District 5 Council Member Don Hickman
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Ogden Valley City Reports Early Progress Following Incorporation
By District 5 Council Member Don Hickman - 11 April 2026 Just three months after officially incorporating on January 2, 2026, Ogden Valley City leaders say significant progress has been made in establishing core municipal services and administrative systems. City Councilmember Don Hickman, who oversees Engineering and Public Works, highlighted early accomplishments in a recent update, noting that the council prioritized maintaining existing service levels during the city’s first year of operation. “We focused on ensuring there would be no disruption to essential services such as road maintenance, snowplowing, trash collection, and trail upkeep,” Hickman said. Transition Supported by County Partnerships To facilitate a smooth transition from Weber County governance, the city entered into multiple interlocal agreements (ILAs) with the county. These agreements cover services including roads, engineering, permitting and inspections, law enforcement, and licensing. Councilman Hickman credited Weber County commissioners and staff for their unwavering support and cooperation during the transition period, which has allowed residents to experience continuity in services. Engineering and Planning Underway The city has contracted J-U-B Engineering to lead its engineering and planning efforts. Through that partnership, Nate Smith has been appointed City Engineer, Matt Crump as Deputy City Engineer, and Brian Carver as City Planner. Officials say the engineering team is currently managing a wide range of foundational projects, including:
Roads, Trails, and Infrastructure Under its agreement with Weber County, the city will continue to rely on the county for road maintenance and snowplowing through 2026. A mild winter resulted in lower-than-expected snow removal costs, allowing funds to be redirected toward road repairs this spring and summer. Councilmember Hickman reported that J-U-B and Weber County Roads are also developing a multi-year road maintenance plan, expected to be reviewed and approved by the council in late April. Ogden Valley City now owns approximately 12 miles of paved trails, including the Pineview Loop Pathway and the Wolf Creek extension. Maintenance, including mowing and sweeping, will be handled by Weber County this year. Utilities and Sewer Systems Other than storm drains, Ogden Valley City does not own nor operate any utilities, sanitary sewer, culinary water, or secondary/irrigation water system or district. Councilmember Hickman clarified that Ogden Valley will not pursue creating a valley-wide sewer or water district. Instead, city officials will be working with existing system operators and Weber County to evaluate the future management of five local sewer systems: Emerson Hills, Bailey Acres, Basin View, Trappers Crossing, and The Legends at Hawkins Creek. Public outreach to residents connected to those systems is expected later this spring. New Processes and Future Planning Since incorporation, the city has already implemented a new excavation permit process requiring approval for any work affecting public property or rights-of-way. Councilmember Hickman is leading the effort to establish a contract Building Permit and Inspection process to support Ogden Valley’s needs, to be in place before July 2026. In the interim, the limited building permitting actions allowed by the Moratorium will continue through Weber County. Looking ahead, officials are focused on developing key planning documents, including the city’s General Plan, zoning map, land use ordinances, and a long-term capital facilities plan. Hickman noted that many of these efforts involve one-time startup costs that were not fully anticipated in earlier feasibility studies, placing additional demands on the city’s first two fiscal year budgets. Community Engagement Encouraged Residents seeking more information about city services or ongoing projects can contact the Engineering Department at [email protected] or reach Councilmember Hickman directly at [email protected]. City leaders say community engagement will play an important role as Ogden Valley continues to build its municipal framework in the months ahead. |
