Hello Neighbor! Colten here.

I hope that I’ll bump into you this week. So, keep an eye out for a tall, skinny, long-haired and bearded fellow with glasses. It’d be so fun to meet you.

Let’s jump into what’s going for the rest of the week.

Was this forwarded to you? Subscribe here for weekly Eagle Mountain updates. (Or scan the QR code at the end of this email.)

Own a local business or have an event coming up? Reply to this email or reach out at [email protected]. I'm always looking for things to share.

🌤️ Thu 84°/51°
🌥️ Fri 75°/48°
🌦️ Sat 69°/47°
🌤️ Sun 74°/47°

⚠️ Parade note: Morning showers are possible Saturday (33% chance). So be prepared accordingly for the Grand Parade starting at 10 AM.

Eagle Mountain residents can pick up free landfill passes at City Hall (1650 E. Stagecoach Run), Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Bring a valid ID. Passes do not expire.

The carnival is in full swing starting today and the biggest events are still to come. Here is everything left on the schedule.

Full schedule here.

I lost my 6 year old son at Nolan Park yesterday. Yeah, I was kind of freaking out. But luckily for me, I had the brilliant idea to tell my kids where to go if we every got separated. And it worked! I know I’m not the only parent who’s been in this scary situation, so I wanted to share some thoughts on how you can prepare for heading to the busy carnival this weekend.

(By the way, my wife doesn’t even know about this story yet. So this will be the first time she learns about this. If you don’t get Monday’s Valueletter, then you know I’m 6 feet under.)

If a child gets separated:

Sun, heat, and comfort:

If you are staying for fireworks at 10 PM:

The Planning Commission voted Tuesday to deny a variance request for a proposed commercial development near Burt Brothers on Pony Express Pkwy, just south of Ridley’s.

The developer had asked for three exceptions to city code to build a fast food drive-thru and a retail space on a tight lot next to the wash. The commission found the lot still has enough buildable area for commercial use without the exceptions, and that following city standards on wash setbacks and retaining walls is in the public interest.

The project is not necessarily dead. The developer can still pursue a development agreement with the city — a separate process that could allow the same exceptions to move forward.

The City Council held its budget work session Tuesday, formally opening the Truth in Taxation process.

June 16 is the date you need to prepare for. The council is required to go on record with their official recommended property tax increase by that date, which is also the date for the Interim Budget Public Hearing taking place at 7 PM. This is the first formal opportunity for you to share your opinions on the tax increase before the council commits to a number.

Council members indicated they want to hear from residents before anything gets set in stone. June 16 is where that begins. The public comment form is on the city's Truth in Taxation page.

Speed tables near schools — Multiple council members raised concerns about vehicle speeds near elementary schools. Speed tables are being explored as a possible solution. Residents can submit thoughts through the city's public comment form.

Observatory at Walden Park — Eagle Mountain has a public observatory in development at Walden Park (4322 N Frontier Street). The project is a partnership between the city, Utah Valley University, and Facebook/Meta, which committed $250,000 toward the structure. Once complete, it is planned for public star parties, monthly astronomy classes, and K-12 education programs. The Utah Valley Astronomy Club will assist with programming. The project has been in the works since 2021 — its appearance in Tuesday's budget discussion suggests the city is actively working to move it forward. More details here.

Eagle Mountain's firefighters and law enforcement officers face off on the pickleball court this Sunday. The city has not yet published a time or location. Check the city events page for updates.

The city's summer food truck series kicks off its first Thursday rally on June 4. Details at the city events page.

Thanksgiving Point opens a brand new experience called Imaginaria this Monday, June 1. It runs Monday through Saturday through August 22, from 9 AM to 9 PM, at Ashton Gardens in Lehi. Details here.

Saratoga Springs hosts its annual Splash Days water event June 10-13. Just a short drive away. Full details here.

If you have been to the Eagle Mountain Value website recently, you may have noticed a fresh new look. The logo was redesigned by Kyle Dickson, a UX strategy and design professional I have worked with on multiple projects. Kyle does clean, thoughtful work and is genuinely easy to work with. If you or your business could use help with design or UX strategy, I would not hesitate to recommend him. You can see his work and reach out at two22design.com.

That’s it for today’s Valueletter. Looking forward to seeing you at the carnival, parade, and derby.

See you around,

— Colten

Is this a forwarded email?
Subscribe here or scan the QR code below to never miss what’s going on in Eagle Mountain.