LEHI — Lehi is hosting a competition for residents to submit new flag designs for the city, and the announcement was met with mixed reviews on social media.

"This is no joke, the Lehi City Flag Redesign Contest is underway, and we want your input! Don't miss this chance to leave your mark on Lehi's history," the city said on Facebook on April 1.

The redesign contest was first announced on March 27, and now submissions are being accepted until May 31. Residents can submit up to two designs, and the person who creates the design that gets chosen will win $1,500.

Lehi's current flag includes a white background with the city's logo, as well as a green skyline of significant Lehi buildings such as Thanksgiving Point's tower and the Lehi Roller Mills. Below the buildings, the flag says "Lehi City" and "Pioneering Utah's Future."

"I've always believed that our city's flag should serve as a powerful symbol of who we are and what we stand for. However, our current flag falls short capturing the essence of our community," Mayor Mark Johnson said. "It lacks depth of meaning and connection to our history that we deserve. But rather than dwell on its shortcomings, let's see this as an opportunity for growth and renewal."

A flag design committee made up of Lehi residents, local business leaders, educators, Chamber of Commerce members, Lehi Arts Council members and city employees will review and narrow down the entries. In the summer, the design finalists will be announced, and they will be rated by the public.

The ultimate decision lies with the City Council and mayor, who will have the final vote on adopting the new flag on Aug. 13.

The mayor said he is excited the city will be embarking on a journey of "rediscovery and creativity" as it works toward a new flag.

"This isn't just about aesthetics; it's about reclaiming our identity and reaffirming our sense of community. So, let's roll up our sleeves, tap into our collective imagination, and show the world what Lehi is made of. Together, we can craft a flag that inspires pride and unity for generations to come," he said.

City officials released a set of design guidelines based on flag design principles from the North American Vexillological Association: simplicity, meaningful symbolism, two to three colors, no lettering or writing, and distinctiveness. Flag designs should also be clear, memorable and recognizable from a distance, the association says.

Additionally, submissions are encouraged to be blue and green to be consistent with the city's branding and marketing.

The city's website said this redesign is a chance to "bridge the gap between tradition and innovation," and the flag can become a "visual emblem" that connects to the city's heritage and fosters unity.

"Together, we have the chance to redefine what it means to be a citizen of Lehi. By embracing our past while looking boldly towards the future, we can create a flag that truly reflects the spirit of our city. Let's draw inspiration from the iconic landmarks that dot our landscape, but let's also infuse our design with the stories and aspirations of our residents," the mayor said.

The announcement garnered mixed reactions from residents online. Several people commented that the redesign was unnecessary and a waste of time and money.

Bill Elrick said the redesign was "a pathetic waste of money at a time when the citizens of Lehi are suffering from inflation. Lehi City seems to have money to waste on unnecessary projects!"

"You do not need to waste our money on nonsense when we are all struggling to make ends meet," Cindy Lee Muir said.

The Protect & Preserve American Fork Canyon page called the redesign an "unfortunate waste of tax dollars when so many other things get neglected." The page also commented that the "flag cancer" is spreading and said it is a "solution to a nonexistent problem."

Utah officially instated its new flag on March 9 after a multi-year process where thousands of designs were submitted. The new flag, however, also met criticism.

Defenders of the old flag failed to gather enough signatures in February for a petition put the future of the flag on the November ballot and the group later sued the state arguing the guidelines on the petition were unconstitutional. The federal lawsuit was dropped on March 14, but the group has plans to refine its legal argument and move the case to the Utah court system.

Sandy and Cedar City have also recently unveiled new city flags.

Related:

Group drops Utah flag initiative lawsuit, but fight may not be over just yet

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Regarding Lehi's efforts for a new flag, Kevin Thomson commented that taxpayer money shouldn't be spent and he thinks city leaders who support the redesign should be voted out.

Lehi's official account responded to Thomson and said taxpayers won't be affected by the redesign as each year, part of the city's budget is allocated for branding and marketing.

"For this project, the cost includes $1,500 for the winning design, and we estimate $1,373 to print the flags, which is what we paid in the past for 12 flags. This project will not increase the budget in any way. This contest allows the community to have a say in their flag," the city said.

Some commenters voiced concern the flag redesign would cost the city more because it would be placed on more things than just flags. The city's account responded to those comments and said the city's logo is not changing, only the flag.

Matthew Hemmert said the current flag is a great logo, but not a good flag design. He added that "it's time" for the city to have a flag that has "community appeal."

Katrina Cummins expressed her support for the redesign and emphasized the power flags can have on communities. She referenced St. George's new flag and said she would love to have something similar for Lehi.

"Our current flag isn't terrible, but it doesn't meet vexillological standards of a good flag. It would be so neat to have a well-designed flag we could have pride in and people naturally want to own and fly, even want to have as a bumper sticker or T-shirt," she said.

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