Reader comments
Tooele ordered to pay developer $20.7M

The city has every right to stop development in its city. Developers are the worst offenders of abuse to citizens and often misrepresent data and facts in development. Look at what Draper and Sandy is going through now by developing on land and building homes in hazardous land areas. Mudslides and flooding are common there and the USGS warned the cities not to develop that land with homes.

This sounds like the same issue of development in Tooele that the city was trying to avoid. The city and development are city and citizen rights and if developers lose money that's their problem. Just like its the homeowners problem if their home slides down the mountain after irresponsible development. Who knows what previous city mayors or councilmen were bribed to engage this contract and a more responsible government followed in the wake of this claim. Perhaps it should be made law that all contracts of previous elected officials can be canceled or renegotiated. It would stop a lot of corruption in government and bribery contracting.

This was not originally about stopping developement. The city actually only started to block building within the approved subdivision in retaliation over other issues the developer was suing over. The City broke many promises to the developer and then illegaly retaliated when he fought back.

If Cities could cancel agreements made by previous administrations, who in their right mind would ever enter into an agreement with a City? The City - like Tooele did - would take all of the front-loaded benefits and then stiff the developer by backing out when a new administration came into power.

Tooele City has pumped so much money into this case and other cases. The leaders of the City seem to think they can't lose. Well, they're losing. They seem to think that because they are isolated here, no one will ever notice what they do or take them on. Though I wish our administration would just act honestly in the first place, I'm glad someone finally had the guts to stand up to it. All those guys who have been promising a win in this case should be removed from office. They must have spent over $2 M on this "Can't lose" case.

We must elect better leaders. These guys are crooks and liars.

The jury disagrees that Cities are above the law and can break their promises to stop development. Cities should live up to their promises. If they do not, they will be required to pay the people they harm -- not just in this instance but in all interactions with their citizens.

This is a tired old story.If the council members had a personal finacial stake in the outcome then they would have resolved the issues long ago. They simply don't care about wasting taxpayers money.
Let them now step forward and donate some personal money to offset the city costs.
This country would be a far better place if politicians were personally acountable for their actions.