Thanks to a recent 3-2 vote by the City Council, the job of mayor in the city 15 miles west of Lehi will become full time and pay a combined $70,000 per year in salary and benefits.

Eagle Mountain now joins Provo as the only two cities in Utah County with full-time mayors. Provo's Lewis Billings makes roughly $85,000 running a city of about 100,000. Eagle Mountain's population, according to the latest U.S. census estimates, is 8,190.

The council's decision has been hotly debated.

Eagle Mountain Councilwoman Linn Strouse suggests people have been quick to criticize the pay hike without understanding the uniqueness of running the rapidly growing city.

She noted the council has been researching the pay issue since February 2003, and calls it "one of the most discussed and debated issues we've ever had."

Boosters of the bump in pay argue the complexity of running a $25 million corporation with five master developments, its own utilities, two different sewer systems and a growth rate ranked near the top among Utah cities is too much for a part-time mayor. Critics, however, counter that a full-time mayor is not needed as much as a police force, an expanded sewer system and street lights in several neighborhoods.

"I'm not necessarily against a full-time mayor," said Vincent Liddiard, Eagle Mountain's mayor pro tem. The problem is, "the mayor position is going to be funded from the wastewater fund, but we're trying to get money for the wastewater fund. I didn't feel it was appropriate to take it from that fund."

Liddiard said he would have liked to have seen voters decide in November - when the next mayor is elected.

City Council members expect to appoint a temporary mayor in August to finish out the term of Mayor Kelvin Bailey, who recently resigned. Candidates for November's election have until July 15 to register to run for mayor or the City Council.

At least one current council member, Brian Olsen, says he is interested in running for mayor. Olsen voted for the increased mayoral salary.

Some speculate Bailey will run once again now that the job is full time and pays more. He resigned, in part, because he said the position was too taxing on his ability to care for his family.

Bailey could not be reached for comment.

In neighboring Saratoga Springs, the only Utah County city growing faster than Eagle Mountain, officials made Mayor Timothy Parker a full-time mayor shortly after he was elected.

Once a full-time city manager was hired, though, Parker reverted back to part-time status.

Parker said he doesn't see Saratoga Springs ever going back to a full-time mayor, but he doesn't object to Eagle Mountain's decision.

"There is only one concern with a full-time mayor," he said. "The city needs to be really vigilant with whom they elect."