Salt Lake County cuts off Kearns Council

Salt Lake County will no longer recognize the Kearns Town Council because of concerns about infighting and administration of state and federal grants — a matter being investigated by the District Attorney's Office — county officials announced Tuesday.

The county wants the council to reorganize, adopt new bylaws, change its name to a community council, hold new elections, then reapply for county recognition (which gives groups clout), Mayor Peter Corroon said in a letter his staff delivered to the Tuesday council meeting.

The letter says the council no longer works productively; financial statements filed with the county "are not complete and accurate"; and the town council title makes it sound like it's a governmental entity instead of a citizens group.

"After discussing the matter with our District Attorney's Office, we believe it is in the best interest of Salt Lake County to sever its ties with and withdraw our recognition of the Kearns Town Council as an official Community Council effective March 31, 2005," the letter states.

Council member Claudia Nabos supports a reorganization. "We are so dysfunctional . . . we're getting nothing accomplished."

But others question where the mayor is coming from.

"They don't have to recognize the Kearns Town Council as a community council . . . (but) the information he's based this on is not accurate information," chairman Paul Walker said, adding the council predates county ordinance and the county has always said council filings "looked fine." Part of the issue focuses on "concerns about recent activities involving the Kearns Town Council and the Kearns Coalition regarding the granting, administration, and management of several federal and state grants," Corroon's letter states.

The District Attorney's Office is investigating, spokesman Bob Stott said. He declined to provide details.

But Walker said grant spending has been annually reviewed to the satisfaction of grantors. "If Washington, D.C., says they're adequate, and sends the money out, who are you going to believe?"

Others say council infighting and politics is hurting grant programs and that reorganization is in line.

Walker said another council meeting could be called to discuss reorganization. He also wants to meet with Corroon. "I don't believe he has all of the facts."

County community relations specialist Jacqueline Murphy, who interacts with community councils on Corroon's behalf, predicts a second council could organize and seek county recognition if the current one refuses to reorganize.

"What we're asking is to have a community council established in Kearns that best serves the community," she said.

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com