Early Wednesday, a delegation - including four County Council members and new Mayor Peter Corroon - was summoned to the Capitol for not playing nice over the hotly debated Salt Palace expansion bill. They were asked by the funding bill's sponsor, Rep. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, to write a letter apologizing for remarks made a day earlier in The Salt Lake Tribune.

During an outburst Tuesday, council members likened state lawmakers to children and suggested the Legislature "doesn't know what the hell they're doing." The flare-up stemmed from burgeoning frustration over how much money the bill would ask the county to pay to upgrade the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City and the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy.

But as the final day of the Legislature lumbered along Wednesday - with Waddoups' Senate Bill 211 dangling in the balance - the Democrats sounded a conciliatory tone.

"I told Senator Waddoups that, while I don't agree with him on everything, I hold him in high esteem," said Democratic Councilman Jim Bradley, who penned Waddoups a handwritten note in addition to the council's apology letter. "There were some feelings hurt. But I don't want that to get in the way of good legislation for the Salt Palace."

Fellow Democrat Jenny Wilson agreed some things "shouldn't have been said" but insisted Wednesday's meeting with Waddoups and House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, was positive.

"It was not a take-them-to-the-woodshed kind of thing."

The letter, signed by Council Chairman Michael Jensen, a Republican, told Waddoups that Tuesday's fiery debate was "pointed, passionate and, unfortunately, somewhat provincial."

"These comments were unfortunate and regrettable, yet none of them were directed at you. We know we would have absolutely no ability to fund the Salt Palace but for your efforts."

The County Council has been divided on the financing plan for weeks.

Last weekend, council members nearly dumped their support for the Salt Palace upgrade during a meeting of its executive committee. And Republican Councilman Mark Crockett remains a vocal critic.

"I hope everybody thinks this is a higher priority than everything else we can do with the money," he said Wednesday.

Corroon and several council members have suggested they may yet walk away from the $82 million project if they fear it will put a pinch on county services or lead to a tax hike.

Hanging in the balance, like the partially constructed Salt Palace parking garage, is the Outdoor Retailer convention, a mammoth show that funnels an estimated $32 million into the economy each year.

djensen@sltrib.com