Mayor Janet Wampler

Mayor’s Message: Choosing Unity Over Division
By Mayor Janet Wampler - 16 August 2026
 
There were strong emotions and considerable discussion on July 30 when your City Council was asked to decide whether to change our city's name. I understand why. A city's name represents who we are, how we see ourselves, and the community we hope to become.
 
The reality is that no name had emerged that everyone could embrace. Whatever decision the Council made, some members of our community were going to be disappointed.
 
In the days that followed, I heard concerns about broken trust and frustration that council members had not reached the decision some residents hoped for. Others felt the Council had ignored public input and simply voted based on personal preference.
 
For those who supported a name change, I understand the disappointment. Many residents invested significant time, thought, and emotion into the naming process. But I also believe it is important to listen to the reasoning each council member shared that night. While we may disagree with the outcome, understanding that reasoning can help us better understand one another.
 
For me, the most important distinction is this: I did not hear the vote as a declaration that Ogden Valley City is the name everyone wants. I heard it as a decision not to adopt a different name without broader agreement that it would unite our valley.
 
There is no question that Eden is a beautiful name. It is recognizable, meaningful, and an apt description of this remarkable valley we all love. At the same time, there are strong feelings about preserving the identities and histories of Liberty and Huntsville. For some residents, adopting Eden as the name of the new city felt like losing something important, or even more directly, being forced to adopt someone else’s identity
 
Each council member faced the difficult task of representing all constituents, not just those who favored one particular name. While no decision could satisfy everyone, I believe their effort to consider the entire community was both important and honorable. Several council members expressed hope that, in time, a name might emerge that truly brings us together.
 
That door is not closed. The city's name can still be changed in the future if broader consensus emerges. Whether that conversation happens after the city is more firmly established, following a future election cycle, or through continued community dialogue, the opportunity remains.
 
This is also a good moment to remember how representative government works. You elected these council members to listen, consider differing perspectives, weigh the information before them, and make decisions on your behalf. In a community as diverse as ours, that will sometimes result in decisions we would not have made ourselves. Being represented does not mean always getting the outcome we hoped for; it does mean having our voices heard and considered.
 
That is why ongoing engagement matters. Share your thoughts, ask questions, attend meetings, and communicate with your council members. If you have concerns about this decision or any other affecting our new city, please don't disengage. Just as important as speaking is being willing to listen to the answers, even when we disagree.
 
I believe each council member is serving the community in good faith. Disagreement is not the same thing as disrespect, and it does not have to mean trust is broken. Trust is built when people know they can be heard, understand how decisions are made, and believe their representatives are acting with integrity.
 
We are still building this city and discovering who we are together. There will be disagreements, and there will be decisions that leave some of us disappointed. But disagreement does not have to divide us.
 
A name matters. Our history matters. Our sense of place matters. Yet the people who live here matter most.
 
Whether you live in Eden, Liberty, Huntsville, or elsewhere in our valley, you are part of this community. We share this valley, its mountains, its farms, its schools, its businesses, its history, and its future.
 
Let's keep talking. Let's keep listening. And let's keep looking for the things that unite us.
 
I remain hopeful that together we can build not only a new city, but a stronger and more united community.
 
— Mayor Janet Wampler