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Council discusses naming snowplows, staff to develop process with drivers
Summary
Council heard public works concerns and asked staff to design a process to solicit driver and public input on optional snowplow names; staff recommended driver involvement and a trial rollout; drivers expressed mixed views and emphasized professionalism.
Bountiful City Council discussed a nonbinding proposal to solicit names for some city snowplows and how to involve drivers and the public in any program during its Feb. 11 work session.
Public Works representative Charles told the council that drivers are proud professionals who generally "like to be behind the scenes. They don't wanna be in the spotlight. They don't want any attention," but that opinions among drivers are mixed about having names on trucks.
Council members said they wanted to balance public appreciation and respect for crews with drivers' concerns that a name might single an individual out or lead to online criticism. Mayor Harris told the council the crews deserve public recognition: "we want them to feel like we have their back," she said.
Staff provided two operational facts the council used to frame the discussion: Bountiful runs 24 active snowplow routes in winter, with additional spare trucks available, and driver opinion is split roughly half supportive/half hesitant about a public naming program.
Council direction and next steps
- Council asked staff to develop a process that (1) solicits name ideas from the public, (2) solicits driver input, and (3) gives drivers a veto or approval role so any name placed on a plow is acceptable to the crew. Several members suggested a staff advisory group including Public Works to define clear selection criteria (for example, excluding derogatory names). - Staff suggested a pilot rollout (a few trucks at first) rather than applying names to the entire fleet at once. - Charles and Public Works staff agreed to work with crews and return with a recommended process and proposed criteria for names.
Quotes
"Our drivers are kind of they like to be behind the scenes. They don't wanna be in the spotlight. They don't want any attention," Charles told the council.
"We want them to feel like we have their back," Mayor Harris said as she praised crews for winter work.
Context and why it matters
The proposal is not a service change; it is a public-relations and employee-recognition item. Council members framed the idea as a way to let residents express appreciation for crews while protecting employees from unwanted attention.
Ending
Staff will convene a small internal advisory group with Public Works participation, collect driver input, propose selection criteria, and return to the council with a recommended pilot process and timelines.
