Whatever it is, Eagle Mountain's mayor and City Council are feuding over it.

At the end of a council meeting earlier this week, Mayor Brian Olsen told council members their city-supplied laptops need to be checked for porn and demanded they be handed over.

Councilmen Vincent Liddiard and David Blackburn refused the order, which Olsen said was part of a citywide audit started two months ago.

"At that time, there were no objections [from the council]," Olsen said Thursday, noting the audit began after "disturbing pornography" was found on a former employee's computer. "[The councilmen's refusal] shocked me. I don't understand. They knew this was coming."

Not so, Blackburn said. "It came as a surprise."

Blackburn and Liddiard argue Olsen is making a fuss about the computer issue because the council rejected a budget proposal from the mayor earlier this month.

Concerned about budget management, the council blocked a $200,000 budget amendment that would have made way for five full-time positions.

"Ever since then, there have been some hurt feelings," Blackburn said.

"The mayor and the council are not getting along," Liddiard said. "This is his way of striking back."

Liddiard and Blackburn said they would be happy to have their computers scanned, but they refused Tuesday for different reasons. Blackburn said he needs his for upcoming meetings, while Liddiard said he doesn't trust the mayor with it.

Olsen insists the scans are being done by an independent auditor - who has yet to uncover any obscene material - and adds that it's improper for the councilmen to tie the budget skirmish to the porn probe.

"That has nothing to do with this," the mayor said. "For them to bring [the budget] up, they're avoiding the real issue."

In a letter sent to reporters, Olsen wrote: "As mayor, I feel I have an obligation to the citizens of this city to ensure that city property is not being used for inappropriate or illegal activities. I had hoped to report to the citizenry at the close of this audit that every city-owned computer is clean."

Other council members complied with Olsen's laptop order.

David Lifferth turned over his hard drive - he owns the laptop he uses - and Heather Jackson retrieved hers from home to be scanned. Linn Strouse, who backs Liddiard and Blackburn, does not have a city laptop.

Lifferth said he was the one who initially urged that council computers be checked as well.

"It would be political suicide to either A, not comply with the audit, or B, have your computer audited and find something," Lifferth said. "I am very anxious to get a certification back from whoever scanned mine that says my hard drive is clean."

Jackson said she is frustrated by the both the budget standoff and the computer showdown.

"While they may have some issues with the mayor and have things on their computer they don't want the mayor to be privy to," she said, "it was upsetting they chose not to be compliant instead of coming up with a different solution."

Council members plan to meet tonight to discuss budget issues. One proposal calls for slashing the mayor's pay by about $20,000 a year.

Last year, the council voted to make the mayor a full-time post, with a $50,000 salary and an additional $20,000 benefits package.

City spokeswoman Linda Peterson said legal counsel has advised the city not to legally recognize tonight's special council meeting because it was not noticed properly.

Peterson said another meeting requested by Liddiard and Blackburn for Sept. 30 would be recognized.

The two councilmen said they plan to move forward with tonight's meeting.

"We're going to show up," Liddiard said. "The mayor doesn't have to show up."

thollingshead@sltrib.com