Saturday Hours for Animal Shelter

 As part of the ongoing effort to reach the goal of maximizing adoptions and establishing a  no-kill shelter, the West Valley Animal shelter has plans to open the animal shelter on Saturdays. Beginning Saturday,September 1st.  The shelter is located at 4522 West 3500 South and will be open Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The City Council had received several requests from residents to make our new state of the art shelter available during non-business hours to help make shelter visits and adoptions more conducive to busy working families.

For more information about West Valley City Animal Services, you can visit:
 www.wvc-ut.gov/animals.

Clean & Beautiful

Want to acknowledge the great awards gathering last night at City Hall that was put on by the Clean & Beautiful Committee to honor this years recipients of a Clean & Beautiful award.  Many of the 76 winner were on hand to share a few goodies and look at the slide show collection of well kept yards around our City.Any person wishing to be involved in the Clean & Beautiful awards program or the Clean & Beautiful Committee can contact the Neighborhood Service department at City Hall. Congratulations Winners and keep up the good work!

August City Council Message

This month I was able to author and submit a West Valley City Council message published in the August monthly edition of the West Valley Journal.  Below is the text of that message:

Pioneer Spirit

A message from Councilmember Corey Rushton

               In one way or another we all possess a rich pioneer heritage that was recently celebrated statewide with the array of customary fireworks and parades. I was fortunate to commemorate the holiday with some stalwart members of our community and gained a deeper appreciation for the pioneer roles that build and sustain neighborhoods, cities, and nations. I would like to point out a couple of recent happenings here in West Valley City that has brought a rejuvenated pioneer spirit to the area and how we all benefit both civically and personally.

               The West Valley Historical Society along with a special volunteer recently released a pictorial history book of our City. It poignantly follows the story of the hardships of pioneer settlement through the pioneer success of incorporation.  This history is a great reminder of where we’ve been, but more importantly demonstrates the possibilities of where we are going with this amazing rate of progress. Fairbourne Station Park was officially opened to the public a few days ago. This remarkable open-space, complete with interactive exhibits and water features, is another example blending our historical past with a modern and progressive vision for the future of Utah’s second largest city.

These observations that encourage optimism for our City mirror the thoughts of President John Kennedy from over fifty years ago when he noted that, “The American…is experimental, an inventor and a builder who builds best when called upon to build greatly.” I challenge everyone to reach deeply and unleash your American pioneer spirit and also build greatly. You can be a pioneer by identifying and investing in that home or yard improvement project that increases value and livability or conserves resources. You can be a pioneer in fighting crime by working to expand your neighborhood watch network and by quickly removing garbage and graffiti. Our various schools, churches, and non-profit organizations rely on your honest pioneer service to accomplish their lofty goals. In do so we will all have some additional tangible benefits created by your current efforts to celebrate at next year’s Pioneer Day.

Talking Jordan River

This morning I was a guest of KCPW's CityView program and was invited to give an update on the Jordan River.  Interest in preserving, protecting, and promoting the River is rapidly growing and the Jordan River Commission was pleased with the release of the Parkway Trail Map that can be found here:

http://jordanrivercommission.com/

The synopsis for the radio show includes:

Once contaminated with raw sewage, farm waste and heavy metals from nearby mines, the Jordan River has been cleaned up and recognized as a vital natural resource running from Utah Lake to Great Salt Lake. A new coordinated effort to restore and preserve the Jordan River is underway and on Monday, we’ll learn more about what’s envisioned for the future of the Jordan River corridor.

If you are interested in listening to the broadcast it can be found at the KCPW website linked below:

http://kcpw.org/blog/cityviews/2012-08-05/cityviews-8612-local-economicsolympic-wrap/

Excited for Neighborhood Night Out

As July rolls to a close with August right around the corner it means that the annual Neighborhood Night Out celebration is just around the corner.  Some neighborhoods have already held their various functions and celebrations with the bulk of then are planned for Tuesday August 7.  Neighborhood Night out has become such a popular Citywide event that City Council meetings are cancelled so that full attention can be placed on the event.  Below is a description of NNO and details of the Kickoff event:

Free Food, Free Entertainment and Fun for the Entire Family Kick Off National Night Out in West Valley City

WHAT: West Valley City National Night Out 2012 Kickoff Celebration

WHEN: Monday, August 6, 2012

National Night Out activities: 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

World Stage Summer Concert: gates open at 7 p.m.; performance begins at 8 p.m.

WHERE: Utah Cultural Celebration Center, 1355 West 3100 South, West Valley City, UT 84119

WHO: Everyone is invited to this free evening of National Night Out activities and entertainment

WHY: This evening kicks off West Valley City’s 29^th year of participation in National Night Out, a nationwide event uniting communities and heightening crime and drug awareness. This year’s event will include free food, entertainment, emergency preparedness displays, youth activities and much more. West Valley City elected officials, police and fire departments and staff will be on hand to answer residents’ questions. Performers will entertain the crowd throughout the evening and the event will culminate in a WorldStage! Summer Concert – the Red Desert Ramblers. 

Holiday Fireworks

With the summer festivals and holidays right around the corner, I have recieved a number of inquires regarding the use of Fireworks in West Valley City.  State laws have been altered over the past few years to include different types of fireworks and the dates that they can be used.  By state lawUtahns are allowed to discharge fireworks July 1-7, July 21-27, December 31, and Chinese New Year.  Ariel firework that have a range under 150 feet are generally now permissable. Due to some of those changes and the potential for fire damage the City Council has instituted a fireworks ban in West Valley City anywhere west of U-111.  As always the discharge of firarms is prhibited within all areas of the city. Below is a list of of FAQ and facts regarding the use of fireworks from the Utah Department of Public Safety:

Purchase fireworks from reliable, licensed fireworks dealers. Read all instructions to reduce the chances of a destructive fire or debilitating injury. Follow all safety guidelines exactly.

Children should not handle fireworks. You must be at least 16 years of age to handle or light fireworks. Adults are to supervise any activity that includes fireworks.

Never let children handle, play with or light fireworks. Only knowing and clear-headed adults should handle fireworks.

Adults should never use alcohol or drugs or be impaired while engaged in handling,

using, placing or lighting fireworks.

New aerial type fireworks are now lawful. Aerial devices, also known as "multiple tube", "repeater", or "cake" fireworks often look like miniature professional displays and can travel high into the air, as much as 150 feet.

These fireworks need sufficient space from trees, carports, structures, power lines or other high or low obstacles. Aerial or "cake" fireworks need at least a 30 foot clearance around on the ground and at least 150 foot clearance in the air.

Not allowed still are: firecrackers, M-80’s, cherry bombs, bottle-rockets, roman candles, single or reloadable mortars, and ground salutes. All local, state and federal laws must be adhered to.

Use common sense at all times when handling fireworks. Do not alter, change or experiment with makeshift or any firework device and do not allow others to violate the law.

Store fireworks in a cool, dry place. Do not place fireworks in your pockets.

Only use fireworks out of doors. Never play with, set or light fireworks under a carport or overhang, inside a building or compartment.

Never shoot fireworks in windy conditions.

Keep a bucket of water or running hose nearby during the time of lighting and disposing

of fireworks and in case of an emergency.

Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks. Keep all unused fireworks 30 feet away from the shooting area.

Make sure other people are out of range at a reasonable distance before lighting fireworks. Do not point or throw fireworks at people, animals or where they may not be under proper control. And remember, sparklers burn at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. They are extremely deceptive in nature and can be an extraordinarily dangerous device in the hands of children and can cause serious burns and injuries if not cared for properly.

Light fireworks one at a time. Do not attempt to light multiple fireworks at any time. Do not relight a firework whose fuse has burned away. Do not attempt to repair broken fireworks. Soak fireworks that did not ignite in a bucket of water. Once the firework is lit, get away quickly to a safe distance.

Keep clear of the firework. Never place a body part above or around a burning firework. Never pickup a burning firework. Never look into the tube or stay close to the burning end of the device. Never hold a lit firework in your hand.

Use caution with animals. Excitement, noise and lights can cause fear and stress.

Community Covenant with US Armed Forces

Lat week during the regular meeting of the West Valley City Council, I as the acting mayor, was able to present the West Valley City Community Covenant to the Utah National Guard. This pledge was signed by the City Council as well as administrators, employees and community leaders.The West Valley City Community Covenant reaffirms the city’s long-standing commitment to support military service-members and their families.  Framed Copies of the Community Covenenat will be displayed at WV City Hall and at Utah national Guard Offices.

By participating in the Community Covenant program, West Valley City recognizes:
The commitment and sacrifice that men and women in uniform and their families makefor us each and every day.
That service members find strength through their families, and their families find strength through the community in which they are a part.
The strength of the community comes from each individual in it.
That all individuals in the community have the ability to make a difference.


Additionally, West ValleyCity will commit to:
Build partnerships that support the strength, resilience and readiness of service members and their families.
Go above and beyond our normal call of duty to support and recognize the military families in our community.
Ensure that the needs of military families are met, especially in times of deployment.
Rememberour service men and women and the sacrifices they make for our freedom.