I hope everyone’s spring is off to a good start, although I’m sure we are all ready for a little more warmth and sun! We’re staying busy with lots of upcoming events and projects coming up this summer. With the return of the Longest Day Parkway, Mt. Festival, Music Faire and Feast, and 4th of July Fireworks, it might just finally feel a little more like a pre-COVID summer in beautiful Sandy.

• #Sandystaffatwork. For the Facebook fans out there, there is a fun new regular post using the hashtag https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/sandystaffatwork, that highlights our city staff hard at work.
• New Team Members: Speaking of staff, we’ve welcomed several new employees to our team already this year. We’re thrilled you’re here!
  • Johnny Vollendroff, Development Services
  • Jenny Coker, Public Works
  • Quentin Carter, Police
  • Ryan Anderson, Police
  • John Wallace, Parks & Recreation
  • Chelsea Jarvis, Parks & Recreation
  • Marc Young, Parks & Recreation
  • Jacob Williams, Parks & Recreation

We have a few more positions that are currently under recruitment too. We’ve seen more interest and applicants in our positions which might be a sign that the labor market is improving.

• 362nd and Bell Street Extension. The City Council awarded the construction contract for the extension of Bell Street and 362nd Ave to Sandy’s own Konell Construction. This long-awaited project will take roughly 16-18 months to complete and will be the first major new roadway project for the city since the construction of Dubarko Road. Not only will it create a new connection between highway 26 and the Bluff neighborhood/Sandy High School, but it will also help support new commercial development for more jobs and services for our community.
• Sandy Community Campus. The City Council continues to work on a plan for a future aquatic and recreation facility and community park at the Community Campus property. Staff will be issuing an RFP for hiring an architect to work with staff and the community on designing a new park at the campus and a concept for the aquatic/recreation facility. The City Council recently accepted the Pool Exploratory Task Force’s recommendation to not reopen or repair the existing pool and instead focus on constructing a new aquatic facility. 
• Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan update, Envision Sandy 2050, is underway. A city’s comprehensive Plan is the blueprint for our community and guides our growth and development through creating a vision and a foundation for policies, regulations, and zoning to implement that vision. Check out SandySpeaks to learn more about this important project and how we will be engaging the community and staff in the process.
• Wastewater/Sandy Clean Water. We continue to make progress on the repairs and upgrades to our sewer pipes and wastewater treatment plant. The current phase of the project is scheduled to conclude at the end of the year and will reflect a total investment of nearly $20 million into the system over the last two years.  This spring and summer work will be continuing at the wastewater treatment plant and the pipe rehabilitation improvements will be happening in the downtown area.
• Summer Events. With COVID restrictions and staffing challenges hopefully behind us, we’ve welcomed back in person programming and events at the Library and Community Center. Thanks to the Library staff and Parks & Recreation staff for all their work in putting together a slate of fun events and activities this summer. The Longest Day Parkway returns June 23rd which will be at the Cascadia Village neighborhood this year. Summer concerts, movies in the park and fourth of July fireworks are all in the works too. The Mt. Festival and Music Faire and Feast returns to town this year too during the weekend July 7-10.