Wasatch County Council votes against creation of 2 new towns

HEBER — The towns of Hideout and Independence will not be created in Wasatch County — at least not any time soon.

The Wasatch County Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to deny incorporation of Independence and voted unanimously to deny Hideout's petition. Both towns' petitions were denied based on inadequate population counts.

Council members Kendall Crittenden and Jay Price voted against the motion to deny the Independence incorporation.

"I'm glad that it was defeated," said Jim France, who lives in the would-be town of Independence. "That law, any way you look at at, should be unconstitutional. It was absolutely wrong."

France was one of about 70 residents who attended the meeting. He was referring to a controversial law passed by the Utah Legislature in 2007 that requires a minimum of 100 residents for a town incorporation. That law also allowed small groups to create towns without the consent of a majority of the proposed towns' residents.

Bills pending this year in the Utah Legislature would amend the 2007 law to require a popular vote and would require at least five petitioners per incorporation. They could also change the amount of control counties have over incorporations.

Mel McQuarrie, the main petitioner for Independence, said he thinks the town could be created even if a popular vote were taken. The majority of residents want the town, he said, and he is willing to try again if the law is changed.

But many of McQuarrie's neighbors believe most area residents are against the town.

"He almost convinced me to move out of this county," said Alan Sweat, whose property would have bordered Independence. "But the county has made the rules that's forcing people to do what Mel McQuarrie is doing."

Other residents agreed they didn't want a town but said they believed individuals have a right to do what they wish with their property.

"The county has made an atmosphere that's not conducive to building," said Kurt Hoffman, who was allowed to opt out of the town Feb. 6. "I'm sympathetic to his plight."

County Council Chairman Steve Farrell said after the meeting that he believes Wasatch County is no harder to work with than any other county, though it does have strict density ordinances in place.