Park Record | 2020-04-08 | Page 10

A-10 Wed/Thurs/Fri, April 8-10, 2020 The Park Record Meetings and agendas Red CaRd RobeRts TO PUBLISH YOUR PUBLIC NOTICES AND AGENDAS, PLEASE EMAIL [e-mail] The quarantine chronicles AGENDA SUMMIT COUNTY COUNCIL Wednesday, April 8, 2020 NOTICE is hereby given that the Summit County Council will meet electronically, via Zoom, on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, at the anchor location Sheldon Richins Building, 1885 West Ute Blvd, Park City, UT 84098 (All times listed are general in nature, and are subject to change by the Council Chair) To view Council meeting, live, visit the “Summit County, Utah” Facebook page 4:10 p.m. OR To participate in Council meeting: Join Zoom webinar: https://zoom.us/j/772302472 OR To listen by phone only: Dial 1-301-715-8592, Webinar ID: 772 302 472 12:50 PM Work Session 1) Interview applicants for vacancies on the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission (90 min) 2:20 PM - Council Members log into separate electronic meeting for closed session 2:30 PM Closed Session - Personnel (60 min); Security (30 min); Property acquisition (30 min) 4:10 PM - Council Members log back into Zoom meeting 4:15 PM – Work Session, continued 1) Pledge of Allegiance 2) 4:15 PM - Continued discussion regarding 2020/2021 revenue impacts: Matt Leavitt (45 min) 5:00 PM Convene as a Governing Board of Mountain Regional Water Special Service District 1) Discussion and possible approval of amendments to Mountain Regional Water Special Service District Personnel Policies and Administrative Policies; Lisa Hoffman (20 min) Dismiss as the Governing Board of Mountain Regional Water Special Service District 5:20 PM Consideration of Approval 1) Appoint members to serve on the Eastern Summit County Planning Commission 2) Acceptance of 2020 Declaration of Conflicts of Interest disclosure statements for elected officials and department heads; Brian Bellamy 3) Discussion and approval of Proclamation 2020-4, a Proclamation Recognizing National Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week and Summit County’s Animal Control Employees; Janna Young 4) Council Minutes dated March 23, 2020, March 24, 2020, and March 25, 2020 5) Council Comments 6) Manager Comments 6:00 PM Public Input If you would like to submit comments to Council, please email [e-mail] by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8th. If you wish to interact with Council at 6:00 p.m., please follow the “Public Comment Instructions”. Members of the County Council, presenters, and members of public, may attend by electronic means, using Zoom (phone or video). Such members may fully participate in the proceedings as if physically present. The anchor location for purposes of the electronic meeting is the Sheldon Richins Building auditorium, 1885 W. Ute Blvd., Park City, Utah Individuals with questions, comments, or needing special accommodations pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding this meeting may contact Annette Singleton at [phone] Police adapt to pandemic In Northern Utah, fewer inmates are being held in jail MARK SHENEFELT Standard-Examiner OGDEN (AP) — Northern Utah jail populations are falling and police are delivering fewer detainees for jailing, except violent offenders, as law enforcement responds to the coronavirus pandemic. The Weber County Jail in Ogden had about 780 inmates this time last year, but the head count is down to about 685 recently, said Lt. Joshua Marigoni, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office corrections division. Davis County’s jail population at Farmington dipped below 500 last week, Sheriff Kelly Sparks said. That’s compared with the daily averages last spring ranging from 600 to 700. Police departments that feed arrestees to the county jails are participating in the effort to limit those populations, which are at high risk of spreading infection if any inmates contract COVID-19. “The public should understand that if we get COVID-19 in the jail, we’ve got a serious issue,” Marigoni said. “We don’t have the option of social distancing.” Sparks and Marigoni said trimming inmate numbers give the jails a better chance of effectively quarantining any COVID-19 cases. Sparks told the Standard-Examiner the Davis jail already has set aside one cell block for quarantining if necessary. “A lot of people are concerned about the release of inmates, but we have no immediate need or intention to release any significant number of inmates from the jail,” Sparks said. In addition to limiting the numbers of new inmates, some offenders are being released ear- Continued from A-8 Ski industry said mountain lodges are seeing many guests shifting their reservations to rebooking for later this summer or next ski season. “We are blessed with a very dedicated consumer base who identify as skiers and mountains are a big part of their lifestyle,” Foley said. “They were instrumental in pulling the resort industry out of the 08-09 recession and they will be just as instrumental By Amy Roberts ly, Sparks said. These include inmates who are within a week of release anyway and those who have exhibited good behavior behind bars. “We are making sure to keep room in the jail for anyone who is a possible public safety threat,” Sparks said. Those convicted or suspected of violent crimes, including domestic abuse, still are being detained. More people stopped by police for nonviolent offenses are receiving citations with a promise to appear in court. Such offenses may include “warrants, DUI, barking dogs, or things of a very minor nature,” Marigoni said. Police agencies have been asked by sheriff’s offices “to exercise discretion on who they decide needs to come to jail,” said Liz Sollis, Davis sheriff’s office spokeswoman. At the Layton Police Department, the number of calls for service, police incidents and arrests were nearly identical over the last two months compared with February and March 2019, Lt. Travis Lyman said. “Our officers have been told to limit contacts to emergencies and arrests on things that are not so critical, so I expect that would start showing up in bookings into jail,” Lyman said. On a typical day a year ago, the Davis jail could expect to see 20 to 50 or so new arrests or jail entries per day, according to booking log reports. Last Wednesday, there were three new inmates, and on Thursday just five. The jail population drawdowns in the face of COVID-19 are to protect inmates, jail staff and the public, jail officials say. Sparks said all incoming Davis inmates get temperature checks and other health screenings by jail nurses before they are admitted. All jail staff members have their temperature checked upon arrival and are sent home if they’re feverish. He said the jail also is making provisions to move inmates in high-risk groups, such as those over 60 or with comprised immune systems, into “safer locations” of the jail to minimize exposure if COVID-19 does hit. “If we do the right thing now, it could make a big difference,” the sheriff said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued detailed guidelines for the criminal justice system to limit coronavirus risks in jails, prisons and courts. Video court hearings were stressed by the CDC, and meanwhile the Utah court system has ordered the postponement of all jury trials and nonessential hearings until further notice. The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah last week sent a letter to justice system officials in the state urging comprehensive action in light of the coronavirus. “This must include preventing people from unnecessarily entering the criminal legal system in the first place, and ensuring that prisons do not needlessly keep people incarcerated who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19,” the group’s director, Brittney Nystrom, said in a letter to officials. “We have reviewed booking records in some counties that suggest that even over the last few days of extreme social distancing efforts, including an emergency declaration by Governor Herbert banning public gatherings over 100, some county jails are still admitting new detainees on a variety of criminal charges, including many non-violent ones,” she said. In Layton, Lyman said police also have taken steps on their own to limit coronavirus risks for all involved. “We’ve really scaled back our discretionary contacts,” he said. “Community engagement and outreach stuff has been put on hold.” Patrol shifts no longer have group briefings and officers are writing a lot of their reports while alone in their cars, Lyman said. in pulling us out of this downturn.” But it’s harder to say when that rebound might come. This pandemic has travel fears and unprecedented restrictions delivering an economic punch that has yet to be detailed. With the economic recession a decade ago, the slow and steady decline was obvious months ahead. This economic impact was sudden, with an unexpected collapse. “There are factors at play here that we have never dealt with,” Foley said. “We have had a system shock and it’s harder to predict what recovery might look like.” Foley does see a sliver of an economic silver lining, though. “Which might, ironically enough, lie in the fact that the industry is shut down,” he said. During the recession, lodges painfully slashed rates as they struggled to lure visitors. Lodges spent almost two years cutting room rates to keep visitors coming. It took more than five-and-ahalf years for mountain lodges to slowly return to room rates that peaked in 2007, Foley said. “Lodges and resorts now have a chance to make a strategy and plan for rates and bookings,” Foley said. “It’s possible that parts of that slow rebuild can be avoided because we have an opportunity to ponder a strategy.” The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported news organization dedicated to covering the people, places and policies that matter in Colorado. Read more, sign up for free newsletters and subscribe at coloradosun.com. A few weeks ago, when “quarantine” was still a word we were all just trying on for size and it was not yet part of our daily vernacular, I wasn’t too terribly worried about the weight of its definition. If anything, I figured as a single woman in her 40s, quarantining was something I would excel at. I naively assumed a government-ordered quarantine wouldn’t be that much different from how I already live. Minus a few cohabiting boyfriends over the years and a roommate here and there, I’ve lived alone the majority of my adult life. And it suits me. I’ve always had a job that demands a lot of social engagement, and by nature I’m an outgoing person, typically bouncing from one interaction to the next. So when I find myself at home at the end of the day, I tend to relish the quiet. Admittedly, I was not prepared for just how quiet a quarantine is when you live alone. Suffice it to say, I now understand why solitary confinement is considered a severe form of punishment in prison. Choosing to be alone is drastically different than being cut off from human contact. As a species, we are genetically hardwired to seek comfort and connection from other people. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, social interaction and belonging is what we seek soon after the essentials — food, water and shelter — are met. In short, those of us quarantining alone are essentially duking it out with our biological code. There are countless articles and numerous interviews with experts available on how to navigate quarantine with kids, a spouse, roommates and others one might share a roof with. But there isn’t much advice available for those of us going it alone. After quite a bit of searching, I did find one article that suggested documenting my daily thoughts as a way to cope and measure the ups and downs. The skeptic in me is inclined to believe the author of this article is actually a future anthropologist planning to study a niche group of solo quarantiners and chart their mental decline. Maybe I am doing nothing more than making a contribution to a PhD candidate’s academic research, but for the sake of my own sanity, I decided to give it a go. It looks something like this: I now understand why solitary confinement is considered a severe form of punishment in prison. Choosing to be alone is drastically different than being cut off from human contact.” Day 1: Quarantine is going to be good for me. I will use my free time to learn a new language, get organized and self-reflect. Productivity expected to soar. Day 2: I should really stop licking my finger every time I turn the page in this book. Day 3: I have enough food to last me 10 days. I will likely be a self-trained five-star chef by the end of this. Day 4: There is no flour left in this town. Does a pandemic suddenly make everyone gluten tolerant? Day 5: I am actively giving myself Type 2 diabetes. Day 6: Last week I was excited to further develop my hobbies. But it turns out, my hobbies consist of going out to eat, spending money on non-essential items and touching my face. Day 7: The longer this goes on, the harder it’s going to be to return to a world where I’m expected to where a bra. Day 8: I’m so bored I’m contemplating inviting all my exes to a Zoom meeting. Day 9: Why does everyone in Europe have a balcony? Day 10 or March 78th: I want a refund on my 2020 calendar. Knowing the day is no longer of concern to me. To all my friends: When this is over, invite me anywhere. I promise I will go this time. I finished Netflix. Trump is so full of crap, it’s little wonder the country is out of toilet paper. I’m going to the store to buy squash and I’ll make soup tonight. I wish I hadn’t blocked all those numbers from telemarketers. I would really love to talk to them right now. Leaving a butternut squash on someone’s doorstep is a pretty inexpensive way to occupy a portion of their mind forever. How the hell can I have laundry piled up? I’ve been wearing the same outfit for three days. I can never again lie to myself about all the things I would do if I only had the time. Just how good would I have to be at basketball to get tested for coronavirus? I need to text everyone I know who owns a Peloton and apologize for making fun of them. Maybe if I develop feelings for COVID-19 it will disappear. I now understand why my dog sometimes eats a chair when he’s home alone for too long. It’s always 5 o’clock when you’re quarantined. Amy Roberts is a freelance writer, longtime Park City resident and the proud owner of two rescued Dalmatians, Stanley and Willis. Follow her on Twitter @ amycroberts. Mormons hold conference without crowds due to virus Church leader says challenges extend beyond pandemic BRADY MCCOMBS Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY — Leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sat 6 feet apart inside an empty room as the faith carried out its signature conference Saturday by adhering to social distancing guidelines that offered a stark reminder of how the global coronavirus pandemic is affecting religious practices. Speeches that largely commemorated the 200th anniversary of events that to the creation of the church by founder Joseph Smith were made in a small auditorium in Salt Lake City and livestreamed to members around the world. It was the faith’s first crowd-less conference since World War II, when wartime travel restrictions were in place. Normally, top leaders sit sideby-side on stage with the religion’s well-known choir behind them and about 20,000 people attending each of the five sessions over two days in a cavernous conference center. There was no choir last weekend. Fewer than 10 people were in the room, church President Russell M. Nelson said. Nelson acknowledged the unusual circumstances and the major impact COVID-19 is having on the world during his opening speech. The faith known widely as Mormon church has closed its temples and churches and brought home thousands of missionaries. Nelson said the pandemic is one of life’s trials along with accidents, natural disasters and unexpected personal heartaches. “Though today’s restrictions relate to a virulent virus, life’s personal trials stretch far beyond this pandemic,” Nelson said. “How can we endure such trials? The Lord has told us that ‘if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.’ Of course, we can store our own reserves of food, water, and savings. But equally crucial is our need to fill our personal spiritual storehouses with faith, truth and testimony.” He said the empty auditorium and seating arrangements were done to be good “global citizens” and prevent the spread of the virus. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others, especially older adults and people with health problems, it can cause severe symptoms like pneumonia. Nelson is 95 years old, his first counselor Dallin H. Oaks is 87 and his second counselor Henry B. Eyring is 86. Leaders from the Utah-based faith use the conference to provide spiritual guidance, underscore the religion’s key beliefs and, sometimes, announce new initiatives or rules. Each April, the church also releases a statistical report. The figures unveiled Saturday showed church membership grew to nearly 16.6 million worldwide in 2019 - a 1.5% increase from 2018. It marked the first time membership had increased since 2012, church figures show. The number of new births among church families continued to decline, however, for the fifth consecutive year as Latter-day Saint parents have smaller families like others in society. The theme of this conference was celebrating the moment in 1820 when Smith, then a teenager, says he had a vision of God and Jesus Christ in the woods of upstate New York that led to the formation of the church 10 years later. The church teaches its members that Smith received help from God to translate gold plates engraved with writing in ancient Egyptian to create the religion’s signature scripture, the Book of Mormon. Church leader M. Russell Ballard spoke about why Smith went to the woods that day seeking spiritual guidance. “Joseph came to realize that the Bible did not contain all the answers to life’s questions; rather, it taught men and women how they could find answers to their questions by communicating directly with God through prayer,” said Ballard, a member of a top governing panel called the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Ballard told members watching in 33 languages that Smith emerged from the woods ready to begin his preparation to become a prophet of God. The faith believes church presidents are prophets, as Abraham, Moses and Isiah were, and receive continuing revelation from God. Eyring referenced the special place Smith holds in the religion by saying: “He asked in childlike faith what the Lord would have him do. His answer changed the history of the world.” Critics have long questioned Smith’s accounts of his visions and his story of the gold plates. Leader Neil L. Andersen addressed those critiques when he told members that Smith never wavered despite facing “opposition, persecution, harassment, threats, and brutal attacks” before eventually being killed in 1844 along with his brother in Carthage, Illinois. “He continued to boldly testify of his ‘First Vision,’” said Anderson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. “The experiences were real, and he never forgot or denied them, quietly confirming his testimony as he moved to Carthage.” Several speakers talked about the religion’s rule that allows men to be lay priests, which allows them to lead congregations and give blessings, but not women. Though women hold many leadership positions in the faith, there has long been a portion of church members who have advocated for women to be allowed to be priests, Jean Bingham, the faith’s highest-ranking female leader as president the women’s council called the Relief Society, said women play a vital role in the religion despite not being able to hold the priesthood. She contended men and women accomplish more working together, saying their roles are “complementary rather than competitive.” “Seeing women as vital participants is not about creating ‘parity’ but about understanding doctrinal truth,” Bingham said. “Rather than establishing a program to bring that about, we can actively work to value women as God does: as essential partners in the work of salvation and exaltation.”