Cedar Hills Mayor Gary Gygi, and eight current and previous Cedar Hills Councilmembers attended the Preserve and Protect American Fork Canyon (PPAFC & www.americanforkcanyon.com ) public meeting at American Fork H.S., moderated by Mark Allen and County Commissioner Bill Lee.

The Meeting

CH Mayor Gygi

Mark Allen offered Mayor Gary Gygi the microphone and opportunity to share his perspective.      

 

Mountain Accord agrees to put Utah County planning on hold

Proposed land swap at American Fork Canyon troubles residents

By Jasen Lee June 23rd, 2015 @ 7:16pm   

PROVO — Scores of residents packed the Utah County Commission chambers Tuesday to voice their anxiety and disapproval of a proposal that would trade just over 400 acres of coveted land in American Fork Canyon for about 1,400 acres of federal forest land located in Salt Lake County.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=35209464

 

Snowbird manager reacts to outcry over proposed expansion into American Fork Canyon

 Posted 4:27 pm, June 25, 2015  — Fox 13 News   

SALT LAKE CITY — The general manager of Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort is reacting to recent public outcry over a land swap proposal, and he said he wants to reassure people they aren’t proposing to put in condos or hotels should they expand.

http://fox13now.com/2015/06/25/snowbird-manager-reacts-to-outcry-over-proposed-expansion-into-american-fork-canyon/

Last night, Cedar Hills Mayor Gary Gygi, and eight current and previous Cedar Hills Councilmembers attended the Preserve and Protect American Fork Canyon public meeting at American Fork H.S., moderated by Mark Allen and County Commissioner Bill Lee.

Former Council members Joel Wright, Ken Cromar and Marisa Wright made comment and asked questions.  Sitting Council members Daniel Zappala, Trent Augustus, and Rob Crawley also commented.  Former Council member Darin Lowder and current Council member Jenney Rees were also in attendance, but did not speak.  (see separate post today with those details)

The following was posted by Cedar Hills Councilman Trent Augustus this morning on Cedar Hills Chat Room and at the Preserve and Protect American Fork Canyon Fackbook at https://www.facebook.com/ProtectAmericanForkCanyon/posts/1613417608943951  regarding their public meeting:

Cedar Hills Councilman Trent Augustus:

For the past several weeks residents across Utah County have asked for open and transparent communication when it comes to the issues facing American Fork Canyon. During the meeting held last night at American Fork High School I, again, publicly stated that I would be presenting a resolution this coming Tuesday to the Cedar Hills city council supporting the environmental stewardship of American Fork Canyon. The resolution I will be presenting is very closely modeled after the one recently approved by the American Fork city council.

Directly following last night’s meeting, I had several people immediately approach me and say hey if you’re presenting a resolution you need to know what your mayor did today. So, yesterday July 1st at 3:15pm Mayor Gary Gygi sent the following email to 27 various mayors and city council members in Utah County.

It is very disconcerting that our mayor is so adamantly trying to protect Snowbird that he would go out and send an email such as this. Since Snowbird is very clearly a private property owner in American Fork Canyon, if this type of language was added to a resolution it would very clearly dictate that a city would be supporting Snowbird in whatever use they decided to come up with in AF Canyon.

Mayor Gygi below says that the residents drive his marching orders. The residents of Cedar Hills, American Fork and Utah County have very clearly said that they do not want American Fork Canyon commercialized and for Snowbird to control a large portion of the canyon. However, Mayor Gygi isn’t heeding his own advice and listening to the residents. He continues to ignore the Cedar Hills City Council, the residents of Cedar Hills, the residents of American Fork and the residents of Utah County.

I am again saddened and utterly disappointed in Cedar Hills Mayor Gary Gygi for again willfully taking an action such as this.

CH Mayor Gygi email:

From: Gary Gygi <ggygi@cedarhills.org>
Date: July 1, 2015 at 3:15:47 PM MDT
To: ***email addresses removed to protect the various parties and addresses***

Mayors, there is a lot of excitement and much misinformation lately about American Fork Canyon and Snowbird so I want to give you information directly. I do like the Snowbird idea but I have never advocated for Snowbird in any of our American Fork Canyon steering committee meetings. BTW, I have also not advocated for Save our Canyons either, I have said that the residents will drive my marching orders and my residents don’t like it so I will respect that despite my personal feelings about it. I see that American Fork City and other cities are looking at making resolutions of various types supporting the canyon as it is. I would just like to encourage you to not forget the property rights of anyone who owns real property, be it private or public land. I would also encourage you if you choose to make a resolution to not forget that we all enjoy 1st amendment rights which extend to individuals and corporations. I have been advocating for all parties to be heard and I fear our freedoms and liberties are being trampled on if forget the property rights and 1st amendment rights aspect of our resolutions.
Thanks for you time.
-Gary

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Snowbird is attempting to make a land swap of 416 acres of American Fork Canyon land in order to build a gondola and other developments.  If Snowbird is successful, this would dramatically change the make up AF canyon, its access and uses, loved by so many.

Snowbird’s efforts, with Mayor Gary Gygi’s help, has been going on for months behind the scenes, without public knowledge or citizen input — let alone full disclosure by Gygi to his own Cedar Hills Council.

When the Salt Lake based Mountain Accord group’s efforts to benefit Snowbird were discovered two months ago, an ad hoc FaceBook group Preserve and Protect American Fork was organized by Utah County resident Mark Allen.  It has quickly grown to 6,000 concerned citizens, hoping to stop the process until Utah County citizen involvement and representation can be secured.    See… https://www.facebook.com/ProtectAmericanForkCanyon

However, yesterday, June 30, 2015, at 1:18 a.m., Preserve & Protect American Fork Canyon  posted on their Facebook page a GRAMA request-discovered-document showing that Mayor Gary Gygi has been involved with Snowbird owners Dick Bass and Ian Cumming at least since November 9, 2013, though Gygi has not informed the CH Council members fully regarding his recent involvement, let alone his documented involvement since November 2013.  Gygi has been unwilling to discuss the full details of his involvement or efforts.

It was recently discovered that Utah County Commissioner Larry Ellertson had received a $3,500 campaign contribution connected to Snowbird.  He sits on the American Fork Canyon Vision committee with Mayor Ggyi, who hasn’t disclosed any considerations yet connected to Snowbird.

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A public meeting will be held TONIGHT at American Fork H.S. from 6 to 10 p.m.  Utah County Commissioner Bill Lee and Utah State Auditor John Dougal will be on hand to comment and hear from concerned citizens.

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Cedar Hill residents who may want to ask Mayor Gygi to make a full report to the Council and residents of his involvement since November 2013, can contact him by email at…   ggygi@cedarhills.org

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• 30 free golf games per week for 50 years
• potential of 55,500 free golf games
• a potential value of $40 per games is worth $2,220,000

Salt Lake City residents prefer parks and trails over golf, study says

By Katie McKellar, Deseret News

Published: Saturday, June 20 2015 3:25 p.m. MDT

Updated: Saturday, June 20 2015 3:36 p.m. MDT

SALT LAKE CITY — Poll results are in, and they’re reaffirming city leaders’ decision to close at least two city golf courses: Glendale and Jordan River Par-3.

Two surveys contracted by Mayor Ralph Becker’s office indicate that Salt Lake City residents want open space, parks and trails, but aren’t as interested in golf.    

City Councilman Kyle LaMalfa, whose district encompasses Glendale, said the results illustrate how Salt Lake residents’ recreation preferences are changing.

“I think Salt Lake, as progressive as we are about many things, is way behind the times for trails,” LaMalfa said. “Cities like Logan, Ogden, Provo, Orem and St. George are way ahead, and the results of this poll suggest that it’s time to get Salt Lake City up to snuff with regards to our urban trails.”

The City Council was presented the findings this week as it considers whether to place a recreation bond on the ballot in November to help fund repurposing of the courses’ green space.

It’s still undecided how much residents would be asked to pay if voters approve the bond, but the mayor’s staff will be using the poll’s results to assemble a package for City Council consideration in July, LaMalfa said.

Together, the surveys reached roughly 1,500 residents. A telephone poll conducted June 1-8 reached 406 residents, equally representing all seven City Council districts, and presented findings with a 5 percent margin of error.

For complete story with charts, see…  http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865631118/Salt-Lake-City-residents-prefer-parks-and-trails-over-golf-study-says.html?pg=all 

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Former Mayor Eric Richardson walks away from Clubhouse Grill operation

The following sign was photographed Wednesday June 24 at the Cedar Hills Clubhouse Grill.

Unconfirmed reports say Eric Richardson and his wife could not make the grill profitable and closed Elev8 Friday, June 19.

The Cedar Hills city website offered no report or explanation regarding the closure of Richardson’s Elev8.

A call to Council member Jenney Rees, responsible for CH Communications, asked if a city website or newsletter explanation was forthcoming.  Rees said she had not yet been asked to write one by Mayor Gygi, or City Manager David Bunker (currently on vacation).

In the meanwhile, Rees confirmed that Eric Richardson’s  presentation proposal was the only that was made in person to the Council on February 17, 2015, when the Council selected his proposal and offered him the lease.  Mayor Gygi supported and promoted the lease be offered to Eric Richardson.   (see http://www.cedarhills.org/node/3396 )

Rees was unaware if the Richardsons had any food services experience prior to the lease contract being awarded, though she believed their associates did.  When asked if the City Newsletter had offered to the citizen’s the opportunity to Cedar Hills citizens to bid for the Golf Grill lease, Rees said she did not know.  A check of the January and February CH newsletters does not show any such announcement of the bid opportunity to Cedar Hills residents.  (see http://www.cedarhills.org/newsletters/2015 )

The city website does not currently list the Richardson Agreement posted under 2015 Contracts & Agreements at http://www.cedarhills.org/contracts-bids .

Rees confirmed that Sammy’s had attempted to renew their lease agreement with the city, but said that when Sammy’s insisted on shortening the hours of operation for the sake of profitability, but that the City chose not to renew their requested lease renewal.

Rees stated that the Agreement with Richardson’s Elev8 food service allowed for either party to walk away from the agreement.

According to the Daily Herald report, Elev8 was to start operation April 1.  It apparently lasted only about 10 weeks.

Cedar Hills Citizens for Responsible Government (CHCRG) has long maintained that government entities regularly prove incapable of managing profitable business operations.  The golf course continues to average over $550,000 per year in loses (taxpayer subsidies) for the 10 years of it’s operation, with approximately 20 more years left on the bond.

Until further notice, the government golf course grill Elev8 is dark, empty and “closed permanently”.

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For more info see…

Councilman Zappala: Former Cedar Hills mayor turns his life around, starts restaurant business

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/north/cedar-hills/councilman-zappala-former-cedar-hills-mayor-turns-his-life-around/article_619fc48e-8fe2-5011-ba7c-234249100230.html

And…

Daily Herald:  Former CH mayor-convicted-felon Eric Richardson awarded City contract at Golf Clubhouse grill

http://www.cedarhillscitizens.org/daily-herald-former-ch-mayor-convicted-felon-eric-richardson-awarded-city-contract-at-golf-clubhouse-grill/

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MAY 5, 2015 – Cedar Hills City Council Meeting

The following document prepared by Paul Sorensen, Curt Crosby, Jerry Dearinger, Ken Cromar & Sam Bushman was read into the record during Public Comments at the beginning of the meeting:

We, as members of Cedar Hills Citizens for Responsible Government, and non-resident radio talk show host Sam Bushman, respectfully invite Mayor Gary Gygi and the City Council to consider a request we make in behalf of a former employee.  We believe…

It’s time for the Cedar Hills Council to Correct a Serious Mistake

…Made against former City Recorder Kim Holindrake and restore her 6-years of retirement funding.

With the Change of Legal Representation – and a desire to restore trust with ALL Cedar Hills residents, we hope you’ll allow us to refresh your memory:

On May 1, 2012, 20-year veteran City Recorder Kim Holindrake was removed with a so-called “voluntary” “resignation” , along with then City Manager Konrad Hildebrandt and then Building Inspector Brad Kearl.

On Tuesday May 1, 2012, just hours before that night’s City Council Meeting, reportedly then Mayor Eric Richardson and then-City Attorney Eric Johnson presented 20-year Cedar Hills City Recorder veteran Kim Holindrake a “SEPARATION FROM EMPLOYMENT AND WAIVER AGREEMENT”and told her that if she did not sign the “voluntary resignation” agreement at that time the City Council would be asked to fire her that evening.

For many reasons, we believe this demand of her by Richardson and Johnson was wrong and unconscionable.  But, their threat worked.  An honest employee’s career career was destroyed and compromised.  What was done that day to destroy her career and reputation can’t be fixed, but at least the City of Cedar Hills can move to restore her 6 years of retirement that was compromised during that process.

Those who presented that agreement to her are the ones who should’ve been called into question.  And CHCRG did and has as documented on our website www.CedarHillsCitizens.org .  As you know, the Mayor resigned to plead guilty to bank fraud, and more recently, new legal counsel services in Kirton & McConkie has been secured.  They are now gone. But the damage is not.  But you as Mayor & Council are in a position to make some repair to her for what she suffered by providing her the 6 years of retirement that was compromised during that time.

[Editorial NOTE:  Please also see May 2012 CHCRG posting…

Daily Herald: “CH Mayor should resign” – 21 year vet City Recorder says she was pushed for “political” reasons

http://www.cedarhillscitizens.org/daily-herald-ch-mayor-should-resign/ ]

Reading highlights from the Agreement that she was forced to sign should serve to firmly establish the unfortunate circumstances and duress she was place under as follows:

Under Item “5.  INDEMNITY/COVENANT NOT TO SUE

“I will never sue City….”

“I will not at any time hereafter file, participate in, or become a class member in any other complaints, charges, or legal or administrative proceedings against City…”

“If any board, agency or court assumes jurisdiction of any complaint, charge, or legal or administrative proceeding against City…. I shall request such board, agency or court to withdraw or dismiss with prejudice the matter and use my best efforts to cause the agency or court to withdraw or dismiss the matter…and I will indemnify City (pay) for all damages, costs, and expenses, including a reasonable attorney fees, that City incurs in defending any such matter:…”

“I will not voluntarily communicate or cooperate with or assist any other person, firm or organization that is suing or seeks to sue City…”

Under Item “12.  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF KNOWING AND VOLUNTARY RELEASE” it reads:

“I have carefully read this Waiver Agreement and I fully understand all of its provisions.  I have been encouraged and advised in writing to seek advice from anyone of my choosing regarding this agreement (including my attorney, accountant or tax advisor).  Before signing this Agreement, I have been given the opportunity and sufficient time to seek such advice.”

Remember, she was threatened with immediate firing if she did not sign the document at that moment.  We believe this is an unenforceable & unconscionable contract that was signed under duress and without the benefit of legal advice under threat of termination which would amount to firing “with cause” which meant termination of health benefits and any severance pay.

This travesty was forced on one of the finest and most honest employees the City of Cedar Hills has ever had or could hope to have.

Respected by her peers in the State, 20-year veteran Kim Holindrake had just been elected to serve as the new President of the Utah State Recorders Association.  Instead, her career was cut short under questionable circumstances.  It wasn’t right.  It wasn’t fair.  Her career and profession were unnecessarily compromised, and her ability to defend herself muzzled by a highly questionable contract.  Ms. Holindrake didn’t know such an onerous contract was questionable, but pursuant to CHCRG’s legal analyst Jerry Dearinger’s research we have determined that the agreement is likely unenforceable.

In an amazing and notable moment of instant karma, the very next day, May 2, 2012, Mayor Richardson was charged with allegations of fraud in Federal Court.  Despite CHCRG, a petition by Angela Johnson, and the Daily Herald editorial staff calling for his resignation, he did not.

We members of Cedar Hills Citizens for Responsible Government respectfully invite Mayor Gygi and the City Council to take advantage of this opportunity to at least make restitution to her name and reputation by doing the right thing and restore the 6-years of retirement she earned in service to all Cedar Hills residents during her 20 years.

We invite a response in writing from the Mayor, Council and City Manager, to inform us of your thoughts and intentions regarding this request.

Respectfully,

Paul Sorensen, Curt Crosby, Jerry Dearinger, Ken Cromar & Sam Bushman

CEDAR HILLS CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT

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Request for Quotes (RFQ) resulted in six applicants for CH Attorney position.  Thank you.

Upon affixing his signature to this form, the outgoing official certifies under penalty of law that he has “surrendered to responsible officials all unclassified documents and papers relating to the official business of the government acquired by me while in the employ of the (State) Department.”

There’s even a warning to that effect in the Records Management Handbook:  Fines, imprisonment or both may be imposed for the willful and unlawful removal or destruction of records as stated in the U.S. Criminal Code.

In short, that is the law, which Clinton swore to uphold as secretary of state.

Coffin concludes by noting:  If Clinton signed Form OF-109, she should be prosecuted. If she didn’t, we need to know why not and who granted her that waiver. We don’t need a felon running for president.

Read more at http://libertyunyielding.com/2015/03/14/if-hillary-clinton-signed-form-of-109-then-she-is-guilty-of-a-felony/

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