The Weber County Commission on Tuesday reluctantly approved the incorporation of Powder Mountain under a Utah law that was changed after the petition was filed.
However, commissioners refused to appoint a town council and mayor from names provided by the resort owner, Western America Holding Co. They questioned whether the list represented resort owners, rather than residents.
The commission invited any resident of the new town to apply directly to the county for a spot on the Town Council.
Powder Mountain will again top the commission's agenda Aug. 19, when, according to spokeswoman Lisa Davis, resort officials will submit the same list for approval.
"We feel we're done with it," she said Wednesday. "We've complied with the law."
Western America has grand plans to expand the mom-and-pop ski haven north of Pineview Reservoir into a world-class destination with golf courses, condominiums, shops and restaurants - as well as new ski lifts.
Powder Mountain sought incorporation after its expansion proposal was reeled back by the county's Ogden Valley Planning Commission. That body significantly reduced those plans and wanted Powder Mountain to build a second access road to the resort tucked at the top of steep and narrow State Route 138.
Under the old law, a single entity could incorporate if it owned 50 percent of the land within the proposed boundary and included at least 100 residents.
It also stated that a county legislative body would select a five-member town council and a mayor from names submitted by the petitioner.
County Commissioner Jan M. Zogmaister said Wednesday that Powder Mountain's list was unsatisfactory because it included only six names - one for each office.
"We're concerned that the people within the [town's] boundary have real representation."
Deja Mitchell said she and other homeowners opposed the incorporation. But now that it has gone through, she wants council members who are not tied to the resort.
"We're counting on the commission to choose people who actually represent our citizens, rather than corporate interests."
csmart@sltrib.com
