Cottonwood Heights council members will take up noise camera legislation and an engineering report on the historic Old Mill at their Sept. 15 work session.

The city's September newsletter, published Monday, Aug. 31, lists both items on the agenda for the Tuesday, Sept. 15 meeting. Full agendas are posted at ch.utah.gov as meeting dates approach.

Noise cameras on the table

The Sept. 15 discussion follows more than a year of council interest in vehicular noise.

Council Member Ellen Birrell raised the issue at an Aug. 20, 2024, work session, particularly for residents near Wasatch Boulevard in District 4. She suggested placing decibel readers on roadways. Council Member Suzanne Hyland noted at that meeting that Salt Lake County's noise ordinance had not been updated since 1980.

Hyland brought up a related topic at the May 20, 2025, work session, urging council members to contact state legislators about speed cameras at intersections during the interim legislative session. Council Member Shawn Newell expressed concern that cameras could create public trust issues.

The newsletter does not specify which legislation the council will review on Sept. 15.

Old Mill engineering report

The council is also set to discuss an engineering report on the Old Mill, a structure built in 1881–1884 at 6851 S. Big Cottonwood Canyon Road. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1971, the building was condemned in 2005.

On June 16, the council approved Resolution 2026-40, hiring Dunn Associates, Inc. to conduct an independent structural integrity assessment and preservation cost study of the Old Mill. The Sept. 15 discussion likely involves that firm's findings, though the newsletter does not confirm the report's author.

The report comes as a demolition request works through the Planning Commission. WDOM Properties LLC filed to demolish the structure on Jan. 9. Under city code, the application must remain pending before the Planning Commission for at least one year. The commission held its hearing Jan. 21, meaning no decision before Jan. 21, 2027.

A 2024 cost analysis by Gilson Engineering estimated reconstruction would exceed $45 million. According to applicant-submitted materials reviewed by the Planning Commission, the site sits near the Wasatch Fault and faces seismic hazards including potential surface fault rupture and liquefaction risks.

More than 16 written comments opposing demolition were submitted to the city in January. A petition to save the mill had 1,624 verified signatures as of Jan. 17, according to the Cottonwood Heights Journal.

Neighborhood Heroes nominations open

Separately, the city is accepting nominations for its Neighborhood Heroes program, part of the America 250 celebration. Nominations are due Oct. 2.

"Neither of these people would probably call themselves a 'Neighborhood Hero.' Which is exactly why someone else should," wrote Micki Harris, the city's America 250 coordinator, in the newsletter.

Honorees will be recognized at the Star-Spangled Finale on Nov. 12 at Butler Middle School at 7 p.m. Residents can submit nominations at cottonwoodheights.utah.gov.

The council's next work session is Tuesday, Sept. 15. The Oct. 6 meeting agenda includes an emergency management report and a Unified Fire Authority report.