County, Sandy heat up annexation fight

Rhetoric is heating up between Salt Lake County and Sandy over an annexation procedure under way while Granite community residents are working to secure township status.

At issue is whether a clause that allows fast-track municipal annexations of connected "peninsulas or islands" undermines the intent of a bill passed by the state Legislature last year that halts annexations while a township petition is under way.

Sandy officials say the annexations were requested by a group of about two dozen residents on and around Bell Canyon Road, on the east side of the Granite neighborhood, and the procedure was in keeping with state law.

Mike Hansen, chairman of the Granite Community Council, testified before the Salt Lake County Council that the move flies in the face of the new state laws regulating the creation of townships.

"Is this an island? No. Is this a peninsula? I would submit under the code section that it is not a peninsula," Hansen said. "This is against the clear spirit of (the law)."

The county council seemed to agree and will take a vote on a formal protest letter next week. Salt Lake County Deputy Mayor Nicole Dunn said the mayor's office favors placing all annexations on hold until after the township vote in November.

In the meantime, Salt Lake County District Attorney Lohra Miller said her office is conducting a legal review of the matter. Miller encouraged county officials to register their objections in "appropriate form" at a hearing before the Sandy City Council on Nov. 10.

Another sticking point in unraveling the conflict may involve dated documents. The county clerk's office certified the Granite township initiative on Oct. 1, the same date Sandy posted its annexation notice.

Last week, Sandy officials said the city isn't seeking the proposed annexation but is simply trying to accommodate county residents' wishes.

"The whole premise of the state law is self-determination," said Sandy spokesman Nick Duerkson. "The residents are the most impacted. Their point of view is the most salient of all."

Duerkson added that Sandy would not benefit from large-scale annexation because residential properties cost more to serve than they garner in tax revenue.

Sandy City Council Chairman Bryant Anderson went a step further.

"Well, I have a problem with the county being so involved in it," he said, explaining that Sandy hasn't campaigned at all for the annexation. "I think the people ought to make their own determination."

e-mail: araymond@desnews.com, rpalmer@desnews.com