This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In 2015 the Salt Lake County Council joined the mayor in signing the Mountain Accord. In addition, the accord was signed by many other jurisdictions and municipalities affected by and involved in the Central Wasatch and committed them to work collaboratively to make it a better place for now and the future.
The purchase of Bonanza Flats in Wasatch County to preserve it as open space would be the type of action the Central Wasatch Commission, as enabled by the accord, would take for the benefit of all. To their credit, the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy, Salt Lake Public Utilities, Summit County, Wasatch County, Midway, Park City and Deer Valley have all contributed towards the preservation of a unique and ecologically valuable part of the Wasatch.
Citizens who appreciate Bonanza Flats have also dug deep into their pockets to help.
So why did five members of the Salt Lake County Council vote no on contributing? Why did they decline to protect our watershed? Why won't they protect open space? Whatever the reasons, shame on them for their failure to live up to the accord and contribute.
William T. McCarvill
Cottonwood Heights