Payson to stick with UTOPIA system
The legality of the original vote — which included two council members participating by telephone — had been questioned by one of two councilmen who voted against the city's involvement with the system that will bring high-speed Internet and other telecommunications offerings to the city.
By the same 3-2 majority, the council on Wednesday approved a resolution cementing its position. City Attorney Dave Tuckett said the only problem with the earlier vote was a lack of written protocols for using teleconferencing.
Councilman Brent Burdick earlier charged that the June 26 emergency meeting was illegal because he didn't receive 24 hours notice, but Tuckett disputed that, saying proper public notice was given. Councilman Larry Skinner also voted against the resolution, saying it put taxpayers at too great a risk.
"This project has little chance of being successful," he said.
Other council members disagreed, saying the city needed the high-tech fiber-optic lines UTOPIA will provide to attract more business into the community.
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