Lancaster County Council is working on a new naming rights ordinance for county-owned properties.
During the May 10 Committee of the Whole meeting, members heard from John Bodner, assistant county administrator, about a new ordinance the county is working on to establish policies for naming county-owned properties and structures.
The potential ordinance is scheduled for first reading at the May 22 council meeting.
The ordinance outlines guidelines for naming properties or structures. Properties or structures can be named after elected or appointed public officials or a public employee, geographical areas, historical figures related to Lancaster County, such as Andrew Jackson, and nature or wildlife indigenous to Lancaster County.
Property can only be named for individuals who have been dead for at least three years. Nominated individuals must have five letters of recommendations. Any individual considered to have a property named after them must be voted on by a unanimous decisions from County Council.
Properties can also be named after businesses or groups who have made significant donations of land, money or facilities to the county.
But there is also an “out” clause that County Council can use at any time with or without cause.
“We wanted the ability to have an out anytime we saw fit,” Bodner said. “If an individual makes a large donation and then enters into a business deal that puts a bad name on the county, we wanted to be able to get out of it (the deal).”
The ordinance also includes renaming facilities after those properties have been renovated or designated for another use.
All proposed names must be in good taste per local community standards and not be insulting or derogatory.
