January 2021 E-newsletter for MSD Member Communities
We wish you a Happy New Year! Welcome to the 9th edition of the Municipal Services District newsletter.
We have some important news and exciting projects included in this edition. This newsletter provides information about the five Metro Townships (Copperton, Emigration Canyon, Kearns, Magna and White City), the Town of Brighton, and the unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County. If you have news about your community that you would like us to include in the next edition, please send your articles, announcements, and photos by clicking here:
E-Newsletter Submissions
Here is a link you can share with community members to subscribe to the e-newsletter:
https://msd.utah.gov/sign-up-for-the-msd-e-newsletter
|
|
|
LITTLE COTTONWOOD GRIT MILL PARKING LOT
|
|
|
The Municipal Services District announces the Little Cottonwood Canyon Grit Mill parking lot and restroom project is completed. The project was funded by a Wasatch Front Regional Council grant and an Outdoor Recreation grant. The restrooms were funded by Salt Lake City Public Utilities. There are now 32 parking stalls, two handicap stalls and a restroom for use by hikers and climbers during the spring, summer and fall. White UDOT oversaw construction for this project, it is owned and operated/maintained by the U.S. Forest Service.
The project included the realignment of Wasatch Resort Road in Little Canyon to improve safety. This portion was paid for by the Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District.
Project Manager: Madeline Francisco-Galang
Project Value: $1 million
|
|
MAYOR WILSON AND FOUR COUNCIL
MEMBERS SWORN INTO OFFICE
|
|
|
Congratulations to Mayor Jenny Wilson, three new Salt Lake County Council members and a returning council member!
On Monday, January 4, 2021, Mayor Jenny Wilson was sworn into office as the county's returning mayor. There were three newly elected council members sworn in at the ceremony. Democrat Ann Granato, who went unchallenged in her reelection bid for District 4, was unable to attend Monday's ceremony and was sworn in on January 5, 2021.
|
|
|
|
Mayor Jenny Wilson was the first person sworn in during Monday's ceremony.
|
|
|
|
Laurie Stringham was sworn in as a Salt Lake County Council member. She is the first at-large council member elected from the county's west side.
|
|
|
|
Dave Alvord was sworn in as a Salt Lake County Councilmember representing District 2 -- Magna, West Valley, South Jordan, Riverton, Herriman, Bluffdale, and Copperton.
|
|
|
|
Dea Theodore was sworn in as a Salt Lake County Council Member representing District 6 -- Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, Draper, Sandy, White City, Cottonwood Canyons and many unincorporated-area islands.
|
|
|
|
Ann Granato was reelected to District 4 and was sworn in on January 5, 2021. Councilmember Granato represents Holladay, Emigration Canyon, Millcreek, and Cottonwood Heights.
|
|
|
COVID VACCINE INFORMATION
|
|
|
Nearly 56,000 COVID-19 vaccines have been given to Utah’s hospital healthcare workers, long-term care facility residents and staff, non-hospital healthcare workers, public health and tribal healthcare workers, EMTs, paramedics, and EMS personnel are now eligible.
Vaccines are now being distributed to local, state, and federal law enforcement officers, dispatchers, corrections officers, basic EMTs, firefighters, and so on. Go to the local health department where you live or work and make an appointment.
Later this month, K-12 teachers and school staff will begin receiving vaccines, so make your appointments soon. Educator vaccine coordination will happen between school district administrators and local health departments. School Staff in Salt Lake County will be vaccinated through their school or district by Community Nursing Services (CNS) in late January and early February; details are available via your school or district.
Utahns 75 and Older. Phase 2 vaccinations are expected to begin as early as mid-February. Utah residents who are 75 and older will receive the vaccine first once Phase 2 vaccinations begin. You do not need to “sign up” or “get on the list” to be vaccinated; check back in the coming weeks for more details.
Utahns 65 and Older. We currently anticipate that COVID vaccine will be available to Utahns 65 and older in March or April 2021. You do not need to “sign up” or “get on the list” to be vaccinated; in March or April, we expect the vaccine to be available to Utah seniors at a variety of community locations, including your local pharmacy, your doctor’s office, and our Salt Lake County Health Department public health centers.
To receive official updates on the vaccine, please subscribe to our email series "Vaccine - Real Talk."
|
|
- The COVID vaccine has undergone all the usual, rigorous safety vaccine trials and approval processes—nothing has been skipped or rushed.
- COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19; two doses are necessary for full protection.
- There is no cost to you to be vaccinated. If you are insured, the vaccine provider may charge your insurance a small administration fee. If you do not have insurance, there is no charge.
- Right now, there is limited supply so healthcare personnel and first responders will receive the first vaccines. The supply of vaccines will increase in the weeks and months to come.
- COVID-19 vaccines are one of many important tools to help us stop this pandemic. Until the majority of our community is vaccinated (which will take many months) it’s important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic, including covering your mouth and nose with a mask when around others, staying at least 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds, and washing your hands often.
|
|
|
KEARNS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT - NORTHWEST AVENUE
|
|
|
Kearns Metro Township will be adding improvements on the west side of Northwest Avenue from 5415 South to 5570 South.
The project improvements will include:
- New concrete sidewalk with curb and gutter for continuous pedestrian walkway to 5415 South.
- Residential driveway access placement.
Construction is scheduled to begin on January 11, 2021, with contractor mobilization to the site. Traffic control measures will be set up on the west side of the street. Work is scheduled Monday to Friday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Construction is scheduled for completion on March 5, 2021. *Construction schedules are subject to change.
UDOT Contact: Guy Evans, guy.evans@hwlochner.com, 801-450-1967
Kearns Metro Engineer: Madeline Francisco-Galang, Mfrancisco-Galang@slco.org, (385) 468-6600
|
|
|
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES LAUNCHES CITYWORKS
|
|
|
|
Planning and Development Services has launched a new online portal for Code Enforcement as well as Land Use and Zoning, called Cityworks. The Cityworks portal allows the MSD to receive, process and take action more efficiently. To use this system, you must create an account – it’s quick and easy. For more information, visit the Cityworks Public Portal.
|
|
Building Permits and Inspections
The MSD Planning & Development team works together to ensure the building construction process that customers receive is timely and meets dependable approval times. The MSD specializes in creating efficiency in the building permit review process to reduce unnecessary delays and deliver predictable timelines. Its professional staff is committed to reviewing building, fire, mechanical, electrical and plumbing drawings to ensure they are according to Building Code.
Schedule An Appointment
|
|
A fresh new year is finally here and in hopes of banking some good karma, Magna code enforcement officer Tom Zumbado takes a chance on answering 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, "UrJunkMyTreasure" writes:
How do you decide what is junk and what is just, you know, regular stuff you expect to see on a property?
Wow; great question. During my time as a code enforcement officer, junk is one of those things that just fall into the “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” category. At least, many people think it should. Fortunately for all of us, our town ordinances help to better determine how to enforce junk items. In Magna, the town ordinance that defines junk is Chapter 19.04.305.A, which reads:
“ ‘Junk’ means any salvaged or scrap copper, brass, iron, steel, metal, rope, rags, batteries, paper, wood, trash, plastic, rubber, tires, waste or other articles or materials commonly designated as junk. Junk, except as provided in subsections (B) or (C), shall also mean any dismantled, wrecked or inoperable motor vehicles or recreational vehicles or parts thereof which are stored or parked on property outside of an enclosed building and which remain in such condition for a period of time in excess of sixty days. An automobile, truck or bus shall be considered inoperable if it is not currently registered and licensed in this state or another state.”
This is a great example of what I call, “ordinance legalese.” And much like most junk items, this definition covers an incredibly large spectrum of stuff that could be stored on someone’s property at any given time. So where do we draw the line? There’s the easy part. The items listed in the definition stop being “junk” when they’re stored in an enclosed structure like a garage or an accessory shed and when they are outside of public view. It’s the same standard my mom used to give me when cleaning my room; if it can’t be seen, then it’s not a problem. Granted, that only works until there’s too much stuff. Then the process starts all over again.
This is why the yearly neighborhood cleanups are so important. Homes are a lot like organisms; there must be equal parts input and output or the system starts to clog up and overload the capacity of the property. And what happens when the amount of stuff coming onto a property doesn’t equal the amount of stuff being thrown away?... Clutter, congestion, and inevitably, junk.
Until next time, keep washing your hands and wearing your mask!
|
|
|
|
|
