"Forty-eight percent of the people who voted in that special election, voted against it," says Ron Mortensen, spokesman for Citizens for Tax Fairness. "Whether we like it or not, we are now going to be paying $40 toward this project and they need to be accountable with our money."

On Aug. 3, voters in Bountiful, North Salt Lake, West Bountiful, Woods Cross, Centerville and the unincorporated county narrowly approved an $18 million bond to help pay for the renovation. That will cost taxpayers about $38 a month on a $167,000 home.

Mortensen is critical of the decision to place the five mayors who pushed the project on the board managing the recreation district. He sent a letter to county commissioners asking that voices of those who opposed the bond be represented.

There are eight slots on the special district board. Five will be filled by the mayors. County commissioners appointed three more board members this week: Commission Chairman Dannie McConkie, County Clerk-Auditor Steve Rawlings and Darrel Twede, who resides in the same unincorporated portion of south Davis County as McConkie.

Commissioners did not discuss Twede's appointment, made public at their weekly meeting.

But Twede, an industrial engineer with the Salt Lake City-based technology company Evans & Sutherland, said he is up to the task.

"My entire professional life has been involved with making sure that projects were done on time and within budget," Twede said. "Now that the vote is over and the bond has passed, that will be our job: going forward."

Mortensen said opponents are not against updating the center's current ice rink and swimming pool but object to plans for an expanded fitness center, a jogging track, climbing wall, outdoor water attractions and sharing a new gym with schools.

"They've set up this special district that is going to be raising taxes to keep this thing going forever," Mortensen said. "And as politicians, they aren't accountable because they can say, 'Oh, I didn't raise your taxes, the special district did or the school board did .' "

lorib@sltrib.com