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Show Volume XXVI Issue IV The Ogden Valley news Page 3 April 1, 2020 Guest Commentary Be Safe & Aware of Your Environment—and Those around You—As We Weather This Storm Together By Mayor Jim Truett The past few days and weeks have been unsettling and uncomfortable for many of us. I, like you, have been watching the constant updates on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and trying to prepare my family. It is easy to allow the news and grocery store visits to become overwhelming. The abundant, but prudent cautions taken by our Government and Church leaders have been good counsel to help protect from the spread of virus. Huntsville Town is a special place. We know our neighbors, and have life-long friends and family in our little Town. Most of us have been through a lot together. I am always encouraged as I see residents in our Town, show kindness and compassion to one another. We hope and pray that this is a temporary situation. We strongly encourage residents to be smart in their preparedness while avoiding over-reactions to developing situations. Please don’t stop checking on your neighbors and friends; call or text them to check on their wellbeing. They may not have the resources you do and may need some type of help. Despite social distancing, everyone needs someone looking out for them. Remember, those at risk are recent travelers from a country with ongoing spread of the Coronavirus, or individuals with close contact to a person with the virus. Some of the symptoms are fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. This illness can be mild; however, in some cases it is severe enough to require hospitalization. If you are concerned you may have contracted the virus, your first call should be to your primary care physician. If you do not have a primary care physician, please call the state Coronavirus hotline at 1-800-456-7707. As a third option, you can contact the WeberMorgan Health department on their hotline at 801-399-7777. Please, if you exhibit flu-like symptoms, stay home and consult with your medical professional. The state has compiled the most recent information about COVID-19, its spread, resources to treat the virus, and other impactful Utah State information on its website at <www. coronavirus.utah.gov> Weber-Morgan Health has released some valuable visual information and posters regarding social distancing as a resource. They are attached to the website and free to use. If you have traveled recently, or are planning to travel to a country with a widespread outbreak of (COVID-19), you should consult the CDC’s guidance for traveler’s web site at <www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html> Again, we want you to be safe, and be aware of your environment, and those around you, as we weather this storm together. Ogden Nordic Provides “Comfort Grooming” By Trish Painter We live in a beautiful place, and during these troubled and confusing times, getting out in nature and doing some strenuous exercise in some way helps put things into perspective. To that end, Ogden Nordic has continued to groom the trails in North Fork Park for skiing. We wanted to offer a very sincere “Thank You” to our grooming team for their efforts. It has meant a lot to many of our regular skiers. On Tuesday morning, there was a sign on the snowcat that said “THANKS SO MUCH GROOMERS… Especially in these times.” A skier sent us a message with the picture of the sign on the groomer and stated, “While I did not put this sign on the groomer, I wish I had! Still lots of folks getting out there, including many of us healthcare types. Thanks for grooming.” It saddens us that our season is waning with the rain, but the extended grooming after the closing of the Nordic Center has been a true relief for many. Since hiking and biking is possible on lower trails, we ask that folks go elsewhere to hike and bike, and leave the last of the snow on the trails for the die-hard skiers who have a hard time letting go of winter! Ogden Nordic depends on the time and enthusiastic efforts of many volunteers who groom, maintain the trails, and work at the Nordic Center. We thank our wonderful community of volunteers and Weber County Parks and Recreation Department for helping us operate one of the best winter trails venue in the west! We hope everyone stays healthy and will be able to continue to enjoy the splendor of nature that surrounds us here in Ogden Valley. Commissioner’s Corner Our businesses play a critical role in the livelihood of our residents and the health of our community. We are behind you 100% and working every day to make sure you have the tools you need to weather this unique situation. Below is an outline of the programs currently available to Weber County businesses. Please do not hesitate to reach out should you have any questions. In the coming days, we will continue to put together programs and plans to support you. Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans - Weber County businesses are eligible to apply for low-interest loans through the Small Business Administration. The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters. The terms of the SBA loans are as follows: • 3.75% interest rate for small businesses • 2.75% interest rate for non-profits • Repayment terms of up to 30 years To apply online for SBA loans, please visit https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance to start the online application. Business Loans of Utah (BLU Loans) BLU loans can be used for debt consolidation, inventory purchase, accounts receivable, working capital, equipment, and real estate. The terms of BLU loans are as follows: • Loan amounts: $50,000 to $350,000 • No repayment penalties • APR: 8% to 18% • Collateral and guarantees required • Term: up to 5 years For additional details or questions call BLU at 801-316-9117 or visit <bluutah.com> Ogden City Business Loan Program Ogden City-based businesses impacted by COVID-19 may qualify for business loans through Ogden City’s Business Information Center (BIC). Ogden City is preparing a request for additional funding for our business loan program, and we will strive to provide flexible loan terms and an expedited process. For more information, please contact the BIC at 801-6298613 or at <bicinfo@ogdencity.com> Northern Utah Economic Response Team - Weber County, in conjunction with Davis County, has created the Northern Utah Economic Response Team. Led by Chris Roybal, President of the Northern Utah Economic Development Alliance, this team will coordinate with our local businesses and cities to offer data for financial resources, job opportunities, Federal Stimulus programs, corporate assistance, and state/local resources. For more information, contact Chris Roybal at 801455-5690 or <croybal@edcutah.org> Team Members • Chris Roybal, President, Northern Utah Economic Alliance • Holin Wilbanks, Economic Development Director, Weber County • Rob Sant, Economic Development Director, Davis County • Carrie Fullerton, Senior Vice President, Bank of Utah • Darren Rogers, Department of Workforce Services • Angie Osguthorpe, President, Davis Chamber • Chuck Leonhardt, President Ogden-Weber Chamber Additionally, all Weber County facilities are closed to the public but still available by appointment. Our staff is committed to making sure we are facilitating appointments as quickly as possible to maintain a high customer serviceoriented approach. We are working diligently to achieve the best possible outcome for longterm economic stability and the health of our community. Inspirational Thought “Circumstances do not make the man, they reveal him.” --James Allen Weed Removal Services I am currently seeking farms or residences who would like to have their dyer’s woad removed. Only those locations that have no recent history of chemical herbicides or pesticides will be considered, documentation preferred. Please contact Chris Harris at mr.christopher.harris@gmail.com |