Billings told of how representatives of the Nebraska-based aircraft-repair company examined the city from stem to stern before committing to building a 320,000-square-foot hangar at Provo Municipal Airport. He said Duncan teams examined the city's school system, Brigham Young University and nearby Utah Valley University, the religious culture, even recreation opportunities.

"I know what it is like to wear a swimsuit in a beauty pageant," Billings said. "I'm glad they didn't judge me on how I looked."

Now there's a mental image the audience wasn't expecting. Still, Provo landed the deal.

Mumbo jumbo

Forming a committee is complicated stuff. Don't believe it? Try wading through this explanation of an organization to oversee Salt Lake County's criminal- and social-justice system.

"Work toward the development of an Effective Organizational Model designed to bring the various components of the criminal- and social-justice system together in creating a holistic approach to master planning the structure and operation of a criminal- and social-justice system."

Huh?

"It makes no sense whatsoever," Democratic Councilman Jim Bradley complained during a recent meeting, eliciting chuckles from the audience. "[My impression] was that we were going to get people from the criminal-justice system together to figure out how this should work."

Exactly - in addition to giving that committee more power, more information and more oversight over the county's justice services.

It wasn't so obscure to Bradley's Republican colleague, Jeff Allen, who mused, "That's how I read it."

Times and places for debates

'Tis debate season in Salt Lake County, where voters must decide whether to keep politicos such as Democratic Mayor Peter Corroon or enlist fresh blood such as GOP mayoral hopeful Michael Renckert.

The dates still are trickling in. But here are a few forums to mark on your calendar:

* Corroon vs. Renckert for county mayor, noon, Oct. 20, at the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, 175 E. University Boulevard (400 South).

* Michael Jensen vs. Paul Pugmire for council District 2, 11 a.m., Oct. 29, at the Salt Lake City Main Library, 210 E. 400 South.

* Corroon vs. Renckert, 7 p.m., Oct. 29, at the Salt Lake City Main Library, 210 E. 400 South.

* Randy Horiuchi vs. Steven DeBry for a countywide council seat, 11 a.m., Oct. 30, at the Salt Lake City Main Library, 210 E. 400 South.

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* Have a tip about local governments or campaigns? E-mail offtheagenda@sltrib.com.