City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047
Mayor’s Message
Message from Mayor Dustin Gettel: Shining a Spotlight on Our Public Works Team
As we kick o this new year, I’d like to shine a well-deserved spotlight on an incredible group of individuals who keep our city running smoothly, often behind the scenes — our Public Works team. From maintaining our roads and sidewalks to ensuring we have access to clean, safe water, their work is the foundation of so many services we rely on every single day.
This month, I had the opportunity to spend time with our Public Works crew and tour some of the critical infrastructure they manage. I visited the Hancock Well Site and Fluoridation Station, as well as our water storage facilities. Let me tell you, these sites aren’t just impressive — they’re the unsung heroes of infrastructure. Seeing the expertise and care our team pours into these systems was nothing short of inspiring. It’s like watching a master class in keeping a city running.
And talk about tough! Our Public Works employees don’t have the luxury of staying warm indoors when the weather turns cold. Whether they’re out there xing water main breaks, plowing snow, or responding to emergencies, they’re braving the elements to keep
Midvale safe and functional. They’re basically superheroes in re ective vests — and they’ve certainly earned our gratitude.
To the members of our Public Works team: thank you. Thank you for braving the cold, for your expertise, and for your unwavering dedication to our community. Midvale wouldn’t thrive without you, and we’re all better for it.
By Mayor Dustin Gettel
As we continue through the winter months, let’s all take a moment to recognize and thank the people who make it possible for us to enjoy clean water, drivable streets, and so much more. If you see a Public Works crew out in the eld, give them a wave or a shout-out — or maybe even a hot cup of co ee if you’re feeling extra generous. They’ve more than earned it.
Denece Mikolash Appointed to Midvale City Council District 5
Denece Mikolash is stepping into Midvale’s City Council for District 5. The seat was held by Dustin Gettel, who was elected by Council in December to ll the vacant mayoral seat until Jan 2026. Mikolash was appointed on Jan 7, 2025 by the City Council and will serve for the next year, until the results of the next District 5 election.
“Denece was the right choice to represent District 5. She brings dedication, experience, and a true commitment to serving the community. Our residents are in very capable hands with her leadership, and I have no doubt she’ll make a positive di erence.” said Mayor Dustin Gettel
This is Mikolash’s rst time serving on a city council, but it is not the beginning of her public service. She’s been a tutor, teammate, marketing director, professor, and community advocate. Mikolash has always been engaged with the people around her. “In middle school, I tutored kids who were struggling. I was always getting involved, I wanted to help out.”
She continued her community engagement when she purchased a house in Midvale eight years ago. “When I moved to my new home, I wanted to get involved in my neighborhood,” she said. ”I ran for HOA President to transition the HOA from the builder to the resident.” As president, she played a key role in improving and maintaining the beauty around the homes for the enjoyment of the residents.
In recent years, she served as a House District Chair for the Salt Lake County Democratic Party and is currently the Secretary. She also volunteers during the holidays, delivering basic supplies and gifts to children in need.
“I love connecting, talking and meeting with new people,” she said. “I want to learn how people got to a certain point in their life.”
But, she’s more than an empathetic ear.
“I want everyone to be successful,” she said. “I’m probably too optimistic about that – but they should have the opportunities and services to strive for that success. I want to know how I can support them or connect them with someone that can help them.”
As a part-time council member, Mikolash will balance her civic duties with her career as a marketing professional. With over 25 years of expertise in marketing, she’s shared her knowledge with the future business leaders, teaching as an adjunct professor at Utah Valley University. “It’s inspiring to engage with the next generation,” she says, highlighting her passion for connecting with others. Moving from resident to decision maker for the city, she wants to continue the city’s healthy growth. “There’s a lot of excitement around Main Street, Bingham Junction, and Jordan Blu s. I want it to be a welcoming, accessible community and a pleasant place at the same time.”
For her, that means a balance of open space and living space. “Investment in landscaping is important, as well as open space for people to go out and take advantage of the outdoors,” she said. “We want to o er affordable housing options, with access to trailways and open space, and represent Midvale’s unique and welcoming culture.”
In the coming months, she hopes to hear from residents to build connections and communication. “I’m here to work hard for them and here to listen,” she said. “I want them to be part of the solution, and I want their feedback.”
If she’s not at work or City Hall, you will nd her on the Jordan River Trail, in a local restaurant, or at her favorite Harvest Days event - Bingo.
In The Middle of Everything
Midvale Bids Farewell to Tony Flores: A Legacy of Dedication and Service
Midvale bids farewell to one of its most dedicated and steadfast employees, Tony Flores. Starting on September 28, 1980, he rst walked the streets reading water meters, before transitioning to the Streets Department, and ultimately to the Water Department, where he worked until his retirement on December 31, 2024. Re ecting on that nal day, he said, “It was the hardest day of my life.”
“The city has been good to me,” he said. “All the guys I’ve worked with, many of them helped me along the way. City Hall, the mayor, everybody.”
In an era where job-hopping is not only common but encouraged, what kept Tony committed to the same employer for over four decades?
“I liked the whole thing – the work, the challenge,” Flores said. “You get your hands dirty and your feet wet. It was a di erent thing every day.”
But more than the work, the people kept Flores coming to work every day. He is especially proud of his small but hardworking Water Department team.
“The water guys – they’re smart guys – only six of us. I’d put my small water guys against any other big water department. They’re out there in the winter xing the wa-
ter lines in the cold. They work as fast as they can. Sometimes we’d have four breaks in a day. As soon as we get one xed and bury it, another one would break. That’s the way it was.”
Above all, Flores sends gratitude to the people of Midvale for making his career possible. “The residents pay our salaries,” he says. “We do what we can for them. I want to thank everyone in Midvale. They’ve been so good to us. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have been here.”
We return the gratitude to Tony and celebrate his work ethic, dedication, and loyalty to the residents of Midvale City. His sense of humor and hard work have made all of our lives better. We can’t live without water. Because of Flores, Midvale has enjoyed a reliable and consistent supply. We send our wishes for a ful lling retirement lled with golf, time with children, and grandchildren.
Glen Kennedy, Midvale City Public Works Director, said, “Tony’s commitment and dedication have been an inspiration to all of us. His work ethic, passion, and leadership in the Water Department have left a lasting legacy. We are grateful for his 44 years of service and wish him all the best in retirement.”
Midvale Honors UPD O cers for Bravery and Professionalism
Midvale City proudly recognized the exceptional bravery and professionalism of the Unied Police Department (UPD) o cers during tonight’s City Council meeting, where UPD Midvale Precinct Chief Apri Morse presented the December 2024 Division Commander Award. The award was given in recognition of the outstanding e orts by UPD o cers*, particularly O cer Leo Lopez, in a high-risk incident involving an armed robbery and a dangerous pursuit. The sequence of events began on October 15, 2024, when a robbery was reported at the Maverick gas station located on the Midvale City border with Cottonwood Heights. The suspect, armed with a ri e and driving a green Kia Soul, ed the scene, and UPD o cers responded immediately to assist in the investigation. As o cers gathered information, they identi ed the suspect vehicle and began their search for the individual responsible.
O cer Leo Lopez was the rst to locate the suspect vehicle, initiating a pursuit that ultimately led to a dramatic high-risk stop. When the suspects attempted to ee, a dangerous pur-
FEBRUARY 2025 CITY NEWSLETTER
MIDVALE. UTAH. GOV
Upli and Move Forward: Midvale City Launches Communities that Care Programs for Healthy Youth
‘Give a man a sh, and you feed him for a day; teach him to sh, and you feed him for a lifetime.’ But knowing how to sh isn’t enough—you also need to know where to get a pole, how to make bait, and what kind of sh are best to catch.
Likewise, getting kids to school and preventing them from engaging in harmful behaviors is crucial, but how that happens is just as important as the lessons taught. If a child is failing a class, are they lazy? Or are they just hungry?
Uplift Midvale is a coalition of service providers working together to address issues affecting our youth. Midvale City’s Uplift Midvale Coordinator, Vanessa Guevara, is bringing the Communities that Care (CTC) program to Midvale, a research-based youth program that equips kids with the resources and tools they need to thrive.
CTC is a long-standing organization with proven blueprints for lifting underprivileged kids from atrisk situations and boosting them toward a successful adulthood.
The program includes ve phases. Uplift Midvale is currently in phase 3, where most of the work is data collection, partnership creation, and assessing needs.
UPD OFFICERS CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
suit ensued. The chase ended when the suspects crashed their stolen vehicle and abandoned it on foot. A containment perimeter was quickly established, and UPD o cers deployed critical resources, including the K9 Unit and Drone Unit, to assist in locating the suspects.
With the help of police service dogs PSD Nitro and PSD Tanto, along with the Drone Unit, o cers were able to track down the armed suspects. One of the individuals was carrying an AR-15 ri e, which was later connected to the robbery in Millcreek that occurred earlier the same day.
Despite sta ng challenges that placed the sergeant in charge of overseeing the incident alone, the leadership demonstrated by the UPD was awless. The sergeant coordinated a swift and organized response, ensuring all tasks were carried out e ectively and safely. The collaboration among o cers and specialized units played a key role in safely apprehending the suspects.
Chief Apri Morse presented the Division Commander Award to O cer Leo Lopez and his fellow o cers for their courage, sel essness, and professionalism throughout this high-stakes situation. The award recognizes the o cers’ quick decision-making, teamwork, and ability to protect the public while apprehending dangerous criminals.
Midvale City extends its deepest gratitude to Chief Morse and the entire UPD team for their unwavering commitment to public safety. The City Council and community are proud to honor the o cers who, through their dedication and tireless e orts, keep Midvale safe. Their courage is an inspiration to all, and we are thankful for their service.
Call for Artists: 2025 Los Muros on MainMidvale City Mural Festival
“We look at the data from the surveys and see the biggest items, look at real-time data, what o cers and schools say they need, and we talk about what the most urgent, most changeable, most in uential solutions are,” Guevara said.
In the next two years, the next steps will be to create an action plan based on the particular needs of Midvale’s youth, implement the programs, and then evaluate their success. It will be an ongoing, progressive process that will grow and change based on the community’s needs.
Kids in Midvale struggle in the same ways many others do across the country, but excessive cell phone use, lack of sleep (often tied to cell phone use), depression and anxiety, violence, and substance abuse are the biggest hurdles.
“One item is a little di erent from the state and national average, and that youth are at a higher risk of falling witness to or are partaking in gang-related behavior. This was noted while assessing the need for a community youth violence prevention coalition. We looked at city crime data, school data, and considered live input from gang prevention organizations and Midvale City schools,” Guevara said.
“Secondly, growing children/youth are struggling to access fresh food. I have had local partners with food pantries, and members of the community, that have re ected the need and struggle to keep up. As many folks know, and studies have supported, nutrition plays a key element in brain development and a result impacts academic performance, mental and physical health.”
Though there are numerous problems, and a lot of work to do, there is a bright side.
“The positives of nding such data are that they are interrelated, according to public health strategies,” Guevara said. “Which means if we strategize to prevent one, we are very likely to help prevent another.”
The coalition can approach all the issues by “looking upstream,” Guevara said. “Programs that build self-esteem, engage families or the community, are ways that can help protect all Midvale City youth from suicide, depression, academic failure, and violence.”
Among the partners are the United Police Department (UPD), United Fire Authority (UFA), Connie Crosby Family Resource Center (CCFRC), Midvale Community Building Community (CBC), Copperview Rec Center, Tyler Library, Midvale Interfaith, Choose Gang Free, Canyons School District, University of Utah, and Utah Health and Human Services (UHHS).
Together, we are equipping Midvale youth not only with help today, but with skills and resources to sh for themselves and make their own brighter futures.
The Redevelopment Agency (RDA) of Midvale City is thrilled to announce the Call for Artists for the 2025 Los Muros on Main: Midvale City Mural Festival. This exciting event invites artists to contribute to Midvale Main Street, a thriving hub of art and culture, already home to more than 40 murals.
The festival celebrates Midvale’s rich culture, history, and community spirit by bringing together artists, makers, local breweries, musicians, and visitors to create stunning works of art that capture the area’s unique identity. The 2025 Los Muros on Main Mural Festival will take place on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
As part of the growing Midvale Main Arts & Culture District, the mural festival complements events such LetterWest, the Tattoo Showdown, Main Street Car Show and Food Truck Tuesdays. The district also includes the Midvale Performing Arts Center, The Pearl on Main, and the Art House, which provides a ordable studio space for artists in the historic Midvale City Museum building.
Artist Stipends and Reimbursements
The RDA o ers:
• Stipends: U.S., Mexico, and Canadian artists can receive up to $4,500, depending on mural size.
• Reimbursements: International artists outside these countries may qualify for up to $4,500 to cover fees, supplies, insurance, and equipment rentals.
Deadline
to Apply
Submit your application by Friday, March 5, 2025, to be a part of this transformative event. For more information and to apply, visit EngageMidvale.com/Call-for-Artists. Help shape the artistic legacy of Midvale’s Historic Main Street and leave your creative mark on this vibrant community!
