Eagle Mtn. is worried

EAGLE MOUNTAIN — It may seem ironic that travel to Eagle Mountain's City Hall requires driving on Unity Pass, a steep, several miles-long road that joins one part of town with the other.

After recent schisms between city officials, turnover in the mayor's office and city employees calling for the removal of interim mayor Linn Strouse, City Council members are worried the city's growing negative image will turn away potential mayoral candidates.

Former mayor Brian Olsen resigned almost three weeks ago after being charged with misuse of public funds.

"Hey, everybody knows (what's happening in Eagle Mountain)," said Eagle Mountain City Councilman Vincent Liddiard. "It's the laughing comical joke around the water cooler, I'm sure. Given that, who wants to step into the job?"

Still, Liddiard said he remains hopeful that a candidate possessing the qualities necessary to calm Eagle Mountain's tumult will step up to the call of duty.

"We're looking for someone who is dynamic and energetic and has the ability to succeed," Liddiard said. "The council and the citizens are going to be hard on that person. They will expect someone who can communicate a vision and receive information as well as give direction."

City Councilman Dave Lifferth said he is looking for someone who is preferably retired or financially well off who won't depend on the mayor's $70,000 salary and benefits in order to take care of the city.

Lifferth said he's skeptical about the applicants the city will get for the full-time job.

"My fear is that we have deterred the quality candidates from the job and that we may not be in the position to pick the right person for the job," Lifferth said. "I'm worried that in this short amount of time, people are not able to put their careers on hold to step into this very complicated position."

As of Wednesday, 10 residents had applied for the position. The application deadline is today at 6 p.m. A new mayor, whose term will last until Dec. 31, 2007, will be chosen from the pool of applicants by the City Council at a public meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at City Hall, 1650 E. Stagecoach Run, Eagle Mountain.

This week, Strouse advertised another opening in the city for a new city administrator after current chief of staff Mike Wren was placed on paid administrative leave by Strouse days before. Strouse has declined to publicly explain her decision.

Wren, a former city engineer who returned to the city in April, has not made public whether he will apply for the city administrator position.