Magna Begins Self-Determination Process

None by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) Another Salt Lake County township is starting the process of self-determination. LaDell Bishop, president of the Magna Town Council, says a meeting tonight will inform residents about an upcoming survey.

"We hope that this will actually generate a lot more interest into it," Bishop says. "This is actually kind of preparatory to get the people talking amongst themselves, so that when the county survey gets there, that they will take that survey seriously and understand just how much impact that survey has on their lives."

The county will send the survey this week to all of its unincorporated townships. These include Magna, Millcreek, Kearns, Immigration Canyon, White City and Copperton. Legislation passed in 2005 requires township residents to decide by 2010 whether to remain an unincorporated part of the county, incorporate as a city, or join an adjacent one. Bishop says the biggest concern in Magna is that this process will increase taxes.

 

"Regardless of what we do, taxes will eventually go up," Bishop says. "It's just how much and where the money goes that we are concerned about, and want to control."

Bishop says the majority of residents he's talked to want to maintain local control, by remaining an unincorporated part of the county or by becoming their own city. The meeting is today from 6-9 p.m. at the Magna Recreation Center. Representatives from the county, Salt Lake City and West Valley City will participate in the discussion.

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