North S.L. mayor fights for property

NORTH SALT LAKE — Small city. Not a "small-town" mayor.

While state and local officials are known to bully and block efforts of Salt Lake City's mayor, they usually join as a group. Wednesday, North Salt Lake Mayor Kay Briggs, on his own, made a commanding move to protect what he said were the interests of his constituency.

Yes, others were supporting him, but Briggs took the action, accusing Rocky Anderson of lies, political posturing and half-truths in a battle about open space.

The scene: A rally at Library Square in downtown Salt Lake City.

The issue: Foothill property that North Salt Lake owns. The city wants to develop a portion of the property, located atop the foothills that straddle the Salt Lake/Davis county line. The land is within Salt Lake City's boundaries and jurisdiction. Before the Wednesday rally, Anderson gave Briggs a letter that outlined his plans to condemn the land.

Condemning the land might allow Salt Lake City to purchase the land and forever preserve it as open space.

"What you've got here is robbery and hypocrisy," said Briggs at the time, standing above a gathering of reporters, white hair and booming voice marking his position in the crowd. "I went up there yesterday and took pictures of your hill. You can find more backhoes and 'no trespassing' signs than you'll ever find on ours."

One day later, Anderson said Briggs was less than "cordial" and honest with his words.

"I know on the merits that they don't like what I'm doing, but when it comes to personal relationships, I've always endeavored to be civil and cordial," said Anderson. "I think there's a difference between taking a stand on the issues and taking personal potshots."

Those who know Briggs say he's nothing but a gentleman who "has a very high level of integrity."

Is he passionate? Yes.

"Mr. Anderson may think he's the mayor of the bigger city, but I quite frankly see us as equals," said Briggs during an interview Thursday. "I don't think the 800-pound gorilla has the right to sit on, squash nor desecrate the smaller counties and communities within his county." And North Salt Lake is in Davis County, not Salt Lake County.

In person, Briggs is engaging and charismatic as he discusses the issue. The 62-year-old mayor emphasizes his talk with his hands, telling stories of his daily runs — or "shuffles" through the city. Thursday, his run was into the open space in dispute.