"My relationship with Mayor Barlow has been good through the years. He's been able to get people to work together," said Hildale Mayor David Zitting, whose 18-year tenure as mayor mirrors Barlow's tenure. "We've worked on many projects together that benefitted both cities."

Hildale, in Utah's Washington County, blends seamlessly with Colorado City and holds many agreements with its sister city. Both towns are populated with members of the FLDS Church, which teaches polygamy as a central tenet essential to one's salvation.

A Colorado City police officer, Rodney Holm, was sentenced last year for bigamy and unlawful sex with a 16- or 17-year-old for taking a 16-year-old girl as his third wife. Holm is serving his sentence in the Washington County jail.

Although Colorado City is in Arizona, Utah officials were watching with interest. Spokesman Paul Murphy told KSL radio's Ben Winslow that the Attorney General's Office wants to make sure the civil liberties of everyone in the community are protected.

"We want to offer any help we can. We want the people to know the law is there to protect them. The services are there to provide for men, women and children," Murphy said. "We just want to help during a time of division."

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E-MAIL: nperkins@infowest.com