In 2016, Cottonwood Heights Police and Unified Police executed a no-knock search warrant at a Taylorsville house using explosives and battering rams. They were looking for a woman suspected of selling methamphetamine who rented a mother-in-law basement apartment there, as well as evidence of drug dealing. The violent entry through the front door and several other entry points … [Read more...]
Cottonwood Heights: Council Member Finds Opposition to Transparency
Even before Tali Bruce was sworn in as a Cottonwood Heights City Council member in January 2018, she and police Chief Robby Russo were at odds on the issues. According to Bruce, Russo endorsed her opponent in the fall 2017 election, an action she believes was inappropriate coming from a police officer. [*According to her opponent this never happened.] Now, 15 months later, … [Read more...]
Cottonwood Heights and DUIs
Cottonwood Heights has garnered a reputation for stomping a heavy foot down on suspected drunk drivers. While some have praised the city's life-saving measures, others feel the police agency is using jackbooted force, simultaneously squashing civil liberties and local small businesses. In the past, a cluster of city businesses had alleged harassment by local law enforcement. … [Read more...]
Beau Babka: “Canyon Inn was a target”
Cottonwood Heights, Utah— Beau Babka announced yesterday that he was involved in at least one meeting at while an officer at Cottonwood Heights Police Department, where he was told that they would be targeting the Canyon Inn's business and customers for excessive police force. Babka went on to say that this order was given because there was a need for a future development … [Read more...]
Cottonwood Heights –Meet the New Suburbia
Will the “city between the canyons” lose its charm? As any parent knows, when a teenager grows into adulthood, there are growing pains, arguments, misunderstandings, missteps. The same is true when “the teenager” is an entire community—a once semi-rural area that is growing into a mature suburb, next to a city. The “emerging adult” wants to make its own decisions, be treated … [Read more...]
cottonwood heights residents protest against police harassment
Last Saturday a group of Cottonwood Heights residents gathered to protest against Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore and the harassment they feel they are receiving from the police department that he initiated. Around 40 protesters were holding signs reading "stop CHPD Harassment" and "Culli-no-more". Most were wearing tee-shirts that reading "Bring Back Unified", directed to bring … [Read more...]
Cottonwood Heights: The GRAMA Results are In
In February’s issue of Utah Stories we wrote about how Cottonwood Heights business owners were standing up to their government and police department implementing a “crackdown on DUIs,” which translated into heavy-handed treatment by city police officers. Utah Stories held an open discussion round-table meeting which was open to the public. 15 people told their various … [Read more...]
Standing Their Ground III
The History of Cottonwood Heights' Amazing Success The success of both the Old Mill Office Park along with Fort Union’s big box stores and strip malls, enabled Cottonwood Heights to break from the County and become an autonomous city. The Old Mill area would never have succeeded had it not been for two very important state and county funded projects: the I-215 corridor and the … [Read more...]
Standing Their Ground II
The New Hotel at the Mouth of the Cottonwood Canyons This development project, now owned by Utah State Senator Wayne Niederhauser and Sandy City Councilman Chris McCandless, includes a hotel, retail and restaurants, office space and a large parking garage. Cullimore says that if current businesses join the CDA they can provide input in ways they would connect their existing … [Read more...]
ARE WE OK?
The great promise of America was that we could take what we enjoyed in the old world, remove corrupt government tyranny and overzealous religious oppression and create a more functional environment where people could flourish as they pursued their own personal version of happiness. Driving down Fort Union Boulevard in Sandy and Cottonwood Heights we see the ultimate in … [Read more...]