This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Six more people will receive homes in a polygamous Utah town and three others will receive vacant lots under an order issued by a judge Tuesday.
The properties are the latest to be distributed by the United Effort Plan — the polygamous trust seized by Utah in 2005. In November, 24 people received homes in Hildale.
The UEP still owns most of the property in Hildale and adjoining Colorado City, Ariz., but it has slowly been divesting itself of the holdings in an effort to eventually dissolve the trust. Besides giving homes to 30 people at little cost, the trust has sold millions of dollars worth of commercial and agricultural land in the last two years.
Jeff Shields, an attorney for the UEP, on Thursday said that the trust's advisory committee recommended the nine properties be distributed. The committee looks at who built or improved the home, how long the applicant has lived there, whether it is the size the applicant needs for his or her family, and other factors.
"The board is applying those factors to say, 'Who's the most likely, reasonable fair candidate of this house?' " Shields said.
The applicants must pay 15 cents per square foot for the land but not for any buildings sitting on it, plus pay any debts they owe the UEP and some closing costs.
Shields expects the UEP to file a motion within the next 10 days asking Judge Denise Lindberg to distribute more homes in Hildale.
No Colorado City homes have been distributed because most UEP properties there are not subdivided. Entire blocks of the town are recorded as one parcel at county offices.
Shields on Thursday said he thought the UEP and Colorado City were making progress on subdividing, but the town recently told the trust that its plan was unacceptable and that it wanted improvements such as curbs, gutters and street lamps.
"I think they're just looking for an excuse not to subdivide," Shields said.
The UEP was once operated and controlled by Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints President Warren Jeffs. Utah seized it in 2005 out of concern that Jeffs was mismanaging it and that people were at risk of losing their homes. The UEP owned about 750 homes in Hildale and Colorado City before November's distribution.
Giving people the deeds to homes and selling other property has been a slow process because of the subdivision issue, various lawsuits and the people loyal to Jeffs who are refusing to cooperate with the UEP.
Twitter: @natecarlisle —
Properties being distributed
Houses and approximate locations:
Albert Council • 300 East block of Jessop Avenue
George Hammon • 100 East block of Jessop Avenue
Mike Cooke • 800 North block of Redwood Street
Seth Cooke • 400 East block of Utah Avenue
Colleen Cooke • 400 E. Jessop Avenue
Wayne Jessop • 600 North block of Willow Street
Vacant lots and approximate locations:
John Cook • 900 North block of Elm Street
Justin Cooke • 800 North block of Juniper Street
Curtis Cooke • 1200 North block of Canyon Street