West Jordan Journal - February 2015 - Vol. 15 Iss. 2 by The City Journals

Public Safety Personnel To Get Raises

he men and women who give West Jordan residents a sense of security will now be getting some job security of their own. City council members unanimously approved a new eight-step compensation package on Feb. 11. Retroactive to Jan. 1, the new pay scale should prevent “experience loss” from the West Jordan Police and Fire Departments. That was the feeling of Police Chief Doug Diamond. Asked by council members in mid-January to develop the step and grade pay plan, he presented the governing body with facts, figures and proposed step increases for public safety personnel in the city. “Recruitment and retention has been very difficult for police officers in the past couple of years,” Diamond told the council. “The department has lost nine officers to other agencies, with pay being the most prevalent reason. We have three officers that have been given job offers, or are under serious consideration, by the Salt Lake City PD, at a wage increase of approximately $8 an hour.”

pioneer days plans

SPIELBERG MOVIE SERIES

By Tom Haraldsen

With the council chambers packed with police and fire department personnel, Diamond illustrated his point by asking any officer present with more than seven years of experience to stand if they were being recruited by other agencies. Fifteen stood, and Diamond said another officer who was on duty and not present was also being recruited. In addition, 12 West Jordan firefighters have tested with other agencies, though none have left—yet. Fire Chief Marc McElreath said, “We’re sometimes thought of as the training ground for other agencies. A few years ago, Doug and I could have switched uniforms, because we were losing firefighters to other agencies. I don’t want to see that happening again.” During the public comment portion of the meeting, long before this particular issue was discussed, Tracy Wyatt, a West Jordan

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Page 2 | February 2015

West Jordan Council Supports Pioneer Days

No Texting While Driving Signs Installed Around Town

By Tom Haraldsen

he city council has approved a resolution to sponsor the Utah Pioneer Days festival again this year. Justin Osmond, representing the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund, approached the council asking for a sponsorship payment equal to $59,300, along with a waiver of fees for the fourth annual event, which will be held July 23 and 24 in the city’s rodeo arena. “This will be our fourth year working with West Jordan, and we love the way the community has supported the festival,” he said. “As always, we’ll be

Last year’s Merrill Osmond Youth Pioneer Production, honoring Utah’s diverse pioneer heritage, took the stage as part of the annual Utah Pioneer Days in West Jordan. The city council has approved funds for another production this year.

THE WEST JORDAN TEAM

using proceeds to purchase hearing aids for 10 family members.” He said those recipients will be named prior to the festival. Osmond said this year’s event will focus completely on the musical production held in the rodeo arena. The celebration will not include activities in West Jordan City Park. The city council approved the resolution by a 7-0 vote. The donation will be used for advertising, fireworks, entertainment and rental equipment for the production, which involves hundreds of local youth. As part of the agreement, the use of city staff, services and waiver of fees will not exceed $42,550, pursuant to the city code. Osmond said auditions for the production will be held later this year, with the time and location to be announced in the next few weeks. l

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West Jordan City Journal

NEWS

By Tom Haraldsen

otorists in West Jordan may have noticed some new signs popping up along their routes. They’ve made their appearance in a number of high traffic areas and carry a simple message: “Texting While Driving is Against the Law.” City Councilmember Chad Nichols spearheaded the idea after he received a call from a constituent in July 2013. “There had been a traffic fatality in the St. George area where texting was involved, and my constituent felt it was something we should address,” Nichols said. “He said a similar campaign had been started in St. George. So I proposed to the council that we do a similar awareness campaign, just as we’ve done with seat belts—reminding people they need to buckle up.” Nichols took the idea to the council, which approved the plan in December 2013. His proposal was to install 150 of the No Texting signs at strategic locations around West Jordan. The council approved a budget of $8,000 for the signs. The signs have been installed near both West Jordan and Copper Hills High Schools, City Hall and the justice center, the parking lot of the Viridian Library, parking lots at Jordan Landing and Gardner Village and numerous other “high traffic” locations. “There’s always concern that new drivers, like those in high school, need to be reminded, but I have the same feeling about adults,” Nichols said. “I just wanted this to be a citywide effort—signs all around us.” “Utah has the strictest laws in the country in this regard,” said Bill Baranowski, the city’s traffic engineer. “We’ll probably do more of these when we get more money. It’s a very important message to get out to our residents.” The Utah Traffic Code currently prohibits texting while driving. There are a few exceptions built into the code. However, officers can and will enforce the no-texting law. It can be difficult to enforce because officers have to witness the offense, Nichols said. Although approved in December 2013, the signs

Signs reminding drivers in West Jordan that they cannot text while driving are being installed all around the community, as part of a campaign to stop distracted driving. Photos courtesy of West Jordan City are just getting installed now. The $8,000 approved for this project was part of the 2014-2015 budget. While there have been some incidents in West Jordan, the problem hasn’t been widespread. Still, Nichols is anxious to see what kind of an impact the no-texting campaign can have. “Our police department does track the number of violations,” he said. “Theoretically, in the beginning, the number of citations should increase a bit as the law is more readily enforced. But I suspect that in time, the number will decrease, as the word gets out that we have no tolerance for texting while driving. We just don’t want distracted driving while texting to be a problem here.” l

Each day in the U. S., between 9 and10 people are killed and more than 1,060 are injured in crashes that reportedly involve a distracted driver, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The three main types of distractions are visual (taking eyes off the road), manual (taking hands off the steering wheel) and cognitive (taking the mind off of driving). The CDD lists cell phones, texting and eating as three of the biggest activities leading to driver distraction. In 2011, the last time the CDC issued a report on distracted driving, more than 3,300 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, and nearly one in five crashes in which someone was injured involved such drivers.

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West Jordan City Journal

NEWS

Raises continued from page 1 resident and police chief in Taylorsville, got the council’s attention when he said, “As much as I’ve loved cherry-picking your officers for my department, I am concerned as a resident here. The challenges that each of us in public safety face daily can make this career less appealing, so losing experienced officers is significant. The decision you make this year will have long-term impact on this city.” One concern about the proposal was expressed by a current city employee who is not in public safety. He said adopting the pay plan could send a negative message to city personnel not affected by the increase—that they are valued less than public safety employees. “It is not unusual for public safety employees to have a different pay structure than that of civilian employees,” Diamond said. Councilmember Chris McConnehey agreed, saying, “I’m very comfortable with the pay structures to be separate.”

Police and fire department personnel from West Jordan gathered to hear the city council’s decision on a new compensation package for public safety officials. It passed unanimously during the Feb. 11 council meeting. He proposed making the pay changes retroactive to Jan. 1, which the council agreed with when passing the compensation package resolution.

Councilmember Chad Nichols said the council’s concern going forward might be how to pay for the increases, which initially will cost the city a little over $747,000 this

fiscal year, compared to the current cost of nearly $400,000. “I think it’s inevitable that at some point, with costs of everything going up, we’re going to have to look at an increase in taxes,” he said. When the resolution passed, a few of the public safety personnel clapped softly. For his part, Diamond verbally applauded the council’s decision. “I’m very pleased, of course, because I think this was a big step for the council to take,” he said. “I think they all understand and all know how important this was for these dedicated employees. It takes three to five years to gain the experience that these men and women need to make the best decisions. We don’t want to lose them to other agencies, and I think the step the council has taken will head off the bleed.” Diamond, who chairs the city’s compensation committee, said he is committed to also “help fight for all employees” as they look for salary increases going forward. l

Spring Movie Series Celebrates Spielberg By Shawna Meyer

The Viridian Event Center’s spring movie series will feature five popular films from Hollywood heavyweight Steven Spielberg.

he Viridian Event Center aims to unite the West Jordan community through its free events and entertainment. Since the center opened in 2012, it has hosted a free movie series around Halloween, Christmas and the approach of spring. The theme for this spring’s movie series is writer, director and producer Steven Spielberg. “We pick a different theme for the spring series, and there’s just a ton of classics you can pick with Steven Spielberg. We picked five different films that represent different areas of his work . . . We knew we could get a lot of good titles that way,” Viridian Event Center Manager Tyler Curtis said. Every Monday in March, the Viridian Center, at 8030 South 1825 West, will feature a Spielberg movie from a different genre. The screenings are free. There will also be free popcorn while supplies last. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own snacks as well. The movie on March 2 will be “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” On March 9, the film is “Lincoln.” The movie “Jaws” will be shown on March 16. On March 23, “Saving Private Ryan” is scheduled. The last showing on March 30 will be of “Jurassic

Park.” All of the screenings start at 7 p.m. Some of the movies on the schedule won’t be appropriate for young children. “Lincoln” and “Jurassic Park” are both rated PG-13, and “Saving Private Ryan” is rated R. “Obviously, the ratings are there for a reason, so we ask that people are mindful of the ratings. They should judge appropriately whether or not it’s for them or their families,” Curtis said. Curtis is most excited to watch “Jaws” because it’s been a while since he last saw it. He always gets excited about these screenings because they’re free and a lot of fun. “Being a library, we’re all about free events; we love free. The film screenings are a way to provide quality, free entertainment to the community,” he said. l

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West Jordan Resident Visits The White House By Shawna Meyer

small business owner from West Jordan recently journeyed to Washington, D.C. to participate in a roundtable at the White House. The Small Business Administration and a company called Thumbtack organized the trip and roundtable so that small business owners from all over the country could share their stories and get others’ opinions. “I was nominated through Thumbtack, which was just a wonderful thing. They’ve been nothing but great people to work with,” Jeramy Heinberger said. Thumbtack is a tech company based in San Francisco, Calif. that helps put customers in need of a service in touch

“I think small businesses are huge

for our economy, especially for jobs. They provide opportunity for growth.” with local professionals. It also helps put small businesses in touch with a wider range of customers. They’ve been in Salt Lake City for almost a year now. Heinberger lives in West Jordan with Brandy, his wife of seven years. The couple has a 4-year-old daughter and an 18-month-old son. He owns and operates Double D Concrete, a general contracting business in West Jordan, and he has been in business for about 13 years.

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“I think small businesses are huge for our economy, especially for jobs. They provide opportunity for growth,” Heinberger said. In 2002, Heinberger was actually forced to close the doors of his business for a time, and he attributes some of the loss in business to the Sept. 11 attacks. “Times got really rough, so we closed the doors and started subcontracting to the Union Pacific Railroad. We did that for about 10 years,” he said. In March 2014, Heinberger and his employees felt that the economy had improved enough to open their doors again. With the help from Thumbtack, he estimates that his business has increased in profits by about 70 percent. Heinberger has used Thumbtack’s services for about a year. The company nominated him to go on a three-day trip to Washington, D.C., There, about 60 other small business owners from around the United States got together to discuss the intricacies and challenges of being a small fish in a big pond. Heinberger said that taxes were brought up most frequently for discussion at the roundtable. “Taxes is probably one of the most challenging aspects of operating a small business. . . We’re trying to get a job done that’s worth about $600, and, in order to do all the fees and the share that the government wants, it actually makes it into about a $1,600 job, just to cover permits and things of that nature,” Heinberger said. Other topics of conversation included, but were not limited

Jeramy Heinberger has owned and operated Double D Concrete, a West Jordan general contracting business, for 13 years. to, Obamacare, education, small business loans and making government services more readily available to all. “Getting your license is fairly easy, and doing the work is fairly easy, but then having to deal with all the taxes and all the hoops you have to jump through for the government—that’s probably our biggest challenge,” Heinberger said. Heinberger was “incredibly thankful” for the opportunity to travel to D.C. and talk with so many intelligent, like-minded people. “I personally thanked Thumbtack, but I would love to publicly thank them for the opportunity as well. I’ve travelled quite a bit, and that was one of the best trips I’ve ever been on. I’m a history buff anyway, so just to be able to be there was quite an experience,” he said. l

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Journals Again Sponsor County Spelling Bee By Linda Petersen

fter a two-year break, the City Journals (formerly The Valley Journals) is, along with Overstock.com, sponsoring the Salt Lake County Spelling Bee. “I feel that some of the basic core education principles—reading, writing and arithmetic—are being lost because of the life we now live,” City Journals publisher Bryan Scott said. “We want to take this spelling bee and really build it up to help bring back the emphasis on those core principles.” “Our intention is to take this for not one year, but for many years to come,” he added. “We’re excited.” Preliminary rounds of the Scripps Spelling Bee were held at 58 individual schools in Salt Lake County over the last two months. Since there are fewer schools participating this year, both first-place and second-place winners will advance to the regional bee to be held Saturday, March 21 at 9:30 a.m. at the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan at 8030 South 1825 West. The winner of the regional competition will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for him/her and an accompanying adult to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, May 24-29, along

West Jordan City Journal

NEWS

West Jordan Church Gets Blue Sky Funding By Tom Haraldsen

with a $1,000 scholarship. He/she will be recognized in an article in all Journals following the competition. A nationally-renowned program, the Scripps Spelling Bee is the nation’s largest and longest-running educational program, administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company and sponsors in the U.S., American Samoa, Canada, China, Europe, Ghana, Guam, Jamaica, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the U.S. Virgin Islands. l

t. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in West Jordan is one of three churches that will have solar panels installed with the financial assistance of Rocky Mountain Power. That announcement was made by Susan Soleil, director of Utah Interfaith Power & Light, which represents several denominations in the Salt Lake Valley. The utility awarded a total of $220,000 as part of its Blue Sky project, designed to help churches and other community-based projects with solar installation. St. Joseph will receive a maximum of $26,000 for the panel installation. Churches in Salt Lake City and Ogden also received funding, along with the Park City Fire Department, Tracy Aviary and KRCL Community Radio. Rocky Mountain Power spokesperson Alene Bentley said the projects will help raise awareness about renewable energy. She said the company also plans to build a utility-scale solar farm that could go online as early as next year. St. Joseph officials have not set a date for the start of the panel installation. l

County District Attorney Adding West Jordan Office By Tom Haraldsen

he Salt Lake County District Attorney will add two new offices, including one in West Jordan. The county council approved previously announced plans to begin design work for the two offices, which the D. A.’s office hopes will be ready for occupancy in 2017. West Jordan’s project could be built on the site of the old Sugar Factory. When that building was demolished two years ago, officials cited the D.A. office’s interest in the site as a key reason for demolition. The West Jordan project would be about 35,000 square feet. Combined with a downtown project directly west of the Matheson Courthouse, the county would gain about 21 percent more space than a discarded plan to build a single, 101,000-square-foot downtown building.

urrently, the D.A.’s office rents three different sites for $1.5 million a year. l

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COUNTY MAYOR’S MESSAGE Volunteers unveil principles for legislation

olunteer community leaders of a monthslong effort to devise and agree on principles for new legislation unveiled their work and answered questions at a town hall meeting Dec. 10, in the Salt Lake County Council chambers. Their effort follows the 2014 passage of Utah Senate Bill 216, which set the wheels in motion for residents of the townships and unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County to come up with more flexible options to secure their boundaries. That bill and this ongoing effort are the product of a broad 2013 “listening tour” by Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, who heard about the unique concerns of the 160,000 residents living in townships or the unincorporated area. Mayor McAdams welcomed the public and thanked the approximately 40 community volunteers who met over the summer to find consensus on the principles for the draft bill. He said the results are designed to be a path forward for more “direct representation on budget matters and local zoning, while maintaining the high-quality, affordable municipal services provided by Salt Lake County.” “The future we choose will only happen if we can come together as communities to enhance and preserve what we love,” McAdams said. McAdams turned the meeting over to Rick Raile, a community leader in Emigration Canyon Township who chaired the legislative committee. Raile noted that the group spent “hundreds of hours” in discussions that included legal advice provided by county District Attorney’s office member Gavin Anderson. He said the volunteers began by looking at the characteristics of every community. “We realized that there were three issues that united us. The ‘three legs of the stool’ were quality services, retaining our unique character and creating permanent governance,” said Raile. Raile then introduced his committee members. Sandy Hills resident Ron Faerber, who chaired the islands subcommittee, said his neighbors enjoy receiving county services and do not want duplication of government or increased taxes. Barbara Cameron, from the Big Cottonwood Canyon community, noted that her area is the smallest by population but the largest geographically. She said Big Cottonwood residents want to actively participate in the business of Salt Lake County, while preserving the outdoor characteristics that attract thousands of local and national visitors each year.

Brett Helsten represented Kearns Township. He said his community “wants to stay Kearns” and not be cherry-picked by neighboring cities. He said that Kearns is eager to participate in appropriate economic development which will broaden the tax base and provide jobs. Millcreek resident Hugh Matheson, who identified himself as a supporter of the 2012 effort to incorporate “Millcreek City,” applauded the mayor for “bringing all sides together.” Matheson said the current proposal keeps boundaries intact, secures the economies of scale—through a municipal services district— that maintains quality, affordable services and avoids the expense of government overhead for those who choose to become a city. Another Millcreek committee member, Nick Morgan, who expressed appreciation for the effort to give residents better options for responding to the ongoing challenges facing unincorporated areas of the county. Attorney Gavin Anderson told the audience that as a 35-year veteran of all aspects of township training, he sees the most significant change under the proposal as the power of a new “metro township” to enact its own local ordinances. He went over the different sections of the proposal, highlighting the representation on the municipal services district’s board of trustees. During the question-and-answer period, residents asked about whether the county would contribute to an educational campaign about the new bill, should it become law. They also wanted to know who the legislative sponsors would be and how a “metro township” would be different than a city. A number of written questions were collected by Associate Deputy Mayor Kimberly Barnett. She also encouraged residents to visit the mayor’s website for updated information, including the outline of proposed legislation that was distributed to those who attended the meeting. McAdams concluded by explaining that the outline is now in the hands of the legislative counsel. He said a bill will be ready to be introduced early in the legislature’s 2015 session. l

WestJordanJournal.com

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West Jordan City Journal

WEST JORDAN SENIOR CENTER NEWS West Jordan Senior Center 8025 South 2200 West • 801-561-7320 The center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Transportation is available Monday through Friday for those who live in the area. Transportation is free; call the center for more information. Most activities require you to sign up in advance. Tuesdays, Thursdays, 1 p.m. — Bingo Feb 24, 10 a.m. — Tying Quilts. Once a month the center ties quilts to donate to the University of Utah Burn Unit. Everyone participating is considered a volunteer, so if you are not already signed up as a volunteer, please speak with Lisa at the center. Feb. 24, 10:45 a.m. — Home and Personal Safety Presentation. The West Jordan Police Department will come talk about home and personal safety. Come in to learn some great tips to help keep yourself and your family safe from predators. Feb. 25, 11 a.m. — Bug Presentation. Come learn all about bed bugs and how to avoid them, recognize them and get rid of them. A representative from Salt Lake County Health Department will be here to present and answer any questions you may have.

Auditions for ‘Peter Pan’ Set In Murray

March 3, 11 a.m. — March Birthday Celebration. Bob Shorten will provide the entertainment. Everyone over 60 with a March birthday receives a free lunch, compliments of the West Jordan Senior Center Advisory Committee. Please let the center know if you have a March birthday. March 10, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Free Waffle Breakfast. The West Jordan Senior Center is now nationally accredited through the NCOA. To celebrate this great achievement, the center is hosting a free waffle breakfast. Please sign up in advance so they know how much food to prepare. Following the breakfast at 11 a.m. Lee Hintze will provide some beautiful piano music. March 11, 1 to 4 p.m. — Days for Girls Humanitarian Project. The West Jordan Senior Center is hosting this event on the second Wednesday of each month. Come help cut, sew, or assemble washable feminine hygiene kits for girls in developing countries. If possible please bring a serger, sewing machine, cloth scissors, mat board and rotary cutting tools. Donations accepted include: girls briefs (sizes 10, 12, 14) Ziploc brand freezer bags (gallon size), flannel and cotton (new, large or small pieces), washcloths and hotel-size soaps. l

uditions for the musical “Peter Pan,” produced by Sandbox Theatre in conjunction with Murray Arts in the Park, will be held on Tuesday, March 10, and Thursday, March 12, at Liberty Elementary, 140 West 6100 South, Murray, from 6:30 pm – 9:30 p.m. Callbacks will be held on Saturday, March 14, at Horizon Elementary, 5180 South Glendon Street (700 West), Murray, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. by invitation only. Auditions are open to those ages 8 and older. Please be prepared to sing 16 - 32 bars from a Broadway show. An accompanist will be provided. Please bring sheet music. No recorded music or a’ cappella, please. If auditioning for a speaking role, please also prepare a one-minute monologue. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing for a short choreography audition. The show will run in the Murray Park Amphitheater from June 17 - 25.

G O OD NEIG HBOR

NEWS Contact your Legislators and share your thoughts on the New Automobile Dealership Act of 1991, which establishes a trade area of 15 miles between new car dealerships and any other dealership of the same brand. (§13-14-102) Senator Wayne Harper: Senate Distinct 6 • Phone: 801-566-5466, Email: wharper@le.utah.gov Senator Aaron Osmond: Senate District 10 • Phone: 801-888-8742, Email: aosmond@le.utah.gov Senator Daniel Thatcher: Senate District 12 • Phone: 801-759-4746, Email: dthatcher@le.utah.gov Representative Eric Hutchings: House District 38 • Phone: 801-963-2639, Email: ehutchings@le.utah.gov Representative Kim Coleman: House District 42 • Phone: 801-890-4675, Email: kimcoleman@le.utah.gov Representative Earl Tanner: House District 43 • Phone: 801-792-2156, Email: earltanner@le.utah.gov Representative Ken Ivory: House District 47 • Phone: 801-694-8380, Email: kivory@le.utah.gov

The Utah New Automobile Dealership Act of 1991 establishes a trade area of 15 miles between a new car dealership and any other dealership of the same brand. · Even though the population center of the Salt Lake Valley is estimated to be west of Redwood Road, there are only three new car dealerships west of Redwood, and NONE south of 3600 South. · In Utah, there are 145 new car dealers, which is the equivalent of 20,006 people per dealer. At this rate, West Jordan should be home to 5 new car dealerships.

F E B R UA RY 2 0 1 5

M AY O R ’ S M E S S A G E

I am writing this month to ask you to join me in a battle for fairness, for equity and for the American Dream of entrepreneurship. Did you know that there is a Utah State law that effectively prohibits West Jordan from bringing in new auto dealerships to our city? It sounds unreal, but it’s true. The New Automobile Dealership Act of 1991 basically states: Any potential new car dealership who wants to locate within the same county – or within 15 miles of an existing dealership of the same brand – must submit their business plans to a board comprised of competing car dealers for review. This law is especially detrimental to cities on the west side of the valley. Cities such as West Jordan, Riverton, Herriman and Taylorsville have no new car dealerships. In fact, there are ZERO new car dealerships west of 700 West and south of 3600 South (see map). And as it stands, with the 15-mile requirement, it would be impossible to bring in a new dealership to this area. Can you imagine the same law applying to grocery stores? Think about a new grocery store having to ask permission from the existing grocery stores in the area – their competitors – just to open a new store. I don’t think that would go over very well. Why are auto dealerships treated differently? One market study estimates that the shortage of auto related business equates to over $138 million per year that is not being spent in West Jordan alone. That is a lot of tax revenue we could use to fund our schools, our roads and our public safety. The sales tax on the purchase of a new car is substantial, but there is even more to consider: there is also the continued sales tax generated from auto maintenance and upkeep. Of those who purchase a new car from a dealership, a substantial number will return to that dealership over and over again for routine service and maintenance. Again, the city suffers a huge loss of potential tax revenue. And our residents are forced to drive up to 35 miles round trip just to service their vehicle. That seems not only unfair, but ludicrous, especially in a valley where air quality is at the forefront of our public discussion. When you start to look at all the unnecessary harm caused by this unfair state law, it’s easy to see that the City of West Jordan – and other west side communities – are being taken for a ride. How can you help? By getting involved. Call or email the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and your state legislators today (see sidebar). Ask them to support HB290 and reduce the radius to 5-miles – without requiring approval from anyone! Let’s unite and tell our legislators to make this right once and for all.

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER

5600 West road closure 5600 West will be closed from approximately 6300 South to 7000 South starting the night of February 15th through July 2015. The road closure will allow for faster construction completion. Drivers and pedestrians will need to use the detour routes for entering and exiting the neighborhoods. See the map for detour routes. Storm drain work on 6600 South starts Wednesday (2/18). This work will restrict access to driveways directly located on 6600 South. A notice will be delivered in advance of any access closures.

Project Highlights • Widen 5600 West between 6200 South and 7000 South to accommodate future traffic needs • Improve the existing two-lane cross-section to a five-lane cross-section, meeting up with the existing 5-lane portion of 5600 West, immediately north of the project area • Improvements include: • Two travel lanes in each direction • A median/left-turn lane • Bike lane within the shoulder • Curb, gutter and sidewalks

• Painting and repairing of fencing on east side of road

City recognized as ‘Patriotic Employer’ West Jordan Firefighter/Paramedic Zach Kesler recently returned from military deployment to Afghanistan for nearly 15 months where he served with his Utah Army National Guard MEDEVAC unit. At the Feb. 11 City Council meeting, he presented the Mayor and City Council with a City of West Jordan Flag that he flew in Afghanistan onboard a Blackhawk MEDEVAC helicopter. “It was all to thank and express my appreciation and gratitude to the city and its officials and administrators for their support to employees who serve in the military and to encourage them to continue to support these individuals and their families,” said Kesler. In conjunction with Kesler’s flag presentation, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented Fire Chief Marc McElreath a Patriotic Employer award. Mayor Kim V. Rolfe also signed a “Statement of Service Support” promising to work with service members and support their military endeavors.

West Jordan city staff are in the process of installing 150 signs around the city to remind people that texting while driving is against the law. Officers can and will enforce the no texting law. Please keep your eyes on the road while driving and help keep our community safe.

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER Contemporary abstract paintings on display in the Schorr Gallery Stop by West Jordan’s Schorr Gallery to see the latest work from contemporary abstract artist Jodie Milad. Milad works in a variety of mediums including oil, encaustic and acrylic paints, and often uses oil pastels to provide an added layer of color and texture. Her paintings are inspired by her travels, and she incorporates the sights and cultures visited in the majority of her work. Milad’s paintings are characterized by her use of bold, vibrant colors and inviting simplified forms. Milad currently lives in South Jordan, where she owns Painter’s Palette, a creative arts studio. The Schorr Gallery is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. and is located on the City Hall 3rd floor, 8000 S. Redwood Road. The exhibit will be on display through April 10.

Ever thought about running for City Council? 2015 MUNICIPAL ELECTION CANDIDACY DECLARATION The City of West Jordan will be electing DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, AND 4 Council Seats during this year’s municipal election. To declare candidacy to run for a Council District position, the filing period this year is as follows: Monday, June 1 through Monday, June 8 at 5 p.m., in the City Clerk/Recorder’s Office, City Hall, 8000 South Redwood Road, 3rd floor. For more information regarding the upcoming Municipal Election, please contact Melanie Briggs, City Clerk, 801-569-5117. All positions have four-year terms. If you are interested in running, listed below are the requirements: (1) Be a United States citizen. (2) Be at least 18 years old. (3) Be a resident of the municipality or a resident of the recent annexed area for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the date of the election. (4) Be a registered voter of the municipality. [Utah Code 10-3-301; 20A-9-203]

Literary Committee to Present Resume Workshop Feb. 28

1300 WEST ROAD CLOSURE CULVERT PROJECT AT BINGHAM CREEK The City is installing a new culvert in 1300 West across the Bingham Creek at 8200 South. The work is commencing in the channel with bank slope stabilization. The road will be closed from February 19 to around the middle of April to accommodate the work. Natural gas pipelines will also be updated at this time. The road will be widened in this location and sidewalk, curb and gutter installed on both sides of the road.

4000 WEST ROAD CLOSURE CULVERT PROJECT AT BINGHAM CREEK The City is installing a new culvert in 4000 West across the Bingham Creek at 9300 South. The work is commencing with channel bank stabilization and canal culvert extension. The road is scheduled to be closed from April 20 to May 20 to accommodate the work. The road will be widened in this location and sidewalk curb and gutter installed.

The Arts Council’s Literary Committee will be presenting a resume workshop Feb. 28 at the Viridian Event Center, 8030 S. 1825 West. The workshop will be presented by John Pulver and Jared Quan who bring over 15 years of combined Human Resource experience. They will be talking about the advantages and best practices of a hybrid online and classic paper approach to resumes. Participants are encouraged to bring their resumes and note taking materials. More specific details will be available at the Event Center on the week of the event and on the city website WJordan.com. The Literary Committee is also holding a “How to Get Published” workshop Saturday, March 21 from 5-7 p.m.

YOU’RE INVITED …

Grand Opening of Fire Station 54/ Bagley Park Police Substation The public is invited to tour the new Fire Station 54/Bagley Park Police Substation during the grand opening Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Scouts and groups are also welcome to come get a behind the scenes look at our police and fire operations. Police and firefighters will be on hand to demonstrate the many different tools they use to keep our community safe. The station is located at 9351 S. Hawley Park Road (5595 West) and will improve delivery of fire services and add a police presence to this growing area.

GOOD NEIGHBOR NEWS: WEST JORDAN NEWSLETTER CALENDAR OF EVENTS

F E B R UA RY

M ARC H

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

ARTS COUNCIL’S LITERARY “RESUME WRITING” WORKSHOP

PLANNING COMMISSION

City Hall 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.

Viridian Event Center 8030 S. 1825 West, 1-4 pm

City Hall 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.

M ARC H

NOV E M B E R

M ARC H

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

GREEN WASTE PICKUP ENDS

PLANNING COMMISSION

City Hall 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.

M ARC H

APR I L

ARTS COUNCIL “HOW TO GET PUBLISHED” WORKSHOP

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

GREEN WASTE COLLECTION BEGINS on your regular pickup day.

Viridian Event Center 8030 S. 1825 West, 5-7 pm

City Hall 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.

APR I L

M ARC H

CITY PARKS OPEN FOR THE SEASON

PLANNING COMMISSION

WEIGH BIGGEST LOSERS KICK-OFF

Parks will close for the winter the first Monday in October.

City Hall 8000 S. Redwood Rd. 6 p.m.

Gene Fullmer Rec Center 8015 S. 2200 West 5:30-8 p.m.

The City of West Jordan 8000 S. Redwood Rd., West Jordan, UT 84088 (801) 569-5100 www.wjordan.com

Join the conversation! Follow West Jordan – City Hall.

West Jordan Police Dept. 8040 S. Redwood Rd. West Jordan, Utah 84088 801-256-2000 801-840-4000 Dispatch

CL ASS RUNS MAY 8&9

West Jordan Fire Department is teaching a two day Community Emergency Response Team training on May 8 and 9. This CERT course is for those residents and people who work or own businesses in West Jordan who would like to be trained on what to do in case of natural disaster or other emergency. The course requires completion of an online course prior to taking the handson class. The hands-on portion is taught by West Jordan firefighters and other local professionals. Topics include Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Medical, Fire Suppression, and Search and Rescue. The online self-study portion usually takes about six hours to complete. The 12-hour classroom practical session will be held Friday, May 8 from 6-10 p.m., and Saturday, May 9 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. You must complete both portions and the required training hours in order to receive certification. CERT training is open to all West Jordan Residents, age 18 and over, and anyone who works within West Jordan City limits. The cost of the class is $35, to cover some of the costs of materials. The maximum number of students is 24 and is selected on a first-come, first-served basis. To register for this class, bring a $35 non-refundable deposit to Fire Station #53, 7602 S. Jordan Landing Blvd. (approximately 4000 West), between 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Park in the front lower parking lot and register with the Administrative Assistant, Marti. She will take your information, and give you a manual and instructions for completing the online portion. Any student who paid for the class previously and was unable to attend, must repay the deposit for the new upcoming class. The deposit money is non-refundable. If you have questions, please feel free to email certwjfd@wjordan.com or call 801-260-7300.

WestJordanJournal.com

February 2015 | Page 13

CHAMBER CORNER

WEST JORDAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – NEW MEMBERS AUDIX BUSINESS SERVICES Audix has been providing quality, affordable services to businesses in the Salt Lake area since 1991. What started out as a small accounting and bookkeeping firm has transformed into a business services organization that not only provides accounting services, but also marketing, advertising, print media, website development, video production and many other quality services at deeply discounted rates. Contact Aisza Wilde (801) 997-0703 www.audix.biz BATTERIES + BULBS At Batteries Plus Bulbs, you’ll find those unique and hard-to-find battery and light bulb products. With many locations around the country and Puerto Rico, they offer access to over 45,000 unique battery and light bulb products. They care about the environment. Call or stop by to talk to them about the best recycling to keep our environment healthy. Each store offers: business-to-business programs, on-site tech center and recycling services. Call Lance at (801) 566-5525 or visit them at 6818 So. Redwood Rd. in West Jordan. BIZ INGENUITY, LLC Biz Ingenuity offers a cohesive online presence for business marketing. BizWeb designs stunning websites that create unforgettable first impressions, while handling all the behindthe-scenes magic. As a valued Champion Level Chamber Member, they are offering a free website package for Chamber members! (Call the Chamber for details) Biz Marketing, Biz Local, Biz Mobile and Biz Pay support your business locally, with user-friendly mobile marketing and ways for your business to make sales on the go! Contact Mitch Nelson at (801) 664-6665 www.bizingenuity.com CLUB 90 A landmark in the South Valley, Club 90 has been a community gathering place since 1979. It now offers a fun place to meet for lunch or dinner and is a perfect venue for fundraisers or corporate events. Offering fun events like Live Band Karaoke, Lunch and Live Music Thursdays, Clean Comedy Open Mic, Paint Night (fun for groups) and even dance lessons! Check out their calendar at www.club90slc.com 9065 South Monroe St. in Sandy. For more information, call Rachel at (801) 566-3254 FANTASY CON – WHAT IS FantasyCon? FantasyCon is the first convention of its kind to open the world of fantasy to all and create an interactive, immersive experience that celebrates pop fantasy culture. They believe so much in providing the best show possible for your money that they have eliminated over 200 exhibitor booths in order to provide you with an arena, museum, archery range, children’s area and more. They want their attendees to bring their families and come visit with fantasy celebrities, dress up for cosplay and live-action roleplaying, wield swords, shoot bows, enjoy shows, explore masterworks of art, eat delicious foods and be entertained while creating memories that will last a lifetime. For more details or to get involved, call Eddy (801) 499-4900 FETZER RETAIL SOLUTIONS, LLC A valued manufacturer in West Jordan, Fetzer Retail Solutions supports the community and economic development of West Jordan. They are a retail store fixture supplier to clients around the world. The scope of the architectural woodwork industry is broad in its application to interior design. The Fetzer portfolio includes everything from economical plastic laminate casework to award-winning custom veneer paneling. Contact our office at (801) 569-5151 or Info@westjordanchamber.com

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Page 14 | February 2015

West Jordan City Journal

EDUCATION

WWII Comes To Life At West Jordan High

est Jordan High School students recently got to experience history for themselves—World War II, in fact. On Jan. 16, members of the Utah Military History Group, a group of WWII history buffs and re-enactors, gave students a walk back in time to that long-gone era. Along with a 1942 jeep for which they had to remove doors to get into the school, the group brought plenty of unique show and tell items to share with students. UMHG members dressed as members of the military, sporting uniforms of the era from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Army, as well as that of an 82nd Airborne paratrooper and a member of the German Wehrmacht. Students visited five education stations to learn more about different aspects of the conflict: the Pacific Theater Of Operations, European Theater of Operations, German Wehrmacht, Women in WWII and a station with a 1942 American combat jeep. “It’s so good to know history. It’s im-

portant to not forget about history,” said sophomore Oxana Culiomina, who attended the presentation and emigrated from Russia two years ago. The event was organized by West Jordan High history teacher Alyse Almond and her friends in the Utah Military History Group. Almond, who teaches AP European History, a WWII class and World Civilizations, joined the group, which currently has about 15 active members, about a year ago. “I love history, and I think that students have a hard time understanding why history is important. This gives them the opportunity to see firsthand why. That’s why I do these presentations,” she said. All of the artifacts are owned by members of UMHG. Almond said they find them at gun shows, yard sales, estate sales, through various forums online such as eBay, and some even come from family members. It can be an expensive hobby, especially on a teacher’s salary, but Almond said she

High Honors For Local Principal

opper Hills High School Principal Todd Quarnberg was recently named 2015 Utah High School Principal of the Year. Quarnberg was nominated by another principal, or principals, in the organization, but he has “no clue who,” he said. Quarnberg was surprised he won the award, particularly since the day he interviewed for it was the same day one of his students committed suicide. “I was not at my best; I was heartbroken,” he said. Raised in Scipio, Utah, Quarnberg grew up on a farm. At times he hated the hard work, but these days he looks back and is grateful to his parents for the work ethic they taught him. He describes himself as “a single guy married to Copper Hills High.” Quarnberg gives most of the credit for positive changes at the school to his team of administrators, teachers and staff, although he admits he has “worked feverishly” to get

the school to where it is today. One of his proudest accomplishments is the pride his students now have in their school. “The kids don’t tip their heads and look at the ground anymore when they’re asked what school they’re from,” he said. “They look you in the eye and say proudly, ‘I’m from Copper Hills.’” Although Quarnberg believes in datadriven education, he thinks that’s just part of the equation. “You need to have a relationship with the kids,” he said. “They need to be taught to be accountable, to stand for something. They need to work with their teachers to get the best education they can, all the things they need to be truly college and career ready.” Copper Hills is currently the largest school in the state, with 2,750 students. And the growth just continues. Quarnberg said the school has just received four portables and they’re expecting four more this summer.

By Linda Petersen

Alyse Almond shares stories of women in WWII with West Jordan High students. saves and prioritizes her spending so she can afford to collect the artifacts. Several members of the group have been collecting WWII items

for 10 to 15 years, she said. The event was met by an appreciative audience. “It’s very interesting seeing all the different artifacts of the war. It seems more real. Instead of hearing stories, you can see what they went through,” junior Trevor Schmidt said. “The kids really liked it,” Almond said. “We had a lot who didn’t know about WWII. We had a lot of positive feedback from students.” Along with school presentations, Utah Military History Group members do re-enactments, participate as extras in movies (“Saints & Soldiers” was a recent one) and attend air shows at Hill Air Force Base and the St. George Air Show, along with others— just about any event that involves WWII, Almond said. “We’re losing WWII veterans at the rate of 500 day. I do this to honor those and other veterans, to let them know their story is important,” she said. l

By Linda Petersen With the additional growth comes challenges but also opportunity, he said. There’s more programs, and Copper Hills now offers triple the concurrent enrollment classes it has in the past. Each year, about 50 Copper Hills students graduate high school with an associate’s degree. Although as principal he is working hard and “getting tired,” Quarnberg said he can’t imagine being anywhere else. “Did I mention I love Copper Hills? I’m not going anywhere,” he said. While he knows it’s probably not politically correct, Quarnberg says he tells his students all the time that he loves them. “If you receive an award because you love kids, it’s the easiest award to get,” he said. As for winning the national award, Quarnberg said “it would be good for Utah,” if he won. He will compete against finalists from the other 49 states for the title of National

High School Principal of the Year Todd Quarnberg (right) with Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox High School Principal of the Year. Winners will be named at a National Association of Secondary School Principals conference in September in Washington, D.C. Quarnberg has his own thoughts on the winner. If there’s anyone who has more love and passion for their school than he has for his school, they should receive the national award, he said. l

February 2015 | Page 15

WestJordanJournal.com

Ninety Days To Raise $1 Million For Local School Children By Linda Petersen

he Jordan Education Foundation has launched a new, aggressive, communitywide funding campaign: the “90-day Challenge For Children.” Foundation officials are hoping to raise $1 million by May 10. “We’re beginning something. It’s very exciting and something that has never been done before in any public school in Utah, maybe in the nation,” JEF President-elect Mike Haynes said. The foundation raises funds to support classrooms and programs throughout Jordan School District. That includes providing food, clothing and scholarships for needy children, along with the Cash for Classroom grants program, which has provided more than $76,000 for everything from whiteboards to iPads so far this school year. The new initiative was launched Feb. 10 at a donor appreciation luncheon where many of the foundation’s corporate sponsors were represented. “I travel every day from school to school across this wonderful district,” Communications Director Sandy Riescraf said. “Time and time again, I hear from teachers that they have received a grant from JEF and about the difference that makes …You are making a difference today, and you’re making a difference for the future. Thank you for being part of the journey.” At the event, JEF board members, along with JSD school children, illustrated the need for the foundation’s programs and grants. In a live presentation, district school children from kindergarten to 12th grade asked donors to invest in them and their future. “Do you believe in me? I do!” was the message. At the event, the foundation publically received a $10,000 check from the Doug and Kristy Young Family Foundation, along with others for $2,500 and $1,000 from other donors. Other attendees were also asked to donate. JEF President David Jenkins thanked the foundation’s Outstanding Partners in Education: Jordan Valley Medical Center, Boeing and Comcast, for their contributions. “I do what I do because I believe in public education and our district schools. They are our future,” Superintendent Dr. Patrice Johnson said. “Every year we lobby the legislature for more money, and every year our efforts fall short. Because of you, we are able to give our children the best and all they need. Thank you for believing in our children.” While those at the luncheon may have been more high-profile, fundraiser organizers

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Dallin Curtis, a fifth grader at Southland Elementary, tells Jordan Education Foundation donors they’d “better believe” in him. Photo courtesy of Lifetouch Photography are planning to reach out to all local businesses and chambers of commerce to ask them for their support. Over the next several weeks, the foundation will also work with PTAs across the district. They’re hoping the campaign will take on a life of its own, similar to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. And just like in that very successful campaign, they’re asking everyone who can to contribute whatever they can. In the ALS challenge, some people carried the water in a bulldozer; others had just a bucket, JEF Foundation Director Steven Hall said. Organizers also want participants to use social media to invite their friends to donate. And it’s not just school district patrons they’re asking. They’re challenging district employees to participate through payroll deductions or other means. In the coming weeks, school busses will be emblazoned with banners to remind the community to donate. “We want this to be communitywide; for everyone to be involved in demonstrating ‘I believe in kids,’” Hall said. Those who wish to make a donation to the foundation can visit jordankids.org. l

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Page 16 | February 2015

West Jordan City Journal

SPORTS

Grizzlies Win Region 3 Wrestling Championship

Jagline Drill Team Hitting Its Stride By Greg James

By Greg James

ictory Wrestling, a Jordan School District youth program, and Copper Hills High School’s wrestling program seem to have captured success in a bottle. The combined efforts of the youth and high school wrestling teams have helped Copper Hills send a school record 14 wrestlers to the state tournament this month. “We increased the number of wrestlers we have. It is great to see,” Victory Wrestling Club coach Bill Kilpack said. Victory Wrestling debuted Nov. 24 at the Northern Region Little League Championships in Pleasant View. Eight members competed, and all of them placed. Victory Wrestling Club is offered through Jordan School District, in cooperation with Copper Hills High School. The junior high state championships were held Jan. 30 at Alta High School. Victory Wrestling participant Garrick Kilpack place fifth overall at 120 pounds. In the Northern Utah State Festival, first grader Calvin Price placed first at 60 pounds; second grader Coleman Dearden placed third

Copper Hills senior Braxton Weixler had a 43-7 regular season record wrestling at 285 pounds. He placed first in the section A state qualifier at Alta High School Feb. 7. Photo courtesy of dsandersonpics.com at 60 pounds; and fourth grader Zach Nope placed third at 65 pounds. The coaches hope that learning to wrestle at a younger age will help the athletes be better prepared when they reach high school age. Copper Hills High School wrestlers started off their season with convincing team wins over Riverton (45-33) and Northridge (47-24). The Grizzlies clinched the Region 3 championship with a 51-17 win over Brighton Jan. 28.

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Copper Hills qualified a school record 14 wrestlers for the state tournament. (To qualify, each wrestler had to finish eighth or higher at the sectionals Feb. 6-7.) The wrestlers who qualified for the Feb. 12-13 state tournament are Scott Kerlo, Jordan Marshall, Jayden Marshall, Joey Revelli, Landon Anderson, Jonathan Olson, Brodee Henderson, Branden Hudson, Quinten Westbrook, Jade Solomona, Hayden Reed, Alex Rixe, Craig Aguilar and Braxton Weixler. l

eaching a child to ride a bike is hard work. It usually involves running alongside, holding onto the handle bars and the back of the seat. Soon you can release your hold and watch as the child rides off. The West Jordan High School Drill team coaches have been running alongside their team for two seasons, but they’re seeing improvement in their new team. “This year was much better than last year. Our team is still in its infancy. Considering we are a new team, we are really quite proud,” drill head coach Mitcee Collings said. The Jagline recently completed its second season. Collings said they did not measure their success in awards received, but in progress as a team. They competed in dance, kick and military routines. Collings and assistant coach Lacie Horman completed the choreography. “We started practicing last April. The girls worked three hours a day during the summer. They performed at halftime of football games, basketball games and many assemblies. Our

Jagline continued on page 17

February 2015 | Page 17

WestJordanJournal.com

Azurettes Capture Several Awards At State Drill Competition

Jagline continued from page 16

By Greg James

op awards recently came rolling in for the Azurettes, Copper Hills High School’s drill team. Head Coach Shannon Mortenson was named as Utah High School Spirit Coach of the Year, while her team won its third straight state championship Feb. 6. “We have put so much work into this season. I figured

and are more deserving,” Mortenson said. Mortenson was named the 2014 National Federation of High School Coaches Spirit Coach of The Year for section 7 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada. and Utah). She received the award during the state drill competition at Utah Valley University. The Azurettes also captured their third-straight 5A drill team title. In the competition, they placed second in military routine, first in dance, first in kick and first overall. “Shannon is the best coach. She is definitely the reason for our success. She always encourages us. She lights a fire under our butts to do our best in practices where it starts,” team co-captain Kirsten Davis said. Mortenson attributes the team’s success to creating an The Azurettes won their third-straight state championship Feb. 6 at Utah Valley University. Their military atmosphere that teaches the team routine took second place in the competition. not to have regrets. “I try to help them to make we have practiced for 580 hours since June of last year. This decisions that affect the overall goals, not just what they award makes me feel extremely honored. I know there are want right now. It takes a lot of time, but I love these several coaches that have done this far longer than I have girls,” she said. l

progress was not measured in winning competitions. It was in our strides. We are getting better each season,” Collings said. The drill team competed in four competitions this season: Salt Lake Valley Classic Dec. 13 at Juan Diego High School; Excalibur Classic at Copper Hills High School Dec. 21; Rocky Mountain Drill Invitational Jan. 10 at Corner Canyon High School; and Region at Brighton High School Jan. 22. “We have worked so hard, and this is a great group of girls. They are a great team. Once the girls experience drill, it becomes part of them, and they do not want to give it up. They participate in so many extra activities around the school, fundraising and getting ready to perform,” Collings said. The Jagline final showcase is scheduled for March 6 at 6 p.m. Auditions for next year’s team (grades 9-12) begin April 23. l

The West Jordan drill team had a successful season this year. Photo courtesy of Malinda Severn

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Page 18 | February 2015

West Jordan City Journal

LEARNING THE VALUE OF TRASH TO TREASURE By Joani Taylor

et rocks, handmade leather headbands, patchwork bell bottoms and lava lights: do those memories stir fondness in you? Musical playlists made by setting a cassette recorder as close to the radio as possible in hopes of catching your favorite songs that included Donny Osmond, Bobby Sherman and David Cassidy. Riding your super cool banana seat bike everywhere, congregating at Murray Pool and roller skating to Tony Orlando’s Knock 3 Times. It’s 1975. There are no video games, we have to use a neighbor’s phone to call home, and during our girly girl backyard sleepovers we are known to sneak away, wandering the neighborhood at night, toilet papering our boyfriends’ houses, and our only fear is of being caught. While I would not say we were poor, like most families, my parents saved and scrimped pennies out of necessity. Cheap was good, free was better and expensive was out of the question. Coupons did not have bar codes, and you could save up milk bottle caps for the entire year and use them to ride the rides at Lagoon for free. Dumpster diving was our weekend activity. I’m not really sure if it was legal or not to harvest their treasures, but they were out in the open, ready to give whatever one might be on the hunt for. Unsellable items from craft, auto and home improvement stores beckoned anyone willing to take the plunge. The treasure chest we sought lay tucked behind the old Shag-

Robbins for ice cream afterwards. Kicking the gravel up with my toe as I waited, I was slightly embarrassed as Mom’s head peeked out from inside the dumpster, eyes delighted, shouting joyously that she had found a big piece that was just the right color. Now, Dad is a bit of an artist. In fact, some of his paintings are adorning the walls of my home today. Looking back on it, I imagine that the floor of our basement was, to him, a giant blank canvas. Dad would crawl around on the floor, painstakingly piecing together our ill-gotten scraps in blocks of color and depth. Like colors on the color wheel, blending texture and color from one to the next. Finally, after months of work he stretched out his wall-to-wall masterpiece and tacked it down, with a borrowed knee kicker, as secure and neat as any professional carpet layer would have.

T Rug-La carpet store in West Valley. It seemed the short 10-minute drive took hours as a kid. My job was to pick up the scraps as they were tossed over the edge, and, if I was lucky, we got to go to Baskin

his crazy, pieced together concoction taught me so many lessons about money, art, creativity and love. In my mind, it’s still the most beautiful carpet I have ever seen in a home. I remember hours of play on that carpet and using the sections as a divider for various rooms for Barbie. In my adult life, I do not carry this dumpster diving fetish with me, not even for a coupon. The thought, however, makes me crave a pralines n’ cream waffle cone.

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Multitasking Myth By Peri Kinder

’m terribly efficient. That doesn’t mean I’m efficient. It means I’m terrible at being efficient. I always imagined myself to be a high-functioning multitasker but only recently learned that’s not possible. For instance, I’ll start writing a brilliant column, only to remember I didn’t make my online credit card payment. So I’ll jump to that site to pay down some Christmas bills when I realize I never tossed the laundry into the dryer. I’ll head downstairs to take the slightly sour-smelling towels out of the washer and remember I was supposed to order pizza for dinner. So I grab my phone to order a half-veggie/half-heart disease pizza when it hits me that I never took my multivitamin (for two weeks straight). As I run back up the stairs to swallow a pill the size of a mango, I remember that my column is due in two hours, so I head back to my computer. That’s not multitasking. It’s having an attention-deficitdisorder seizure. Instead of actually completing one task, I have a multitude of jobs half-done at all times. People brag they can do several things at once. I can also

do several things at once; I just do it really poorly. In order to save time, I’ll brush my teeth while putting on deodorant. I clench the toothbrush between my teeth, trying to open the antiperspirant with one hand. Then my electric toothbrush shakes out of my mouth, hits the floor and sprays toothpaste and spit all over the bathroom rug. Instead of saving time, I’ve added 10 minutes to my routine. Or I’ll decide to make a salad and try to make only one trip from the fridge to the counter. I’m carrying olives clasped under my chin, spinach squeezed between my knees, peppers balanced on my elbow and mushrooms perched on my head. My husband walks in and asks, “What are you doing?” “Making a salad,” I hiss, because I have a bag of walnuts clamped between my teeth. He watches as I walk pigeon-toed across the kitchen and try to place everything on the counter. If I was in a sitcom, there would be a laugh track as I juggle all those items before I hit the floor and everything lands on my head. As he leaves the room, he says, “Enjoy your salad. And you left the fridge open.”

(I sense a poisoning in his future.) Dr. Glenn Wilson, a real-life psychology professor at Gresham College, says these situations can actually lower your effective IQ by 10 points. Many studies prove the human brain isn’t designed to do several things at once. My dog (who doesn’t have a human brain) already knows this. Ringo the Dog does the opposite of multitasking. He spends all his attention sniffing one pile of leaves thoroughly before moving on to the next urine-soaked shrubbery. But I can make cookies, scrub bird droppings off the back window and change my grandson’s diaper all at the same time. Of course I’ve burned the cookies, smeared the bird poop and put the diaper on backwards. Ringo does everything right the first time. So now that I’ve wasted time debunking the benefits of multitasking, I really need to get dinner started. But a catchy tune dances across my mind. I bring up iTunes and spend 30 minutes downloading songs. Then I remember I need to sub a cardio class this week, so it’s over to YouTube to get new ideas for the BOSU ball . . . l

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Salt Lake County Car Dealerships

East Side 44 vs West Side 3

► Why aren’t there any new car dealerships in West Jordan?

ven though the population center of the Salt Lake Valley is estimated to be west of Redwood Road, there are only three new car dealerships west of it. And there are NONE south of 3600 South, which excludes some of the fastest growing communities in the state like West Jordan. It’s not because there isn’t room for new car dealers. And it’s not because there isn’t enough population to justify a dealer. There are over a half million people in southwest Salt Lake County, which includes West Valley, West Jordan, Taylorsville, Kearns, Magna, Copperton, South Jordan, Riverton, Herriman and Bluffdale.

State Law serves as a road block to west-side new car dealerships It’s because of a little known state law – the New Automobile Dealership Act of 1991 – which establishes a trade area of 15 miles between a new car dealership and any other dealership of the same brand. (§13-14-102) Prospective dealerships are also required to submit their business plans to a board comprised of competing car deal-

Salt Lake County Car Dealerships

erships for review before being allowed to open a new car dealership. (§13-14-302) Despite being home to about half of the County’s population, the southwestern part of Salt Lake County is home to only 3 of the 47 new car dealers in the County. Approval to open a new car dealership in Utah is granted by the Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, an unelected state official appointed by the Governor. (§13-14-104)

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SR 201

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Get involved and spread the word Call or email the Governor, Lieutenant Governor or your state legislators (see sidebar page 9). Ask them to support HB290 and reduce the radius to 5 miles – without requiring approval from anyone!

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4500 S

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9000 S

West Jordan is frozen out of the new car market

► What can you do?

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In Utah, there are 145 new car dealers, which is the equivalent of 20,006 people per dealer. At this rate, West Jordan should be home to 5 new car dealerships.

A recent study found that current auto-related business in the city only meets 13% of the projected total demand, which amounts to $138,016,456 per year that is not spent at West Jordan businesses. This represents an annual loss of $690,082 in sales tax dollars to the city budget as well as thousands of dollars of property tax revenue. Sales tax dollars help fund police, fire, roads, parks and many more public services.

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Area with no new car dealerships

Salt Lake County Car Dealership

Most of the County’s 47 car dealerships are located along State Street or just off I-15. Current state law hampers west-side cities’ ability to attract a new car dealership because of a 15-mile trade area restriction.

Even the score ... allow new car dealerships in our city. Learn more at www.WJordan.com

Salt Lake County Car Dealerships

Area With New Car Dea