HOLLADAY CITY COUNCIL VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO ADOPT 15% PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
ATruthin Taxation hearing was held Aug. 15 at Holladay City Hall to allow taxpayers public comment time to address the Holladay City Council regarding a proposed 15.05% property tax increase.
The council adopted the 2024-25 budget on June 13, which covers the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025. The final budget anticipated a 15.05% property tax increase, raising approximately $1.2 million in needed revenue for Holladay City.
The property tax rate increase on an average home in Holladay valued at $944,000 would be an additional $97 yearly. Residents might assume the increase is to their total property tax bill; however, this is inaccurate. The 15.05% increase is only to the Holladay City portion of the property tax, approximately 12% of a resident’s total property tax bill. When property taxes are raised 15.05%, the impact of the overall property tax increase for a property owner is somewhere around
2%. For individual taxpayer clarification, Holladay property owners can refer to Holladay City’s line item, which is included in the overall property tax bill.
This will be the second time property tax has been raised since the city incorporated on Nov. 30, 1999. In 2021, a property tax increase of about $7 million was invested over three years to stabilize a failing road situation. So why is the city of Holladay raising property taxes again?
According to Mayor Rob Dahle, there are three main reasons for proposing a property tax increase: basic inflationary pressures, a significant increase in the police line item, and the need to continue investing in Holladay City roads.
When the city of Holladay went through a tax increase in 2021, the Utah Taxpayers Association, a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization that works to limit state and local taxes,
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The final approved budget featured a $1.2 million increase in needed revenue for Holladay City. (City Journals)
Recognizing Signs and Symptoms of Stroke from Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley Stroke Team
By Dr. Rebecca Reiser
We know how important it is for patients and their families to find a hospital and a care team that you can trust - especially when emergencies, like stroke, happen. That’s why our team at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley is so incredibly proud to be a certified primary stroke center with thrombectomy capability. Recently, our stroke care team was recognized by the American Heart Association and received their Get with the Guidelines Gold Plus Award with Stroke Honor Roll and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. This award means our facility met or exceeded the national recommendations for stroke care for our patients and it highlights our hard-working, talented stroke care team for providing excellent patient stroke care! To start, we work closely with our EMS partners to help them recognize patient stroke symptoms while they are out in the field. They are trained to let us know when they are on their way to our hospital so we can be ready for stroke patients before they even arrive. Our team is then able to evaluate each patient quickly and thoroughly to determine the best course of treatment. We have medications to help break up blood clots in the brain and a team of highly
trained vascular neurosurgeons who can remove a blood clot from the brain, also known as a thrombectomy. An important note - Holy Cross Hospital - Jordan Valley is the only hospital on the west side of the valley that has the capability of performing these state-of-the-art thrombectomies!
So, what are the signs and symptoms of stroke that you should be aware of? The easiest way to remember what to look out for is through the acronym, BEFAST:
● Balance changes
● Eye or vision changes
● Facial droop
● Arm weakness
● Speech difficulty
● Time
reduces disability among stroke survivors by 4%! That’s because about 2 million brain cells die every minute during a stroke until blood flow is restored. It is important that if you see someone showing the signs or symptoms of stroke outlined above, call for help immediately.
When you or your loved ones come to Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley for stroke care, you can expect state-of-theart stroke treatment and compassionate, healing care fueled by humankindness. From the teams in the ER to the stroke care teams to the physical, occupational and speech therapists that help care for patients throughout their rehab journey, and to the neurologists that assist in care decisions from the start, you are in good hands at Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley!
At CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.
It is important to recognize the above signs and symptoms because time matters! Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, but it is the leading cause of long-term disability. Studies show that every 15 minutes saved when a patient is experiencing stroke symptoms,
Learn more about the services, care providers and mission-driven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.
When things go wrong, we provide the right care.
24/7 ER Care
Cardiac Team Available 24/7
State - Certified Heart Attack Center
Board Certified Emergency Physicians
Short ER Wait Times
Walk-Ins Welcome
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Dr. Rebecca Reiser Neurologist and Stroke Director CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital
Master artist Jill Buckmiller captures higher-level emotional moments on canvas
Holladay artist Jill Buckmiller fills every brush stroke of oil on canvas with a sense of joy and love. As a fine arts painter she strives to guide the viewer to find the divine within and to discover the emotional beauty in nature and all things beautiful.
The Holladay Arts Council has selected Buckmiller as the Holladay Artist of the Month for September 2024. This recognition acknowledges Buckmiller’s talent and skill as a master fine arts painter and her ability to capture higher-level emotional moments on canvas.
While working to complete her general education requirements as she pursued a degree in pharmacy at the University of Utah, Buckmiller simultaneously earned an associate’s degree in graphic design from Salt Lake Community College. Buckmiller decided to hang up her pharmacy coat and not continue with her degree at the University of Utah when she met and married her husband Jim and began to raise a family.
Through an opportunity to teach in the program “Artists in the Classroom” at her children’s elementary, Buckmiller learned to write art lesson plans. Each lesson incorporated clear learning targets for the principles of art and design, and Buckmiller developed sample resource materials for other volunteer educators to use and implement. She had never considered the possibility of becoming a teacher, but from this experience she re-enrolled at the University of Utah and received a secondary education degree with an emphasis in art and a minor in chemistry.
After completing her teaching degree, Buckmiller began exploring the possibilities of employment and interviewed at a youth residential treatment center to teach art.
“It felt like the perfect fit,” Buckmiller said, “but the treatment center was only hiring for a part-time art teaching position, and
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By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
I needed a full-time job. They were willing to offer a full-time position if I were willing to teach high school chemistry in addition to art. I agreed to do it.”
According to Buckmiller she taught year-round at the center and worked daily in tandem with therapists, a medical team, parents, the school and the community.
“The students at the treatment center were there to work on advocating for themselves and to try to find the emotions they needed to express themselves,” Buckmiller said. “A lot of emotion would come out in their art. I could show the work to the therapist and say, ‘I think this is something you need to talk to the student about in therapy.’ It was nice to have small classes where I could pull kids aside and talk to them one on one.”
The students came from all over the United States to the center. As the girls finished the program and prepared to return home, Buckmiller completed a colored pencil portrait of each student, matted it, and had the adults involved in the student’s treatment sign it. Buckmiller completed over 400 student portraits while teaching.
Buckmiller taught at the youth residential treatment center for 15 years. “It was super rewarding,” she said, “and teaching provided many intrinsic rewards.” However, the need to pursue an artistic career in painting surfaced, and three years ago, she decided to retire from teaching.
“I’ve done a lot of colored pencil commissions and a lot of colored pencil art. There is something about drawing on paper I worry about, though, how archival it is,” Buckmiller said. “After I quit teaching, I thought, OK, I’m just going to throw myself into oil painting. My time to do what I really wanted to do has finally arrived. Even though I loved teaching and seeing the students’ progress, it
was something I needed and wanted.”
When asked what success as an artist means, Buckmiller said success would be to paint what she loves without worrying about whether the piece would be marketable. To her, the deeper meaning of artistic success is encapsulated in the words “peace, hope and joy.”
“There is so much hopelessness and despair in the world,” Buckmiller shares on her website. “I want to create a little piece of peace and hope. I would be eternally grateful to have my collectors see my artwork not only as a bright spot on their walls but as a conduit to joy.”
To learn more about Buckmiller’s art visit www.instagram.com/jillbuckmiller/. Buckmiller’s art can be purchased through her website: JillBuckmillerFineArt. com.
Additional contact information is at Jillbuckmiller@gmail.com.
To nominate a Holladay resident for Artist of the Month, visit www.holladayarts. org/suggest-an-artist. l
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Artist Jill Buckmiller fills every brush stroke of oil on canvas with a sense of joy and love. (Photo courtesy Jill Buckmiller)
When asked what success as an artist means, Jill Buckmiller said success would be to paint what she loves without worrying about whether the piece would be marketable. (Photo courtesy Jill Buckmiller)
As a fine arts painter Jill Buckmiller strives to guide the viewer to find the divine within and to discover the emotional beauty in nature. (Photo courtesy Jill Buckmiller)
endorsed that increase and also provided the input that Holladay City should actually be assessed for additional needed revenue every four or five years to capture inflationary increase and not to let a needed increase go for 20 years and then have to begin to address a significant property tax increase.
“Part of the reason we’re doing this is the inflationary pressure we’ve seen over the last three or four years,” Dahle said. “The largest issue we’ve had to tackle, particularly this year, is pressure in public safety and police. After the events that took place in 2020, it created a wage war within the police community, which caused our police wages to rise, which required we absorb. This year, we’re in a unique situation where the state legislature basically forced the separation of the County and County Sheriff from the Unified Police model, which is the shared model that Holladay participates in. The forced separation caused a loss of economies in our costing model, which all members had to absorb. An increase in our police line item this year was about $750,000, which was a huge impact. We think it was a single impact and hope it will stabilize an inflationary increase over time. Right off the top, 53% of our city budget goes to police and fire. But the unique situation we had to address this year with the forced separation has had a dramatic impact on the budget challenges this council had to
address. This is what caused us to have to go back and ask for a property tax increase from our residents.”
An additional unique situation the city of Holladay has had to address is statewide residential tax rates have risen at a much faster rate than commercial rates. Residential tax rates have had to increase to keep the revenue steady.
“This is my first term serving as a city councilmember,” Councilmember Ty Brewer said. “Government, to me, has been eye-opening at the city level. I will say that personally and ideologically, I like to see the government's role as small as possible and to take good care of how public funds are spent. Not having had a political background, I have to say, I’ve been surprised at how leanly Holladay runs and the care and concern I have seen from all of the councilmembers. It’s been one of the more rewarding things I’ve learned as I’ve come to serve in the office. I see the wisdom in what the Taxpayers Association recommended, so we don’t have these sudden tax jumps. As a council, we’ve tried to be responsible and good stewards of the public trust.”
Public comment time was opened during the council meeting to allow residents to direct their concerns, questions and comments about the proposed property tax increase to the council.
“I would ask as a citizen of Holladay that you look at the budget as a good stew-
ard, and how we in every household have to cut back in certain areas,” Holladay resident Don Reese said. “I’m going to ask that you be very scrutinizing in terms of how you pass these increases on. I have five kids who have kids of their own, and they are wondering where they’re going to get their next gallon of milk. Every dollar that you can save is appreciated by the people. We have to defer things, so maybe the city of Holladay needs to defer things. Have you considered looking at other departments and their budgets to make the budgets neutral to facilitate these increases like households have to do?”
Councilmember Paul Fotheringham assured those in attendance during the budget process the council shares similar values and principles to those expressed by Holladay residents.
“We are a lean municipality relative to other organizations in the county,” Fotheringham said. “Three years ago, I went back through all my property tax bills to the year Holladay incorporated. I saw even though the value of my home had increased dramatically, other line items on my property tax notification had fluctuated, but Holladay had not in almost 20 years. My property tax for Holladay was the same, a few dollars up and down over 20 years. The only time it went up was the year we did a major remodel. But otherwise, Holladay's line item remained the same. If you were to look at your property tax notice overall, you would see the other
line items have gone up over time, and it’s because Granite School District and Salt Lake County, which are going to be the two major property line items on your property tax, every two or three years go through a Truth in Taxation hearing primarily to address increasing wages and benefits.”
The council first considered the tentative budget at its May 2 meeting. They then reviewed the budget over the next few weeks and held a public hearing on June 6. On June 13, the council adopted the 2024-25 budget.
“The suggestions made tonight would be very helpful when we go through the budget process,” Councilmember Drew Quinn said. “It’s during this time we decide what to spend money on. If you are concerned about your taxes and how the city is spending its money, I would encourage you to come to the city council meetings next May when we’re putting together the budget and have those critical discussions of where to spend the money.”
At the conclusion of the Truth in Taxation hearing on Aug. 15, the council voted unanimously to adopt the 15.05% property tax increase.
City Manager Gina Chamness extended an invitation to Holladay taxpayers who have further concerns or questions about their tax notices to make an appointment with her. She can be reached by email at gchamness@holladayut.gov. l
Longtime staff member to lead Granite School District
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Thereare 86,400 seconds in one day. But somehow, Ben Horsley can fit more into a single day than most people.
That was before he was appointed Granite School District superintendent on July 9. He replaced former Supt. Rich Nye who was named senior education adviser in Gov. Spencer Cox’s administration.
Horsley has worked 15 years with Granite District, including becoming the first chief of staff, serving to Nye the past three years. Previously, he worked under two other superintendents as the District’s director of communications and community outreach; he was responsible for media relations, marketing and community engagement.
Horsley was one of the top candidates in the nationwide superintendent search three years ago. The school board decided to forego a new search to name him to the position.
“In all sincerity, I wasn’t expecting this,” he said shortly after the appointment. “I expected Dr. Nye would be around several years more. I was honored to serve as his chief of staff and learn; he is an amazing educator. The (school) board came to me and expressed they felt that one person who could carry forth the vision Dr. Nye outlined and build on the foundation he had laid was me. They (school board members) asked if I would be willing to do that. After some consideration and conversations back and forth, I agreed. This wasn’t what I was looking for when I came to Granite School District, but I’m happy to be here. I love kids and what we do here.”
He plans to carry forth Granite’s strategic plan.
“Until he (Nye) came in, we had no formal plan or direction. We had initiatives and we had state accountability. We had several things we were trying to jump through, but there was no overarching vision that had been outlined since 2012 when the previous strategic plan was put into place. It was overdue,” Horsley said. “Dr. Nye and I built it and now we need feedback from our teachers and our administrators who are implementing this plan to ensure we’re moving in the right direction in providing quality instruction and improving student outcomes. Every child deserves an opportunity to have a quality education. We have a great foundation, and I’d like to keep that going.”
Granger High Principal Tyler Howe is excited about the direction Granite is heading.
“It’s been student-centered, trying to meet the individual needs of students and Ben is able to carry that shared vision forward,” he said. “He knows Granite. A comment he made in the meeting last week was, ‘I was here for that discussion 15 years ago; I remember how that started.’ There’s some power in having a superintendent who knows the district.”
can make a world of difference. That’s why I’m going to go out and be in our schools for much of my time each day. I’m going to listen to what people have to say.”
Besides, he said, “As chief of staff, a lot of my time entailed spending it in the classroom and oftentimes reading to kids or doing other activities; that’s the reward of the job so I would not want to miss out on that.”
He believes having those relationships and knowing what is needed in schools, along with his extensive knowledge of the District, will position him to be influential on capitol hill.
“I am the one who has to understand all the intricacies of their responsibilities and the impacts of the decisions we make at the District and at the state level on them so I can go appropriately advocate for them,” he said. “The relationships I have in place up there (in the Utah legislature) and the understanding of the process puts me in a distinct advantage in being able to advocate for our students.”
He said “most legislators are working toward the same goal most educators are and that is improving outcomes for kids.”
Howe remembers when he was a new principal and Horsley, then communications director, helped him set up a Twitter account for the school when the platform was launched.
“Ben has been a support to principals all these years. I’ve been in meetings with him and he’s able to prioritize everything to be in a lot of places at once. He has a lot on his plate yet he’s able to manage everything,” he said.
Howe said not only can Horsley manage to do a 48-hour job in 24 hours, but he’s someone he can trust and feels he’s on his level at the same time.
“Ben comes to this position not just as a communications director or someone in the superintendent’s cabinet, but also as a parent who is present for his five kids and cares for all kids,” Howe said.
In true Horsley fashion, he didn’t wait until his term began to work on his goals. Three days before he officially became superintendent, he had met with most of the District’s 120 administrators and principals, getting to know each of them personally, not just talking “shop.”
“I’ve worked with many of them, but I haven’t always talked about them, their families, their vacations, their dogs’ names,” he said. “I’m about relationships. I love to get to know people and understand how they work. This develops our relationships and bonds us in our common goal in providing quality education for our students.”
The Viewmont High graduate who performed in some school plays and ran cross
country also shares about himself.
Horsley is willing to take a pie in the face or do whatever to motivate students’ learning, but he draws the line at jumping out of a plane as he’s “tremendously afraid of heights.”
He loves barbecue and peaches; Abraham Lincoln is one of his favorite historical figures; and he would love to go see U2 in concert.
“When I was in high school, ‘Joshua Tree’ was my very first cassette tape” that Horsley paid for from mowing lawns. “It’s one of my all-time favorite albums,” and said if there was a superintendent playlist, U2 would be included. He also regularly walks his terrier-pug mix, Pablo.
During Horsley’s first 100 days as superintendent, his aim is to improve the culture Districtwide.
“We’ve been working on a few initiatives in how we support our schools,” he said. “Oftentimes, there’s a top-down mentality and we need to collaborate better with our schools.”
Horsley also is seeking a chief of staff who will serve as a key instructional leader for the District.
“The position will change from what I was doing to fill the needs I have,” he said. “At that point, we will have a strong foundation so the next 90 days are about what kind of house do we want to build and what color is it going to be? A lot of that has to do with improving our professional learning communities, giving adequate supports to our administrators and other small things that
His recent conversations focus on student attendance as some skip school and parents can excuse students from school for any reason.
“Chronic absenteeism has grown since the (COVID-19) pandemic. So, how do we honor and respect parental rights, but at the same time, also address parental responsibilities? Part of that has to do with how we address this huge gap in attendance,” he said, saying lawmakers are working with educators to find an answer.
When retired principal Terri Roylance learned about Horsley’s appointment, she knew, “The District is in good hands. As superintendent, he has the opportunity to influence on an even bigger stage. Ben has been right there alongside several superintendents. He knows people. He knows education. He knows the legislature. He knows the District. He can relate to all levels of employees and all levels of kids.”
She remembers Horsley helping make plans from when her school’s baseball team won the state championship on graduation day to tweaking something she’s wrote since “he’s an amazing wordsmith.”
Through her years being an elementary, junior high and high school principal, Horsley, in his calm demeanor, was “right there, answering questions. I’ve called him late at night when I’ve been concerned about something, and he answers his phone or texts an answer immediately. He must live with his phone under his pillow. He’s always been very responsive.”
Horsley intends to communicate with patrons and taxpayers alike.
“I hope those who pay the bill feel they can reach out and know we’re listening,”
Granite School District’s new superintendent, Ben Horsley, standing near a painting of his hero, Abraham Lincoln, is ready to take on the challenge of providing a quality education for 58,000 students. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
he said. “People know I’m good at listening, and they can share questions, concerns and suggestions. That skill set will serve me well advocating for our board’s vision, but at the same time, building collaboration, not just within our District, but within the entire community.”
He said those strong relationships and partnerships will be key in collaborating to support District families.
“Schools have traditionally been community centers, but with school choice, that has become more disparate and challenging. We need to make sure people know their schools are still the center of their communities and they’re a welcome place to come together and support each other,” he said. “At the same time, schools can’t do it alone. We have the highest amount of diversity and many of our students live in poverty. We need to continue engaging with community partners to provide necessary supports to our students and families. We have strong relationships with our city partners, who are supporting and providing resources to those families who are experiencing change, maybe they’re refugees, in poverty, multi-language learners right here within our communities.”
Granite has about 58,000 students. A report five years ago predicted the school district would level out at 55,000 students large-
ly in part to declining birth rates, so Horsley anticipates another dip of 3,000 students even though about “2,000 new multi-language learners come through our doors every year, with about 200 every year who need intensive support to learn the language.”
Horsley said not everyone is aware of the career and technical programs Granite offers, such as its successful CEO program, now in its third year. Through a partnership between the school and the local business community, about 20 students each year gain real-world experience each week by meeting with business owners, tour local companies, and are paired with industry leaders as mentors to learn entrepreneurial skills.
“High school looks different today than it did when I graduated in 1995,” he said. “We have 55-plus career pathways available to students. That includes certifications, undergrad work in a variety of diverse fields from robotics to biomanufacturing. We need to continue to expand those opportunities for our kids.”
GTI program facilitator Erin Paulsen said Horsley was helpful with the creation of the CEO program.
“Ben is a real go-getter,” she said. “He ensures the best results for students and gives them access to opportunities. He gives the time to help students become successful even
with his other administrative duties. He truly cares about the students and their education.”
Horsley said it’s important to identify students’ passions.
“Some students don’t engage in the same way in a traditional experience. So, we say, ‘Let’s help you meet the state requirements for graduation and at the same time, get you a skill and find you something you are interested in,’” he said.
Horsley knows an ongoing challenge with shrinking population means closing schools within the District. Recently, three elementary schools were closed on the east side and realizes when a study along the 31st South corridor on the west side concludes in December, more school closures likely will be recommended.
“We have lost a lot of students because of a variety of factors including loss to charter schools. It’s time to bring those families back into our schools where they’ll be provided and supported with a myriad of individualized educational options and supports for their families,” he said.
That doesn’t include the agreement between Cottonwood High and AMES, Horsley added.
“That’s a great partnership,” he said. “AMES students use a portion of the facility at Cottonwood and that gives our students
access to some of their coursework and their students benefit from Cottonwood’s elective offerings. It’s a unique hybrid. In the same vein, we created (Neil) Armstrong Academy, and we would look at more opportunities like this that provide students with individualized experiences.”
Parent Bruce Walton first met Horsley who was communicating school activities when his oldest son attended Neil Armstrong Academy.
“Ben is a knowledgeable man, who is a great resource for the entire District,” Walton said. “I was at a District-level meeting about the book selection process required by the state legislature. He was clear and concise and provided an understanding of how the District was implementing the process. He was fully versed about the issue. He knows the law, the issues, the people and our District.”
Cottonwood High teacher Adam Wilkins agrees.
“I don’t know anyone in the District who knows the nuts and bolts of the District better than Ben Horsley,” Wilkins said. “He lives and breathes Granite District and always has its best intention in mind. I’m optimistic about the future of our District with him leading the way.” l
Youthful Olympus girls volleyball team looking for progress
By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com
It has been awhile since the Olympus girls volleyball team has had a winning record. Head coach Michael Guthrie is hoping this season breaks the spell.
The Titans last finished above .500 in 2016 when they went 12-11 overall. Olympus is coming off a 7-22 season that saw the team finish fifth place in Region 6 with a 5-7 mark. Guthrie, now in his second season, noted that his squad has some inexperience, but he believes more victories are in store for Olympus than it had last year.
“While we still have a very young team, we expect to exceed last year’s performance,” he said.
The Titans got off to a 0-2 start to the 2024 season, falling at Clearfield 3-0 on Aug. 20, followed by a 3-1 loss at home to Viewmont two days later. In the second match, Olympus won set one over Viewmont 25-22 but dropped three in a row, including sets three and four by scores of 25-22.
Guthrie would like to see the team move up the league standings and enjoy more success on the scoreboard. However, he said it all comes down to effort and improvement. Also, win or lose, he’s trying to build a strong culture with the program where the players get along well and enjoy good chemistry.
“Our goals are to play our best possible volleyball, become a close-knit team and work hard each day to get better and better,”
he said.
Winning more matches and progressing throughout the year won’t be automatic. Guthrie said the Titans will need to play together and trust one another. He does have some experienced seniors in Scarlette Wilkinson, Jo Park and Mia Potter. Wilkinson is an outside hitter who Guthrie said is “very strong.” Park and Potter play the libero position and bring leadership to the team. There’s also junior middle hitter Elsa Barratt.
“[Barratt] gives us strong inside play on both offense and defense,” Guthrie said.
“Trust” is a word Guthrie has used when describing the keys to a successful season. He wants the girls to play well together and understand each other’s roles. He also hopes to see good team unity throughout the season.
Even in defeat, Guthrie is encouraged by the Titans’ play.
“The team has looked very good in the early going,” he said. “First impressions are that it’s going to be a very good year for us.”
Region 6 has seven teams, and the Titans will face their six opponents two teams apiece. The first league match is Sept. 5 at Brighton. Olympus will also contend with West, Skyline, East, Highland and Alta. The final regular-season match is Oct. 29 at Alta. There will also be a nonregion match at Olympus against Stansbury on Oct. 22.
The Titans will aim for a high enough
seed in the Class 5A state tournament to avoid playing in the first round. The tournament will begin with first-round matches Nov. 5, followed by subsequent rounds Nov. 7 and 8 at Utah Valley University. Guthrie looks forward to the rest of the
season and enjoys the chance to coach what he said is a quality core of girls.
“As coaches, we love coaching these girls,” he said. “They are a great group, and they want to be successful this coming season.” l
The Olympus girls volleyball team had some rough patches last season but is optimistic for a turnaround season in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Michael Guthrie)
Olympus cross country welcomes new faces, familiar ones
By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com
Olympus cross country head coach
Chris Humbert has an interesting situation this season. The Titans lost a lot of firepower from their successful 2023 team. Yet, many excellent athletes are back— and some intriguing newcomers have joined the squad.
Last season, the Titans finished fifth in Class 5A on the boys’ side, while the girls team was 11th. Humbert believes a big season is in store for both teams, even though there are lots of new faces. The Titans graduated eight of the team’s 14 varsity athletes, with four of those team members now competing at the next level. Sensation JoJo Jourdon, who was the individual champion in the boys’ ranks, is now at Wake Forest University.
“We expect to have a great season,” Humbert said. “We have many new team members and also have some of our fastest individuals who have returned for another year. Losing athletes makes it hard, but that is the nature of high school sports.”
At the beginning of the season, Humbert and the Titans set some objectives and established expectations for the year. He was also pleased to see that the boys and girls teams had depth, which will help them be more competitive at every meet.
“We have individual and team goals for this season,” Humbert said. “We hope to build on last year’s success by growing the team. A bigger team will allow us to develop more athletes, which leads to team success down the road. We also hope to enjoy individual success with several top athletes returning.”
Returning seniors Finn Rutledge and Sofia Jourdon are the top performers on the squad. Finn consistently finished among the top four on the varsity boys team last season. Humbert said Finn “looks to be faster this year with a great summer of training.” Meanwhile, Humbert has nothing but praise for Sofia Jourdon on the girls’ side.
“[Sofia Jourdon] was on our thirdplace 4x400 relay this past spring at the Utah State track and field championships,” he said. “She is always a top competitor.”
Sophomores Adria Favero and Will Towers have been impressive so far. They are among a stellar group of underclassmen who give the Titans high hopes this season and beyond. Favero won most of her meets last season as a freshman, including the Bob Firman Meet in Boise, Idaho. In last season’s state cross country championships, she finished second. Favero didn’t compete in track and field this past spring, due to an injury. Humbert said she is “very hungry for success again.” Meanwhile, Towers is new to the program, having moved from Texas to Utah this past summer. He has already worked his way
up to the No. 2 slot on the boys team.
“[Towers] is excited to be here in Utah with Olympus,” Humbert said.
Success doesn’t come in any sport without hard work, commitment and determination. This is especially true in the grueling sport of cross country. But the Titans are doing whatever they can to prepare themselves for the rigors of the season and the challenging competition they will face. Humbert also said staying healthy is critical.
“Our team needs to be consistently putting in the training, and you’ll see them out on the roads, trails and on our track six days a week,” Humbert said. “We have been training since early June and are only now starting to really increase the intensity and speed of our workouts. We need to avoid injury and illness, and we should be successful.”
In the early stages of the season, Olympus has performed well. The team opened the year Aug. 10 at the Cottonwood Complex, an event that attracted hundreds of runners across the Wasatch Front and beyond. At the opening meet, Favero placed first in the girls’ race. Rutledge finished fifth in the boys’ race, completing the course with his fastest per-mile run ever.
“This is super encouraging because he [hadn’t] yet started to train hard,” Humbert said. “First impressions are really exciting. Alex Lyons, our conditioning coach, is nationally renowned, and we are incredibly blessed to have him working with our athletes. He knows how to prepare high school athletes to be their best when it counts, and I’m very excited for this season.”
Humbert likes the runners’ consistency as well as their leadership qualities. And though replacing last year’s graduating class isn’t easy, the younger athletes have done well acclimating themselves into the program. Plus, having talented, capable freshmen and sophomores bodes well for the future of the Olympus cross country team.
“We also have a large number of young athletes, which is a strength because they are the athletes who develop into our fast varsity athletes over a couple of years,” Humbert said. “It takes several years to develop into a great cross country athlete. There are no shortcuts, so having a large number of athletes for the four years of high school allows those athletes to develop into strong, fast runners.”
Humbert would like to see even more athletes from Olympus join the team.
Olympus boasts excellent athletes across all sports, and Humbert encourages them to give cross country a try. This year, he does have some multi-sport athletes on the team—including swimmers, lacrosse
players, mountain bikers and volleyball players—and they are developing into great runners.
“Believe it or not, one of the biggest challenges at Olympus High School is that we have so many great athletes,” he said. “The challenge is recruiting them to the cross country team. These student-athletes are already fully committed in their chosen sports of soccer, lacrosse, swimming, mountain biking, etc., by the time they enter the halls of Olympus High. If these student-athletes were to discover cross country, they would probably surprise themselves with how fun, exciting and
competitive the sport is, and both the athlete and the team would benefit. We have been working to welcome more multisport athletes into the program.”
The Titans will compete against Region 6 schools and other teams during the next few months. The Class 5A state cross country championships will be Oct. 30 at Sugar House Park.
“I love working with these student-athletes,” Humbert said. “They are so dedicated and yet are so fun. Coaching connects me to my days as an athlete, and I hope to keep doing this for a long time.” l
Olympus’ Adria Favero leads the pack in a cross country race earlier this season. (Photo courtesy of Eddy Wall)
ATTAINABLE HOUSING: BUILDING A SALT LAKE COUNTY WHERE EVERYONE
BALANCING THE COUNTY BUDGET: PRIORITIZING TRANSPARENCY, EFFICIENCY, AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT: ADVOCATING FOR GROWTH THAT ALIGNS WITH OUR COMMUNITY’S VALUES.
OPEN-SPACE PRESERVATION: PROTECTING OPEN SPACES AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
On June 13, the Holladay City Council adopted the City’s General Fund budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. During May and June each year, the City Manager and the City Council spend time discussing projections of revenue that the City expects to receive as well as anticipated needs of the City for the upcoming year. While the City has several funds, including a stormwater enterprise fund with revenue generated exclusively from fees, the General Fund is the primary fund that pays for City operations.
This year, Holladay expects to receive about $22.9 million in revenue into the General Fund from a variety of sources.
Where the Money Comes From
Holladay's Sources of Revenue
Where the Money Goes
Property tax is the largest single source of revenue, and this year will fund approximately 37% of the City’s functions. While property taxes for individual property owners may change from year to year depending on a variety of factors, state law is designed to keep the funding that Holladay receives at roughly the same level over time.
Any increase in the property tax rate requires a Truth in Taxation notice and public hearing. For Fiscal Year 2024-25, the City Council adopted an increase of 15% in revenue the City expects to receive from property tax. To be clear, that 15% increase is not an increase in your overall tax bill – rather, it’s an increase in the City’s share of your overall tax bill, which for most people is about 14% of the total amount of property tax you pay. This increase is only the second time in the City’s 25-year history that Holladay has increased its property tax rate. This year’s Truth in Taxation hearing was held on August 15, 2024.
The City’s share of sales generated by brick-andmortar businesses, as well as merchandise delivered within the City funds another 32% of City operations. Sales tax funding, as well as revenue from licenses and permits, varies as overall economic conditions in the area and in the state change.
Close to half of the City’s General Fund is spent on critical public safety services. Holladay currently contracts with the Unified Police District (UPD) and United Fire Authority (UFA) to provide these services for Holladay residents. This year, a forced separation between the Unified Police Department and the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office increased the cost of police services by about $750,000. This increase, inflationary increases in the cost of goods and services over the past few years and a commitment to ongoing improvements in the City’s infrastructure are why the Council decided it was time to increase property tax revenue.
In June of 2022, the City issued a bond for both road and stormwater improvements. Already, the City has made about $8 million of improvements in local neighborhood streets, important connectors like Holladay Boulevard, and a variety of stormwater projects throughout the City. More projects are being planned – so expect to see more construction through the fall and next spring.
Property Tax Changes
In late July, property owners in Holladay began receiving Notices of Property Tax Valuation and Tax Changes from Salt Lake County. Those notices usually generate
some questions we’ll try to address. The notice highlights two potential types of changes that can affect the property tax residents pay – how your individual property is valued, and the tax rate that you pay to various entities, including the Granite School District, Salt Lake County, and the City of Holladay.
State law prohibits local governments from receiving a windfall from an increase in the property value, so as property values increase, the “certified rate” or the rate that a tax entity can impose without a hearing, decreases, guaranteeing each entity only the same amount of revenue from property tax received the previous year, plus an allowance for any new growth that may have occurred in the community. State law also guarantees that the amount local taxing entities receive remains the same when property values are falling by increasing the rate to generate the same revenue as the year before. In total, property valuations in Holladay increased by 8% this year. How much your property tax changes depends on a number of factors, including the valuation of your individual property as compared to that overall percentage for our area, and whether any other taxing entities that receive property tax are increasing their tax rates this year. Generally, any change in the tax rate beyond the certified rate requires a Truth in Taxation hearing. The dates of these hearings are shown on the Notice received from the County and are staggered so that a property owner can attend each hearing that affects their property. This year, three entities that are increasing their tax rates. This includes the Granite School District, Central Utah Water Conservancy District, and the City of Holladay.
If you have questions about the City of Holladay’s budget, please contact Gina Chamness, City Manager at (801) 272-9450 or gchamness@holladayut.gov.
Humane Education Presentations
By Salt Lake County Animal Services
Salt Lake County Animal Services offers Humane Education classes and other workshops to groups and schools within Salt Lake County. Our nationally recognized program incorporates materials for all ages, from youth through adults. Our age-appropriate presentations demonstrate:
• Basic Animal Care
• Responsible Pet Ownership
• Humane Treatment of Animals
• Important Animal Safety Information/Bite Prevention
• Careers in Animal Welfare/Care
Our presentations complement the Common Core standards, socialemotional learning, and character education, emphasizing social responsibility. We strive to foster compassion and respect for all living beings by educating all age groups about humane education. Our presentations cover compassion, diversity, equality, animal protection, responsibility, empathy, and empowerment. These presentations can also include a friendly, well-behaved humane education dog, which enhances the learning experience by providing a live example of kindness and responsible animal care.
For more information and to request a presentation please visit our “Programs” section on AdoptUtahPets.org.
Questions? Email events@slco.org or Hannah at HBlack@slco.org
September is National Preparedness Month
By Allison Jester, Emergency Mgmt Coord
Each September, FEMA sponsors National Preparedness Month to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. This is a great reminder that it is important to have a planned response for you and your family and to be ready to help your community.
While the City is dedicated to assisting its citizens in emergencies, personal and community preparedness levels often play a larger part in outcomes. In the event of an emergency or disaster, it may take hours or even days for emergency crews to reach you. In these cases, “you are the help until help arrives”. The City of Holladay has amazing citizens who care deeply about their neighbors. If we can continue to foster a culture of community and increase personal and neighborhood preparedness, we will be able to more effectively respond to and recover from disaster. Here are some ways you can get involved and promote emergency preparedness in your neighborhood:
• Work on your own personal and family preparedness.
• Build connections with your neighbors – pay attention to those who may need additional help in a disaster and check on them.
• Find and share preparedness information with your friends and neighbors.
• Encourage your neighborhood or friends to participate in planning, compiling supplies, or running a drill together.
• Find a volunteer program that means something to you and get involved.
• Take safety courses to learn CPR, First Aid, Stop the Bleed, and other important skills.
In the face of disaster, every person matters. Together, we can build a resilient community that is ready to respond to and recover from adverse events quickly.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Rob Dahle, Mayor rdahle@holladayut.gov 801-580-3056
Ty Brewer, District 1 tbrewer@holladayut.gov 801-550-8747
Matt Durham, District 2 mdurham@holladayut.gov 801-999-0781
Paul Fotheringham, District 3 pfotheringham@holladayut.gov 801-424-3058
Drew Quinn, District 4 dquinn@holladayut.gov 801-860-6130
Emily Gray, District 5 egray@holladayut.gov 801-755-3477
Gina Chamness, City Manager gchamness@holladayut.gov
PUBLIC MEETINGS: City Council – rst and third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. Planning Commission – rst and third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.
REVEL
Race Series Big Cottonwood Heights Canyon
Marathon & Half Marathon LIBRARY HAPPENINGS — SEPTEMBER
Saturday, Sept. 14th
We’re excited to be part of the route for another race! REVEL Race Series’ Big Cottonwood Heights Canyon Marathon & Half Marathon will take place September 14th, and it’s coming through Holladay.
The race will cross into the city starting at Knudsen Park. Eastbound traffic on 6200 will only be allowed from 2300 E to Holladay Blvd. Traffic west of 2300 E will flow as normal with shifted lanes between 7:30am-9:30am. We will be fortunate to have police officers in the area guiding traffic.
Holladay Blvd-Arbor Lane-Highland Drive: marathoners will be running on the shoulder of Holladay Blvd all the way to Cottonwood Lane.
• At Cottonwood Lane, runners will continue north in the shoulder and eastbound lane.
• At Arbor Lane, runners will head west through this neighborhood.
• Once runners reach Highland Drive, they will continue south in the #2 lane on Highland Drive until it reaches the intersection of Van Winkle and 6200 South.
All major intersections will have an “Intersection Traffic Officer” to facilitate cross-traffic flow and ensure everyone’s safety. Race participants are expected to be through Holladay by approximately 1:00 pm.
Stay tuned to our social media channels, website, and email blast for more information. You can see a detailed map of the racecourse by visiting www.runrevel.com/bcm.
Please follow officer instructions and be cautious and courteous with runners. Let’s show them our usual Holladay hospitality!
Holladay Business Advisory Board
By Raelynn Potts, Vice-Chair Holladay Business Advisory Board & owner Auntie Rae’s Sweets and Tea Parties
The mission of the Holladay Business Advisory Board is “to create a forum where business community partners can come together and discuss opportunities to improve communication and collaboration for businesses to launch, expand and thrive. To foster connections to identify shared issues or challenges and to showcase the distinctive character of Holladay.”
We meet every third Wednesday of the month at City Hall from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. During the 5:00 p.m. hour we welcome business owners to join us and share their ideas or ask for assistance from the Board. Some examples of requests for assistance that have been presented to the Board in the previous months were locating a new location to expand; needing ideas for more foot traffic; collaborating with an individual business event; and a request to share resources. We welcome everyone to join us and create an open dialogue with us and the city. This is your opportunity to tell us the needs of your business so we can provide some impactful resources for you.
As we start planning our next events, and promotions, like our #ShopLocal #ShopHolladay, we are keeping in mind the feedback we have already received from the business owners that have attended our meetings. We thank those who have come and participated with us.
I am reminded of conversations I’ve had with customers that may resonate with you. The questions of “How long have you been in business?” and “Why haven’t I heard about you?” And I reply, “When you are small it is tough to make a big noise.” As the Holladay Business Advisory Board is made up of local business owners, we have many voices and many years of experience, and we are ready to “make a big noise” on behalf of all Holladay Businesses. #holladaybusinessadvisoryboard #shopHolladay #shoplocal
Game Night
Monday, September 9 – 5 pm to 8 pm
Board game lovers of all ages are welcome to play old favorites or learn fun new games! Derrek from Game Night Games will be supporting to make sure everyone has fun!
Read with Harley
Thursday, September 5, 12, 19, 26 –4 pm
Enjoy practicing your read-aloud skills with our sweet therapy dog, Harley! He’s a gentle listener and loves the company of children.
Registration Required
Holla-ween is just around the corner and we want you to save the NEW date and time for this year’s Holla-ween event! SATURDAY OCTOBER 26th 2:30 pm-4:30 pm located at the back of Holladay City Hall 4580 S 2300 E. The festivities will include a pet costume contest, pumpkin bowling, face painting, and many more. Costumes are HIGHLY encouraged! A Prize will be given to the best-dressed pet! Come enjoy a Spooktacular evening!
If you are a business that would like to participate in the Trail of Treats during this event, please contact Ann Frances Garcia at annfgarcia@HolladayUT.gov or call (385) 425-0853. Dress in costume, decorate your table in a Halloween theme and join the fun. Registration Required to participate. No Fee. Register by: October 18th.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE
Join the Holladay Lions Club, the Happy Healthy Holladay Coalition, and DonorConnect Utah’s federally designated nonprofit for organ and tissue recovery—for an evening dedicated to the power of giving and the impact of organ donation.
Inspiring Stories: Hear from Don and Tracy Wilson as they share the powerful story of their daughter Jordyn, who became an organ donor and made a profound impact on others’ lives.
Essential Education: Brady Dransfield, Manager of Public Education at DonorConnect, will explain how organ donation works and why it’s crucial for saving lives.
Community Engagement: Learn about the ongoing work of the Lions Club in Holladay and their commitment to various local service projects. Did You Know? There are over 114,000 people nationwide waiting for a transplant, with 900 right here in Utah. Every 10 minutes, another person is added to the transplant list, and 17 people die each day waiting for an organ.
Come and learn how you can be part of a life-saving cause. Together, we can make a lasting difference!
Local Families
Preplan for Peace of Mind
Preplanning ensures that when the moment comes, your loved ones can grieve and remember without the burden of decision-making. It’s a gift of love, a way to shield them from the practicalities, allowing them to focus on honoring your life and finding solace. At Larkin, our prearranged plans not only secure today’s prices but encapsulate your love and consideration for those you leave behind. Affordable payment options are available, making it easy to provide this peace of mind and love for your family. Call us today to learn more.
Larkin Mortuary 260 East South Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 363-5781
Larkin Sunset Gardens 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 S.) • Sandy, UT 84092 (801) 571-2771
Larkin Sunset Lawn 2350 East 1300 South Salt Lake City, UT 84108 (801) 582-1582
Larkin Mortuary Riverton 3688 West 12600 South Riverton, UT 84065 (801) 254-4850
Lady Titans off to terrific start on soccer pitch
By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com
When the 2024 girls soccer season began, head coach Jamie Evans thought highly of her Olympus team. It’s easy to see why.
The Titans have performed at a high level, jumping out to a 7-0 start. During this stretch, Olympus outscored opponents 27-6 and upended some quality teams, including 6A’s Bingham (4-0), Davis (3-1) and Corner Canyon (3-2). Region 6 play started Aug. 19 with a convincing 5-0 victory over Skyline. The Titans won their first three league contests, also taking care of Highland, 5-1 on Aug. 22, and Alta, 4-2 on Aug. 26.
Olympus boasts talented seasoned veterans and skilled, promising newcomers. Evans loves the team unity and the fact the girls love playing the game.
“I have very high expectations for this
team,” Evans said. “We have a great mix of experienced senior players along with a great young group with loads of talent. We have a lot of returning players from varsity last year, so the team chemistry seems to already be there—even just after two weeks of training. We have a lot of speed in all positions on the field, which allows us to have many different strategies of how we can find success. And there is an expectation that soccer is fun, and if we are not having fun, then we need to change things up, whether it be mentally or physically.”
Evans reiterated that she has a lot of fast players on the team. This luxury gives her flexibility at all positions and provides advantages all over the field. Olympus enjoys great leadership, too, as well as a competitive spirit and positive attitude.
“Our biggest strength is speed,” Evans
said. “We have speed all over the place. We have great leaders that have played in some high-level matches, and they bring that experience to this team. Another strength is hard work. We have a group that is showing they are willing to work hard for one another.”
Through seven games, the undefeated Titans had no shortage of contributors. Evans pointed out senior forward Hope Munson, senior goalkeeper Joss Baker and junior midfielder Anna Neff as three of the team’s top performers. Munson paced the Titans with eight goals up to this point (and scored in every game), while Neff was second for Olympus with six goals. Baker had three shutouts.
“[Munson’s] athleticism sets her apart from the rest,” Evans said. “She can play any position on the field and has the ability to change a game. And she is a fantastic leader. [Baker] is an amazing shot stopper. She has kept us in some really tight games with her ability to stop shots. She is an incredible athlete. [Neff] controls the middle of the field. Her technical ability and her IQ of the game makes her really shine in any game she is playing in.”
In addition, senior Ella Schutjer topped all Olympus players through seven games with eight assists. In fact, she was tied for the state lead in that category during that span. Senior forward Hallie Hansen had five goals in the first seven contests. Munson was second on the team with six assists.
The Titans were dominant early on, and there’s no reason to believe the team won’t continue to be successful. Evans said her objective is for the players to improve each day. The Titans are shooting for a chance to play for a state title.
“Our team’s goals are to get better each time we step on the field as a team— to play as a team, with the understanding that no one can carry this team alone,” Evans said. “We will find success as we work together and play for each other. Our team goal is to really live by what our team motto suggests: ‘I am because we are.’ And the big goal is to play in that final championship game of the season.”
To achieve these goals, Evans said the players need to play with confidence and believe they can win each time they take the field. Olympus also strives to play unselfishly and help teammates along the way.
“We need a continued belief that we are capable of doing great things and a willingness to do a job that will be to help someone else,” she said. “We believe in working hard for the girl to your right and to your left, and we need to have the willingness to not leave anything on the field.”
Olympus plays each Region 6 foe twice, with the final contest scheduled for Oct. 3 at home against West. The Titans also contend with East, Brighton, Alta, Highland and Skyline. Winning region
won’t come automatically, as tough tests await the Titans. Still, Evans believes the biggest barrier to success will be Olympus’ own mistakes.
“Honestly, our biggest challenges all lie within ourselves,” she said. “Our biggest challenge is when we start to lose the confidence in ourselves and in our teammates—when we choose to hold on to a mistake rather than let it go and learn from it, when doubt creeps in and we start overthinking things, when our internal dialogue to ourselves is negative or challenging.”
Barring an unexpected collapse during the second half of the season, Olympus should be able to secure a first-round bye and second-round home game in the Class 5A state tournament. The playoffs begin Oct. 10 with first-round games. The second round starts Oct. 15.
A year ago, Olympus went 13-6 and fell in the 5A semifinals to Maple Mountain by the count of 2-1.
Evans is happy with the team’s play so far and the results on the field. The girls’ efforts and attitudes make them enjoyable to coach, she said.
“This group does not need any motivation to step on the field with an intensity to find success,” she said. “They are a group that works hard and enjoys being out on the field together. We have a group that seems to be supportive in whatever role they play on the team. We have amazing leaders that really know how to lead by example. We have girls that are willing to learn and willing to try new things. My favorite thing is that this group really understands that it takes the whole team to find that continual success that we believe can take us deep in the season.” l
Blue Moon Festival draws thousands to annual event
By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
Anovercast, windy evening on Aug. 24
didn’t deter those attending the annual Blue Moon Festival at Holladay City Park. Thousands gathered for an evening filled with art, local food vendors and live band performances. Sponsored by the Holladay Arts Council and Holladay Bank & Trust, the event again brought the community together for festival fun and artistic creation promotion for local and emerging artists.
Holladay Arts and Culture Manager Megan Attermann and her arts council committee partnered with Excellence in the Community, a nonprofit organization passionate about promoting Utah’s best musicians, to bring two live band performances to the outdoor stage to build community and create culture.
Senxao, a high-energy Latin fusion band led by singer and frontman Navi Escanola, started the night off with a repertoire of Latin tunes and explosive energy. Senxao was followed by The Great Salt Lake Yacht Club, a soft rock Southern California sound of the 70s and 80s and a look back to singers and songwriters such as Jimmy Buffet and Loggins & Messina.
“The Blue Moon Festival is one of my favorite events to attend as a Holladay resident,” Attermann said. “I feel beyond privileged that I get to work with our community’s amazing volunteers and city staff to make this festival a success this year. Of course, I love the music, the art, the activities, the food; but my favorite part of the festival is being out among my neighbors. It’s just fun!”
Beauty and joy are the hallmarks of an art festival, from the artist’s exhibit to the patron’s home. Holladay resident and art vendor Diana Anderson began painting two years ago. An energy worker and healer for 18 years, she uses multiple layers of acrylic or oil paint, collage, and mixed media to create her abstract textured landscapes, illustrating how all life is connected.
“I usually don’t draw out my paintings first,” Anderson said. “I brush the paint on and then see where the energy goes on the canvas. Aspects of sacred geometry, flower of life, light therapy, and Metatron’s Cube are all used in my art. Art shows are the primary place I sell my art.”
Art vendor April Mao became interested in creating with clay when she took pottery classes at the University of Utah’s Bountiful location. Her unique mugs and plates made with transfer paper from China are sure to catch a patron’s attention.
“I fell in love with pottery after taking one class and have been doing it ever since,” Mao said. “I just do it for fun. I can’t really say I’m a professional artist.”
The Children’s Activity Center was well attended, offering face painting, balloon tying and miniature golf for all ages.
Brooks Conway, owner of Putt’s Mobile Mini Golf, fitted each golf enthusiast with a golf club and provided details about course options. According to Conway, the company is new, but is quickly branching out across Utah and into other states.
Unified Fire Authority and Unified Police were on hand to ensure safety during the event and to answer questions.
Ten local food trucks filled the upper parking lot, offering a variety of menu options. These included Ari’s Fresh Lemonade, which offered free refills; Spilled Milk, an ice cream and cereal bar; and Maize, a food truck specializing in traditional tacos made with handmade corn tortillas.
As the evening progressed, festival attendees spread their lawn chairs across Holladay City Park to connect, catch up on life events, enjoy live music, and appreciate soul-stirring art. All contributed to a vibrant setting of art, culture, and community in action, which can only be found at an art festival. l
A Blue Moon Festival attendee named Orson demonstrates his unique golf swing at Putt’s Mobile Mini Golf, a popular activity at the festival. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)
April Mao enjoys crafting unique mugs and plates made with transfer paper from China. (Collette Hayes/ City Journals)
Diana Anderson uses multiple layers of acrylic, collage and mixed media to create her abstract textured landscapes. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)
Granite School District works on implementing the School Security Act
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Whenthe Utah State Legislature passed HB61 during the 2023 legislative session, the bill was intended to protect against school threats. The School Security Act went into effect in May 2023 and requires every school in Utah to have an armed guard onsite during school hours.
While there’s no deadline to have armed guards in place at this time, every district must submit a school safety needs assessment by the end of this year that includes guideline policies, site security plans and personnel information.
Matt Pennington was appointed Director of State Security in January 2024 in response to HB61. Pennington has a background in law enforcement, serving in Weber County and South Jordan before accepting his current position.
“Because [schools are] on a clock, we’ve said that if they used something last year that was accepted by the School Safety Center, we would accept that again this year,” he said. “Then the plan would be, moving forward, we will create our own assessment for Utah and by this time next year we will have that tool out.”
Granite School District is one of the biggest districts in the state. With more than 61,000 students, 5,000 educators and sup-
port staff, and nearly 90 schools, the District is working with the Utah State Board of Education and the Security Task Force to finalize its compliance plan.
“There have been multiple discussions with the school board, with our chief of police and emergency management department, to try and figure out what will be best for Granite and our schools,” said GSD Spokesperson Andrea Stringham. “We’re going to be in compliance with whatever the State tells us to do. We’re kind of already doing this.”
GSD is unique in that it operates the Granite Police Department and posts student resource officers in each high school. It also partners with allied agencies to have officers in junior high schools and a rotation of officers in elementary schools.
Stringham said the biggest impact will be the cost of implementing the program. While the school guardian position is voluntary, she said the estimated cost between payroll, training and equipment could be as high as $10 million dollars a year. Lawmakers have allocated a one-time $500 stipend per guardian.
Pennington said the Guardian Program is one of the most misunderstood concepts of the legislation. Districts can choose from
three different scenarios when it comes to providing armed guards at schools.
First, districts can hire guards to be onsite during school hours. Second, districts can partner with a police agency for school resource officers or have someone from their own police department serve as a guardian. Third, districts can train a current school employee, who has been approved by the State Security Office. School teachers and principals cannot be assigned as Guardians due to their responsibilities in the case of a school emergency.
“Ultimately, it’s not about the money because there’s no amount of money to pay them that’s going to compensate them for risking their life,” Pennington said. “So the stipends can help purchase additional equipment or an upgrade to their firearm or training or a thank you for their willingness to do this…That’s a big misconception, that we’re hiring people for $500. That’s not true.”
The legislation is based on similar laws in Texas and Florida, which were put in place after deadly school shootings. Pennington hopes the School Security Act can stave off potential tragedies in Utah schools.
“Our state is the first state to pass this comprehensive school safety bill without having an incident first,” Pennington said.
“Our hope is that continues.”
In the meantime, GSD officials are deciding the best plan to implement the new law while continuing to fund education for thousands of students.
“We don’t have a firm plan yet,” Stringham said. “We’re in a lot of discussions and we’re looking at a lot of different options. Once we get the final guidance, then we’ll be able to say, this is exactly what we’re going to do and this is the exact cost. Right now, it’s all up in the air and we have to wait and see.” l
New legislation requires armed guards at every school in Utah. Granite School District is creating its compliance plan with the School Security Act. (Stock photo)
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New-look Titans still have big goals on football field
By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com
t’s a new season with a cast of many different players, but the Olympus football team is aiming high as usual.
The Titans suffered some personnel losses due to graduation from last season, leaving head coach Brandon Burt with some holes to plug. Younger players have stepped up, and returning starters and contributors are doing their part to lift the Titans to a coveted spot: the top of the region.
Olympus is coming off an 8-4 season in which it was 4-2 in Region 6, tied for second place. The Titans won Region 6 titles in 2017 and 2018 but have found themselves a little short of the prize the past few years.
Burt and his players want to get back to the top of the region—and even higher.
“We have high expectations as a team this year,” he said. “We do, however, have to establish a new identity for the new year. The players are up for it. Our main goal is to win the state title. The players and coaches enjoy working toward that goal. It is lofty, but the players want that as their goal.”
The Titans’ top strengths are their experience, toughness and togetherness, Burt said. The players are getting along well
and have established good team chemistry. These are attributes Burt wants to see persist throughout the season, win or lose.
“We need to stay together as a group,” he said. “It is a tight-knit group and fun to be around.”
Linebacker Nate Sheets, linebacker Ryder Birdsley, cornerback James Schlendorf, wide receiver/quarterback Max Rice, defensive end Thomas Mauga, wide receiver Caden Lloyd, running back/strong safety Jack Evans and wide receiver/cornerback Hugh Matsumori are the Titans’ captains. They have led by example of their hard work and performance. Burt also singled out offensive guard Logan Moeakiola as “a driving force and a great leader.”
Olympus started the year 1-1, with a close 24-20 loss at home to Spanish Fork on Aug. 16 and a 37-15 win at Provo on Aug. 23. Through the first two games, Jack Evans leads the team in rushing with 140 yards on 30 carries. Quarterback Luke Espersen was 40 of 73 for 531 yards and five touchdowns. A total of 307 yards and three TDs came in the Provo win. Matsumori had two outstanding games, totaling 20 catches for 230 yards and a score. Sheets has helped anchor the defense to the tune of 23 tackles and an interception, which he returned 30 yards for a touchdown against Provo. Lincoln Ames had amassed 16 tackles and four sacks after games one and two.
The Titans jump into region play Sept. 6 with a game at West. Olympus Region 6 slate also features contests with Brighton, East, Alta, Highland and Skyline. The Titans host Skyline Oct. 18 for the regular-season finale. Burt said the league slate won’t be easy.
“Our schedule is a huge challenge,” he said. “We play in a very tough region.”
Olympus hopes to have a good enough RPI to earn a first-round bye and second-round home games once the Class 5A state tournament gets underway. The playoffs start Oct. 25. l
Budgeting should be considered an art form. It’s part theater (acting like you can afford groceries), part digital interpretation (online shopping for best prices), part graffiti (throwing mustard at the wall when you receive a surprise doctor’s bill) and all illusion (where did the money go?).
My paycheck stretches like it’s on a taffy-pulling machine, folding over and over itself, almost to the point of transparency. When did the basic costs of living become a luxury?
While grocery shopping, my husband can’t stop comparing prices from 60 years ago. “When I was a young boy,” he said. “I could buy a loaf of bread for a nickel.”
“Were you Oliver Twist?” I asked. He ignored me and walked down the dairy aisle, ranting about the cost of eggs.
At the check stand, several items rang up for more than what was labeled on the shelf. I asked the unenthused cashier, “Did you raise prices while I was in line?”
He shrugged and continued packaging my groceries, smashing bananas, eggs and bread with my magnum of wine. Just kidding. You can’t buy wine at grocery stores in Utah.
Driving to work becomes a nail-biting thriller as I gauge how much gas is left and if it will last until the end of the month. I was filling up my car the other day and the
Peri
Kinder Life and Laughter
Show me the money
gas pump showed the person before me had purchased $5 worth of gas. I hope that 1.6 gallons is enough to get him to the bank he needs to rob.
Even my chai tea latte from Starbucks has incrementally increased from $4 to nearly $6. That’s bonkers. I don’t mind paying a bit more so employees make a livable wage, but last year, Starbucks’ net revenue was $30 billion.
Then I learned the new Starbucks CEO was given a $75 million stock award, a $1.6 million salary and a $10 million signing bonus. The only signing bonus I ever received was when I got a free pen for starting a savings account when I was 8.
Corporate profits have hit all-time highs. And those rising prices are never going to drop because then how can the Starbucks CEO afford $1,500 sneakers for his Pomeranian without squeezing the life out of consumers?
My husband said, “Then don’t go to
Starbucks.”
“Shut up,” I replied.
Housing costs are outrageous. Going to dinner and a movie requires a home equity line of credit. Tax increases nickel-and-dime us to death. Did you know Utah is one of only a few states that tax social security benefits? Thanks, Utah Legislators!
It’s not like I want to purchase Prada paper clips or Balenciaga bookmarks. I don’t need a Rolls-Royce or a personal library, complete with a rolling ladder and a fireplace. (Okay. I actually need that). I just want to afford a night out, maybe a weekend getaway or an annual massage without sell-
ing blood plasma.
My grandparents grew up during the Depression. Decades later, they still saved drawers full of tin foil and rubber bands in case we ever needed a defense against mind control or had to make emergency bouncy balls. Maybe I can learn from their frugal behaviors.
So, we tighten our belts, pinch pennies, clip coupons and say, “We’re right on budget this month.” The moment those words leave our lips, the garbage disposal explodes, the fence blows over or the basement floods. Budgeting might not be an art form, but it’s definitely a comedy.
