Eagle Mountain will not be naming its city hall after former Mayor Kelvin Bailey.

At the first City Council meeting of the year on Tuesday, Eagle Mountain resident Maryann Christiansen told council members she did not agree with former Mayor David Lifferth's proposal to change the name of city hall to Eagle Mountain's Mayor Kelvin Bailey City Hall.

Christiansen said even if the name change was appropriate, cities usually wait 10 years after a public official's service or until after their death to honor them "and Mayor Bailey is not dead."

Following those remarks, Mayor Brian Olsen read a letter from Bailey himself.

"While I was surprised, humbled and honored by this recommendation, I would like to request that this recommendation not be acted upon," Bailey wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Daily Herald.

"I appreciate the gesture on his part and those on the City Council who wished to take this action as a way of demonstrating their appreciation in behalf of the citizens of Eagle Mountain for my service. However, I believe that this building is the key focal point for our city, or any city, and as such should remain the Eagle Mountain City Hall."

In the letter Bailey said he had named several buildings after city officials, including naming the sewer administration building after former Councilman Greg Kehl "in appreciation for his service on the public works board." The sewer treatment plant was named after former public works board chairman Reed Fisher and the electric switch yard was named after Public Works Director Mark Sovine.

"I firmly believe that it is appropriate to name buildings, streets, parks, etc. after those who unselfishly service others in their community. However, I reiterate that the city hall should carry only the name of the city to which it belongs.

"I hope that all will understand how much I appreciate the offer to show their appreciation, however I humbly request the name of the city hall not be changed."

A spokeswoman for Olsen said on Wednesday that the proposal to change the name of city hall would not be presented to the City Council for consideration.

Bailey resigned as mayor on June 30 -- just more than one year after pleading no contest to providing false information to police for his faked kidnapping in March 2003.

Lifferth resigned on Dec. 6, saying he only intended to hold the mayoral position until after a new mayor had been chosen in the November election.

In a prepared statement that he read hours before he resigned, Lifferth said he wanted to change the name of city hall as his last official action as mayor.

"I basically recognized the hard work that former mayor Kelvin Bailey did to benefit the city," Lifferth said. "He turned the city around from the brink of bankruptcy to our current surpluses and did many things that were right. I said we should recognize his significant contributions by naming city hall after him."

Caleb Warnock can be reached at 756-7669 ext. 19 or cwarnock@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B1.