Salt Lake City is considering adopting another international relation.
Utah's capital city, which already has four sister cities, could also be joined with Chernostsy, Soviet Union."There is a lot of interest in the community," said Jill Remington, who is in charge of the sister cities program.
A joint resolution to consider the relationship was approved Tuesday by the City Council and Mayor Palmer DePaulis. Councilman Alan Hardman voted against the resolution and didn't sign the official proclamation.
The program is administered through Sister Cities International, and the efforts of local communities are encouraged by the U.S. government in order to cultivate international relations.
The timing for the new sister city is unfortunate, however, as the $14,000 program might fall under the budget ax of some members of the City Council.
Remington said the push to adopt a new city was spearheaded by Jane and Lowell Turner, as well as other Utahns who have participated in peace walks in the Soviet Union. Chernostsy is in the Ukrainian Republic of that country.
Salt Lake City this year is celebrating the 30th year of its sister relationship with Matsumoto, Japan. Other sister cities are Quezon City, The Philippines; Keelung, Taiwan; and Oruro, Bolivia.
DePaulis visited the city's Asian sisters last November.