Utah Legislature: Salt Lake County leaders oppose bill allowing Snowbird to join Sandy

SALT LAKE CITY — A week after a bill emerged to make Snowbird a part of Sandy, Salt Lake County leaders strongly condemned the annexation.

"This is absolutely horrible public policy," said Salt Lake County Council Chairman Joe Hatch. "When the public looks at the Legislature and goes 'ick,' this is an example of ick."

SB244, sponsored by Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, lays the groundwork for the popular Little Cottonwood Canyon resort, currently part of unincorporated Salt Lake County, to become part of Sandy by creating special exceptions to current annexation statutes.

Even though County Council members expressed opposition to the bill, there was heated debate Tuesday about how to proceed with negotiations, as well as the possibility that Snowbird still could want to contract with the county for services rather than Sandy.

"This is just not a good plan at all," Councilwoman Jenny Wilson said of SB244. "I would go so far as to say that we will not contract back at this point. … We should probably cease negotiations in any way."

Other council Democrats agreed. Some even took the bill personally, saying the county has used $826,000 a year from its general fund to pay for canyon patrol and search and rescue in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons.

"There are so many things we've done for Snowbird, it is almost an emotionally painful thing to hear them complain," Councilman Randy Horiuchi said. "It's really wrong what they've done. If nothing else, for self-respect, we need to oppose this on that basis alone."

Council Republicans also denounced the bill but worried that cutting off negotiations with Snowbird might compromise the safety of county residents using the canyon.

"I don't think, as Sandy deals with it right now, they could provide those services to our (residents) who use the canyons," said Councilman and Unified Police Capt. Steve DeBry. "Just because we can negotiate down the road isn't sending weakness to the Legislature. … In my heart, when I sleep at night, I want to know we're providing the best services for those people."

But one of the greatest concerns to both the council and the mayor's office is what's left if Sandy gets Snowbird.

Between the resort and Sandy is about 10 miles of unincorporated road patrolled by the Unified Police Department and Unified Fire Authority. If the county has to patrol that road, it could be stuck dealing with poor planning and development decisions by Sandy or Snowbird.