But to hear city officials tell it, things are getting cleaned up in West Jordan.

By a 6-1 vote late Tuesday, West Jordan's City Council passed an ordinance restricting direct communication between city employees and council members. During the same special meeting, the council scheduled a hearing for Sept. 28 where six city employees - who have requested whistle-blower protection - can vent concerns over questionable city business.

All this based on $61,000 in fertilizer orders by a former city employee whose case was investigated and closed with no criminal charges filed by the district attorney. The employee, Don Bruey, resigned July 26 following an internal investigation into liquid fertilizer orders that broke city procedures but did not reach a criminal level, according to City Attorney Roger Cutler.

City officials and prosecutors also investigated promotional gifts including a jacket, DVD and Sears gift certificate - perks Bruey says he never accepted.

"We didn't recommend any criminal charges," District Attorney David Yocom said Wednesday.

Said Bruey, a retired Lt. Col. in the Marine Corps: "It's been looked into. I've been exonerated of any wrong-doing and I've moved on."

Bruey's legacy may be the protocol ordinance that Cutler describes as a "watershed" statute for this fast-growing suburb known for its political carping and questionable business dealings under former administrations.

The policy requires council members to discuss city business with department heads or the city manager - rather than midlevel employees.

"It establishes some sense of organization and controls things so you get good information and complete information," Cutler says. "No nefarious plot there."

But following Tuesday's vote, one resident screamed at two council members for stripping away rights before police casually escorted all three men from City Hall.

"It was kind of a heated conversation," acknowledged Councilman Rob Bennett, who observed the confrontation.

A handful of residents have also engaged council members in discussion about city affairs through a candid Web forum where postings range from informative to highly inflammatory.

Some of those issues probably will be discussed Sept. 28 when the so-called "whistle-blowers" address the city under oath.

"Let's lance this boil," Cutler added. "Let's make it public and fix it. I don't know how you can be any more open than that."

djensen@sltrib.com