Midvale residents: Circle April 15 on your calendars with a big, black marker.
Besides being the date to get reacquainted with your pals at the IRS, April 15 also marks the first day Midvale switches from its anomalous address system to Salt Lake County's coordinate grid.Midvale administrator Lee King said most residents are already well aware of the change. The city recently sent a letter to all affected residents listing both their old and new mailing addresses. Another reminder will be mailed in the coming months.
The City Council decided to shift to the county-wide grid last year after hearing requests from police and firefighters and Midvale area businesses to make the change.
Business owners feared they were losing money when would-be customers could not find their establishments because they were unfamiliar with Midvale's unique address system.
"Plus, it became a public safety issue," King said.
While local public safety officers were familiar with the Midvale addressing system, police and firefighters from outside agencies sometimes have a hard time finding a Midvale locale. Time saved could mean a life saved, King said.
Some long-time Midvale residents were worried the city would change historical street names, but King said only street numbers would change in accordance with the county grid system.
King said Midvale is doing all it can to ensure a painless switch.
The city is alerting the utility companies of the changes, so homeowners need not worry about missing a power or phone bill. And even after the April 15 switch, the post office will deliver letters and packages listing the former address for a year.
New, enlarged-lettering street signs will also be erected in the coming weeks, King said.
Homeowners are responsible for calling the Division of Motor Vehicles with their new address, and posting new street numbers on their homes.
King said several Scout and community groups have volunteered to post new numbers where a homeowner is unable to do so.