ACLU expresses concerns about possible sale of Manti street to Mormon Church

MANTI — City leaders here are considering the sale of part of a street near a Mormon temple — a public thoroughfare that has become a popular place for religious demonstrations, particularly during the weeklong "Mormon Miracle Pageant" in June.

The Manti City Council last week heard public comment concerning the sale of a one-block stretch of 100 East, from about 400 North to 500 North.

"Several years ago the city of Manti approached The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about acquiring a parcel of land adjacent to the church's Manti Temple," spokesman Scott Trotter said in an e-mail Wednesday. "The property is now a dead-end road and no longer useful to the city. The church and city are currently in discussions to determine the viability of moving forward with a sale."

But the potential deal has drawn the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah.

"We have grave concerns about the effect any such sale would have on the First Amendment rights of citizens of the state of Utah and the city of Manti," the ACLU wrote in an Aug. 18 letter to city leaders. "As you may be aware, the ACLU of Utah has litigated these issues in the past. We are happy to meet with you at any time to discuss the important First Amendment rights at stake."

Darcy Goddard, the ACLU of Utah's legal director, said she is concerned about the free-speech concerns that arose when Salt Lake City approved the 2003 sale of the Main Street Plaza to the LDS Church.

"That's the concern," she said. "But there's really not that much information available right now. It's very difficult, if not impossible, to know how they're going to structure the sale. It could raise the same issues that have come up on Main Street. …

"This particular area has traditionally been used by people seeking to exercise their First Amendment rights. Whenever you have a situation where a public entity is considering selling that kind of property to a private entity, religious or not, there has to be concern."

Mayor Natasha Madsen was unavailable for comment Wednesday, and calls to City Council members were not immediately returned.

A Manti official said the council took public comment on the proposed sale last week but made no decision. The council is expected to make a decision on the matter in the next few months.

e-mail: afalk@desnews.com