Tooele mayor honors two students; city reads emailed request to add lighting at skate park

Tooele Mayor Marissa Manzione presented two youth recognition awards during the council’s Jan. 7 business meeting at Tooele City Hall, highlighting student service and leadership in local schools.

Mayor Manzione introduced awardee Greta Hancock of Stansbury High School, nominated by Chloe Sanders, and said Hancock has shown thoughtfulness toward new students. The mayor then presented an award to JT Bevan of Tooele Junior High School, nominated by Principal Norton, noting his volunteer work on events including Veterans Day, the Winter Tree Festival and daily flag duties.

During the public comment portion, the council read an email from resident Celeste McGuire urging the city to consider adding lighting at the skate park in Dow James Memorial Park (438 West 400 North). The email argued that limited daylight reduces park use in fall and winter, and that improved lighting — including energy‑efficient LED or solar options — could increase accessibility for youth, reduce injury risk and discourage unsafe behavior such as skating in streets or parking lots. The email concluded: "I believe this would be a practical cost effective improvement with meaningful benefits for Tooele's youth in the broader community." The council noted the emailed comment but no in‑person public speakers came forward and no directive or action on lighting was recorded at the meeting.

Mayor Manzione and council members invited the awardees to have photos taken with the council; the awards and photos will be published in the local newspaper as noted in the meeting record. The meeting record shows the public comment was acknowledged and closed after the emailed submission was read.