Document Page 1 of 2 Tribune Archive 1997 TOWNSHIPS REDUX... 07/13/97 Salt Lake Tribune Types: Opinion Published: 07/13/97 Page: AA1 Keywords: Tribune Editorial Townships Redux Utah House Speaker Mel Brown is working on a bill to finish cleaning up the townships mess created by the 1996 Legislature. A new law he sponsored in this year's general session got most of the job done. The new bill, which should be ready for enactment in a special session later this month, should complete the work. The law passed earlier this year essentially dissolved the 15 townships created under the 1996 law and converted them to planning districts within unincorporated areas of counties. Those who spent many hours circulating petitions and campaigning to meet the accidental supermajority requirement for creation of townships under the 1996 law didn't think that was fair, and they have a point. The compromise in the new Brown bill would reinstate the townships and keep most of their elected leaders in office. However, the townships would function only as planning districts, and they would not have veto power over annexations and incorporations as they did under the ill-conceived 1996 law. The new bill reiterates that townships would have no legal or political identity separate from county government. They would have no taxing authority. Essentially, township boards simply would serve as planning commissions in their jurisdictions, and their decisions still would be subject to approval by the county government. Under the earlier Brown bill, county governments already have authority to create new townships by ordinance or in response to petitions. In addition, under the new law, after May 1, 2002, the county legislative body will review any townships that are being reinstated by this legislation to determine whether their continued existence is advisable. Township planning commissions would include seven members. Members of planning commissions in new townships created by counties would be appointed by county governments. Three members of planning commissions in townships created under the 1996 law and reinstated under the new law would be elected, the other four would be appointed. All members would have to be registered voters. However, there is a curious exception that allows one member of a planning commission in a reconstituted township to reside outside the township as long as he lives within the unincorporated county and owns property in the township This exception should be dropped. The entire townships fiasco is a cautionary tale. It illustrates how complex legislation cobbled together in back rooms literally in the last hour of a legislative session is a prescription for disaster. Gov. Mike Leavitt compounded the Legislature's errors by declining to veto the original bill in 1996 when it clearly was a mess. However, the latest bill should complete the repairs. Copyright 1990-2000, The Salt Lake Tribune All articles and other materials found in TribAccess, The Salt Lake Tribune's Web archives are copyrighted The Salt 88