3 counties to review services for elderly

OREM — Leaders from Wasatch, Summit and Utah counties approved Thursday the creation of a blue-ribbon task force to review services for the elderly within the three counties and consider methods for improvement.

The executive council of the Mountainland Association of Governments opted to create the task force on the heels of Utah County's proposal to take over aging services in Utah County.

Utah County's preliminary proposal was released for public comment last week. County officials are expected in the coming weeks to formally petition the state to become the organization officially charged with providing services for the elderly in Utah County.

"It's a healthy thing in government occasionally to kind of change the sheets on the bed," said Provo Mayor Lewis Billings, a member of the task force. "I think that's the thing that we need to focus on. Maybe there are some things in what Utah County has proposed that we need to look at."

Members of the executive council opted not to adopt a resolution that would have backed MAG as their preferred provider of aging services.

"I think it's more prudent to say we want to really evaluate this," said Woodland Hills Mayor Toby Harding. "We shouldn't be going one way or another right now, but we should really study it out."

Council chairman Springville Mayor Fritz Boyer expressed concern that Utah County's plan to take over aging services isn't detailed enough.

"They believe they can do it better, but they haven't substantiated it," he said. "Thus far, it's not a plan, it's a statement of desire."

Leaders from Wasatch and Summit counties pointed out that MAG's aging-services plan is the only one that provides services to their counties. The council approved the current Mountainland aging-services plan for submittal to the state.

Aside from aging services, the council also determined that Utah County would determine what future involvement it would have on MAG committees, including transportation.

"If they want to withdraw, let them be the ones to do it," said Wasatch County Council member Val Draper.

The majority of the council agreed that they would welcome continued input from county officials in any committee, regardless of whether the county is officially a part of MAG.

"We're getting all concerned with this thing, and we have other business to take care of," said Billings. "Let's give it a rest. The real issue is how to make up for the money."

Billings was referring to the $30,000 Utah County contributes to MAG's budget each year, which it has yet to pay to the association for this fiscal year. The council did not make any decisions regarding that funding.

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