July 2021 E-newsletter for MSD Member Communities
Copperton Magna
Emigration Canyon White City
Kearns Town of Brighton
Unincorporated Salt Lake County
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CHIPPER WEEK 2021: UFA WILDLAND FIRE CREWS CLEAR BRUSH AND BRANCHES TO PREVENT FIRES
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Unified Fire Authority wildland crews have been very busy working on the upper canyon road in Emigration Canyon to reduce brush and tree limbs. They are grinding materials into wood chips for mulch.
If you are an Emigration Canyon resident and would like to donate time or money to pay for fuel and/or work to help create defensible space, send an email to: firewise84108@gmail.com. Your volunteer hours and funds go towards helping to maintain certification as a Firewise Community and ultimately helps lower home fire insurance premiums and qualify the township for state support of wildland firefighting costs.
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FIREWORKS SAFETY
Due to the dry conditions and high temperatures, we are asking everyone to be safe with fireworks during the 4th and 24th holidays. Many municipalities have banned fireworks in their communities. Fireworks are banned in Copperton, Emigration Canyon, the Town of Brighton, Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood canyons and unincorporated Salt Lake County. Other cities have tightened up the boundaries where you can safely light off fireworks. For more information, visit:
SALT LAKE COUNTY FIREWORKS RESTRICTIONS MAP.
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DATA COLLECTION VAN ASSESSING ROADS
IN MSD COMMUNITIES
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The Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD) has launched a new project to inventory the condition of all streets within the communities of the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District. In an effort to find the best and most cost‐effective way to improve road conditions, the data collected will help develop a 5‐year pavement plan.
Mayor Peay, from Magna, and Mayor Flint, from White City, both had an opportunity to ride in the van and see first-hand how the data is collected and recorded.
The data collection van has already completed work in Kearns, Magna, Copperton, White City and Butterfield Canyon. Next on the list are unincorporated Salt Lake County, Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons and Emigration Canyon.
The van is equipped with digital cameras, laser and LIDAR to collect imagery on :
- Pavement
- Sidewalks
- Curb and gutter
- Road signs
- Streetlights
- Traffic signals
- Road striping
The Municipal Services District funded this project and Salt Lake County Public Works Operations contracted with Data Transfer Solutions to gather data on the roads within the MSD member communities.
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BIRD SCOOTERS ARE COMING TO KEARNS
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Look Who’s Landing in Kearns!
Bird E-Scooters are arriving in Kearns on July 2nd. We are so excited to welcome this new transportation solution to the community. Residents and visitors can access the scooters for intra-community trips, recreation or even rides to nearby bus stops. The e-scooters have been successful in communities around Northern Utah, but Kearns is the first Metro Township to welcome the business to its streets.
Kearns Metro Township is partnering with the Los Angeles, California-based, shared electric scooter company, Bird Rides (Bird), to bring e-scooters to the city. Just in time for summer, Bird is a naturally socially distanced way to get around. The scooters are available through a mobile phone application and riders pay to use the scooter per minute, at no cost to the city.
The electric scooters can be used on roads and in bike lanes and have a maximum speed of 15mph. Scooters must be parked out of the way of pedestrians and never blocking driveways. Riders are required to be 18 years old and above to access the scooters. They are also encouraged to wear a helmet on every ride and required to obey all standard rules of the road.
Bird offers the following programs that are available for all who qualify:
- Community Pricing - Bird’s Community Pricing Program offers a 50% discount to low-income riders, Pell grant recipients, select local nonprofit and community organizations, veterans, and senior citizens. It’s designed to be the most inclusive micromobility discount program available anywhere. To sign up for the Community Pricing Program, download the Bird app, create an account, and email your proof of eligibility to access@bird.co.
- Free Rides for Healthcare Workers and Emergency Personnel - Bird is proud to offer free rides to healthcare workers and emergency personnel. To sign up, simply email a copy of your medical identification card along with your name and phone number to together@bird.co. Eligible riders will receive two free 30-minute rides per day for as long as it takes to help our communities to recover from this global health crisis.
- Community Mode - Community Mode allows anyone with a Bird account to report or provide feedback on vehicle-related issues such as poorly parked or damaged vehicles in their area. When a report is submitted, a member of the Bird team is assigned to correct the issue. Anyone can access Community Mode by tapping the yield sign on the bottom left of the Bird map.
If you have questions or concerns about the e-scooters, the company can be reached directly at 1-866-205-2442 or hello@bird.co. More information about the company can be found on their website (www.bird.co) and on their blog (www.bird.co/blog).
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BE CAREFUL THIS SUMMER: KEEP YOUR PETS
OUT OF HOT VEHICLES
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EMPRESS THEATER PRESENTS FROZEN JR.
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The Empress Theatre in Magna is proud to present:
Frozen Jr.
A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen Jr. expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor, Frozen Jr. is sure to thaw even the coldest heart! The show plays from July 26 to August 7. Check the link below for specific dates and times.
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RECOGNIZING THE HISTORY EMBEDDED IN
KEARNS' BUILT ENVIRONMENT
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Left: An advertisement from the Salt Lake Tribune (1915) for the Chesterfield Development, an early suburban development in present-day West Valley City (Logan Simpson, 2021). Right: An example of a ranch style, mid-century home in Kearns (Logan Simpson, 2021).
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You may wonder what is so significant about mid-century suburban development. American architecture from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, has been described as sterile or tacky. However, as these architectural styles approach fifty years of age, they are being reevaluated for their historic value. In fact, many of these buildings and developments are now eligible for a place on the National Register of Historic Places. It is for this reason that the Utah Division of State History commissioned architectural historians at Logan Simpson to conduct a Reconnaissance Level Survey (RLS) of West Valley City and Kearns Metro Township.
The impact of post-war housing development, present in Kearns and West Valley, is complicated. To some extent, unique, mid-century housing developments addressed an immediate need for affordable, abundant housing for soldiers returning from the war. However, the development style also perpetuated sprawl, loss of farmland and open spaces, and exclusionary racial policies. Mid-century architecture stands as a testament to the post-war era, a time that changed the nature of cities across the nation. Learn more about this rich history here. |
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Ask a Codie : July 2021
World War Weeds continues to rage in the member communities of the MSD. And in between his time fighting in the itchy, thorny, sneezy trenches, Magna code enforcement officer Tom Zumbado answers questions from citizens about code enforcement, municipal ordinances, and everything in between. For a chance to have your question published in this column, email Tom at tzumbado@msd.utah.gov and include the words "Ask a Codie" in the subject line. All submissions will be kept anonymous; cross our heart.
This month, "PullinEveryDay" writes:
Weeds are nothing new for anyone that gardens. But what are the types of weeds y’all enforce?
Hmm.
There is not enough space in this column to accurately account for all the different types of weeds that torment our communities this time of year. The sheer abundance of information on the whats, whys and hows would fill an encyclopedia and take months to write. (For any of you born in the 1990s or later, ask your parents what an encyclopedia is.) Still, this is an important question worthy of an answer. But instead of listing all my rage weeds in one article, I’ll do the top three over a series of articles so I can give you all the info on what they are and more importantly, how to kill ‘em.
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Our first contestant will be this little menace to society; Onopordum acanthium, also known as the Scotch thistle. Originally native to Europe and eastern Asia, this Class III weed thrives in dry climates, waste areas, rangeland, pastures, and alongside streams. Sooo…..all of Salt Lake County. Yay. It can grow up to six feet tall either by itself or in really dense thickets that’ll choke the life out of any other flora in the growth area. Oh, it gets better. The stems and flowers of this weed are covered in spines capable of piercing through most clothing and even thick work gloves. And the worst part is that the leaves are covered in dense, almost microscopic hair that can irritate the skin on contact. So yeah, this plant will make you suffer to pull it out (and I have the welts to prove it). Did you know Scotch thistle reproduces only by seeds? It produces large numbers of achenes that remain viable in the soil for 7 to 39 years.
So how do you get rid of it? Well, it won’t happen overnight. A lot of the recommendations I’ve seen say to just cut them straight down to the dirt. Take the whole top, but leave the roots. Cutting the plant down deprives the roots of nutrients and energy from photosynthesis. But you must remember to throw the stalks away or they’ll reseed the ground. A healthy dose of herbicide always helps, but that’s completely up to the homeowner. I’m personally in favor of a quality flamethrower, but “society” hasn’t caught up with my innovative spirit just yet; dumb ol’ Geneva Conventions.
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MSD FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR 2021
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BANGERTER & 4700 SO: UDOT TO HOST
TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS IN JULY
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The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has started a State Environmental Study (SES) to evaluate a potential freeway-style interchange at Bangerter Highway and 4700 South to reduce congestion and improve safety. The study is scheduled for completion in early 2022, with construction anticipated in 2023. UDOT is hosting two public meetings to gather feedback about overall transportation needs and environmental issues.
ONLINE PRESENTATION AND Q&A
Tuesday, July 20, 2021, from 6 - 7 p.m. via Zoom Webinar
IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE
Wednesday, July 21, 2021, from 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Kennedy Junior High School (4495 South 4800 West, West Valley City, UT 84120)
Visit udot.utah.gov/bangerter4700south for information on how to join the online meeting. The same information will be available at both meetings. Materials can be viewed on the project website and feedback can be sent via email or mail.
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MAGNA RECEIVES FUNDING FOR ITS DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECT
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Mayors of the five Metro Townships, Salt Lake County Mayor Jennifer Wilson and the mayors of 12 Urban County cities have approved Magna's application for funding for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The project is the Magna Downtown Revitalization Expansion ($219,105) and the 4805 South, 4480 West and 4835 South Loop Sidewalk ($232,136). Congrats MSD and Magna Metro Township!
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