By a 2-1 vote Tuesday, the County Commission voted to bolt the quasi-official government agency it has been part of since MAG's inception in the early 1970s. Commissioners Steve White and Jerry Grover say MAG is neither effective nor accountable.
"We stand for election. If we aren't doing a good job, the people have a way of ridding themselves of our odious decisions," said White, who voted with Grover to withdraw. "However, when it comes to [MAG] . . . people have no say."
MAG Executive Director Darrell Cook was stunned. "This has never happened in the history of the organization," said Cook, who still hopes to get the county to chart a different course.
The commissioners, though, say he shouldn't be surprised. White is miffed because members of MAG's executive board voted last month to name Springville Mayor Fritz Boyer as chairman. White says he was passed over for suggesting the county take over MAG's operation of aging services in Utah County.
"That's absolutely ridiculous," Kamas Mayor Bill Probst said. "It was Utah County's turn for the chairman's job. Several from Utah County were nominated, and he lost."
Money also is at the root of the county's ill will. MAG distributes roughly $1.5 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money each year. White says Utah County accounts for 79 percent of the population within MAG's jurisdiction but has collected only about 36 percent of the federal funds, on average, during the past five years.
Utah County did garner more than 60 percent this year. "But that was only because I was kicking and screaming every foot of the way," White said.
And, White and Grover charge, MAG misused approximately $1.3 million in CDBG money in 1997 to build its Orem office, an allegation Cook vehemently denies.
Commissioners say MAG's overhead - in some cases about 20 percent, by Grover's estimates- for running Meals on Wheels and other programs for senior citizens is too high. That is why they want to bid against the agency to provide those services in Utah County.
Grover says the county can do a better job.
"If we're competing with MAG, it wouldn't be ethical for me to sit on their board and have access to all their information," Grover said.
Commissioner Larry Ellertson opposed severing ties to MAG.
"If we have problems with the process, we ought to work within the system to try and improve them," he said. "My concern is . . . this actually withdraws us from the opportunity to participate in some of the issues that are before the county right now, including transportation."
MAG is the agency tasked by the state and federal government for regional planning.
"What will be the county's role in transportation and regional planning?" asks Orem Mayor Jerry Washburn, who says MAG has represented the county well.
Grover, however, says the county can still have dialogue with MAG over transportation. Another possibility: team up with the Wasatch Front Regional Council.
"We have a lot more in common with the south end of Salt Lake County than we do with Coalville," Grover said.
Commissioners are preparing a 30-day notice of termination of its contract with MAG, which collects about $38,000 a year from Utah County. MAG's annual budget totals roughly $6.9 million, about $850,000 is cash or in-kind contributions from its members. Once Utah County leaves, MAG will be left with 35 members - 33 cities and Wasatch and Summit counties.
meddington@sltrib.com
