Much to look forward to in 2021, says SoJo Mayor in State of the City address
Jan 26, 2021 02:37PM ● By Mariden Williams
By Mariden Williams | [email protected]
Ordinarily, South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey gives the annual State of the City address in person, but these are exceptional times, so she made an exception and delivered this year's address in the form of a letter instead.
"Despite the challenges 2020 presented, our City Council, staff, and residents have risen to the occasion and made the most of the last year. We have many successes to celebrate and much to look forward to in 2021," Mayor Ramsey wrote.
Recreation staff devised creative ways to keep residents engaged even at a distance, through their wildly successful Virtual Race Series, virtual scavenger hunts, Story Walks, and their virtual Light the Night events. Since the City Council has not met in person for months now, city staff have also put extra effort into releasing regular informative videos, newsletters and staying active on social media.
It was a big year for South Jordan's fire department. When California and much of the west coast was on fire last summer, South Jordan firefighters were deployed as part of Utah Task Force One to help try to keep things under control. They also helped neighboring cities clear out fallen trees in the aftermath of September's historic windstorm.
2021 will see the completion of the under-construction Fire Station 64—a combination fire station, police substation, and city hall annex with 30,000 square feet of floor space, located at 5443 West Lake Ave. Having a station on the west side of town will greatly improve emergency response times for residents in that area.
"We have already begun to hire and train staff for the new facility as well as acquire new equipment. Public safety will remain a top priority in 2021 as we continue to work on staffing and equipping the new station. We appreciate all our first responders do to help keep us safe," wrote Mayor Ramsey.
Station 64 isn't the only big construction project scheduled to be completed in 2021. A much-anticipated expansion to the South Jordan Cemetery is almost complete, and a new elementary school will be ready in the fall.
Construction is also underway on an all-new, eco-friendly library: the Daybreak Branch Library. The new library will feature a lovely rooftop garden, and is planned to be a net-zero energy building, meaning that the total amount of energy used by the building will be roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on-site. It's scheduled to open next winter, at which point it will be open for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to all county residents.
South Jordan residents and cross-city commuters alike will also notice one other, slightly more aggravating construction project this year: the creation of a flyover road at Bangerter Highway and 10400 South, which will result in a full closure of that intersection from May to November.
"This temporary closure will ensure that our residents remain safe during construction, and also allows the project to be finished in a shorter timeframe. We appreciate your patience and look forward to the completion of this monumental project that will significantly improve traffic flow," wrote Mayor Ramsey.
Another 2020 achievement for South Jordan was winning the Bill Daniels Ethical Leadership Award for government. "Ethical Leadership is paramount! It is a great honor to be recognized for our ethical leadership and to be chosen from among all government organizations in the state for this prestigious award," Ramsey wrote.
South Jordan's parks continue to grow. Last year, the city added 12 pickleball courts to City Park and Highland Park, and broke ground on the 160-acre Bingham Creek Regional Park, which will be the largest park in the county. The existing Heritage Park will also receive an exciting addition later this summer.
"I am very excited to announce we are building a beautiful new splash park at Heritage Park. It will be a wonderful addition to our city and a place to enjoy for generations to come," Mayor Ramsey wrote.
