Elk Ridge residents accuse council of holding meeting behind mayor's back

ELK RIDGE, Utah County — Two city councilmen called a special meeting Wednesday, sans Mayor Kenneth Lutes, but then tabled the entire agenda after residents accused them of sneaking behind the mayor's back.

Lutes, who ran unopposed in the November election, reportedly was vacationing with his family. However, some residents questioned why the agenda, which largely had to do with land use, couldn't have waited until he returned. The meeting was held in the fire station because of the large number of residents who showed up.

"I didn't know (Lutes) was out of town," Councilman Sean Roylance said when residents accused him of going around the mayor.

Roylance and Councilman Weston Youd called the special meeting to move forward on applications they said Lutes blocked.

Roylance said Lutes stopped certain developer requests from being considered in a timely manner, even canceling the July 13 meeting for lack of items to discuss, when applicants were waiting for decisions.

"We're not just going to roll over," Roylance said, asserting that the council should stand up to the mayor.

— Rodger L. Hardy