The City Council-elect here - in what will be the state's newest town come January - is grappling with setting up everything, from animal control to a zoning commission, within six weeks.

But here's the kicker: The city-to-be doesn't have any money.

Not yet, anyway. Because Cottonwood Heights is not yet officially incorporated and its council is not yet sworn in, the city has no legal or taxing power.

Nonetheless, come Jan. 3, it must open its doors, at an address still to be determined, and provide such things as police and courts, filling pot holes and plowing snow.

"It's like getting married and starting out with nothing," mused City Councilman Don Antczak. "We're wrestling with our options."

It may not be a real city yet, but the council is acting like it is. Elected officials have twice posted agendas 24 hours in advance of meetings, as outlined in Utah statutes. But according to the state Attorney General's Office, the law doesn't apply until they're sworn in.

"There is a little bit of a chicken-and-egg problem," said Thom Roberts, assistant attorney general. "They have to follow the law that applies to them now. Any vote they were to take, would just be a vote of private citizens."

Nonetheless, the council-elect is sticking to the law as if it were duly sworn, said Mayor-elect Kelvyn Cullimore. For example, officials want to hire a city manager by Dec. 7, although they can't make it official until after Jan. 3.

"People have to understand that we don't have funding," he said. "But Zions Bank is prepared to lend us tax-anticipation money."

With those funds, as well as agreements with private and public entities to defer payments for up to six months, the council next month will rent office space and contract for public-safety and public-works services, the mayor-elect said.

When property and sales taxes do begin to roll in, Cottonwood Heights expects to receive about $6 million in its first six months of operation - the equivalent of $12 million a year.

Some municipal services will be contracted from Salt Lake County, which provided the same services before Cottonwood Heights residents voted overwhelming to form their own town.

"We wanted local control of planning and zoning and more control over our taxes and budget," said Councilman Bruce Jones. "There is a sense of controlling our own destiny, and that has created a lot of excitement."

csmart@sltrib.com