The mayor issued a press release Friday blaming the council's failure to consent to the nominees as the reason for the lawsuit.

"Whatever I do, they won't OK it," Anderson said. "I think this is craziness."

Councilwoman Nancy Lord, who made the motion to table the appointments during the June 19 meeting, said she isn't willing to approve nominations of people she's unfamiliar with simply because vacancies on the Board of Adjustments need to be filled. Three board members' terms expired in February, and another has been vacant since February 2006, Lord said.

"(Anderson) has neglected to bring forward any names for five months, and now she does it at the last minute," she said. "She wants us to make this decision without allowing us our due diligence."

Speed said the dispute over the Board of Adjustments is the latest in a series of efforts by the mayor to "usurp the authority of the City Council."

"If your City Council is gagged and shackled, the citizens we represent are gagged and shackled," she said. "(Anderson) wants to be the only one to make decisions. She does not want to work with the council."

Anderson said Tuesday's vote will determine what Bluffdale residents want from their city government, and she's vowed to respect their will.

"I was elected by them, and I work for them," she said. "That's what I said I would do when I was elected. The people will tell us what they want. If the majority (of residents) have changed their minds, then I'll be glad to be a figurehead."

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E-mail: jpage@desnews.com