Eagle Mountain residents sound off

EAGLE MOUNTAIN — A meeting that was originally scheduled for action on a proposed budget amendment Friday developed into a public hearing in which citizens sounded off on the perceived rift between the mayor and City Council in Eagle Mountain.

Concern over improper notification for the proposed amendment prevented the City Council from taking any action. Instead, the amendment will be considered at another special meeting Sept. 30 at 1 p.m.

If approved, the budget amendment would create new positions in the city, reduce the mayor's salary package from $70,000 per year to $50,000 per year and restructure the financial workings of the city's 20 departments.

It would also redefine the city's chief of staff position as a city administrator position.

Council members previously rejected a $200,000 amendment proposed by Mayor Brian Olsen that would create five new full-time positions within the city.

Council member Vincent Liddiard said the issue was not the increased spending.

"The concern wasn't over what the amendment covered but what it didn't cover," he said.

He also insisted that the proposed reduction in the mayor's salary was not meant as a punishment.

"It's not our endeavor to change things in an overly mean-spirited way but rather to see that things are properly enacted within our city," he said.

Liddiard and other council members said Olsen has inappropriately transferred funds between city departments and that any amendment should include restraints on such transfers.

"Our major concern here tonight ... is to firm up that budget so that when the City Council, and you, the public see the budget, that that is where those funds are spent," council member David Blackburn said.

All three council members who attended the meeting — members David Lifferth and Heather Jackson were not present— said they felt the mayor has denied their access to city information and limited their ability to do their jobs.

Council member Linn Strouse said she had numerous questions regarding the original budget, but her requests for additional information went unanswered, and she voted in favor of the budget simply to get it passed on time.

Friday's meeting was an attempt to address the lack of communication between executive and legislative branches within the city, she said.