"We were notified by (Utah) County Attorney's Office today about the charges," said Linda Peterson, city spokeswoman. "Mayor (Don) Richardson has said that he intends to meet with council member Strouse to discuss her future with the city."

The complaint against Strouse was initiated by council member David Lifferth, who has been concerned about the gift for more than a year now.

"There was information that came to light when Linn was the mayor pro-tem," Lifferth said. "I asked her about it and she would not talk to me. I had no other choice than to go to the county attorney with documentation that she had received a sizable gift."

"Had it been reported, it would be a different situation we'd be dealing with," Lifferth said. "But it was deposited and never reported. That really puts the council and local government in Eagle Mountain at risk (to have to) overturn a number of council decisions because those decisions were made without disclosing a conflict of interest."

According to state code, it's a crime if a public officer or employee knowingly receives a gift of "substantial value," especially if that gift that would "influence a reasonable person in the person's position to depart from the faithful and impartial discharge of the person's public duty."

Grunander also said that, according to the law, Strouse had 10 days from receiving a gift to disclose the amount and the giver to the giver's company CEO, the mayor of Eagle Mountain and the Utah attorney general, which she didn't do, Grunander said.

Lifferth said he sent an e-mail last November to all the City �ouncil and city staff asking for an explanation about the "gift."

"No one responded," he said. "At that point, it was a political hot potato and no one wanted to touch it."

Strouse was not arrested but will be sent a summons to come to court for her first appearance within the next few weeks, Grunander said.

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E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com