson and Police Chief Brady Cottam, formally congratulated Maya and Dayana this past month with a lunch outing joined by Detectives Christensen and Andrew.

“We learned about Maya’s interest in softball, traveling and art, along with her dislike of pizza and love of steak and potatoes,” Det. Christensen noted. “Dayana talked to us about her love of art, cooking, soccer, Italian food, her one sister, and two brothers including ‘Thor the Labradoodle.’

“Dayana and Maya also had a lot of words of wisdom to share with us,” he said. “They talked about how we need to have a good balance in our life, taught us calming techniques that we could use to relax after a stressful day, discussed the importance of goal-setting, being grateful, and making sure you have time for family and fun.

“All of us adults looked in amazement as these two future leaders gave some very important life tips,” Det. Christensen added. “Thank you, Dayana and Maya, for the fun lunch outing and especially for the words of wisdom!”

The sents Taylorsville Arts Council pres

SLCC Offers 4 Programs in Support of Career Success

Salt Lake Community College program managers want to get the word out about four valuable resources aimed at helping residents gain a path to better careers or, in turn, greater success in their current jobs, and enable local businesses to grow and ourish.

The rst program is called SLCC Learn & Work. Several short-term, non-credit certi cate programs are available to anyone 18 years and older with a high school diploma or GED. While the enrollment deadline is June 30, accepted candidates have until December 31 to nish their chosen program. SLCC Learn & Work is 100% tuition-free and has no income eligibility requirements. The program offers training in several career areas, including manufacturing, energy, health care, information technology, public safety, transportation and warehouse management. Additional information is available at slcc.edu/allin. Direct questions to Mariah Krizman at 801-957-5367.

Next up is the new SLCC WISE (Workforce Inclusion & Successful Employment) Program for Salt Lake County residents. WISE has a low-income eligibility requirement and is funded through a ve-year grant. Participants can enroll in any SLCC academic and/or training class that the college o ers. Seats are limited, and additional information is available at slcc.edu/careerservices/wise.aspx. Direct questions to Matt Wallace at 801-957-5838 or mwalla68@slcc.edu.

Both Learn & Work and WISE, notes SLCC Workforce Manager Paul Glanton, could be of particular bene t to women re-entering the workforce.

Lastly, SLCC also offers two corporate training programs. Custom Fit is for non-pro t businesses located in Salt Lake County. Through this program, SLCC pays 40% of the cost of any sta development, training and certi cate courses. The training can take place anywhere in Utah. The Frontline Leader Program o ers a series of sta development and training workshops. Workshops are open for individual enrollment, as well as company cohort workshops that can be conducted onsite with 10 or more trainees. Additional information is available slcc.edu/corporate/ funding-resources/custom- t-funding.aspx and slcc.edu/ corporate/workshops/frontline-leader.aspx. Direct questions to 801-957-5299.

“We hope that community members will take advantage of these important resources,” Glanton said. “We want to help businesses and employees to not only meet their goals through education and training but to achieve every desired success.”

PE R F O R M E R C A L L

Taylorsville City is seeking entertainment for our 2023 Starry Nights @the Plaza events. Starry Nights @the Plaza is free and open to the public and coincides with our weekly Friday night food truck events. The City will hire 16+ paid acts for the upcoming summer series.

The events take place at Centennial Plaza, 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd. , in front of City Hall This unique space serves as a “community living room” for residents to stop in, relax with family and friends, listen to live music or see a performance, and eat from a wide selection of food trucks. Our beautiful plaza holds an amphitheater with a stage, lighted walking paths, sculpture art, and restrooms

Performances will take place on the stage.

For more information and to apply, scan the QR code or head to Taylorsvilleut.gov, under the “our city” tab and “the starry nights @the plaza” tab. Applications must be received by 5 p m on March 31

Scan for more information.

Don’t Miss These Library Events Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES

Featuring the Spencer Family: Educators and Civic Leaders

By Susan Yadeskie, Historic Preservation Committee Chair

George Mitton Spencer was only 12 years old when he came to Taylorsville with his mother, Eliza Smith Spencer, who later became the second wife of Joseph Harker. When grown, George married Angeline Bennion, and they had 10 children, four of whom passed away in early childhood.

Education was important to this family. Eliza was one of the rst teachers in the Over Jordan Settlement (Taylorsville). George Mitton taught for a couple of years in Taylorsville and was a teacher to Angeline, his future wife. Of his six children who grew to adulthood, ve were educators. Adelaide taught in the Granite School District for 18 years.

Elizabeth received a four-year scholarship to the University of Utah. She was at the head of her class and taught for seven years, mostly in Taylorsville. Elizabeth left education to give all her time to her husband, Frederick Abbott, who became Mayor of Ogden, and her children. One of her “schoolboys” said of her, “There was no problem student she could not shape and direct.” Hortense, the youngest of the children, was also an early teacher at Granite High School. She passed away at age 45.

In addition to teaching, George M. Spencer was later a prominent farmer in Taylorsville and a member of the Utah Legislature in 1888. George instilled and nurtured in his sons the need to be civically and politically involved in the community.

Mahonri, George’s second son, was a teacher and later an administrator in Salt Lake City and Taylorsville. At his passing, he was the vice president of the First National Bank of Murray. He had been appointed deputy collector in 1914, then income tax inspector, and nally the agent in charge of the Salt Lake City o ce. One task at that time was to determine whether ladies’ corsets should be taxed. He determined a cost of more than $5 should be taxed. But this decision, as you might imagine, brought much discussion and it was nally decided that corsets were a necessity and should not be taxed!

Raymond, the youngest son, was a state surveyor and a chicken farmer. In 1924, he helped organize the rst Salt Lake Rambouillet Sheep Club. He also helped start the Salt Lake County Poultrymen Association, of which he was secretary/treasurer. He taught young and old how to t chicken and sheep for shows. These activities led to the organization of the Salt Lake County Fair in 1937.

Finally, Albert, George’s oldest son, was also a prominent educator, and his sisters all wrote of his in uence on their becoming teachers. He was active in politics, as well, but died of typhoid pneumonia prior to seeking election as a state legislator. He was 32, leaving a wife and two children.

The George Mitton Spencer descendants of today continue to follow his example of hard work and community involvement, by volunteering, working to further the development of youth and actively participating in their communities. You can learn more about this family and many others in Taylorsville by visiting the museum, 1488 W. 4800 South.

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

DR. SEUSS TRUFFULA TREES CONTEST

Monday, Feb. 27, to Saturday, March 4

How many Tru ula trees are in the jar? Guess correctly and you might win an Altitude Trampoline Park gift card.

IN-N-OUT COVER TO COVER READING PROGRAM

March 6 to April 15

Participate in a reading program. Read ve books and earn a free hamburger. For ages 4-12.

VIRTUAL LECTURE | NELLIE BLY: THE FULL PICTURE — Fearless, Feminist, Fallible

Monday, March 6, 7 p.m.

You must register for this event to receive the link to the WebEx Virtual Lecture. Register at: thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries

Who was Nellie Bly? Author Kate Braithwaite will give the highlights and the lowlights of this remarkable American woman.

TEEN MAR10 PARTY

Thursday, March 9, 4:30 p.m.

Celebrate Mar10 Day early by playing a variety of Nintendo Switch video games.

THE REEL FOLK: THE MUSIC OF IRELAND

Monday, March 13, 6:30 p.m.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the musical group, The Reel Folk. Learn about folk instruments, di erent Irish tunes, and listen to traditional Irish music.

VIRTUAL LECTURE | “THE COLORADO CANNIBAL” — The Curious Historical Case of Alferd Packer

Tuesday, March 21, 7 p.m.

You must register for this event to receive the link to the WebEx Virtual Lecture. Register at: thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries

Dr. Erin Baxter provides a 21st century take on Alferd Packer, analyzing historical information, new archaeological data and experimental archaeology to tell and retell the story of the Colorado Cannibal.

READY RACE PARTY

Friday, March 24, 11 a.m.

Drop in at the library to make LEGO cars and race them on a racetrack.

MARCH UPDATES

Landscape Maintenance

Now is the perfect time of year to trim your trees! Salt Lake County Ordinance 14.12.050, and other municipal codes, require that trees and landscaping that overhang the street pavement need to be trimmed to a minimum height of 13 ½ feet above the street pavement. Following these guidelines will help WFWRD trucks navigate through your neighborhood and empty your cans without potential damage to your trees and the trucks.

Bagging Recyclables

Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District is still seeing recyclable materials in plastic and garbage bags in the blue recycling can. The recycling processing facilities do not accept plastic-bagged materials, and the recycling could end up in the land ll. Please do not place anything in your blue recycle can that is wrapped in plastic bags. Contact Sustainability Coordinator, McKenna Tupa’i (385-468-6337 or mtupai@wasatchfrontwaste.org) if you have speci c recycling questions.

Subscription Green Waste Program

The Weekly Green Waste Collection Program will resume beginning Thursday, March 16 for Taylorsville residents. Taylorsville currently has 1,414 out of the 10,477 districtwide subscribers.

Residents can sign up and help divert green waste from the landfill. Green waste is processed into mulch that can then be purchased for use from the Salt Lake Valley and Trans-Jordan land lls. There is a onetime startup fee of $70 to pay for the can and at $126 per year, a green waste can is less expensive than an additional black garbage can at $234 per year. For more information on this program, head to the “Services & Requests” tab on the district’s website (www.wasatchfrontwaste.org) and hit “Additional Subscription Services” to nd the “Green Waste Sign Up” link.

Cut Through the ‘FOG’ and Clear Your Drains

Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) have the potential to cost you money if not handled properly. Problems can develop in your household drains and the district sewer collection system due to the improper disposal of FOG.

Commonly used cooking oils and grease disposed in sink drains can lead to sewer line backups in homes and businesses. Sewer main backups may over ow onto streets creating adverse impacts to public health and the environment. The easiest way to solve the FOG buildup problem is to keep it out of the sewer system. Here are a couple of tips:

• Pour cooled FOG into a can or other container with a tight lid (co ee can, glass jar or plastic container) and dispose of it in the garbage.

• Place baskets/strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids then empty the drain baskets/strainers into the trash.

Tell your family, friends and neighbors about problems associated with grease in the sewer system and how to keep it out. The solution starts in your home with your actions.

If you have any questions, please contact Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District by calling 801-968-9081 or visiting www.tbid.org. Follow TBID on Facebook and Twitter.