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Documents probe Vineyard letter supporting Utah Lake Restoration Project

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Documents probe Vineyard letter supporting Utah Lake Restoration Project


Isaac Hale, Day by day Herald file photograph

Julie Fullmer poses for a portrait Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, on the Winery Metropolis Places of work.

A pair of data requests initially filed to ease the minds of two Utah County residents have solely created extra confusion, they are saying, relating to a letter of assist from Winery Mayor Julie Fullmer for the Utah Lake Restoration Mission’s software for funding by an Environmental Safety Company program.

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These data requests had been made by the Authorities Information Entry and Administration Act, or GRAMA, a Utah state regulation meant to allow public entry to authorities data.

GRAMA requests had been filed in January and February by Shawn Herring, a resident of Winery, and Kaye Nelson, a resident of Provo. The scope of those requests required Winery metropolis workers to supply all data of communications between themselves and workers of Lake Restoration Options between March 2015 and the current.

A hyperlink to the general public paperwork recognized in response to those requests was despatched to Herring and Nelson on April 4. Herring is now sharing this hyperlink with the general public within the hope of selling extra citywide transparency.

The Utah Lake Restoration Mission is a proposal to dredge Utah Lake and create islands that will be used for estuary, recreation and housing functions. Whereas initially receiving assist from the Utah state authorities and legislators, the undertaking has additionally acquired criticism from native municipalities and environmental teams.

The undertaking is at present present process a federal course of to find out the environmental impacts of proposed actions. This course of will probably take not less than two extra years to finish.

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In line with Herring, his major motive for submitting the GRAMA request was to discover a file of a public dialogue surrounding Winery’s letter of assist for the Utah Lake Restoration Mission’s software to the EPA’s WIFIA program, established by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014.

“The principle objective of the GRAMA request was simply to see how that letter of assist … got here to be, who was concerned within the choices, and the way seemingly no person knew about it till the general public actually came upon about it on the first of the yr,” Herring stated. “The principle motive of that’s actually simply to learn how it bought up to now with out (anyone) figuring out. … There needed to have been dialogue main as much as the writing of that letter.”

In a September 2020 letter addressed to the EPA, Fullmer expressed sturdy assist for the Utah Lake Restoration Mission and appropriated $5 million money for Lake Restoration Options for use for eligible, authorized project-related prices.

This letter was included with the Lake Restoration Options software for WIFIA help, in addition to within the undertaking’s proposal, which was developed by the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers.

The paperwork supplied by the GRAMA request present that the letter of assist was not publicly mentioned in conferences of town council or Winery Redevelopment Company, main Herring and people he had shared the outcomes of his GRAMA request with to change into involved.

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“There was completely nothing in that GRAMA request that justified the necessity for that letter,” Herring stated. “Who reached out to who with a view to get that assist? Who authorized the $5 million? Why did they really feel it was not essential to contain the general public?”

In line with Fullmer, the letter of assist didn’t must be mentioned in public conferences because it was not supposed as a closing dedication of Winery funds to the Utah Lake Restoration Mission, however relatively a letter in assist of the undertaking gaining WIFIA help and pursuing discovery.

“They had been seeking to see what applications had been being carried out that may very well be used as a match to be thought of for funds to start out going by an software and allowing course of,” Fullmer stated. “The funds had been granted to a landowner by the Redevelopment Company board approval course of that was working with the group. That group decided that the $5 million undertaking may very well be used as a match and wished assist for the pre-approved undertaking to be proven as an enchancment to the lakeshore.”

“We already had tasks that will profit the lake and may very well be included as a part of the general scope of the lake restoration undertaking,” Jacob McHargue, former Winery metropolis supervisor, stated in an electronic mail to the Day by day Herald. “We agreed that these tasks had been already authorized capital tasks for the Winery redevelopment company (RDA) and may very well be included as matching funds for the undertaking. So far as money donations from town or RDA going in the direction of the lake restoration undertaking, that was by no means the case.”

These pre-approved tasks include tasks like Lake Promenade and Geneva Park which were beforehand mentioned in public conferences.

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The letter states that town’s dedication of funds to the Utah Lake Restoration Mission can be topic to the approval of the ultimate undertaking finance plan, approval of the documentation and proof of Winery’s dedication, in addition to the approval of the ultimate proposed WIFIA/RDA funded tasks. In line with Fullmer, any of this future approval or suggestion would undergo the RDA board earlier than a closing determination can be reached.

Fullmer maintains that this letter is merely in assist of the undertaking’s discovery and that Winery has not taken an official stance on the Utah Lake Restoration Mission and won’t till the undertaking has completed the environmental influence overview course of as stipulated by the Nationwide Environmental Coverage Act.

“The funds have already been allotted by the redevelopment company and so they proceed to go ahead on our lakeshore, promenade and clear up,” she stated. “Town supported the invention which the undertaking is present process and the council and RDA has decided to attend and see the outcomes of the examine earlier than taking a stand on the undertaking itself.”

In line with Fullmer, town of Winery isn’t dedicated in any technique to Lake Restoration Options or the Utah Lake Restoration Mission at the moment, however it’s nonetheless dedicated to its personal lakeshore enchancment tasks.

“I imagine that lake restoration group goes by their discovery with the Military Corps and different environmental businesses,” she stated. “Winery is at a wait-and-see place and is shifting ahead with our personal lakeshore tasks.”

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Fullmer hopes that the outcomes of the GRAMA requests might help to place the minds of involved residents relaxed relating to the general public course of inside Winery.

“Hopefully, what comes from that is individuals acknowledge that mass assist for Walkara Method, the clear and clear course of and public outreach we at all times present as a group, and our love for the group,” she stated. “I imagine confusion has been within the media and the individuals could be relaxation assured we’re following processes and involving them in our choices.”

Herring intends to attraction the GRAMA request as he didn’t really feel that the paperwork supplied by the self-auditing course of by Winery metropolis workers had been full. He should file this request inside 30 days of April 4 for it to be accepted by town.

Herring believes that what he considers to be an absence of transparency relating to Winery’s letter of assist for the Utah Lake Restoration Mission’s WIFIA software is indicative of a bigger communication situation throughout the metropolis.

“If now we have a query about one thing, now we have to look actually exhausting for info, or now we have to take motion like a GRAMA request or a referendum or one thing,” Herring stated. “Numerous cities will put the data on the market, simple to search out. When you have questions, they’ll reply questions. You sort of must seek out and work for some solutions within the metropolis of Winery.”

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Utah

White Christmas moves closer to reality for much of Utah

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White Christmas moves closer to reality for much of Utah


Those who asked Santa Claus for a White Christmas may find what they wanted under the tree… or better yet, on the trees as storms are expected to bring snow to much of Utah on the holiday.

TRACK THE STORMS: Get real-time weather by downloading the FREE Utah Weather Authority app

Southern Utah will wake up on Christmas morning with snow already likely on the ground as a storm moves in overnight. The winds then turn in the afternoon and the snow arrives along the Wasatch Front with a few inches possible in the northern Utah valleys.

Salt Lake City is currently seeing a 60-70 percent chance of receiving over a trace amount of snow, according to the National Weather Service, with the possibility of accumulating snowfall in the benches.

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The mountains are expected to get a decent dump of snow, which will please skiers and snowboarders who have waited through a disappointing start to winter. The resorts up the Cottonwood canyons can see up to 10 inches of snow.

Another storm is expected to impact many of the state’s mountains on Thursday and Friday. Overall, the northern mountain areas could receive up to 3 feet of snow throughout all the storms, with the higher amounts possible in the Bear River Mountains and upper Cottonwoods.

The Thursday-Friday storm will only bring light accumulations to valleys.





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Utah Hockey Club drops a game it ‘needed and wanted’ in a chase for a playoff spot

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Utah Hockey Club drops a game it ‘needed and wanted’ in a chase for a playoff spot


Barrett Hayton did not have a concrete answer for Utah Hockey Club’s lackluster second period.

“I don’t know. We’re going to have to sit down and talk about it. I think we have to figure out what causes that,” the forward said. “The mentality we have to figure out.”

It was Hayton’s third-period goal that pulled Utah within one after allowing the Dallas Stars to take a 3-1 lead in the middle frame. However, the attempted comeback was too little too late and the Stars took the two oh-so-valuable divisional points in a 3-2 win at Delta Center Monday night.

“We’re neck and neck [in the standings] with these guys. That’s a game we really needed and wanted,” Nick Bjugstad said. “Tried to fight back in the third, but that’s a good team. Can’t take a period off. That’s kind of what we did in the second.”

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(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dallas Stars left wing Mason Marchment (27) vies for the puck with Utah Hockey Club defenseman Olli Maatta (2) and Utah Hockey Club center Barrett Hayton (27) during the first period of the NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024.

The Stars took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period with a goal from Colin Blackwell. Following a Utah turnover in the neutral zone, the Dallas forward broke out off the rush and sniped it past Karel Vejmelka from the right side.

Kevin Stenlund tied things 1-1 for Utah just over a minute later with his fifth goal of the month and sixth of the season. The veteran forward earned net-front positioning and tipped Ian Cole’s blast from the point in at 12:41.

The back-to-back fatigue became evident in the second period for Utah. The team looked disjointed and slow and it cost it.

“It’s a veteran team on the other side who weathered the storm in the first period,” head coach André Tourigny said. “Then they got us where they wanted us and we didn’t play particularly well at that.”

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(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) and defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok (52) react to a goal from the Dallas Stars during the first period of the NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024.

Dallas took advantage of its fresh legs by creating frequent odd-man situations simply by beating Utah to the puck.

That is how Roope Hintz’s goal unfolded. He and Mavrik Bourque blew past Stenlund and Michael Kesselring at Utah’s defensive blueline ahead of a give-and-go sequence which found Hintz uncovered in front. He wristed it in for the 2-1 advantage at 12:39.

Jamie Benn’s tally at 17:50 closely resembled the same play. Wyatt Johnston looped the puck behind the net before hitting a wide-open, net-front Benn who unleashed a one-timer to make it 3-1 heading into the third period.

“I think that second period is the learning lesson, obviously. We knew coming into this game it’s a four-point game, division game. Those matchups are huge,” Hayton said. “We’re all pissed off about it and disappointed and frustrated in ourselves. That’s a big game and sucks for it to go that way.”

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(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) prepares to shoot as Utah Hockey Club left wing Matias Maccelli (63) defends during the second period of the NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024.

Utah’s power play — which had been on a seven-game conversion streak — could barely string passes together and did not establish a cycle in the two chances it was given through 40 minutes. The third line of Bjugstad, Lawson Crouse and Matias Maccelli, however, had noticeable jump at the start of the night as it tried to get its production going.

“When you’re not scoring as a line you try to figure out what to do. But for us it’s just simplifying,” Bjugstad said. “Just have to find a way to score. That’s kind of all I’ve got on that front.”

Hayton’s goal came at 11:39 of the final stanza and gave his team just under nine minutes to hunt for an equalizer it ultimately did not find. After Utah won an offensive-zone faceoff, Hayton got between the hash marks and deflected in Nick Schmaltz’s shot from the left side for the 3-2 scoreline and his second goal in two games.

Clayton Keller picked up the secondary assist on the play which extended his point streak to five games — he’s had 10 points through that stretch.

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“Proud of the effort of the guys,” Tourigny said. “Proud of the pushback we had. We all talk about the second period which is totally true and fair, but in the third period we had a hell of a pushback and the guys never quit.”

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club celebrate a goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period of the NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024.

Utah will now have three NHL-mandated days off for the holidays before returning to Delta Center on Friday to host the Colorado Avalanche — another Central Division opponent.

Despite Utah’s two-game losing streak, the team remains confident about its overall play in December and the position it has put them in heading into the new year.

“It’s on us. They pushed, but we have to understand that’s game management,” Bjugstad said. “We’ve got to learn, we’ve got to move on. I think this team has a lot of upside so we want to fulfill that.”

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What went wrong in Utah HC's loss to Stars?

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What went wrong in Utah HC's loss to Stars?


The Utah Hockey Club’s last two regulation losses have now come at the hands of the Dallas Stars following Monday night’s 3-2 loss at home.

An insufficient effort in the second period was Utah HC’s demise. Outside of that, it was as evenly matched as any game.

“I think that second period’s a learning lesson, honestly,” said Utah center Barrett Hayton. “I thought we did a great job in the first period. We were urgent, we were intense, we were on the ball, playing the right way. You just can’t afford those lapses against good teams, and that’s what our second period was.”

A late push from Utah yielded some close calls, but sports fans know “close” doesn’t cut it.

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How this works

This is a three-part article geared toward three different audiences.

  • First, we’ll have “Utah hockey for dummies” for all you new hockey fans. Welcome, by the way — we’re glad you’ve taken an interest in the greatest sport in the world.
  • Next, we’ll have a section titled “Utah hockey for casual fans,” aimed at those who have a basic understanding of the sport.
  • Finally, we’ll have “Utah hockey for nerds.” That will be for those of you who, like me, think about nothing but hockey all day, every day.

Feedback is welcome, so let me know what you think in the comments of this article or the comments section on “X.”

Utah Hockey for dummies

Hayton seems to have found his scoring touch once again.

Until this week, the 24-year-old who centers Utah’s top line hadn’t scored since Oct. 30. Now, he has a pair of goals in as many games. It’s his second time scoring in bunches this year, as he scored in each of the team’s first three games and again in its fifth game.

He told the media after the game Monday that there’s not much rhyme or reason to his streaks.

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“I think you’ll score and produce when you’re playing well and playing the right way,” he said. “It all comes full circle like that, so I don’t know. It’s just coincidence.”

Regardless of whether the puck goes in the net or not, Hayton has played an immaculate defensive game this year, which has opened his linemates up for offensive success.

Clayton Keller, who plays on Hayton’s left wing, has scored more than a point per game this year. Nick Schmaltz, his other winger, is just below a point per game.

Interesting note: There’s a discrepancy as to how many points Hayton now has in his career. The team is celebrating his goal as his 100th point, but NHL.com says it’s only his 99th, with the same number of games played, goals and assists.

HockeyDB and most of the other sites agree that it’s number 100. I’m not good enough at math to figure out who’s right. Someone add it up and let me know in the comments.

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Utah Hockey for casual fans

Although Utah HC managed just 26 shots Monday, Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith was the story of the game. He plays at the top of his crease, which is especially effective when facing shots from medium and close distances. It earned him the honor of first star of the game.

Time and time again, Utah would create plenty of open space, make a great play and put a solid shot on net, only to have it go straight to the crest of DeSmith’s jersey.

“There weren’t many holes on him,” said Utah center Nick Bjugstad. “There were some good chances on our end, but I still feel like traffic and making it a little harder on him would have been beneficial for us.”

Utah Hockey for nerds

The fatigue of a back-to-back affects teams more than we probably think it does. In this, the second game in as many nights for Utah HC, they got much-needed energy from the third line: Bjugstad, Lawson Crouse and Matias Maccelli.

All night long, that line created chances out of thin air. They seemed to have the chemistry together that earned them all the best or second-best point totals of their careers last year.

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One example came midway through the first period Monday. Bjugstad was streaking down the left wing but was forced to the outside by the Stars’ defender.

Rather than trying to beat him with speed, Bjugstad threw on the brakes and sent a spinning backhand pass straight to the stick of Crouse.

DeSmith matched him with a perfectly positioned save, but the play gave Utah a jolt of energy.

Then on the first shift of the second period, they had a similar high-energy rush. It was not by coincidence that Utah head coach Andre Tourigny selected his highest-paced line to set the tone for the second.

These are the kinds of things that third lines are typically responsible for, in addition to chipping in a goal once every two or three games. They’re really struggling to do that second part, but they showed on Monday that they can do the first thing.

“When you’re not scoring as a line, you try to figure out what to do,” Bjugstad said. “For us, it’s just simplifying.”

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What’s next?

There will be three silent nights for Utah HC — and the rest of the NHL — before getting back into action on Friday as they host the Colorado Avalanche.

It’s the third and final match this season between the two teams. They’re both 1-1-0 against each other so the season series is on the line.

It’s a big game in the sense that both teams are competing for one of the same five playoff spots, so every point matters. It’s a good chance for one team to gain the edge over the other.

Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon is as hot as ever right now, with 16 points in his last seven games. With that in mind, it shouldn’t surprise you that he has a five-point lead in the NHL points race.

The game starts at 7:30 p.m. It will be broadcast nationally, meaning it won’t be available on the normal channels. Instead, it’s on ESPN2.

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