North S.L. may become Orchard Hills
Lisa Watts Baskin, who has been on the City Council since January, has drafted an ordinance that council members are expected to vote on during Tuesday's council meeting. Residents will be able to comment during a public hearing at 8 p.m., before the vote.
Baskin said some residents had asked her to do something about the city's name.
"I'm receiving feedback that's overwhelmingly positive," Baskin says. "This was a really beautiful place, when it was founded, for its orchards."
Other residents are skeptical.
"There are no orchards up there," said a man named Joseph E., commenting on KSL-TV's Web site. "So I think it should be Refinery View Hills or maybe South Bountiful."
Reminders of the old orchards exist now only in city place names like Orchard Drive and Orchard Elementary School.
But supporters of the name change include the Davis Chamber of Commerce, the North Salt Lake postmaster, some local businesses and two other council members. By the numbers, a majority of the council also supports the change, but Baskin wants to hear feedback from the public.
North Salt Lake Mayor Kay Briggs said he isn't opposed to the name change if that's what residents want. He said he would like residents to vote on the ordinance and play a part in selecting a new name for the city.
One resident commented on the KSL-TV Web site that numerous pizza orders in North Salt Lake have been lost to Salt Lake City because the delivery person wasn't familiar with an address. But Briggs said that he hasn't heard of people who have been confused about the city's location and its relationship with Salt Lake City.
Some residents say the city has more important things than a name change to worry about, like growth, water and legal issues.
Briggs suggested that businesses might like keep the North Salt Lake name because of its connection to Salt Lake and the capital city's amenities, like the Delta Center. Baskin said one local hotel is opposed to the change.
If the name does change, it could prove costly. The city would need to replace letterhead, repaint police cars and change uniforms, logos, addresses and street signs. Baskin said she doesn't have estimates on what the expense would be. Businesses would need to reincorporate in the correct municipality and change their letterheads, too.
This isn't the first time that city leaders have contemplated a name change. In 1981, the city's residents voted against changing the name to Orchard City by seven votes, Baskin said.
If you go
The North Salt Lake City Council is considering a name change for the city
When: June 13, 8 p.m.
Where: North Salt Lake City Hall,
20 S. U.S. 89
E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com
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