Another Disappointment With the actions of the 1997 State Legislature, the promise of effective townships was gutted. Led by Speaker of the House, Mel Brown, this body ignored the overwhelming voter approval of township in the entities involved, and changed last year's township law. Townships formed with fewer than 400 registered voters were nullified, with larger ones becoming "planning districts," with the ability to advise commissioners, but no power to protect borders. _ Bill to turn townships into planning districts introduced The Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY - Utah House Speaker Mel Brown has introduced legislation that would do away with the state's controversial townships and imperil existing incorporation petitions. The Union Republican's bill, unveiled Wednesday, would give counties the option of turning existing townships into planning districts. District board members would be appointed by the county rather than elected. Brown wants to require incorporation petitions to include signatures from more than 50 percent of all property owners in the area and from property owners who collectively own a majority of the land to be incorporated. Currently, a valid incorporation petition needs signatures from 25 percent of registered voters in an area, based on the last congressional election - or 1,000 people, whichever is less. 1997 Legislature wraps up March 5, 1997 DAN MILLER/Standard-Examiner BRINGS SESSION TO A CLOSE: House Speaker Melvin Brown brings down the gavel at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday. 66