The Mountainland Association of Governments collects about $38,000 a year from Utah County. Once the county's membership expires March 15, MAG will be left with 35 members: 33 cities and Wasatch and Summit counties.

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PROVO - Breaking up truly is hard to do.

Three weeks after the Utah County Commission voted to withdraw from the Mountainland Association of Governments, both groups are still feuding.

Stoking the dispute is a recent news release in which Utah County Commissioners Jerry Grover and Steve White allege that MAG Executive Director Darrell Cook and his staff are overpaid and the agency's executive board - largely composed of mayors and commissioners of Summit, Wasatch and Utah counties - is a rubber stamp.

"It seems obvious to me that oversight has failed within MAG when excessive salaries are supported at the expense of the poor and elderly, who are the primary beneficiaries of MAG," Grover said of the regional agency that oversees transportation planning and aging services.

"I'm not calling Darrell evil or saying he isn't a nice guy or doesn't work hard for the money he gets," Commissioner White added. "But look at his salary."

Cook, who supervises 48 staffers, earns $118,125 a year. Utah County commissioners, who oversee 944 workers, make $81,588.

For their part, Cook's supporters wonder why the commissioners are leveling personal attacks.

"Jerry Grover lives in a glass house and is throwing rocks, and he shouldn't be," said Pleasant Grove Mayor Jim Danklef, vice chairman of MAG's regional planning committee. "Darrell is very professional. He doesn't always give you what you want, but that is not his job."

Cook says he is "shocked" at the commissioners' criticisms.

"They seem to be engaging in a crusade and in personal character assassination and everything else I guess is within their prerogative to do as elected officials."

Much of the ill will stems from the commissioners wanting to take over MAG's operation of aging services in Utah County. When MAG balked at the move, the county decided last month to bolt from the agency.

About $3 million of MAG's $6.9 million budget goes to Meals on Wheels and other programs for senior citizens in Utah, Wasatch and Summit counties.

Grover says about $2 million of the aging money MAG collects is for Utah County, which he argues could operate the programs for about 6 percent in administrative overhead compared with MAG's 13 percent to 18 percent.

While some argue the Utah County commissioners' decision to leave MAG effectively silences them on critical transportation matters, White disagrees. He argues the county already is in the driver's seat.

"We're the ones who can put a local-option sales tax on the ballot," White said.

Utah County still plans to participate in transportation meetings staged by MAG, which is tasked by the state and federal government for such matters. Commissioners, though, won't take part in MAG executive board meetings.

"We view ourselves as a competitor with them," White said.

Orem Mayor Jerry Washburn is not convinced that will work. He wants the bickering to stop and constructive dialogue to begin.

"If there are concerns, it would be nice to discuss them and see if there isn't some kind of resolution possible."

meddington@sltrib.com