On Aug. 19, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson certified a petition for the incorporation of Ogden Valley City, filed earlier this summer by sponsors.

As such, the question of incorporation will be posed on ballots Nov. 5 with the following language: “Shall the area described as Ogden Valley City be incorporated as Ogden Valley City?”

Mark Ferrin, one of the sponsors of the incorporation effort, told the Standard-Examiner that proponents easily gathered the required number of signatures for a successful petition (and then some).

“They are overwhelmingly in favor of this,” Ferrin said of registered voters in the area.

LRB Public Finance Advisors was retained last year by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office to conduct a feasibility study on Ogden Valley’s incorporation. The study was completed in December 2023.

The proposed city encompasses Eden, Liberty, Nordic Valley ski resort and scattered developments located east of Huntsville. The already-incorporated Huntsville and Snowbasin and Powder Mountain ski resorts are not included.

Per the feasibility study, approximately 7,500 people reside in the area, which spans more than 60 square miles.

While there are many reasons for residents to consider incorporation — the opportunity for self-governance, greater local representation, authority over land use, et al. — prospective development of the Ogden Valley has driven the effort, according to Ferrin.

“It’s the leading driver,” Ferrin said. “Developers want to develop; that’s what they’re supposed to do. And we are the next link in the chain from Park City to Heber coming this way. With Snowbasin and Powder Mountain and Nordic Valley up there, everybody wants to turn it into a ski town. Most of us who have been up there a couple of generations are just happy with it being pretty, quiet country.”

The Weber County commissioners currently govern the unincorporated areas of the Ogden Valley.

Their thoughts on a new city notwithstanding, Ferrin believes that there will be a high turnout of voters who can weigh in on the incorporation issue.

“With the presidential election coming and this coming, I expect everybody — friend, foe, whatever — is going to come out and vote for whatever candidate or proposition they want,” Ferrin said.

“I think it will be a good representation for the Valley. And we’ll go forward with whatever turns out.”

Ferrin added that work to engage registered voters on incorporation will continue through Election Day. As it stands, though, not everyone is convinced that incorporation is the right step to take at this juncture.

An opposition group called “Keep Our Valley Free” is operating a website and holding meetings regarding incorporation.

Issues listed on the group’s website include concerns about increased taxes, reduced autonomy/increased regulation of citizens, bigger government, initial costs, transitional challenges and more.

The group’s next meeting, “Incorporation = Tax Increase – Services Decrease,” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Weber County Library’s Ogden Valley Branch in Huntsville.

Meanwhile, the proponent group — operating as “Ogden Valley Incorporated” — will discuss potential forms of city government at the same location at 6 p.m. Sept. 9.