West Valley February 2017 by The City Journals

February 2017 | Vol. 3 Iss. 02

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LOCAL LIFE

Page 2 | February 2017

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

United We Read hopes to bring county together through reading The West Valley City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout West Valley City. For information about distribution please email circulation@mycityjournals. com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. For subscriptions please contact: circulation@mycityjournals.com The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner.

The West Valley Team CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Bryan Scott bryan@mycityjournals.com EDITOR: Travis Barton travis@mycityjournals.com ADVERTISING: 801-254-5974 DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING: Ryan Casper ryan.casper@mycityjournals.com 801-671-2034 SALES ASSOCIATES: Melissa Worthen melissa@mycityjournals.com 801-897-5231 Steve Hession steve@mycityjournals.com Josh Ragsdale Josh.R@MyCityJournals.com – CIRCULATION COORDINATOR: Brad Casper circulation@mycityjournals.com EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN: Tina Falk Ty Gorton

West Valley City Journal 9500 South 500 West Suite 205 Sandy, UT 84070 Phone: 801 254 5974

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By Kelly Cannon | kelly@mycityjournals.com

alt Lake County Library Services is hoping to bring residents and community together through the shared experience of reading the same book in United We Read. Over the next few months, residents are encouraged to read “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman and participate in programs and events based on the book. This is the first year of United We Read. In years past, libraries have participated in “One County, One Book.” However, this was the first year every library in the county was involved in planning the initiative. “We just wanted to make sure we provided the community with the opportunity to come together,” said Liz Sollis, marketing and community manager for the Salt Lake County Library Services. “We felt the best way to do it is to make sure the three main public libraries within Salt Lake County were providing a similar user experience no matter what library they went to.” “A Man Called Ove” tells the story of a cranky yet sad old man who is forced to interact with his chatty and lively new neighbors after they accidently flatten his mailbox. Sollis said it was chosen to be the United We Read book because of its themes of unity. “We know the election year has been very divisive and we wanted to find something that was really unifying. We read several books and decided this book, it has a sense of community and it provided a lot of elements that I think, if you’re in a community, it’s hard not to experience,” Sollis said. “The other thing we wanted to promote was kindness. This book, we felt also encourages and promotes kindness. It shares examples of kindness.” The United We Read website, www. unitedwereadslc.org, will provide a place for readers to connect and share their experiences reading the book, including examples of kindness they’ve either received or given.

Salt Lake Library Director Jim Cooper reads “A Man Called Ove,” the book for the first United We Read. (Liz Sollis/ Salt Lake County Library Services)

Sollis said the book is also a fairly easy read. “We wanted to find a book that wouldn’t be too difficult to read. Sometimes books are selected that are real deep topics and really long,” Sollis said. “We wanted a book that was right in the middle that connected with a lot of people and where people could relate to the situation.” In order to accommodate the number of people who will be reading the book, all libraries have increased the number of copies of the book, both in paper copies and in electronic copies. “Additionally, at the different branches, we’re also giving away some books through programs. The books are first come, first served but the idea is once you read it, you share it with someone else,” Sollis said. “There will be free copies of the book floating around and there

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will be copies people can check out.” The official launch for United We Read was on Jan. 18 but different libraries will be doing programs related to the book through May. There will also be a screening of the Swedish movie based on the book in February. “We’re going to have classes on auto mechanics. We’re going to be doing classes on bike repair. We’re going to do classes on suicide prevention. We’re going to have classes on cooking. We’re funding a variety of classes that we can offer,” Sollis said. “There will be book discussions in addition. Many of the branches do book clubs so we’ll have books for the book discussions. There will be a variety of programs that tie into the money topics in the books.” Sollis advised residents to be patient when they wait to get a copy of the book, since they will be promoting the book throughout the entire county. l

M yWestV alleyJournal .Com

February 2017 | Page 3

LOCAL LIFE

Page 4 | February 2017

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

ARTrageous brings culture to the community By Huy Tran | h.tran@mycityjournals.com

he Utah Cultural Celebration Center brings art to everyone who is interested in exploring the culture and artistry of their community. Young and old students are able to join together in the ARTrageous program and experience a large selection of enriching artistic and cultural activities. The classes are 90 minutes to two hours long, typically held on Tuesdays and can include a guided exhibit tour or live performance. In the past, the ARTrageous program allowed students to explore mediums they may not have been as familiar with. The September session introduced the group to calligraphic artists from Utah to discuss their art form. The “Letters: Great Authors, Great Quotes” exhibit allowed this work to be explored further and gave learners a chance to see the full extent of calligraphy. The UCCC has emphasized an importance on connecting with the diverse traditions of the community. The Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday which honors loved ones who have passed away and approaches death differently than what many are used to. Students were given the opportunity to explore the holiday’s emphasis on the continuity of life rather than mourning the dead, and participate in traditional festivities. Painting sugar skulls and paper flower making are were just a couple activities at the event. Every month offers a new artistic experience exclusive to

Students engaging in an activity at the UCCC (UCCC)

ARTrageous participants. In January, students are introduced to the exploration of the Middle East, as many join for a cultural review of dance, music, and religious customs of Middle Eastern countries. Speakers like Katherine St. John from Eastern Arts and Maysa Kerge of the Islamic Speakers Bureau may present topics which educate the community on cultural and social issues such women’s rights in Islam and Islamic religion. Literature and the performing arts is celebrated by ARTrageous students too, as the March session will allow students to explore and celebrate the works of William

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Shakespeare. The class will include a 75-minute production hosted by the Utah Shakespeare Festival, with an exclusive performance of “Hamlet.” The group will get a chance for postshow discussion with the actors, and optional workshops in stage combat, performing Shakespearean text and developing character through improvisation is also included. The program is limited, so the online reservation request does not guarantee a place in the program until a confirmation email is returned. For more information on the Utah Cultural Celebration Center and its programs, visit www.culturalcelebration.org. l

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February 2017 | Page 5

Art exhibition brings locals home By Huy Tran | h.tran@mycityjournals.com

n art show coming to the Utah Cultural Celebration Center may change how many view the family household. The “Be It Ever So Humble” exhibition is running from Jan. 12 to Mar. 1 and features pieces from a variety of artists giving their take on what the concept of the household means to people. “[The show] is about the home and the paradoxes that come together to create the ideal home. We have this idea that homes are this ideal world, but often it does not actually manifest that way,” said curator Melanie Allred. “[These artists] show these opposites that exist in our homes that work together and sometimes fight each other as we try to find this ideal and unreachable reality.” The gallery itself showcases a variety of mediums, including installation work and paintings to smaller-scale sculptures, each offering a narrative on an aspect of domestic life. Allred herself found it hard to choose a single artist she enjoyed most. Pam Bowman, an artist featured in the show, created “Webwork,” a loom-like sculpture commenting on relationships and how the “fibers” of life’s experiences intermingle and become unruly. “I chose these artists because I love them each for different reasons; [they] work together with our strengths and weaknesses, and I arranged (“Webwork”) so that it is kind of reaching the door, playing on the idea that we often want to leave our homes,” Allred said. The exhibit itself is relatively smaller scale, almost reminiscent of the overarching domestic theme and how people

Two paintings depicting the idea the families people construct for themselves. (Huy Tran/ City Journal)

may associate comfort and safety with the household. Bowman is proud to display her work and is glad to take part in this particular exhibition. “I actually created both of these pieces for other venues originally, and Melanie was aware of them and wanted them to be included in the gallery,” Bowman said. “My work addresses the repetition and routines of life, particularly in the home, and how they strengthen us and others. Small things often are done over and over that seem insignificant, but over time become significant.” Each piece introduces a new narrative, allowing the audience to dissect every element of the domestic environment. The works range from relatively quaint to immensely abstracted ideas of the everyday home. to de e, both good and bad. The

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and sacred spaces out of fragile e LDS faith. The sculpture is relatively small and can be over Among the many themes explored in this exhibit, artist Tara Carpenter explores an idea in her piece “Nesting” that some may hold close to home, particularly if they are of the LDS faith. The sculpture itself is relatively small and can easily be overlooked. The nest-like arrangement of both clay and glass is Carpenter’s take on how Mormons and people in general create homes and sacred spaces out of “fragile” relationships, expecting them to provide a kind of support for the household. Indeed, the artwork of this gallery has the potential to evoke a variety of emotions from people. A wide array of artists and mediums are used to reflect the various attitudes people have with their domestic life, and may inspire the community to view their own homes in a new light. For more information about this exhibit, visit www.culturalcelebration.org. l

“Nestings” by Tara Carpenter (Huy Tran/ City Journal)

GOVERNMENT

Page 6 | February 2017

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

Proposed used car business denied headquarters on 3500 South By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

he West Valley City Council voted unanimously to deny a change to the General Plan that would have seen a used car business added at 5430 W. 3500 S. The vote took place during a city council meeting on Jan. 10. A change would have seen the property turned to a general commercial zone, something the mayor and city council did not feel comfortable doing right now. “As a city council, we’re not just looking at today, tomorrow, next five years. We’re looking at the next 50 years, next 100 years,” said councilman Steve Buhler. “And once the zoning is changed, in my opinion its very unlikely it would go to a more restrictive zone. It always seems to go more commercial so once the zoning is changed to C-2 (general commercial), we would have no control and whatever is permitted in a C-2 zone is permitted.” Mayor Ron Bigelow added, “Although it may have these functions now…(if) it’s zoned commercial so then it can be any number of things.” Jose Rodriguez was the applicant for the change and owns three used car businesses in West Valley, Salt Lake and Magna. He said he wanted to make this location his headquarters to facilitate paperwork and coordination going forward. “I want to put my marketing team, my accounting, all the business stuff that has to be done with all three locations, I want to put it there because it’s easy for me to move around,” Rodriguez said. He said he can’t do that there without plan change to general commercial. If the property was only used as an office headquarters, there would be no need for the plan change. But Rodriguez said

This empty lot next to a house at 3500 S. 5430 W. was denied a change to the general plan that would have seen a small used car business installed. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

told the city council. Rodriguez said he understands the council’s concern about what might happen to the property in the future. He added that if a different business comes in it would need a conditional use permit which the council would have the power to deny. Bigelow said the area is surrounded by residential and maybe now isn’t the right time for this kind of change. “One thing that is of concern to me is how will this impact where it’s actually at,” Bigelow said. “On one side is commercial, but the other parts around it are residential with an entrance into a residential street. That’s a pretty compelling concern.”

in order for it to be a corporate office, the DMV requires it to be a used car dealership. An estimated six cars would have been held at the headquarters. The existing home at the property would have been used as the desired corporate office. Based on the city’s business license database, 35 used car businesses exist within the city with 66 percent of those businesses located on either 3500 South or Redwood Road. That is one of the reasons the planning commission recommended denial. Councilmembers Lang and Huynh shared concerns about possible semi-trucks loading and unloading cars at the site. It’s location along 3500 South makes it an unfavorable location to do such maneuvers. Rodriguez assured them all loading and unloading would take place at his Magna location where he reworked an abandoned property in 2005 to serve that purpose. “I don’t do short term things, I do long term,” Rodriguez

Different change approved Another change to the general plan was on the Jan. 10 agenda. This one was passed unanimously. The change occurs at 4500 S. 2700 W. where the mediumdensity residential area in the general plan reverts to its previous incarnation as a non-retail commercial area. Zoning changed from residential to agriculture. Steve Pastorik, planning director, presented this item to the city council during a study meeting on Jan. 3. He explained that in May 2016, a change was approved by the city council for the development of a senior condo project. While the development agreement was approved, it was never signed by the applicant who eventually dropped the project leaving the zoning changed but not utilized what it was changed for. Pastorik said they plan to avoid this scenario in the future by requiring signatures on those development agreements before they are brought to the council. l

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GOVERNMENT

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Zone change denial pleases neighbors By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

February 2017 | Page 7

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West Valley City Council voted 4-2 to deny a zone change that would have seen a second house built behind the house. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

proposed zone change that would see the property at 3771 S. 6000 W. subdivided into two lots was brought before the West Valley City Council on Jan. 10. The council voted to deny the zone change in a 4-2 vote. While the planning commission recommended approval, the council voted to prevent the applicant from building a second house behind the home that currently sits at the front of the property. “I think it’s a shame to lose one more large lot just so we can have two houses basically on one lot with a long driveway,” said councilman Steve Buhler during the city council meeting. According to the concept plan, the proposed second lot with a long drive way would have 12,100 square feet while the lot with the existing home would have 12,600 square feet. Neighbors of the property expressed their disapproval of the proposed zone change during the city council meeting. “None of the neighbors want it,” neighboring resident Kelly Bertoch told the city council. “We do not want another home crammed in there, it’s tight quarters as it is.” Burtoch said he felt the applicant for the change is just “seeing big money in an empty lot.” “It puts another house just inches away from my home and I don’t want it,” Bertoch said. He was also concerned about the utilities for the potential home, saying they would have to come through part of his yard. Steve Pastorik, planning director, said they have many flag lots in the city where utilities are not an issue. He indicated utilities probably would have come from 6000 West, the street to the front of the lot. Another neighbor to the south of the property, George Tessiel was happy to see the zone change denied since he once made a request to build on his property but was told he needed to have 15,000 square feet to do so. Then he saw the planning commission approve

this property with only a 10,000 square feet requirement. “Basically, my complaint is if I have to have 15,000 square feet for my acre and a half (property) then I feel like he should have the same for his,” Tessiel said. When the motion for denial was approved, there was a moment of confusion where people in attendance didn’t know whether the zone change passed or not. One neighbor spoke out of turn expressing his anger toward the council before city staff explained what had happened. • Another item of note during the Jan. 10 city council meeting was a resolution that passed to accept an Active and Healthy Communities Grant from the Utah League of Cities and Towns. The three-year grant will provide up to $65,000 per year. Depending on the participation and success, the amount of money will change or remain the same. Nancy Day, deputy parks and recreation director, said the first year will focus on four areas. First, they want to hold satellite fitness classes where they broaden the options for individuals to attend by going to local parks to hold fitness classes. Second, will be healthy nutrition practices education for both youth and adults. The third is to enhance their adaptive biking program purchasing cycles to be used by those with disabilities. Fourth and final is to provide swimming lessons for lower-income community members. Day said there have been national studies that find those of ethnic backgrounds are more prone to drowning having received no proper swimming training. Some classes may be offsite at an apartment complex pool or possibly a school pool. “The idea is to be able to make them selfsufficient after the first year, year and a half,” Day told the city council during their study meeting on Jan. 3. l

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WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

Residents asked to do their part to improve air quality By Kelly Cannon | kelly@mycityjournals.com

inters in Salt Lake County not only means cold and snow. It also means inversion and poor air quality. While it may seem like an overwhelming task, there are things residents can do to help alleviate the bad air and make the winter a little bit more breathable. Donna Spangler, the communications director at the Division of Air Quality at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality explained the inversion is caused by cold air being trapped next to the valley floor by a layer of warmer air above. In that cold air is particulate matter that is the main source of the inversion. The DAQ has air monitors all around the county and state next to schools that measure the particulate matter. “Typically, we have the air monitors near schools because we want to know what the particulates say next to our most vulnerable population, which is our children because they tend to breath in more air,” Spangler said. “What the air monitors show us during the winter time and during an inversion, much of the pollution, and we’ve done inventories to show where that pollution is coming from, 48 percent comes from automobiles.” According to Spangler, other sources include industries such as power plants and what are called area sources. These are sources where there is no specific kind or particular

industry or business that is emitting the form of particulates that cause inversion. This includes cooking happening in restaurants, heating homes and various small businesses. “The reason that’s important is because when the Utah Department of Environmental Quality Division of Air Quality looks at trying to come up with regulations to limit these kinds of pollution that form this kind of particulates, it’s really difficult because you can’t regulate one specific sector,” Spangler said. “It’s a bunch of little things. That’s why it’s important for people to understand that every action that we take, everything we do does add to the pollution.” According to Spangler, breathing in particulate matter during an inversion is harmful because the particulates get trapped in the lungs. Persistent and prolonged exposure could lead to lung damage. “As far as the health issue, it depends on how healthy you are. People react differently depending on what pollution they breath,” Spangler said. “We call our most sensitive population children because they breath in more, the elderly because they have compromised respiratory systems if they’re older, people with asthma are obviously impacted more than those who are normally healthy.” Since cars are the primary source of particulate pollution, Spangler said consolidating

trips and using public transportation is the best way to help improve the air quality. Choosing not to leave the car idling also helps improve the air quality. Through grants, the DAQ and the Utah Clean Air partnership work together to get businesses to install pollution control equipment to improve the air quality. “We offer people to convert their wood burning stoves into gas heating systems. If a person uses wood burning as their sole source of heat, they are exempt from our rules that say you can’t burn,” Spangler said. “But we go in and we offer them a replacement. So we actually pay to have them convert to a cleaner source of heat.” Air quality is sure to be a topic discussed at the legislative session. Spangler said the main need right now is funding to replace old monitoring equipment. “A lot of the research that is needed is in collaboration with universities, with our federal partners to actually get a better understanding of what is causing the air pollution so that we can have better regulatory controls that are more targeted to reducing pollution and making our air quality better,” Spangler said. For more information about air quality, visit deq.utah.gov. l

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GOVERNMENT

M yWestV alleyJournal .Com

February 2017 | Page 9

It’s snow easy task: what snow days are like for plow operators By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com

f you must drive, what’s the best thing to see after a snowstorm? A snow plow. Recent heavy snowfalls have reminded residents of dangerous driving conditions and the relief in seeing a big plow move the snow aside for safe driving. Snow plows clear over 300 center-lane miles of city roads during a storm. “We go out, plow and salt…hit the main roads first” for the heavy traffic and emergency response vehicles, said Justin Begay. Begay is a crew lead who drives a snow plow during the winter. West Valley City has two 14-person crews who operate snow plows in 12-hour shifts. These groups are practically on call all winter long in case of a heavy storm. “Usually on a Thursday before we leave work they’ll put us on standby, but we’re most likely always on call during the winter,” Begay said. “If they call you, you come in even if they don’t put you on call.” For 15 years Begay has been driving snow plows through West Valley. His shift runs from noon to midnight starting with the main roads, or primary roads, before moving onto the secondary roads. “We hit the main roads first, but these last couple storms it’s been so cold that everything just ices over,” Begay said. Those main roads include heavily trafficked paths such as 4800 West, 3200 West, 4100 South and 3100 South. Other roads like Bangerter Highway and 3500 South are state routes and

West Valley City has two 14-person crews who operate snow plows. (Stephanie Barton/Contributed)

therefore plowed by state employees. After sweeping their secondary roads, snow plow drivers will then make their way through the neighborhoods. On the weekends, if the snowfall exceeds four inches in the neighborhoods, then drivers will not pass through them. While the days are long and sleep patterns are disrupted, Begay said the difficulties have more to do with the roads than

the long hours. For example, residents shoveling snow onto the road will make properly clearing the road more difficult. “Everything freezes, by the time we get to it, it’s rock solid. Just straight up ice,” Begay said. There is also the common issue of cars parked in the street, Begay said. “We deal with a lot of cars on our neighborhood roads—in the circles and cul-de-sacs and all that—but we have a difficult time squeezing our plows in between there,” Begay said. He noted they’ve had to skip some areas and come back later due to cars parked away from the gutter making it too difficult to sweep through. The process of clearing the roads requires the plows to drive slowly. Begay said it takes them a little longer, especially when the snow is wet, but it is meant to keep them from damaging mailboxes or cars. Begay said he receives a mixture of reactions from residents while he plows roads. “There are times when we get the finger or people yell at us, and there are times when people bring us drinks or snacks and thank us,” Begay said. “It’s about half and half, it goes both ways.” One West Valley City resident said she’s been very satisfied with the snow plows this winter. “The storms have been pretty bad so it’s nice to have them out there…helps keep us safe,” she said. l

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WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

Health insurance help: How to live with it and not without By Mandy Ditto | m.ditto@mycityjournals.com

ven though open enrollment for this year has closed, there are plenty of things to be confused about when it comes to health insurance. Though many people may know the basics about deductibles, premiums and copayments, there are always pitfalls — or just deeper questions — people should be aware of and asking about. Unfortunately, there are times that insurance companies are simply limited, or have created policies that limit them with what they can cover, and people aren’t aware until a medical emergency of some kind comes up and they need help. Here are some professionals’ tips, and personal stories from the Salt Lake Valley pertaining to navigating health insurance. What isn’t covered Due to the fact that every insurance provider is different, it is difficult to say which things are typically not covered. However, if people are asking questions about the conditions they have or may have to deal with before they pin down which insurance policy to use, they can often get the answers they need about which carrier and policy works best for them, said Heidi Castaneda, Small Employer and Individual Plan sales director at Select Health. Oftentimes, however, nobody can know what exactly what is going to happen to them or their family, and they simply need coverage for emergencies. There are also experimental procedures that insurance companies often don’t cover for various reasons, and needing something like this with no coverage can be costly. For the Nichols family this has been a reality over the past several years, as they have fought for understanding about their 15-yearold son’s medical conditions and health. Brody — or Spencer, at school — was born with hydronephrosis on the left side, which causes swelling of the kidney because urine can’t drain properly. He had surgery at 10-months-old and the family was told he would live a normal life. They later found out that Brody also had it on the right side, and in May 2015 he was feeling sick again. After several months and fighting for an ultrasound, they discovered that neither kidneys were draining properly. Surgery was done again on both sides at the beginning of 2016, but they still had to have nephrostomy tubes put in during the summer, to help the kidneys drain into bags Brody carries on his back. After several doctors discussed Brody’s condition they decided he needed a kidney autotransplant. “Brody will be the first minor in Utah to have this procedure done, he’ll be the first one at Primary Children’s to have it done, if it gets authorized to be okay,” said Rachel Nichols, Brody’s mom. “University of Utah is a research school, so they have done at least 30 cases on adults, but there’s not enough evidence for

insurance have limitations and exclusions, and the reason around that is from a cost standpoint,” said Scott Schneider, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Select Health. “You could cover every single thing possible and then the cost would be reflective of that … insurance plans typically covered a mandated level of benefits … all forms have a form of limitations or exclusions.”

Rachel Nichols and her son Brody, who is in need of an kidney autotransplant, and is waiting for approval from their insurance to cover the experimental procedure. (Mandy Ditto/City Journals)

children with his diagnosis to prove that this will work, so they’re calling it experimental.” However, because of its experimental nature, the Nichols’s health provider, Select Health, told them they wouldn’t be able to cover it, due to their policy. The family has been fighting and appealing to gain coverage for the $100,000 to $150,000 procedure ever since so that “Brody can live and be a teenager,” Nichols said. Because Brody’s right kidney was saved in time and is functioning, the autotransplant would simply move the kidney into the pelvic area to attach directly to the bladder, Nichols said, which is what is done with kidney transplants from donors. “If we can do that, we feel that he will live a healthy life, he will not be on any antirejection medicine and he will not be on any opioids,” Nichols said. “From the doctors that we’ve had, we’ve had three different opinions, they all say yes, he needs to have this done. Select Health gets to rubberstamp it after five doctors have said … all five have said yes, but they are calling it experimental and there’s not enough information stating that this will work for him.” Nichols believes that if this can be approved and pushed forward, that Brody “can open the doors for other children to have this done.” The Nichols were denied on December 14 and so Rachel turned to social media about it, and got the attention of an appeals manager. Brody had a surgery date set for January 3, but the appeal wasn’t processed in time. As of mid-January the chief medical officer of Select Health is looking at the case personally, and the Nichols are waiting to see what will happen. “It makes you think about what health insurance company you want to use, and that’s something people need to look into: what is covered by one insurance and what is not covered by another insurance,” Nichols said. In regards to covering experimental procedures like autotransplants, “all types of

Questions that need asking about health insurance Because it can be intimidating for people to look through those official documents that explain coverage, Castaneda suggests that “reaching out for additional resources is obviously going to be a good idea for some, whether it’s reaching right out to your insurer or agent or broker, to be able to answer some of those questions you might have that are not straightforward.” Out-of-pocket maximums, deductibles, pharmacy copays, emergency room copays and urgent care costs are some of the specific things people should look at as they go over their SBC and schedule of benefits, Schneider said. In regards to medical emergencies, people should “get a feel for, ‘Where could I go receive urgent care benefits?’ It’s nice to look at those things while you’re calm, so you could say, ‘Hey urgent care is a $100 visit but the emergency room is $500,’ and go back and say ‘Where is my nearest urgent care unit,’ so they get a feel for what are their copay differentials,” Schneider said. Something many people may not consider is that they can’t always buy insurance, at any time of the year. Because of the Affordable Care Act, there is an enrollment period that goes from November 1 to January 31, said Robert Sautter, current president of the Utah Association of Health Underwriters. People need to be aware of when they need insurance and when they can sign onto a plan; preparedness for the plan they want is also important, so that they are stuck with what works for them. Cost is an obvious thing people are looking at with insurance plans and it all depends on one’s needs to decide how much is reasonable to spend. “People should be looking at what are their needs, are they buying insurance to cover a catastrophic need, in other words do they not have many day-to-day needs, or do you have a common condition to where you need to establish day-to-day care, you need to be covered for that,” Sautter said. “They need to look at their situation, they need to know how much insurance they need. Costs are so high these days, and people will ask to just show them the lowest price product and of course that comes with a high deductible and very high out-of-pocket. The price may be right, but what they realistically need it doesn’t make sense to buy that.” l

February 2017 | Page 11

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THE FIRST PRO TEAM WHERE FANS CALL THE PLAYS IS STARTING HERE IN UTAH. The Salt Lake Screaming Eagles of the Indoor Football League begin play on February 16th with an innovative approach to sports. Fans can call plays from their phones in the arena. And at the Maverik Center, that means up to 10,856 fans that can call the plays. We are bringing the best of online gaming to the game itself. To find out how you can be a coach or for season tickets visit saltlakescreamingeagles.com. For City Journals Exclusive Home Opener Ticket Offer vs. Nebraska Danger on February 16th, contact Charles, charles@saltlakescreamingeagles.com LIMITED TICKET AVAILABILITY, BOOK YOUR SEATS TODAY!

Page 12 | February 2017

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

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UHSAA sets region alignments for 2017 By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

he Utah High School Activities Association recently rearranged its member schools region alignments. A process they revisit every two years. They have also been forced by the Utah State Board of Education to revise its own transfer rules. “I personally like that the activities association re-evaluates the region alignments every once in a while. It helps keep the classification and school sizes close. I think it also helps with safety and spreads out travel costs,” said Riverton High School Athletic Director Daniel Henderson. Under current UHSAA rules, they realign region alignments on a two-year cycle. The proposed school classification was presented in a public meeting in November. In December, their proposal for the 2017-18 school year was approved. The biggest change in the upcoming school year will be the division’s six classifications for all sports. Salt Lake County schools were affected by the changes in various ways. Here is how the regions stack up: Region 2 will maintain some and add long time rivalries amongst neighboring schools; Hunter, Granger, Hillcrest and Kearns will be joined by Cyprus. The Pirates jumped into the 6A classification because of its adding ninth grade students from Brockbank Junior High. Region 3 will see a complete remake. West Jordan, Copper Hills and Taylorsville will welcome Riverton, Herriman and East (in football only). East is the defending 4A-state football champion. “In my opinion the realignment is a good thing. I wish they could last three years though, to help us continue and build rivalries,” said Copper Hills Athletic Director Darby Cowles. Bingham representatives argued during the alignment public hearing that placing them in Region 4 would force higher travel costs on their programs. Their requests were denied and they were placed in the prominently Utah County region with American Fork, Lone Peak, Westlake and Pleasant Grove. The 2017 6A football playoffs could be exciting. Current classification champions East and Bingham will both be in the

6A classification. East High School will compete in Region 6 for all sports except football. They will face Highland Olympus, Murray, Skyline and West (Lehi will take East’s place for football only). Region 7 will pair Alta, Brighton, Jordan, Corner Canyon, Cottonwood and Timpview. Smaller county schools like Providence Hall, Summit Academy, Judge Memorial and American Leadership will move to the 3A classification. “At the end of the day the UHSAA has an incredible task to make everyone happy. There is no way they can. We are content with the changes. The transfer rule change is going to be difficult. Every time I discipline a player I will wonder if he is going to leave,” West Jordan boys basketball coach Scott Briggs said. The trustee alignment meetings were overshadowed by the Utah State Board of Education’s fall ruling to open the student athletes transfer ability. The UHSAA was forced to change its guidelines in relationship to transfers. Sub-varsity athletes are now eligible to transfer at will; while varsity athletes may only transfer in defined circumstances. “I think these new rules will encourage coaches to make varsity rosters with many freshman players to prevent them from transferring,” Cowles said. From July 2015 to June 2016, the UHSAA had 1,994 student athletes request transfers, only 16 transfer requests were denied. “I feel that some of our Hunter kids go to other schools because of the wrong reasons. Sports teaches more than just the activity. It teaches integrity and character. It is now all about winning. True development of the student athlete has been lost,” said Hunter head football coach Scott Henderson. Open enrollment has forced many high school coaches to recruit its own boundary students to stay in their hometown program. “I know we lose many incoming freshman to other schools. We do not know the numbers, but we hear it a lot,” Henderson said. l

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WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

Local girls basketball teams struggle for wins By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

he high school girls teams in West Valley lack wins, but they do not give up. They all lack varsity experience and it shows in the team’s results. “We lack experience, but we are a team with a ton of potential. They are just young and learning how to play the game at this level,” said Granger head coach Shawnee Smith. Smith is in her first year as head coach for the Lancers. She takes over for Aaron Cousins. She has coached for seven years in the program. Cousins stepped down after last season. “Our system is different this year. It has been hard to teach fundamentals and new offenses and defenses to them. We have crammed a lot into their minds. We also are working to build confidence in their game,” Smith said. The Lancers replace their all-time leading scorer with the graduation of Melisa Kadic. She is playing at Western Nebraska Community College. She is averaging 7.5 points per game for the Cougars. “I think we are feisty and aggressive. I think we have strong post play too. The leaders are still finding their way on the team. It takes time. It is frustrating to lose, but we understand where we are going. These girls have so much heart,” Smith said. Granger is 0-13 so far this season. Hunter has one victory this season. They defeated Tooele 38-34. Cameron Gardner is the Wolverines new head coach. He takes over for Chelsea Robinson. Gardner comes to Hunter from Pinnacle High School near Price, Utah. “I am excited and optimistic. It will be a challenge to build a program at Hunter,” said Gardner before the season began.

Granger girls basketball team huddles around their new coach Shawnee Smith. (Greg James/ City Journals)

Hunter sophomore Angel Lui is the team’s leading scorer. She is averaging 7.1 points per game. The Wolverines have missed the inside presence of Kimauri Toia. She graduated last spring and is now playing at Salt Lake Community College. She is averaging four points and two rebounds per game for the Bruins. Cyprus had five preseason wins including wins over Granger (40-32) and Hunter (34-21). Against the Lancers they trailed at

halftime by eight points, but were able to claw their way back for the victory. In the Hunter game they built an 11-point lead to cruise to the victory. The Pirates leading scorer is junior Ashley Flatter. She is averaging nearly 10 points per game. The 5A and 4A state basketball tournaments are scheduled to begin Feb. 20 at Salt Lake Community College. l

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February 2017 | Page 15

Screaming Eagles debut at Maverik Center By Greg James | gregj@mycityjournals.com

ndoor football returns to the Maverik Center in West Valley. The Salt Lake Screaming Eagles begin play February 16 as members of the Indoor Football League. The team also forges in a new era of sports team management. The fans helped hire coaches, pick dancers and will call plays as part of the franchise. “We are excited and have signed 28 guys and make some cuts down to 25 guys that will lead to a great team out on the field,” said Screaming Eagles President Thom Carter. “I am more excited about how we want people to experience sports. We are trying to make history. We are allowing fans to have their voices be heard.” The fans have decided the team name, hired the coaches and with a downloadable app will be able to call the plays during the game. “This will be perfect for lots of fans. The guy who likes to bring his family to the game and buy a beer and a hot dog; the fantasy football guy that is all about the stats and lastly the video game fans who want to feel like they are playing the game,” Carter said. The Screaming Eagles have signed University of Charleston graduate Jeremy Johnson to compete for playing time at quarterback. The 6-foot-1, 197 lb. dual threat QB was a highly recruited four-star athlete from Silsbee, Texas. He originally played at West Virginia after leaving with several injuries he was finally resigned to ending his football career, but The University of Charleston found him and offered a chance. In 2015 Johnson threw for 2,170 yards, 17 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions.

University of Utah offensive lineman Junior Salt has signed to be part of a line that includes another former Ute, Siaosi Aiono and Arizona Wildcat Steven Gurrola. “We do not know what our final roster will look like, but the local standouts make me excited. Everyone has bought into this team. Our opponents are well established and winning programs. We also think our 10,000 offensive coordinators will help us figure out ways to win. The power of all of these ideas will make us a better team and organization,” Carter said. Devin Mahina, a former BYU Cougar and Washington Redskin tight end, and Utah State wide receiver Alex Wheat should provide reliable targets for Johnson. Mahina is a 6-foot-6 receiver who finished his Cougar career with 46 receptions and five touchdowns. “We feel we are empowering arm-chair quarterbacks. The people who call in on Monday mornings to the sports talk shows can now show us what they got. We live in an age of immediate access and fans are demanding this of their sports teams,” Carter said. William Macarthy was hired by the fans as the team’s first head coach. The organization narrowed down nearly 220 applicants to the best six finalists. Facebook live interviews and 38,000 votes from fans in 21 different countries finally gave Macarthy 34.9 percent of the votes. He has coached on four different indoor teams. He has been a general manager, defensive coordinator, head coach and special teams coordinator. Most recently he has been working as special teams coordinator at Monroe College in New York.

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The Screaming Eagles begin their season Feb. 16 at the Maverik Center against the Nebraska Danger. Tickets range from $5 to $85. In indoor football if a ball goes into the stands the fan keeps it. The Screaming Eagles also have contributed to improving the wireless service in the arena. The fan will not need to use cellular data to participate in the games. “The game will have something for everyone,” Carter said. l

Page 16 | February 2017

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL NEWS FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

INDUSTRY

A New tax law requires the IRS to hold some refunds until February 15

Millions of taxpayers face refund delays in 2017

s many as 15 million taxpayers could have their refunds delayed until at least February 15 next year. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act now requires the IRS to hold refunds for returns claiming the earned income tax credit (EITC) and additional child tax credit (ACTC) until February 15. Approximately 30 million taxpayers claim the EITC or ACTC, with half filing early. Taxpayers should file as they normally would, even if they expect their refund will be delayed. The IRS still expects to issue most refunds in less than 21 days, although the IRS will hold refunds for EITC and ACTCrelated tax returns filed early in 2017 until February 15 and then begin issuing them. While the IRS will release those refunds on February15 many taxpayers may not see the funds deposit into their banking accounts for a few days afterward. This additional delay could be for many reasons and it is best for taxpayers to check the IRS’s Where’s My Refund website for any funding updates.

Delay helps IRS combat tax identity fraud The EITC received nationwide averaged approximately $2,500 per eligible taxpayer last year. While $65.6 billion was paid out last year, the IRS indicates that approximately one in five payments are made in error, either through fraudulent filing or confusion due to complexity in claiming the benefit. These credits are target rich for tax identity thieves and fraudsters. In fact, the EITC has one of the highest improper payment rates of the 16 “higherror” programs identified by the government. Holding taxpayer refunds until February 15, along with the mandate that employers send employee W-2s to the IRS by January 31, allows the IRS additional time to help prevent revenue lost due to identity theft and refund fraud related to fabricated wages and withholdings. It is important for taxpayers who claim these benefits to plan now for the delay. Visiting with a tax professional now can help them better understand the overall impact.

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Delays just one part of tax law changes The PATH Act made dozens of changes to the tax code, including permanently extending many tax benefits, implementing renewal requirements for Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs), changing eligibility requirements for certain tax credits, expanding other tax benefits, increasing the cost of making mistakes and altering small business tax benefits. But its delay of millions of refunds until at least February 15 will be widely felt by early filers who in the past could expect a refund which averaged more than $3,500 in 2015 by late January. To learn more about tax law changes and refund delays due to the PATH Act, taxpayers can visit www. hrblock.com/path. [Sam Hernandez is a tax professional for H&R Block, the world’s largest tax services provider. Sam has been NEWS FROM OUR ADVERTISERS providing expert tax advice and preparation support for taxpayers in the Salt Lake City area since 2010.]

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Salt Lake County Council

MESSAGE

SL County discusses complex issues during state legislative session

here will be a number of issues important to Salt Lake County residents that will arise during the upcoming legislative session, some of which the Salt Lake County Council will be actively involved with. As residents of Salt Lake County we enjoy some of the best elements of living, working, and raising a family in Utah—but we also see some of the greatest challenges facing our state. Homelessness is one of the most important and challenging issues we face in Salt Lake County. Anyone who has taken a drive through downtown Salt Lake City—particularly near the homeless shelter operated by The Road Home—has seen firsthand the number of people without a home and in need of food and shelter. In a country, state, and community as blessed as ours, we have a moral duty to help connect all Utahns to resources they can use to climb out of the hole of poverty, homelessness, and whatever limitations hold them back from full self-sufficiency. County Council This session,Salt thereLake will be an effort to secure an additional batch of funding for the collective impact effort on homelessness, as

MESSAGE

Aimee Winder Newton, County Council District 3

well as much needed resources to create more affordable housing in the area. Where appropriate, the County will join in discussions along with leaders from Salt Lake City and the criminal justice community to support good initiatives to tackle this complicated problem.

It is deeply important to me that I represent the interests of my constituents on the Salt Lake County Council, and that commitment extends to ensuring county residents have a voice on Capitol Hill during each legislative session. Criminal justice reform is an issue I have personally been very passionate about since I was elected to the County Council. Last fall, city and county officials teamed up for “Operation Diversion,” which was a massive effort to clean up the Rio

Grande area of Salt Lake City, while connecting non-violent offenders with alternatives to incarceration that will more effectively help them forsake drug abuse. To continue the operation, it will need financial support moving forward. This will help alleviate the problems of crime and drug abuse that plague the Rio Grande area, and relate to homelessness as well. These are just a few of the high profile issues affecting Salt Lake County residents that will come up this session. There are always unforeseen bills that generate attention, and we’ll keep a careful eye on anything that affects our residents. It is deeply important to me that I represent the interests of my constituents on the Salt Lake County Council, and that commitment extends to ensuring county residents have a voice on Capitol Hill during each legislative session. I’m excited to see progress on important issues like homelessness, criminal justice, and many more. l

Aimee Winder Newton, County Council District 3

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Page 18 | February 2017

WEST VALLEY JOURNAL

A New Way to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

remember as a child carefully picking the card from the box of Valentines that had the perfect pun on it for that particular friend. Maybe it was a picture of an Elephant, “I won’t forget you are my Valentine” or the bear that proclaims “I can’t bear to be without you.” We would carefully tear along the dotted lines, so as not to rip them, then stuff each envelope with pink and yellow hearts, that when combined, made a secret message? Then we would run around the neighborhood leaving our creations on the doorsteps of our friends and those we had a childhood crush on. I remember that no matter how much we licked the envelope it wouldn’t stay stuck shut. Later as teens, when the hormones were raging, Valentines became a day of Teddy Bears and giant candy kisses, first dates and holding hands in the movie. Then finally I found that special someone and Valentines became the day where we would present cards to each other and try to think of creative ways to express our love without spending too much. After over 3 decades of marriage though, I’m finding that few of the sentiments on cards apply and I have often considered designing my own line of valentine cards that are sold according the number of years one has been together. “Valentine, our body’s may be sagging, but my love for you never will.” Or: “I can’t wait to celebrate our love tonight at

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Monte’s Steakhouse and use the buy 1, get 1 free coupon we have.” As the years have gone by, it’s become the day to day little things that mean more to me than this designated day of love, like when my hubby brings me a cup of early morning coffee before I get out of bed or folding a load of laundry on a night when I’m working late. Valentines has really just become another day for us, so we decided to do something different and make Valentines a day of generosity. Instead of making it a selfish day of loving each other, something we already do every day, we’re turning it into a day of loving one another. We’ve discovered that by spending time together giving back is wonderful way to spread some Valentine cheer and

bring us closer together at the same time. Here’s a few ideas we’ve had for this year: • Make arrangements to drop off Valentine goodies to an elderly care facility. While at it you could stay a while and play a game of cards or just listen while they reminisce about the person they are missing. • Contact a children’s grief facility, like the Sharing Place, and donate craft boxes or needed supplies. • Plan a date night volunteering at the Utah Food Bank or serving up a meal at your local shelter. • Instead of dinner at a restaurant, have dinner at a charity event. Many non-profits hold charity gala’s and auctions. To find them, check http:// www.valleyjournals.com/calendar or contact the charity foundation of your choice. • Give blood together. It’s something we all intend to do, make a date of it and then have a meal together afterwards. Making February 14th a day to open your heart and share generosity is a great way for those of us with or without a Valentine. What better way is there to spend Valentine’s Day? _________________________________________ Joani Taylor is the founder of Coupons4Utah.com. A website devoted to helping Utah families save time and money on restaurants, things to do and everyday needs.

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WEST VALLEY

Head Over Heels

’m a terrible romantic. I mean that literally. I’m terrible at being romantic. When God handed out sentimentality, I was hiding in a bathroom stall eating a box of chocolate donuts. If I’d married an unfeeling psychopath that wouldn’t be a problem, but my husband could be the spokesperson for the Hallmark channel. He’ll plan Valentine’s Day like he’s competing for a spot on “The Nicholas Sparks RomanceA-Thon Reality Evening.” There’s roses and poetry and candlelight and chocolates and puppies and rainbows and glitter. And then there’s me, sitting dumbfounded saying something like, “Did Valentine’s Day come early this year?” Don’t get me wrong. I’m lucky to have a husband who remembers not only my birthday, but the time of my birth, what the #1 song was and the Oscar-winning movie from the year I was born. But by comparison, it makes me look pretty pathetic. I often return kind thoughts with chilling sarcasm—but he still hugs me and makes me feel like I’m not quite the monster I think I am. (But he should probably stop calling me FrankenPeri.) So because of all the sweetness he shows me, and because I’m still learning this whole romance thing, this is my Valentine’s letter to my hubbie: Thank you for having my back and being willing to fly into battle to defend me from the smallest slights.

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Thank you for telling me I’m beautiful even without make-up (you always look beautiful without make-up) and when my hair looks like I barely survived a rabid ferret attack. Thank you for not noticing when I have a zit the size of Mt. Rushmore hanging off my chin. Well, I’m sure you notice, but thank you for not calling me the Zit Witch. The same goes for when I have a scorch mark on my forehead from the flat iron, a gash on my shin from my razor and cuticles that look like I get manicures with a cheese grater. Thank you for telling me when the bloody parts are over during Quentin Tarantino’s films. Thank you for not taking me to any more Quentin Tarantino movies. Thank you for not noticeably rolling your eyes when I serve a meal consisting of quinoa, sweet potatoes and kale. Thank you for ordering pizza when the meal tastes like $%&*. Thank you for understanding that I hate watching romantic comedies (see paragraph #1) and appreciating when I sometimes suffer through a sob-fest of a manipulative romance. In return, thank you for occasionally watching animated films, even though you hate it as much as I despise romance. Thank you for putting up with my irritations, like having an unstable bi-polar thermostat that ranges from Arctic cold to erupting volcano. Thank you for not freaking out when I blow our budget on

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Amazon (“Where did that come from?”). Thank you for binge watching TV shows, not dragging me to parties, reading next to me in bed, laughing at my jokes, going to my yoga class and snuggling every morning before we head out to face the world. And here’s the funny thing. Despite my resistance and outer shell of cynicism, I often feel like the Grinch when his heart grows three sizes. I’ll find myself crying at movies without embarrassment (but I’ll still get offended when you offer me a tissue). You’ve taught me to appreciate sunsets, beautiful clouds and a gentle hug at the end of the day. Maybe one day I’ll change from being a terrible romantic to being terribly romantic. Probably not. But it could happen.

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