That was what MAG's executive board decided late Thursday, seven weeks after Utah County commissioners voted to bolt the regional agency that oversees transportation planning and aging services in Wasatch, Summit and Utah counties.

"This group is taking a very conciliatory approach," MAG Executive Director Darrell Cook said after the meeting. "They don't want to slam the door on Utah County."

So what if Utah County refuses to pay roughly $30,000 MAG says it owes in overdue membership dues. Forget the fact Utah County commissioners are petitioning state aging officials to take over MAG's operation of Meals on Wheels and other services for seniors in Utah County - a move that could cost the agency almost half its yearly $6.9 million budget. It doesn't even matter that commissioners have called MAG officials "overpaid, inefficient and unaccountable."

Board members decided not to return fire.

"We're an important agency of government serving the taxpayers," Provo Mayor Lewis Billings said. "Let's just give this a rest. Let's continue to send them agendas and if they want to come, let them come."

Springville Mayor Fritz Boyer, chairman of the MAG board, agreed.

"They need to be invited," he said. "Send them the letters and if they choose not to participate, fine."

In deciding to take the "high road," board members opted out of passing a resolution opposing Utah County's plan to take over aging services and sending it to the state Division of Aging and Adult Services, the agency that will decide who serves Utah County's elderly.

Instead, MAG members amended their aging-services plan to present to state officials. They also announced the creation of a "blue-ribbon" committee to study how MAG administers services to the elderly and what the agency could do if it had more money.

Utah County is proposing to spend more on Utah County seniors and expand Meals on Wheels to seven days a week, up from five.

MAG officials, however, say Utah County could contract with MAG to beef up services to seniors instead of starting its own agency.

"What [Utah County commissioners] are proposing could be accomplished by our existing organization without creating additional bureaucracy," Mountainland Aging Services Director Scott McBeth said.

If the committee finds that is indeed the case, board members could formally oppose the county, which is drafting its own aging-services proposal for the state's approval.

meddington@sltrib.com