From Deseret News archives:
UTOPIA works to get pacts in place
The 11 paying or pledging city members and three non-pledging city members voted Tuesday in a public board meeting to approve three resolutions involving the cooperation of members in helping with both financial and human resource services.
UTOPIA comprises 14 cities in a public partnership that would bring fiber optic lines for Internet, phone and television services to every home and business in its member cities.
Committee members unanimously approved Midvale city's agreement to provide financial services for UTOPIA and Layton city's provision to handle human resource services.
"(UTOPIA) will save a lot of money this way by using resources that are already in existence," said Roger Black, deputy director of UTOPIA. "Midvale will be our bookkeepers. Without their assistance we'd be required to add staff and purchase a lot of equipment."
The Midvale City Council has already approved the cooperative agreement between the city and UTOPIA, and Layton council members will vote at their next meeting.
Provo, which is not a member of UTOPIA, has also agreed to temporarily provide video transmission services for UTOPIA's service providers, according to David Shaw, general counsel for UTOPIA. Provo council members also unanimously voted for this resolution.
The UTOPIA project has met some opposition from local business representatives from current telecom companies Comcast and Qwest.
"When you have a lot of opposition for something you support it's easy to walk away saying that it's not worth the time, but we've stuck with UTOPIA and I genuinely believe that all the criticism has helped make what we support a better product," said Alex Jensen, Layton city manager.
Heads nodded in approval of the idea that the debate must continue both internally and externally to create a product that is beneficial to the community.
"You have to be humble enough to listen to what people say, and when you do, you'll have a better product," said Murray Mayor Daniel Snarr. "The greatest inspiration comes from those who criticize me."
E-mail: sbaghbani@desnews.com
