Full Text
02/3/2023: BLACK HISTORY MONTH; STATE OF THE CITY; RANKED CHOICE VOTING SURVEY; CITY 2022 REPORTS; etc. View this email in your browser Ned and Susan Leggroan, residents of the Millcreek area during the late 1800s. Photo courtesy Utah State Historical Society Announcements PUBLIC MEETINGS Mt Olympus Community Council Mon., 2/6/23, 6 pm Churchill Jr High 3450 E Oakview Dr Millcreek Community NEWS Millcreek Honors its Predecessors During Black History Month By Ryan Lufkin, Vice Chair, Millcreek Historic Preservation Commission. MILLCREEK. As February marks Black History Month across the United States, it provides a chance for Millcreek residents to reflect on our shared history and celebrate the contributions of Black members across our community. ---PAGE BREAK--- Council Tues., 2/7/23, 6:30 pm City Hall, 3330 S 1300 E Or join virtually HERE Historic Preservation Commission Thurs, 2/9/23, 6 pm City Hall, 3330 S 1300 E Or join virtually HERE Black settlers began to establish a presence in the Millcreek area in the 1870s after slavery was abolished. The Chambers and Leggroan families were among the first Black farmers in the area, with Samuel Davidson Chambers purchasing property in 1875 and Ned Leggroan in 1889. For Black farmers, buying land in Millcreek would have been an important symbol of newfound freedom, stability, and independence in the aftermath of the Civil War. This Millcreek settlement would become known as “The Hill” to its African American residents and quickly became a center of Black life and culture in the Valley. The waters of Mill Creek made this settlement possible. See Utah Humanities Beehive Archive, Water Shapes Utah's First Black Community: The Hill at Millcreek. Black families on “The Hill” built bountiful orchards and farms, often selling produce to raise money that would help reunite their families in Utah after being separated under slavery. The land near today’s Evergreen Avenue proved ideal for growing small fruits like currants, grapes, cherries, and gooseberries. Farmers were frequently recognized at local fairs for their outstanding produce. By most oral accounts the Black families of Millcreek lived next to white families in relative harmony. Descendants of Black settlers lived and farmed in Millcreek until the middle of the 20th century when many families moved elsewhere to pursue jobs and economic opportunities outside of farming. "Chambers Avenue" in Millcreek’s Town Center was renamed in 2020 by the City of Millcreek to honor Samuel and Amanda Chambers and the 50 years they lived, farmed and contributed to our community. Both are buried in the Elysian Gardens cemetery, not far from “The Hill” they worked so hard to build. Chambers Ave. will be the address of Millcreek's new city hall. ---PAGE BREAK--- The Millcreek Historic Preservation Commission and the City of Millcreek are continuing to research the many ways Black residents have contributed to the history of Millcreek and to recognize and celebrate those contributions. State of the City and Community Champions Awards MILLCREEK. You are invited to attend Mayor Silvestrini's State of the City Address and presentations of the first annual Community Champion Awards. The events will take place at City Hall on February 13th, at 7 pm. Reception beforehand at 6:30 pm. City Council Asking for Feedback MILLCREEK. The City Council is seeking feedback on ranked choice voting (instant runoff voting) — the process used by the City in the 2021 election. Millcreek opted into the pilot project for this form of election for the 2021 election for Districts 2 and 4 Districts 1 and 3 were not up for election in 2021. The city has the opportunity to opt into the program again this year for the 2023 election for the Mayor and Council Districts 1 and 3. Before making that decision, the council would like to hear from you. ---PAGE BREAK--- Complete the Survey Please take a moment to respond to the City's survey by clicking the button below or scanning the QR code. More information on ranked choice voting and the election can be found on the Millcreek website. Take the Survey HERE or Scan the QR Code ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- If you have a student that attends Skyline, Olympus, or Cottonwood High School, encourage them to get involved! ---PAGE BREAK--- The shelter is still in need of donations! Due to the freezing conditions we've been experiencing lately, they are especially in need of men's coats and blankets. 2022 City Departments' Year In Review (Part 3) ---PAGE BREAK--- For this week, please take a look at the lists below from the Building and the Communications Departments. (Part 1 can be viewed HERE, Part 2 can be viewed HERE). Planning & Zoning 2.6 additional miles added to Millcreek’s trail network 376 business licenses reviewed 746 planning and engineering building permit reviews completed 150 new affordable housing units entitled (500 since incorporation) 1,158 new multifamily/townhome units entitled 32 new single family homes approved 17 retaining walls permitted 924 square feet of billboard rights eliminated 159,389 square feet of commercial space approved in Millcreek City Center 54 potential historic sites or neighborhoods identified 31 new residential or duplex lots created 9 new implementation strategies adopted to advance affordable housing in Millcreek 22 zoning compliance letters written 440 spaces approved in an agreement for a shared public parking structure on Millcreek Common 14 conditional use permits issued 45 new signs approved Community Life $316,746 Adventure Hub (Millcreek Common) revenue 19 Events at Millcreek Common 153 Event Series at Millcreek Common 86 sport development classes 18 city wide events $77,121 Venture Out! Revenue 54.8k Venture Out! social media accounts reached in December 80.6k Millcreek Common social media accounts reached in December It is difficult to list all of the things that each department does on one page but these reports should help understand what each does. If you have questions or comments about this information, please contact Rita Lund at [EMAIL REDACTED]. ---PAGE BREAK--- Getting Visual At The Library Join us tonight, 2/3/23, from 6 - 7 pm at the Millcreek Library to celebrate the Millcreek Arts Council's February 2023 artist Gayle Allen. Refreshments will be served. MILLCREEK. Gayle Allen is an accomplished watercolor artist, who is Millcreek Arts Council's February 2023 artist of the month. Gayle started her painting career in oil and acrylic. About 30 years ago she discovered watercolor and everything changed for her. She says that watercolor became magic. ---PAGE BREAK--- Gayle was President of the Utah Watercolor society and was a Grand Prize Winner in 1999. She continued to win watercolor awards from the Utah Watercolor Society through 2019 and has won awards from other art shows in Utah and Idaho. Gayle has taught and continues to teach art classes. She enjoys painting landscapes and animals. Gayle lives in Millcreek with her husband and enjoys spending time with her family and painting from photographs she has taken. Joining tonight's reception at the Millcreek Library are award winning singer/songwriter Anke Summerhill and Utah State Guitar winner Matthew Seabury, who will perform Acoustic Americana, instrumental original and cover music. ---PAGE BREAK--- Skyline "Team Blue", comprised of (left to right) Jenna Trang, Indy DeBirk, Ivy Zhao, Maylan Jessop, Lewis May, Roya Mares, Tyler Le, and team advisor attorney Jonathan Jemming, reached the quarter finals of the 2023 Utah State Bar's statewide Mock Trial Competition. Skyline "Team Yellow" (left to right) Jack Barklow/J Dawg, Hyrum Gonzalez, Margot Zollinger, Jack Catten (J-Cat), Kyle Linnhan, Arivan Verma, and Sebastian Lee. (Not pictured is Joyce Wang). ---PAGE BREAK--- Skyline "Team White" (left to right) Jonathan Su, Valencia McCarthy, Jarius McCarthy, Theo Devries, Pax Ferguson, Elise Whitehead, Anhkhoa Le, Hillary King (Attorney Coach) team advisor attorney Hillary King Skyline Mock Trial Teams Take the Competition to Court MILLCREEK. This week, three Skyline High School Mock Trial teams had the privilege of competing in the 2023 statewide Mock Trial competition hosted by the Utah State Bar. The team of Indy DeBirk, Maylan Jessop, Roya Mares, Lewis May, Jenna Tran, Ivy Zhao and Tyler Le made it to the quarter finals to stand in the top eight of 36 teams statewide. The teams are coached by Jonathan Jemming, a longtime Millcreek-based lawyer, and Hillary King, a Millcreek resident and trial lawyer with the Legal Defenders Association. The mock trial program is five years old, and has grown from six in its first year to 23 students in 2023. Participating on the Mock Trial teams is challenging work. We celebrate their hard work and their pursuit at Skyline of an education in the legal world. Go Eagles! ---PAGE BREAK--- The Amanda Conk Best House, located at 3622 S 1100 E, was built in 1896. Also known as the Boyle House, the Beal House, and the Aoki House, the structure is a brick Queen Ann style that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OPENING MILLCREEK. There is an opening on Millcreek's Historic Preservation Commission. Please consider applying if you have experience in a field related to historic preservation (history, archaeology, architecture, planning, artifact curation, etc.). This is a volunteer position. Click HERE for more information and to apply. Meetings With the Mayor Fridays from 2-4pm have been set aside for citizens to meet with Mayor Silvestrini. Call 801- 214-2700 to schedule a slot. VISIT us at Click here to subscribe to this weekly newsletter ---PAGE BREAK--- Copyright © 2023 Millcreek, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Click here to subscribe to this weekly newsletter Forward Share Tweet