City Council Votes 4-1 to Settle Official Municipality Name as 'Ogden Valley City'
By The Ogden Valley News Staff – 1 Aug 2026
Following months of public survey efforts and debate, the Ogden Valley City Council voted 4-1 during its special meeting Thursday, July 30 at Huntsville Town Hall to officially affirm and settle the name of the newly incorporated municipality as Ogden Valley City, that will be known and referred to as Ogden Valley.
The council formally adopted Resolution 2026-44, titled "A resolution of the Ogden Valley City Council affirming, establishing, and settling the official name of the municipality incorporated," concluding a long-standing decision regarding the identity of the community incorporated six months prior.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents offered contrasting views on whether the municipality should keep its current name, adopt "Eden" or "Eden Valley," or select a new alternative entirely.
Jim Bird advocated for a name that encompasses all local areas, stating, "Please select a name that is inclusive of the entire valley. Ogden Valley does that, though I recognize it carries baggage for some residents because of the association with Ogden City... An inclusive name answers that well. One that encompasses all of our communities without elevating one above the others." John Burrows spoke in favor of "Eden Valley," citing its global appeal and noting, "It's about the name of the town that sums up the entire macro situation, it's beautiful here. It's incredible. That's why it's Eden... The meaning of Eden will always give us something to aim for, so we don't forget where we live." Tina Allred urged the council to retain the historical identifier, arguing, "In my opinion, naming Ogden Valley City anything other than Ogden Valley would be misleading and impractical... Keeping Ogden Valley preserves what this place has always been called. Future generations trained to learn about the valley's history would be deeply confused by a different city name."
Jason Baker suggested simplicity, stating that if the council moves forward with a new name from Ogden Valley, "Valley, Utah" should be considered because it is bold and simple. Meanwhile, Larry Rigby expressed a preference for a fresh name, stating that while he loves all local names like Huntsville, Eden, Liberty, or Nordic Valley, he has a slight heartburn with Ogden and would throw his hat in the ring for Eden, Eden Valley, or another local option.
Council members discussed the recent survey results conducted with Weber State University, which showed a community preference for the name "Eden," alongside historical, practical, and geographical considerations across the districts. Speaking against changing the name, Councilmember Tia Shaw stated, "Changing the name would create a list of tasks and costs at a time when we have more pressing issues in standing up a new city... Inclusiveness matters. I have heard from residents who feel that naming the city Eden would leave out Liberty and Huntsville. A city name should represent the whole community, not just one part of it. Ogden Valley is a name that already includes all of us and has, for over a century."
Councilmember Kay Hoogland added, "I support the name Ogden Valley. It's the legal name, Ogden Valley City... Our vision statement asks, and it was a motivating factor for incorporation, to preserve the rural nature of the valley... Ogden Valley is the name that has always held all of these places together without making one part stand for the other."
Councilmember Don Hickman, representing District 5, emphasized that residents in his district do not identify with Eden, stating, "When asked where we live, we say Huntsville, or maybe South Fork, or the Valley... Eden is your name, folks up there in 84310. It's not our name down here. We're 84317. For many district residents, District 5 residents, Eden is not a unifying name, but the imposition of someone else's identity onto them." Councilmember Chad Booth expressed that while he respects the sensitivities on both sides, he preferred waiting, stating, "I think we're at a very important time in Ogden Valley, a time in which we can show and prove that we are a community and we want to be a community and we want to work together... I would choose to not necessarily vote for a new name but hold off until a better time." Conversely, Councilmember Peggy Dooling-Baker, who co-chaired the naming advisory committee, advocated for respecting the survey feedback gathered across the districts, recommending that the council listen to the district folks and go with the voice of the valley.
When the motion was brought to adopt Resolution 2026-44 affirming the official name as Ogden Valley City, to be known and referred to as Ogden Valley, the motion passed in a 4-1 roll call vote. Councilmembers Kay Hoogland, Tia Shaw, Chad Booth, and Don Hickman voted aye, while Councilmember Peggy Dooling-Baker voted nay, officially settling the municipality's name.
By The Ogden Valley News Staff – 1 Aug 2026
Following months of public survey efforts and debate, the Ogden Valley City Council voted 4-1 during its special meeting Thursday, July 30 at Huntsville Town Hall to officially affirm and settle the name of the newly incorporated municipality as Ogden Valley City, that will be known and referred to as Ogden Valley.
The council formally adopted Resolution 2026-44, titled "A resolution of the Ogden Valley City Council affirming, establishing, and settling the official name of the municipality incorporated," concluding a long-standing decision regarding the identity of the community incorporated six months prior.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents offered contrasting views on whether the municipality should keep its current name, adopt "Eden" or "Eden Valley," or select a new alternative entirely.
Jim Bird advocated for a name that encompasses all local areas, stating, "Please select a name that is inclusive of the entire valley. Ogden Valley does that, though I recognize it carries baggage for some residents because of the association with Ogden City... An inclusive name answers that well. One that encompasses all of our communities without elevating one above the others." John Burrows spoke in favor of "Eden Valley," citing its global appeal and noting, "It's about the name of the town that sums up the entire macro situation, it's beautiful here. It's incredible. That's why it's Eden... The meaning of Eden will always give us something to aim for, so we don't forget where we live." Tina Allred urged the council to retain the historical identifier, arguing, "In my opinion, naming Ogden Valley City anything other than Ogden Valley would be misleading and impractical... Keeping Ogden Valley preserves what this place has always been called. Future generations trained to learn about the valley's history would be deeply confused by a different city name."
Jason Baker suggested simplicity, stating that if the council moves forward with a new name from Ogden Valley, "Valley, Utah" should be considered because it is bold and simple. Meanwhile, Larry Rigby expressed a preference for a fresh name, stating that while he loves all local names like Huntsville, Eden, Liberty, or Nordic Valley, he has a slight heartburn with Ogden and would throw his hat in the ring for Eden, Eden Valley, or another local option.
Council members discussed the recent survey results conducted with Weber State University, which showed a community preference for the name "Eden," alongside historical, practical, and geographical considerations across the districts. Speaking against changing the name, Councilmember Tia Shaw stated, "Changing the name would create a list of tasks and costs at a time when we have more pressing issues in standing up a new city... Inclusiveness matters. I have heard from residents who feel that naming the city Eden would leave out Liberty and Huntsville. A city name should represent the whole community, not just one part of it. Ogden Valley is a name that already includes all of us and has, for over a century."
Councilmember Kay Hoogland added, "I support the name Ogden Valley. It's the legal name, Ogden Valley City... Our vision statement asks, and it was a motivating factor for incorporation, to preserve the rural nature of the valley... Ogden Valley is the name that has always held all of these places together without making one part stand for the other."
Councilmember Don Hickman, representing District 5, emphasized that residents in his district do not identify with Eden, stating, "When asked where we live, we say Huntsville, or maybe South Fork, or the Valley... Eden is your name, folks up there in 84310. It's not our name down here. We're 84317. For many district residents, District 5 residents, Eden is not a unifying name, but the imposition of someone else's identity onto them." Councilmember Chad Booth expressed that while he respects the sensitivities on both sides, he preferred waiting, stating, "I think we're at a very important time in Ogden Valley, a time in which we can show and prove that we are a community and we want to be a community and we want to work together... I would choose to not necessarily vote for a new name but hold off until a better time." Conversely, Councilmember Peggy Dooling-Baker, who co-chaired the naming advisory committee, advocated for respecting the survey feedback gathered across the districts, recommending that the council listen to the district folks and go with the voice of the valley.
When the motion was brought to adopt Resolution 2026-44 affirming the official name as Ogden Valley City, to be known and referred to as Ogden Valley, the motion passed in a 4-1 roll call vote. Councilmembers Kay Hoogland, Tia Shaw, Chad Booth, and Don Hickman voted aye, while Councilmember Peggy Dooling-Baker voted nay, officially settling the municipality's name.