Salt Lake County Animal Services

Salt Lake County Animal Services provides consistent, reliable, and professional solutions for animal-related problems, which encourage responsible attitudes and allow people and animals to co-exist in a safer environment.

Our Animal Control officers serve the residents and pets within the unincorporated area of Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, Holladay City, Herriman City, Midvale City and Riverton City.

Our comprehensive animal care and control services include:

• Pet adoptions and placement of animals with rescue groups

• Enforce animal-related city and county ordinances; 24/7 field operations

• Provide shelter for all types of lost and abandoned pets

• Investigate complaints of animal cruelty, abuse and neglect

• Provide humane euthanasia for pets in our areas at the request of pet owners (fee for service)

• Respond to emergencies involving injured or aggressive animals

• Community education, media and outreach events

• Provide pet licensing and vaccinations

• Volunteer and foster programs

Most recently the County Council voted to give the shelter a much-needed renovation, turning their auditorium into a multi-use office space, animal rehab center, and a cleaner area where citizens can get their pets rabies shots and vaccinations.

We are proud to be the largest municipal no-kill shelter in Utah. We appreciate our supportive community and invite you to come visit our shelter. We are always looking for great volunteers! You never know, you might meet your new furry best friend. Salt Lake County Animal Services is constantly striving to find innovative ways to save animals and be better at serving our community.

Salt Lake County Townships

Millcreek Arts Council

Salt Lake County’s Office of Township Services was created by Mayor McAdams in 2013 to exclusively serve the residents and businesses in the townships and unincorporated areas of the county. Together the unincorporated areas, which boast more than 4,000 business and 160,000 residents, constitute the second largest city in Utah.

Led by Township Executive Patrick Leary, the office provides municipal services such as sidewalks, curb, and gutter construction, transportation planning, business licensing, storm drain services, snow removal, animal services, and roadway construction among many others. In addition to providing services, the office also works closely with the 16 community councils representing the townships and unincorporated communities and provides funding to these groups for summer events such as movies and music in the park and other activities they host for the community.

Shortly after the office was created a communications director, community affairs staff, and an economic development director were hired to help the office achieve its goals. Two of the primary initiatives the Township Office is working on include increasing economic development in the unincorporated areas and building healthier communities.

Another goal for the office is working with local government, non-profit agencies, and community partners to identify ways to improve quality of life and health outcomes in the townships and unincorporated areas. The office is looking at how to improve walkability in communities so it’s easier for residents to get to work and local shops and parks, or just to walk or cycle around the neighborhood with their families. Changes in planning and development can have significant impacts to the health of communities and the Township Office is working with residents and businesses to plan for a future that meets their needs and improves their health.

If you are part of unincorporated SL County, feel free to contact Township Services. Let them know how they doing and keep up with them on Facebook or Twitter . They are always happy to help!

ZAP Tax renewal on this November's ballot

Yesterday the Salt Lake County Council approved ballot language for the Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP) tax for the November election. Residents in the county will have an opportunity to vote on this tax.

When you pay sales tax, one penny for every $10 goes to ZAP, benefiting the community by providing grants to over 160 arts and cultural organizations as well as 30+ park and recreational facilities. Every age group has benefited from this initiative. The youth of the county have benefitted through more softball, baseball and soccer fields.  Seniors have benefitted through free performances by Heart and Soul. Families have benefited from free days at the Hogle Zoo, Discovery Gateway, Natural History Museum of Utah, and The Living Planet Aquarium.  Students benefit from educational outreach provided by the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, Repertory Dance Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and Tanner Dance.  Adults and children benefit from free screenings courtesy of Sundance Institute, Utah Film Center and Salt Lake Film Society.  Cultural diversity has been enhanced through free festivals like the Living Tradition Festival, Nihon Matsuri Festival, Utah Asian Festival, Chinese Moon Festival, and Celebration of Cultural Diversity Festival.

We have also seen 13 parks and trails funded from the Flight Park in Draper to Oquirrh Park in Kearns, the Jordan River Trail to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. In addition, 17 recreation centers have been funded in part by Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts and Parks, including Dimple Dell Recreation Center, Copperview Recreation Center, Magna Swimming Pool and the Gene Fullmer Recreation Center.

Over 7.3 million people benefited from an arts or cultural activity, event or performance, offered by a ZAP recipient. Over 24,000 people volunteer for a ZAP funded organization. Salt Lake County ZAP funded organizations provided over 20,000 education events. Over 3.8 million people receive FREE admission to an arts or cultural event funded by ZAP.

ZAP funded organizations are major contributors to Salt Lake County’s Economic Development with total expenditures over $67 million and over 2,000 paid employees.

Voters have twice overwhelmingly approved the ZAP initiative and it will be up for renewal in 2016, which is why you will see it on the ballot this November.
 
Located midpoint in Salt Lake County, Council District 3 has local projects that have received funding. ZAP has funded the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City. The Utah Cultural Celebration Center has brought thousands of people into the district. This organization works creatively and diligently to enhance the arts and culture for West Valley City and the entire region.  Utah Cultural Celebration activities support our vast heritage and human diversity through educational experiences. ZAP has also funded the Hale Centre Theatre, Taylorsville Arts Council, Murray City Cultural Arts, the Phoenix Jazz and Swing Band, Vista Ball Diamonds, Valley Regional Park and more!

Here's a story by KUTV2's Rod Decker about ZAP:  Don't zap the ZAP tax asks Mayor McAdams | KUTV.com

Protecting the Jordan River

Salt Lake County is pleased to have been a leader in preservation and enhancement of the 50-mile Jordan River corridor for 30 years, starting in 1971 with the development of a visioning document for the river corridor called, Jordan River Parkway: An Alternative. This document suggested the creation of a linear parkway spanning from Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake, with nature preserves and a paved trail system as the centerpiece.

Since that time, the County has continued to lead - acquiring and permanently protecting open space along the river, building trail segments, completing bank stabilization and restoration projects, and planning for watershed protection. In 2007 the County headed up the development of the Blueprint Jordan, an updated regional vision for the river corridor.

The Blueprint Jordan River was developed through a collaborative process lead by Envision Utah.  The document captures the collective imagination of over 3,000 residents and outlines an aspirational vision for the river corridor that includes open space preservation, expanded recreational opportunities, environmental education, better community connections, and a series of river centers - responsibly developed nodes that embrace and celebrate the river. This visioning process spurred the creation of the Jordan River Commission, a voluntary collaboration of cities and counties along the river corridor, which is now working to facilitate implementation of the Blueprint.

I am pleased to represent the County Council on the Governing Board of the Jordan River Commission. Last month my colleagues, Councilman Jim Bradley and Richard Snelgrove, and I encouraged the County Council to pass a resolution reaffirming the County’s commitment to implement the goals of the Blueprint Jordan River. This resolution was approved. One key element of this resolution is a pledge by the County Council to decline financial participation in any redevelopment or economic development projects within the river corridor that do not adhere to the guiding principles of the Blueprint Jordan River. With this legislation, the County continues to lead the region in river corridor protection and we are working with cities along the river to encourage their preservation of the precious remaining open space along the river.

Trash Talkin' - Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District

Salt Lake County used to have a sanitation district which was responsible for all waste collections in unincorporated Salt Lake County and even contracted with several cities. In order to bring control of garbage and recycling pick-up closer to the people, the County Council and District Board decided to have this district become its own entity on January 1, 2013.

Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District is the new name of the sanitation district. Cities and townships serviced now have ultimate authority regarding their sanitation needs and are served by the Administrative Control Board.  This board is made up of elected officials from participating cities and Salt Lake County. I serve as one of three county council members on this board.

The mission of Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District is to provide sustainable integrated waste and recycling collection services for the health and safety of our community. As a government entity, Wasatch Front Waste is a non-profit. Areas served include unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County and the cities of Taylorsville, Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, Herriman, and a portion of Murray. We boast world class customer service with a 97 percent overall satisfaction score among our customers.

There is approximately 144,000 tons of waste generated annually by the 81,000 homes that we are responsible to collect and haul. We provide a variety of ways to collect and haul this waste including weekly curbside waste and recycling collections. Not every city has weekly recycling pick up, but we believe the more we encourage recycling, the more it saves the environment and our pocketbooks.

Recently Wasatch Front Waste rolled out a green waste program. With this program you pay a little extra ($114 annual fee and $60 start-up fee), but you get a vented green can and weekly pick-up. The waste is then composted and saves landfill costs. Sign up now!

In addition to these great services, Wasatch Front Waste also has a fall leaf pick up, Christmas tree pick up, annual dumpster clean up program, and trailer rental program.

Want to find out who picks up your trash and recycling?? Plug in your address in at the top of this page to get the info.

Salt Lake County's Form of Government

Salt Lake County’s government is different than most of the other counties around the state. Most counties have a commission form of government with three commissioners who act as the executive and legislative branch for their county. 

Up until 1998 Salt Lake County had a Commission form of government. An election by the people changed the form of government from commission to mayor-council form. In 2000, a council and mayor were elected, and the new form of government was operational Jan. 1, 2001. 

The County Council is made up of nine members, currently five Republicans and four Democrats, with six districted council members and three at-large council members. The six representing districts are elected to four-year terms in staggered elections and at-large candidates are elected to six-year terms. You can find out more about my colleagues.

While the County Mayor handles the day-to-day operations and executive decisions of the County, the policy and legislation comes from the Council. Arguably the most important job of the Council is to pass a balanced budget. At the end of the year the Mayor’s office will propose a budget. The Council works through those budget recommendations and, after weeks of review and revision, adopts the budget for the next year. The Council also passes other legislation to amend ordinances and county policies. 

For more information on the responsibilities of the County Council, click here and for more information on the structure of the county government, click here.

How Medicaid Expansion Affects Salt Lake County

In 2011 the Supreme Court upheld the Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (commonly known as Obamacare) with one exception: Medicaid expansion. States could now choose whether or not to expand Medicaid coverage. 

Utah has already been taxed heavily (to the tune of $680 million) and sent those dollars to Washington, DC. If Utah chooses not to expand Medicaid or accept those dollars in a different form, Salt Lake County will have two choices: cut county behavioral health and substance abuse programs, or raise taxes to continue funding them. Here are the current options being explored by the Governor's office, Utah Senate, and Utah House:

Instead of expanding Medicaid, Governor Herbert came up with a plan to still keep some of the funds coming to Utah. (Remember, these are taxes that you and I have already paid. If Utah doesn’t take them, then other states will get to have the funds.) The Governor’s Healthy Utah Plan is designed to cover those 111,000 (about 50,000 in Salt Lake County) people under private insurance, without expanding the Medicaid roles. Only those determined to be medically frail would move to Medicaid coverage. 

Every month Utah waits, $4 million of our tax dollars go to other states. What makes Utah’s plan unique is the Governor asking for the money from the federal government to come in the form of a $258 million block grant. The state would use that to provide care and manage those who fall in the “donut hole”* of coverage, which are some of the neediest in Utah who don’t qualify for Medicaid, but can’t afford traditional coverage. Typically these are people who are at or below 133 percent of the poverty line or make less than $15,500 per year. Our coverage of those incarcerated in our jail also goes from 20 percent of inmates covered to 80 percent of inmates covered. Healthy Utah provides assistance to pay for health insurance on private markets. The exact amount depends on four factors:
- Ability to work
- Household income
- Access to employer or family health insurance
 - Individual health care needs

No matter what happens, Salt Lake County will be affected. If we take funds through the Governor’s Healthy Utah Plan or by expanding Medicaid we will be able to provide health coverage for the poorest of the poor and continue the county’s substance abuse program. Our substance abuse program helps to keep people out of jail, which then saves taxpayers money.

If we don’t accept these funds, Salt Lake County will be forced to significantly raise taxes to continue funding the substance abuse program, or risk cutting the program. This could still mean increased costs through additional incarceration of substance abusers who can’t get the help they need.

*Salt Lake County’s uninsured estimates