ALPINE NEWSLINE
Volume 33 Issue 8 August 2021
Murray B Spence Marissa Sherman Gary Cooper Carla Merrill
2021 Municipal Primary Election Alpine City Mayoral Candidate List
The Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, August 10, 2021.
This will be a Vote By Mail election. Ballots were mailed out on July 20, 2021. A Drop Box is provided at City Hall and will be open until 8pm Election day.
Voter registration must be received by the County Clerk no later than 5pm on Friday, July 30, 2021.
Volume 33 Issue 8 August 2021 Page 2
COMMUNITY CODE COMPLIANCE CORNER Tommy Youngblood Alpine Code Compliance Officer Neighbors, Alpine City Code Compliance is dedicated to promo ng and maintaining standards to preserve and enhance the quality of life in our community. It is our objec ve to educate ci zens regarding city regula ons and obtain voluntary compliance of our codes and ordinances. These ordinances are intended to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of all our ci zens, as well as maintain property values and our community’s natural beauty. The property owner is ul mately responsible of bringing proper es into compliance in a mely manner. This month’s Topic: LET’S ALL DO OUR PART FOR WATER CONSERVATION 1. When Can I Water my Lawn? Residents are allowed to water two days per week, as per the schedule below, but are being asked to reduce watering on those days by 25%.
2. Agricultural users are allowed to water between the hours of 7 AM and 7 PM.
3. Who do I call if want to request an excepƟon to the watering days or Ɵmes? • Please call 801‐756‐6347 to request an excep on. Excep on requests are cri cally reviewed are only granted on a very limited basis. 4. What are the fines for violaƟon of watering restricƟons? • First Offense: Warning • Second Offense: Pressurized irriga on service will be Locked. A reconnec on fee of $50.00 will be required. • Third and Future Pressurized irriga on service will be Locked. Offenses: A reconnec on fee of $200.00 will be required Volume 33 Issue 8 August 2021 Page 3
Alpine City Trail Etiquette
We are so fortunate to have many beautiful trails in and around our city. Trail usage continues to increase. In general, there is a lot of graciousness and good will among our trail users. Here are a few general rules of trail etiquette to help us all stay safe and happy.
Horses always have the right of way. They can be skittish and less predictable, and can have a harder time maneuvering the trail. If you encounter a horse, position yourself downhill and be friendly with the rider. Talking to the rider will help the horse know you aren’t a wild animal. Step off the path on the downhill side because horses who bolt on the trail have a ten- dency to bolt uphill. Give the animal as much space as possible for everyone’s safety. If you need to pass a horse that is trav- elling more slowly than you are in your same direction, you will need to wait until there is plenty of room to do so and then pass slowly.
Mountain bikers should yield to hikers. But in many situations, it’s faster for everyone when a hiker steps aside and the biker passes. It’s harder for bikers to come to a quick stop on a downhill section, and it can be difficult to get back on a bike when stopping on an uphill section. In areas with lots of trees and rocks, there may not be a place for a biker to pull off. That being said, bikers should NOT expect hikers to yield. Bikers should always slow down, pass with care and express thanks. Realize that small children and dogs require extra caution.
When you’re going downhill, yield to those going uphill. This is a courtesy, since it takes much more energy to go uphill than down. If the uphill hiker/biker pulls off to the side when they see you coming down, ask if you can proceed and thank them.
When coming up behind someone, a bell or even coughing or clearing your throat in plenty of time can prevent other trail users from being startled. It’s always a good idea to ask, “do you mind if I pass?” When possible, pass on the left just as you would when driving a car. Announce your intention by calling out, “on your left.” Earbuds make it difficult to hear others coming and should only be used with extra caution. When travelling at speed, it’s a good idea to call out or whistle when approaching a blind corner.
Leave No Trace. Don’t litter or leave pet waste (bagged or unbagged) on the trail.
Don’t use muddy trails. If mud is sticking to your hooves, tires or shoes, it’s time to go home. We are excited for new trails in our area. Be particularly careful on new trails, which are softer and more easily damaged until they get packed in. Horses can damage new trails even when they aren’t muddy. The city trail committee recommends that horses do not use new trails for at least a year after they have been cut. There has unfortunately been significant, costly damage to our new trails by hors- es in recent years. We ask that all citizens be aware of this problem and work together to prevent it from continuing.
Stay on the existing trails. Don’t cut across switchbacks. Don’t modify existing trails or create new trails. Using tree limbs or rocks to block trails is dangerous to mountain bikers who may be travelling at speed. Anyone who would like to create, modify or block a trail must receive approval from our city trail committee first. You are invited to attend our city trail com- mittee meetings, which are posted on the city website.
Do you want to know where and when the local school mountain bike teams are practicing? Check out the spreadsheet using the link: https://www.utahmtb.org/trails
Thanks to everyone who helped on our city trail day in April. It was a great day to make new friends and make a difference in our community.
Glass Recycling Now Available in AGES 12 AND Alpine OLDER CAN GET THE Many food products come in glass bottles and VACCINE jars. As a new service to residents, a glass recy- cling drop-off location is now available in Alpine- -across the street from the west side of Alpine Elementary School. This is several miles closer than existing locations, and will be recycled here in Utah. Glass can be completely recycled, end- lessly--and saves considerable energy and natural resources. Volume 33 Issue 8 August 2021 Page 4
ALPINE CITY GARBAGE RATE INCREASE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
Monthly Residential Waste a. Collection Fee (1st unit) b. Collection Fee each additional unit
C. Recycling (1st unit)
d. Recycling each additional unit $6.25
Submission of Information to the Newsline Due: 15th of the month Email to [email protected] Please excuse any errors in the newsletters Volume 33 Issue 8 August 2021 Page 5
The responsibility of a municipality and its leaders is to provide opportunities and beautiful places for business- es to thrive, families to spend time together, Individuals to enjoy, children to play, and youth to grow and dis- play their talents! Alpine is the most beautiful municipal locale in the world, and I want to ensure the city parks and facilities are in line with that beauty! My Background: Married with four children EducaƟon: Duke University – MBA Brigham Young University – BA Economics Volunteer: President Lone Peak Youth Baseball - current Professional experience in the following industries: Insurance, Transportation, Medical Supply, Banking and Finance, Defense, Construction. What I will do as Mayor: 1) Establish Alpine as the crown jewel of Utah - Increase water rights for Alpine Citizenry to allow for green grass and healthy landscaping - Beautify Parks and Facilities to increase desirability and property values of Al- pine 2) Lift ban on fireworks for 4th of July in perpetuity 3) Ban Critical Race Theory from municipality processes, hiring, and operations My Guiding Principles: Families and individuals first! Minimize tax rates Maximize efficiency of collected taxes Maximize Freedom Measured growth and development Honor and support first responders - Police and Fire
I live in Alpine with my two children. I moved to Utah from Northern California in 2004. I am a graduate of Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Psychology and graduate of West‐ minster College with an M.S. in Professional Counseling. I am a licensed clinical mental health counselor and small business owner of three outpa ent mental health centers. I am a licensed Utah real estate agent, have kickstarted a non‐profit organiza on, and work as a paralegal.
I am running for mayor because I believe that together we can learn from the posi ves that other ci es and states have applied, while understanding and avoiding that which has not been produc ve. We face new challenges in unique mes, but together we will rise to the occasion to address and resolve the issues that confront us.
We can all benefit from the right balance of adaptability, stability, and high values. We con‐ nue to strive for preserva on of valuable lands, great public services, properly managed taxes and budgets, and most im‐ portantly, holding the voices of the community as the highest priority. Volume 33 Issue 8 August 2021 Page 6
I am running for Mayor because I believe in civic duty and service. After living here for 20 years, I feel prepared to contribute, and I have the time to serve. As mayor, I will work to preserve the beautiful city of Alpine as you expect. I want to be the best Mayor possible. Friends and neighbors say my greatest strength is I tell it like it is, with full transparency, no sugar-coating, and I have just plain old common sense. I have no personal agenda or pet projects, other than I want to maintain the high quality of life we have in Alpine. When I say I want Alpine to remain Alpine, I am aware we will always have change, but I want to keep our quality of life consistent.
I believe the role of government should be limited to protecting individual rights and making sure there are resources in place to provide for necessities such as safety and clean water, while not overburdening our limited resources with un- sustainable growth. I don’t think the government should overreach, and I don’t want additional ordinances that limit the quality of life or rights of our residents.
Our growth is straining our limited resources and we are seeing rising traffic, water shortages, and non-residents’ continued use of our mountain trails. We have very skilled, resourceful, creative, and intelligent residents, and I’d like to use team efforts to get more citizen involvement and come up with real solutions. If I am able to serve you as Mayor, Alpine will keep a balanced and reasonable budget, as well as plan our growth to ensure we can continue to provide necessary resources for residents.
Lastly, people have been asking what I do for a living. I spend some of my time raising horses, chickens, and cattle, and I work with a company that does work for the government out of an office in Charlotte. We manage property preservation on HUD home foreclosures in Georgia, Illinois, and the Carolinas. We have a small office on Main Street here in Alpine. My wife and I have been married over 30 years and have 4 children. We have one teenager still at home, and we have a son-in-law and 2 grandchildren.
I appreciate your taking the time to reach out; I am hopeful I answered your questions, and hope I can earn your vote.
I’m Carla Merrill and I am running for Mayor of this amazing city of Alpine because I am passionate about maintaining the quaint, small‐town feeling we have with parks, trails and open‐space while though ully approaching the challenges our extensive growth brings to our limited resources.
Moving to Alpine in 1999, we fell in love with the people in the community along with the immense beauty of this wonderful area, and knew that we wanted to raise our 4 children here. I loved the trails and parks we had, and cherish the ability my children have had to grow up in Alpine, enjoying the nature we have around us.
As my family grew, I was compelled to give back the community that has given so much to us. I have enjoyed serving in many different areas: Alpine City Council Alpine City Planning Commission Wes ield and Timberline PTA President Wes ield, Timberline and LPHS Community Council board member and chairperson Alpine Days Tennis Tournament Organizer (3 years) Lone Peak Youth Football and Baseball board member Lone Peak High School Booster board member Coached youth soccer, so ball and baseball
My service record, passion for family and community, along with my professional background in corporate business devel‐ opment and customer service have taught me to listen to others, and consider all sides of an issue before making a deci‐ sion. As mayor of Alpine, I want to proac vely plan growth and protect our open spaces. I intend to balance the needs of the individual ci zen while not overlooking the general popula on and business ecosystem. I believe my background and me spent serving in this community qualify me for the role, and I would very much appreciate your vote.