Sandy signs sister-city proclamation with Bucha, Ukraine

Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski and Council Chair Aaron DeKeyser signed a proclamation Monday formalizing a sister-city relationship between Sandy and Bucha, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, city officials said. The proclamation, which the city said takes effect immediately, pledges “meaningful support” for Bucha as it recovers from wartime damage and commits the city to cultural and educational exchanges.

The sister-city relationship grew out of person-to-person ties formed in October 2022, when Ukrainian firefighters traveled to Sandy to compete in the World Firefighter Combat Challenge and were hosted by local families, Mayor Monica Zoltanski said at the March 17 event at Sandy City Hall. “This relationship really began with simple friendships and hospitality,” Zoltanski said. She closed her remarks with the Ukrainian phrase “Slava Ukraini.”

The proclamation was accompanied by brief remarks from Council Member Ryan Mecham and a short address from Anya Buse of the Utah Ukrainian Association, who described the feelings of Ukrainians living through the war. “Ukrainians are scared, sometimes angry, but very determined to stay strong and to fight for their freedom, for their lives,” Buse said.

The proclamation cites shared geographic features and community ties, recounts the October 2022 visit by the Ukrainian firefighting team and notes that the Sandy City Council approved a formal sister-city resolution on Nov. 19, 2024. The text of the proclamation, read at the event, states that Sandy will seek ways to assist Bucha through relief resources, educational opportunities, humanitarian aid and city-to-city collaboration; it also says the city looks forward to exchange visits by elected officials and residents.

City officials signed one copy to keep on file and prepared a second copy to send to Bucha, using a historic pen described at the event as the instrument used when Sandy incorporated in 1893. Council Chair Aaron DeKeyser, Mayor Zoltanski and Council Member Mecham joined for the signing.

The event included performances by the Utah Ukrainian Association and small ceremonial elements such as presentation of tokens of appreciation to performers and a photo at the signing table. City staff members Sarah Dowling and Andrea Watcott were recognized for organizing the evening, and former Fire Chief Bruce Klein and resident hosts of the 2022 athletes were acknowledged.

Discussion at the event was ceremonial rather than legislative: speakers highlighted the personal connections that led to the relationship and urged community support. The proclamation language pledges action but does not specify particular funding amounts or binding city program commitments; the document states Sandy “will actively seek ways to assist” Bucha rather than establishing specific budget allocations at the meeting.

The city’s prior vote to approve the sister-city relationship occurred on Nov. 19, 2024, when the Sandy City Council approved the resolution unanimously, according to remarks at the March 17 event. The city did not provide a roll-call vote tally during the signing ceremony.

Anya Buse, who was introduced as from Mariupol and representing the Utah Ukrainian Association, urged continuing support for people in Ukraine and recounted difficulties families face, including disrupted communications and concern for relatives. “I am petrified for my family members,” she said, and thanked the audience for its support.

The proclamation is dated March 17, 2025, and city officials said they will send a signed copy and commemorative pens to Bucha. City Hall lights were to be illuminated in blue and yellow as a visual sign of solidarity with Bucha as attendees left the event.

Plans described at the event emphasize cultural exchange, humanitarian aid and city-to-city cooperation; the city did not announce specific timelines, program budgets or named partner agencies for implementation during the ceremony.