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Park City And Summit County Will Both Have Seats On The Central Wasatch Commission

Mountain Accord

The Central Wasatch Commission has agreed to provide a seat at the table for Park City. Summit County is getting one too as the Wasatch back representative.

The Summit County Council is following up on that as part of their agenda Wednesday.

The council is meeting at the Coalville Courthouse. Shortly before 5:00 pm they will consider amending their Interlocal Agreement with Park City, concerning the Central Wasatch group.

The Commission, in its earlier form, was known as the Mountain Accord.

As deputy county manager Janna Young pointed out, it was formed in 2014, bringing together stakeholders on both sides of the Wasatch Mountains to attempt putting together a plan to address transportation, trails infrastructure and the environment.

In 2017, it was re-shaped into the Central Wasatch Commission.

“Originally it had members of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Sandy City, Cottonwood Heights as well as representatives from UDOT and the Wasatch back. It was then left up to Summit County and Park City to come up with a process for how to nominate that Wasatch back representative. In August of last year, we signed an interlocal agreement with Park City Municipal Corporation agreeing to that process.”

Some changes were prompted when the towns of Alta and Millcreek asked to join the commission.

“That triggered a discussion between Summit County and Park City about whether or not on of us should also apply for a separate seat. It was decided that Park City would go ahead and do that if they were successful than the county would assume the Wasatch back representative seat. Park City’s application was approved, I believe at the end of July or mid-August. So now we’re meeting to amend that agreement between our two entities basically giving Summit County exclusive right to nominate the Wasatch back commissioner provided that Park City keeps its independent seat and remains a separate voter on that commission.”

Young said that Alta and Millcreek were given a seat as well. She also said the commission wants to get all its new members seated before holding a meeting in September. It looks like those will include county council member Chris Robinson as the Wasatch back representative.

We asked though, if there's a place with the group for rapidly-growing Wasatch County and Heber.

“They have a piece of the Mountain Accord boundary, it’s not as prevalent as (Summit) county and Park City but they are represented through that Wasatch back commissioner. So, I imagine that if we do appoint Chris Robinson that he will make sure that their interests are represented.”

She said the upcoming agenda for the commission deals with issues in Washington D.C.

“There’s federal legislation that they’re pushing through that includes a recreation and wilderness designation for the Mountain Accord area. There’re some land swaps involved in that and many other things addressing infrastructure and trails. The congressional delegation has expressed an interest in trying to move that this year, so the commission has been involved in many public hearings to iron out that legislation incorporating all the feedback. I believe that Congresswoman Mia Love is currently the one who’s going to be running that.”

The federal designation bill has been pending for a couple of years.

“Congressman Chaffetz was the one who originally offered the bill but if you’re familiar at all with Congress things don’t move very quickly. It didn’t get very far in previous sessions so we’re hopeful that this time around maybe there’s more momentum behind it and we can actually make it happen.”

Young said the commission has also hired former Salt Lake Mayor Ralph Becker as its executive director.

She said Summit County contributed $50,000 a year for three years into the Accord process. The council will later take up the topic of further contributions to the Central Wasatch Commission.

Known for getting all the facts right, as well as his distinctive sign-off, Rick covered Summit County meetings and issues for 35 years on KPCW. He now heads the Friday Film Review team.
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