Fiscal reforms coming to FLDS

When it comes to dealing with Wisan, Jeffs instructed his followers to "say nothing, do nothing, sign nothing." The simple task of paying property taxes soon turned into a monumental undertaking. After his pleas went unheard, the fiduciary had ex-FLDS members post property tax notices on every home in Hildale and Colorado City, threatening eviction if the taxes weren't paid.

The taxes were paid.

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff hailed it as a victory.

"They're following the law now, they're submitting themselves to the jurisdiction of the state of Utah," he said at the time.

When he was first appointed, Wisan acknowledged he didn't know much about the FLDS Church — or polygamists.

"I had a certain image of polygamists and probably prejudice," he told the Deseret Morning News. "I've come to know and appreciate a number of polygamists and have respect for a number of them. I've come to recognize a lot of good, fine people who won't talk to me or deal with me."

'The fiduciary was here'

Wisan wastes little time.

First up is a tour of an abandoned building the Colorado City Unified School District wants to trade for UEP land. The district itself was taken over by the state of Arizona after allegations of financial mismanagement.

Carol Timpson, the new superintendent, leads Wisan and ex-FLDS accountant Jethro Barlow on a tour through the old classrooms like a Realtor showing off a "fixer-upper."

"It also has great use for business," she says, unlocking doors and leading them through rooms. "It can also handle industrial, it has use for that."

In one room, Wisan walks up to a chalkboard and writes "the fiduciary was here."

Wisan next drives to Cottonwood Park, a sprawling place of children's playgrounds, trees and picnic tables. The grass is dying because there was no power for sprinkler systems. Power was shut off when the FLDS abandoned the park after ex-members rededicated a monument to the infamous 1953 raid on Short Creek, where polygamists were rounded up and put in jail.

Jeffs had ordered the original monument to the polygamist raid destroyed in 2003. His order is on a secretly recorded sermon obtained by the Deseret Morning News.

"Verily I say unto you, my servant Warren," Jeffs said, recounting his revelation from God. "My people have sinned a very grievous sin in that they have raised up monuments to man and have not glorified me."

Ex-FLDS members have now taken over caring for the park, contracting with Wisan to do some work in reviving it.

"One of the reasons we want to upkeep the park is to show this town's turning around," said Daniel Chatwin, who left the FLDS Church.