Garfield reluctantly approves new city

PANGUITCH (AP) — Garfield County commissioners reluctantly cast a unanimous vote Monday to allow Ruby's Inn to become its own town.

Bryce Canyon City was born on a 3-0 vote. The mayor is Rod Syrett, and the five-member council is made up of family members, said Maloy Dodds, commission chairman.

'"We had a long discussion about what to do, and the advice of our attorney was (that) postponing wouldn't do anything," Dodds said. "He reminded us that we are elected officials, and the law does say we shall approve this."

The new city at the entrance to Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park will zap $300,000 from the county's $400,000 annual property tax revenue, Dodds said. Only 4 percent of the county is private land, with the rest held by federal or state governments.

"Our tax base is practically nil," Dodds said. "We're going to have to raise taxes by 70 percent."

Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert must sign off on the articles of incorporation before Bryce Canyon City is official.

State law requires counties to approve a new town of 100 to 1,000 residents on contiguous land outside a municipality, if landowners with more than half of the combined property value want it.

Syrett, who along with seven siblings owns Ruby's Inn, claims 130 year-round residents on the 3.6 squares miles of property, 220 miles south of Salt Lake City.

Syrett did not immediately return a telephone call Monday. He has said Ruby's Inn has seen little in return for property taxes paid to the county and can't grow without incorporation.

County commissioners appointed the mayor and council members.

"They're good people. This isn't a personal vendetta," Dodds said of the Syrett family. "I just think they're doing a bad thing."