Heading into the election Tuesday night, there was a possibility of two new cities incorporating in Tooele County.
Once the votes were tallied, however, neither Stansbury Park nor Lake Point voted to become cities.
The Lake Point incorporation vote was close, with a final tally of 218 for and 231 against — only a 13-vote margin. Stansbury Park incorporation was more soundly defeated, with 61 percent of voters opposing the measure.
It was a disappointing result for Wade Hadlock, who had spearheaded the incorporation movement in Stansbury Park. He said the feedback he received concludes now wasn’t the right time for incorporation, but it will happen eventually.
“I believe Stansbury Park needs to incorporate,” Hadlock said. “Now would have been a great time to do it.”
While Hadlock also supported the successful Proposition 14 to study Tooele County’s form of government, he said Stansbury Park needed both proposals to pass to have control of its future. If the form of county government does change, Hadlock said he hopes Stansbury Park would become a district to ensure representation.
Hadlock also encouraged Stansbury residents to seek posts at the county level, including on the planning and zoning commission, so the community has a say. He called efforts to empower an existing quasi-governmental agency, like the Stansbury Park Service Agency, with planning and zoning responsibilities an “excuse” by anti-incorporation supporters to encourage nay votes.
“It’s not a viable option,” Hadlock said.
Glenn Oscarson, a Stansbury Park Service Agency board member and long-time resident, was pleased to see the community vote against incorporation. He said he is happy with the services provided by the county and doesn’t believe an extra level of government would improve his situation.
“I’m just content with the services we enjoy,” he said.
Oscarson said Stansbury Park, where he has lived since 1971, is a bedroom community and doesn’t believe the founders’ intentions were for it to become a city. He doubts the community will ever be a magnet for significant commercial development because no one living in Tooele City or Salt Lake County would travel to Stansbury Park for goods or services.
While he isn’t looking to add another formal government entity into the mix, Oscarson said he would like to see a community council with members from stakeholders in Stansbury Park, including the service agency, Stansbury Park Improvement District, North Tooele Fire District, Tooele County Sheriff’s Office and others. The council wouldn’t have any authority but would allow the agencies to discuss issues affecting the community.
“I can believe that would be a wonderful forum,” he said.
For Keith Fryer, the decision to vote against incorporation in Lake Point was made easy by what he said was the good quality service provided by Tooele County. The community already provides its own water, sewer and parks, he said.
“I don’t think Lake Point has the resources to support a city,” Fryer said.
Incorporation would mean higher taxes for residents and an extra layer of government, with a commercial base comprised primarily of truck stops and restaurants, Fryer said. He said he works closely with the county commission through the Lake Point Improvement District and feels the commission is responsive to resident requests.
Fryer also said the county has done a good job with the development it has approved in the Lake Point area, specifically citing the Saddleback development that opened access above the railroad tracks and into the foothills through walking trails and other amenities.
Fryer did admit to being surprised by the tight margin in the election, however.
“I didn’t think it would be as close as it was,” he said.
Repeated attempts to contact Jim Willes, who was a sponsor of the Lake Point incorporation petition, were unsuccessful. In his argument for incorporation, which was shared on the Tooele County website, Willes said the community is growing and would be facing more changes as Lake Point continued to grow.
“Right now we are at the mercy of our county government when any decisions are made that will affect us,” he said.
In the argument for incorporation, Willes also said incorporation would allow Lake Point to take control of the community’s future and its taxes, as Lake Point has to pay taxes based on the county’s Municipal Services Tax.