David Sheets, Marion

Letter to the Editor

Why does the municipality of Clive exist? My wife and I frequently visit her family in the Des Moines metro and I am baffled at the proliferate number of little bergs on the west side of Des Moines, particularly as they seem devoid of logical shape and obvious necessity. Unless each town has a patron of its own, I humbly suggest the following reorganization of the west side: add Clive and Windsor Heights to Urbandale, and cede the part of Urbandale north of I-35 to Johnston. Also cede all of West Des Moines north of I-80 and I-235 to Urbandale. The part of Grimes that partially bisects Urbandale should be ceded to Urbandale.

And lastly, Urbandale itself needs a new name, as a city naming itself "Urban" is sort of like a sign that says ATM machine. Since Urbandale began as a coal mining town, and many of its tonier westward developments are atop spent coal mines, I suggest Colliery Vallee, which is in keeping with the metro's other French-sounding city name.

— David Sheets, Marion

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