WVC City Spotlight Employee Newsletter
January 2026
Thank You For Your Generosity!
West Valley City stepped up to bring Christmas joy to 220 kids and 30 seniors with the Giving Tree program this year!
This program could not be successful without the help of community members, local businesses, and especially city employees to make it happen.
A big THANK YOU for all the Giving Tree generosity!
ICYMI: Ugly Sweaters + Employee Talent = Holiday Fun!
City Sweeper Gets a Fun Moniker Thanks to Local Elementary School Students
One of our City Sweeper machines will soon be taking to the streets with a brand new name!
Hunter Elementary School students came up with the name “Knight Rider” for the City Sweeper machine—a nod to its own school mascot. During the naming process for the sweeper, kids learned from the Public Works team about what the sweeper does and got to see it in action!
The sweepers are essential to keeping our city looking its best--covering over 350 miles of roads six times a year—to keep dirt and debris out of our storm drain system. Keep an eye out for “Knight Rider” and other sweepers in the City fleet!
Employee Spotlight: Shining a Light On Employees Who Go Above and Beyond
_edited_edited.png)
This month’s employee spotlight is a little bit different—for January, we are highlighting the people who have made West Valley City a wonderful place to work and live for decades!
Employees who celebrated 25 and 30 years with the city were recognized at the Employee Holiday Party in December. Here’s a list of employees celebrating those milestones:
30 Years
-
Chris Beichner – Deputy Fire Chief
-
Steve Burke – Police Lieutenant
-
Ken Cushing – IT Division Head
-
Steven Dale – Engineering Association Manager
-
Julia Jorgensen – Police Lieutenant
-
Robert Moser – Fire Captain
-
Mark Ownsbey – Deputy Fire Chief
-
Jed Peters – Fire Battalion Chief
25 Years
-
Scott Arnold – Police Sergeant
-
Dustin Bushnell – Irrigation Supervisor
-
Tracy Catmull – Evidence Supervisor
-
Amy Cotterman – Senior Evidence Clerk
-
Jeni Erkkila – IT Deputy Division Head
-
Troy Glines – Building Inspector VII
-
Jason Hauer – Police Sergeant
-
Shane Matheson – Police Lieutenant
-
Sean McCarthy – Police Lieutenant
-
Chaz McDermaid – GIS Administrator
-
Michael Millett – Police Officer 1st Class
-
Brett Russell – Fire Captain/Paramedic
-
Craig Thomas – Community Engagement & Culture Director
-
Tam Truong – Auto Electronic Specialist
-
Peter Valencia – Police Sergeant
-
Joseph White – Fire Captain/Paramedic
-
Justin Wyckoff – Deputy Police Chief
-
Jamie Young – Parks & Recreation Director
Those marking their 20th anniversary should also be celebrated!
20 Years
-
Treve Bailey – Firefighter CCP + Specialty
-
Erik Brondum – Operations Engineer
-
Derrek Buchei – Senior Support Services Clerk
-
Betty Evans – Senior Support Services Clerk
-
Nathan Geving – Urban Park Supervisor
-
Clint Gilmore – Justice Judge
-
Tess Hartwell – Animal Care & Enrichment Specialist
-
Cindy Hobbs – Executive Administrative Assistant / ACE Program Coordinator
-
Sean Hoffman – Fire Battalion Chief
-
Misty Jenkins – Executive Administrative Assistant
-
Matt Jones – Police Sergeant
-
Aaron Kissell – Fire Captain Paramedic
-
Matt Madsen – Police Officer 1st Class
-
Darin Nerdin – Horticulturist Supervisor
-
Faye Dawn Orullian – Fire Captain Paramedic
-
Kevin Pagel – Fire Engineer + Specialty
-
Scott Pearson – Firefighter CCP + Specialty
-
Angel Pezely – Assistant to City Manager / Mayor
-
Kevin Quinn – Recreation Program Manager
-
Jacob Shafizadeh – Graffiti Specialist II
-
Kenneth Tucker – Fire Engineer Paramedic
Thank you to everyone for their years of dedication and service to West Valley City!
Heads up—West Valley City Students are coming to City Hall!
City Hall will transform into a classroom on Thursday, January 15th. Tenth grade students from American Preparatory Academy will be visiting City Hall to learn about city government and our different departments.
Students will start in the Council Chambers with a brief welcome from Mayor Lang, then rotate through short breakout sessions around the building.
These sessions will go from about 10:30 to 11:50 AM, so you may notice a little extra activity at City Hall during that time!
Essential Piece Awards - January 13
.png)
We will be recognizing our 2025 Essential Piece Award recipients on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at West Valley City Hall.
The evening will begin with a light reception from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, followed by formal recognition during the City Council meeting at 6:30 PM. Award recipients will be honored for their outstanding service and meaningful contributions to West Valley City.
We look forward to celebrating the individuals who truly are an essential piece of our community.
Childcare Discount for City Employees
.png)
We’re excited to share a new childcare discount option for all city employees! ABC Great Beginnings is offering a 50% discount on new registrations. ABC Great Beginnings offers Day Camps, Night/Weekend Childcare, Before and After School Programs, Infant and Toddler Care, and more! This offer is valid at any of their 10+ locations!
Sunshine Academy Preschool and Daycare is also offering a 20% discount to city employees. In addition, first responders can access discounted hourly rates, subject to availability.
Click the links to learn more about either of these opportunities!
Paid Parental Leave
West Valley City is excited to introduce a new Paid Parental Leave Policy designed to support employees during one of life’s most meaningful milestones — welcoming a new child! Whether through birth, adoption, or surrogacy, this policy provides eligible full-time employees up to four weeks of paid leave to bond and care for their growing families. Running concurrently with FMLA, this benefit reflects the City’s commitment to work-life balance, family well-being, and recognizing the importance of those first moments together. Learn more about the Parental Leave Policy.
Payer Matrix: Specialty Medication Benefit
Beginning January 1, 2026, West Valley City is enhancing its specialty drug program to better support employees who use high-cost specialty medications. These specialty medications will now be managed through Payer Matrix, and coverage for those medications will no longer be provided directly through Select Health. If you currently use a specialty medication, a Payer Matrix Care Coordinator may contact you to guide you through available assistance programs and work directly with you and your healthcare provider to ensure timely access to your medication. This advocacy service helps ensure continued access to medications with little to no out-of-pocket cost to eligible employees.
Welcome New Employees!
-
Arutyunyan, Mark – Police Officer
-
Babinchak, Arlene – Crossing Guard
-
Briggs, Mason – Operator I
-
Endicott, Kim – Animal Services Office Clerk
-
Hildreth, Cassandra – Crossing Guard
-
Johnson, Maliya – Sports Referee
-
Johnstone, Jenna – Support Services Clerk
-
Peterson, Matthew – Code Enforcement Officer
-
Peterson, Tiffani – Fitness Instructor
-
Sharp, Emily – Activity Area Attendant and Sports Referee
-
Sharp, Mindy – Crossing Guard
-
Sosi, Tre – Street Maintenance
-
Wann, Jeremy – Rehire Firefighter/Paramedic
-
Welsh, Branden – Police Officer
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
.png)
.png)