But some citizens are not happy. Roughly half the large crowd gathered at City Hall left in a huff, vowing a petition drive to overrule the decision and put the matter to a public vote in November.

"If the citizens of Sandy can use it to keep out Wal-Mart, so can we," said resident Marilyn Boren. "They can't run over people like that."

A 3-2 majority of City Council, however, concluded it's time to put the issue to rest.

Councilman Casey Hill said he could remember the debate over joining the county library as a young boy and he thinks it's time for the city to join the county's library system.

"If there weren't a shortfall in the [city] system, the issue of merging with the county wouldn't continually come up," Hill said.

Council members Chris Snell and Gil Miller also voted in favor of the merger. Neka Roundy and John McCleary voted nay.

A study of the merger showed the cost to Kaysville taxpayers would be virtually the same in the near future.

The union will not be complete until it goes before the Davis County Commission, which could consider the issue Tuesday.

A group of Kaysville residents, led by the current library board, is already vowing to stage a referendum. The group will discuss the matter tonight at 6 at the library, 44 N. Main.

lorib@sltrib.com