A friend of mine recently attended a board meeting of the Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA). He was hoping to have a meaningful dialogue with board members but was totally frustrated by the rules for the format of the meeting.
For a little background, let us recall that UIPA — a socialistic scheme and a developer’s dream — was concocted by leaders of the Utah Legislature in 2018. It imposed its sovereignty over 25 square miles of Salt Lake City and was absolutely opposed by the city’s mayor. Members of the UIPA board are appointed by the governor and serve mainly as rubber stamps for the actions of the executive director.
The rules of UIPA meetings dictate that each public speaker have no more than two minutes to state their views, which is not very long. During his presentation, my friend noticed board members answering their cell phones, conversing with each other, and one dozing. When the time allotted for public remarks expired, there was a moment of dead silence. No one on the board seemed interested in any dialogue or rebuttal with the public, as if “thank heavens that’s over.”
My friend heard farcical fabrications which he wanted to question and dispute, but there was no mechanism in place for truthful dialogue between board members and the public. This is not democracy, it’s arrogance.
Inasmuch as UIPA is an entity of the state, I urge Gov. Cox to review and revise the rules that pertain to UIPA board meetings and to develop cogent changes that will permit, and even encourage, fruitful dialogue between the public and the board.
James King, Salt Lake City