EAGLE MOUNTAIN — Census 2000 figures show that Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs are among the fastest-growing cities in Utah.
As a result of the influx of people to the northern Utah County cities, both have made the rites of passage in Utah municipal maturation from towns to cities.
Saratoga Springs, a master-planned community built around the edge of Utah Lake that has grown to more than 1,000 people since its inception in 1998, announced the status change last week.
Saratoga Springs officials are in the process of sending letters to residents to herald the change to a third-class city, according of Ken Leetham, a city administrator.
On Tuesday, Eagle Mountain officials read a proclamation from Gov. Mike Leavitt that officially changes the name to Eagle Mountain city and allowing one more seat on the elected City Council.
The state decides when a community moves from town to city status by looking at population figures either supplied by the U.S. Census or the state's committee on population growth.
Usually, a population of more than 1,000 is needed to make the change, said Eagle Mountain Recorder Janet Valentine.
Eagle Mountain, with 4,000 residents, could have become a city of the third class, the smallest designation for cities, a few years ago.
Councilman David Albrecht said leaders decided to wait for 2000 Census figures rather than rely on the state population committee.
"We could have pursued it sooner," said Valentine.
It wouldn't have been beneficial, however. She said with the status change comes more bureaucratic red tape.
Accounting and financial laws also change when the status changes. A town can hold 75 percent of its revenue funds in reserve under state law, but once the community achieves city status, the figure drops to 18 percent, she said.
Albrecht said there's no real significant change to the community — except for the one new council member the community's governing body is allowed.
The current councils — along with the mayor — will choose a person to fill the new seat until elections in November.
Having a new council member also removes the mayor as a voting member of the council — a reason some residents believe the town leaders waited as long as they could to change status from town to city.
Valentine discounted that notion, saying the real motivation was simplicity. She said Eagle Mountain officials wear so many hats; it was simply easier to stay a town as long they did.
Resident Rick Pierie said he thinks the change is a good thing for the city. "I think it's going in the proper direction to what our master plan has laid out," he said.
E-mail: rrogers@desnews.com