Two temporary appointments have been approved by the West Valley City Council as the search remains open for a new city manager.

Fire Chief John Evans has been named interim City Manager, and Human Resources Director John Flores has been appointed to interim Assistant City Manager. Both will serve until a new permanent manager is named. That person will take the position of Wayne Pyle, who is retiring this year. 

Applications are still open for the city manager post. Candidates are expected to be interviewed over the next few weeks and a decision made sometime early this year.

In other council news, the state of Utah purchased licensing for a SentinelOne anti-virus/endpoint security software system for local governments, school districts and universities. The council approved participation in the plan that should save the city about $85,000 a year.

Construction is underway on the Bangerter Highway interchange at 4700 South. During the project environmental clearance process, the council requested of UDOT that the interchange be built with Bangerter Highway passing underneath 4700 South which comes at a significant higher cost. The city has made verbal commitments to participate financially in the betterment. UDOT indicates that the cost difference to take Bangerter under 4700 South is approximately $14,000,000 and is asking the city for participation in the amount of $2,000,000. That was approved and the money will come from the city’s General Fund. 

Drivers be advised—through traffic at that intersection will be closed for approximately 12 months, starting at a date yet to be determined.

City council’s next scheduled meeting is set for Jan. 2 at 7 p.m.λ