Choose wisely, Woodland told

FRANCIS, Summit County — Two small-town mayors told Woodland community members Wednesday that the most important thing in incorporating a new town is choosing good people as elected officials.

Both men also said incorporation would better protect the private water system in the area and would give the community new opportunities for federal funding.

The meeting was held in the garage of a fire station, hidden behind a church in the rural south of Summit County. About 40 neighbors crowded into the space because the building is the largest public facility in the area.

In July, five landowners from the historic Woodland community officially asked Summit County to approve their incorporation as Utah's newest town. The neighborhood has about 200 residents.

Given little choice by state law, the County Council will have to approve the July petition if the group is able to get half the voters, half the land value and half of the total property represented in a petition.

"The big things that you're going to be able to control is you're going to have absolute control over your zoning and you're going to get better protection for your water," said Daniel Mayor Michael Duggin.

Wednesday's meeting, organized by petitioner Earl McNeil, was a chance for naysayers and town supporters to clear the air of rumors.

"In my opinion, it's not going to change hardly anything as far as their lives in general," former Sterling Mayor Curtis Ludvigson said about the possibility of township. "As far as their expenses, I would expect it to be life as usual. But they don't know what they're missing if they miss out on the funding."

McNeil agreed that residents would see little change under an incorporation scenario. Mainly, he said, his interest is in protecting the private water system.

McNeil and his fellow petitioners are also butting up against county zoning rules that allow only one house per 40 acres of property.

"What we would like to do is allow our children to have a 5-acre piece," McNeil told the crowd, pledging not to develop massive subdivisions.

But Ludvigson warned that nothing is permanent, and especially not land-use or zoning decisions.

"That can change tomorrow if the folks in charge want to change it," said Ludvigson, who works full time for Rural Water. "You've got to make sure you've got good people governing your town."

So far, the petitioners are close to having enough voters and total property size for incorporation but are having trouble getting half the property valuation. They have until mid-October before Summit County revisits the issue.

Detractors at Wednesday's meeting said now is the wrong time to start a town and voiced concerns about potential tax increases that could come with another level of bureaucracy.

"I like everybody up here and think it's a wonderful community, but I don't love my family enough to give them a couple thousand dollars a month — and I love them," said Elk Meadows resident Kathy Palmer.

e-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com