OGDEN — Nearly one year after Jesse Redden began looking for a way to honor Satnam Singh, he got his answer on Tuesday. Singh, a much loved member of the community, was shot and killed on Feb. 28, 2021.

City Council Chair Bart Blair was alone in his vote Tuesday against a motion denying Redden’s petition to rename a portion of 675 North to Satnam Singh Drive, as an honorary designation.

While Blair agrees with certain aspects posed by fellow council members regarding honorary designations, he believes it is the city’s role to honor and celebrate people in the community.

Prior to voting, Redden took the podium in a last-ditch effort to sway council members to vote in favor of his petition. It has been a long, exhaustive and costly process for Redden who faced significant obstacles with the city over the last year.

Ogden City Planning Manager Greg Montgomery contacted Redden via email on March 8, 2021, informing him of the city council’s request to put a hold on petitions until a new ordinance, with better guidelines directing honorary street names, could be developed.

The city council is now operating under the updated ordinance and guidelines.

Redden said he would not be surprised if the vote did not go the way he was hoping.

“If you are going to follow the law, you should consider this under the law,” Angel Castillo said.

Castillo reminded the city council of previous calls for community engagement in decisions that affect the city. “Look at the numbers of people who signed that petition,” she said. “The people in that neighborhood want to honor Mr. Singh.”

Blair previously suggested possibly honoring Singh by renaming Francis Park, three blocks west of the former Super Grocer Singh owned and operated for 21 years.

Castillo urged council members, and the administration, to look into honoring Singh at Francis Park. Castillo is frustrated with Mayor Mike Caldwell and the council, saying Ogden is a diverse city and they celebrate diversity.

Renaming Francis Park, located on the west end of 675 North, is an acceptable alternative for Redden.

He argues that Esther Charlotte Emily Weisbrodt Francis, an early pioneer who contributed to the colonization of Morgan Valley, is already being honored with Francis Peak and a radar station.

“She has a radar station, so maybe she can give up a park,” Redden said.

Councilperson Richard Hyer and other members expressed their views before taking a vote. While Councilperson Angela Choberka would like to see the conversation of honoring Singh continue, Hyer said he was not passionate about it either way.

According to a poll Hyer conducted in his district on the matter, people were generally indifferent, but many felt it set a bad precedent. There are not enough streets to honor all the good people in the community, Hyer said.

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