Football
Associated Press 20y

Salt Lake City municipal employees will get afternoon on Utah's opener off

SALT LAKE CITY -- The city will show a little school spirit
by allowing non-essential City Hall employees to leave work early
Sept. 2 to attend pre-game activities for the Utah-Texas A&M game.

There's two caveats, however: they must be wearing red that day,
and they have to skip lunch in order to get off at 3 p.m.

To celebrate the nationally telecast season opener that Thursday
against Texas A&M, the city is planning a party with the bands
Blood, Sweat and Tears and Cold Blood, a beer garden and food
starting at 1 p.m. near Rice-Eccles Stadium. Game time is 5:30 p.m.

The event is partially intended to get people to the university
and fill the seats early so there isn't a half-empty stadium when
the ESPN cameras roll.

The city wants to create a festival atmosphere, with food booths
and other entertainment by Utah's marching band and cheerleaders.

City officials don't know how many workers will participate or
how much it will cost taxpayers (workers will get eight hours pay
for seven hours work).

Deeda Seed, spokeswoman for Mayor Rocky Anderson, said this is a
way to celebrate the university and hard-working city employees
while showcasing the community on a national stage when the game is
broadcast on ESPN.

It may create goodwill among city workers and the university,
but it could upset taxpayers, said Mike Jerman, vice president of
the Utah Taxpayers Association.

"It's certainly questionable. A public-sector employee should
be held to the same standard as private employees," Jerman said.
"

Seed said it is an "extraordinary step for us to be doing
this" but "we're not emptying out city government. The mayor
feels that it's a great way to celebrate our community."

The city also is encouraging private employers to shorten the
workday so workers can attend pregame activities.

Salt Lake County employees can use vacation or comp time to
attend the activities, said Ted Phillips, spokesman for Salt Lake
County Mayor Nancy Workman.

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