County, Sandy heat up annexation fight

(Deseret News) Rhetoric is heating up between Salt Lake County and Sandy over an annexation procedure under way while Granite community residents are working to secure township status.

At issue is whether a clause that allows fast-track municipal annexations of connected "peninsulas or islands" undermines the intent of a bill passed by the state Legislature last year that halts annexations while a township petition is under way.

Sandy officials say the annexations were requested by a group of about two dozen residents on and around Bell Canyon Road, on the east side of the Granite neighborhood, and the procedure was in keeping with state law.

Mike Hansen, chairman of the Granite Community Council, testified before the Salt Lake County Council that the move flies in the face of the new state laws regulating the creation of townships.

"Is this an island? No. Is this a peninsula? I would submit under the code section that it is not a peninsula," Hansen said. "This is against the clear spirit of (the law)."

The county council seemed to agree and will take a vote on a formal protest letter next week. Salt Lake County Deputy Mayor Nicole Dunn said the mayor's office favors placing all annexations on hold until after the township vote in November.

Original Article