S.L. may get the tab for organ-donor 'gift'

The monument to organ donors sits at Library Square, a supposed gift to the city, but taxpayers could end up paying for it.

The Celebration of Life monument, with a water fountain and a glass wall etched with the names of organ donors, opened more than a year ago.

The nonprofit organization that created the monument and was raising funds no longer exists, and $336,000 must be raised by the end of the year or interest charges will kick in.

The City Council is questioning if city policy was followed in building the $636,000 monument.

Normally, money must be in place before it's spent and the council must agree to spend the funds.

Council members said they did not approve the expenditure, and the mayor's office did not inform them of the possible debt until news reports surfaced.

"The administration has put the city on the hook for $300,000 without ever getting council approval," said Councilman Dave Buhler. "To obligate us without prior approval, that's a big concern.

"It doesn't look like it was done correctly. Somebody messed up. Usually when you accept a gift you don't have to pay a huge bill for it."

City Attorney Ed Rutan said he is "looking at issues" related to the monument, but declined further comment.

D.J. Baxter, Mayor Rocky Anderson's senior aide who is working on the project, said the mayor's office should have handled the situation differently.

The city could have waited to build the monument until the donations were in place, he said.

"We're working hard to try and raise the money," he said. "This is not only an important amenity for the community, but is something that will save lives."

The monument is meant to honor living and deceased donors in Utah and encourage others to sign up.

The now-defunct Quest for the Gift of Life Foundation, which helped create the state's online donor registry and change state law so that donors' wishes are followed, pushed to build the monument.

Founder David Nemelka, a former state lawmaker, said he had indications from donors that the full $636,000 would be raised. But the money didn't come in.

"There were foundations, major Utah politicians and businesses and wealthy people who gave indications (of) 'Yeah, I'd be willing to put in up to $25,000.' We never got some of those things. Life changes. The economy changes. Interests change," Nemelka said.