Those lawsuits are scheduled to be addressed on Nov. 2. The original court date was Oct. 3, but was moved to November by 2nd District Judge Darwin Hanson on Wednesday.
North Salt Lake is currently in litigation with Salt Lake City over the development of 30 acres in the 80 parcel located in Salt Lake City boundaries but owned by North Salt Lake.
Ashton's resolve, however, could stop North Salt Lake from developing it at all, even if the city wins its case against Salt Lake City.
North Salt Lake officials were surprised to hear about the resolution, and were regrouping when the Clipper contacted them.
"It's hard for me to understand why the county is acting on something that hasn't even been proposed yet," said Brent Hatch, an attorney retained by North Salt Lake. "I don't know why they would want to get involved in the litigation."
The Salt Lake County Council chairman said he took up the issue because of a comment made by North Salt Lake City manager Collin Wood.
"The main reason they took it up was because the North Salt Lake city manager filed an affidavit with the district court that the Salt Lake County Council had sided with North Salt Lake on the issue," said Ashton. "I felt it was appropriate to state our position."
While for now the county council has remained neutral, Ashton hopes that will change.
"Personally I would love to see those 80 acres remain as open space," said Ashton. "There are those on the council who feel like I do.
He said in two weeks the council will follow up on the issue after they have visited the 80 acres in question and further studied the issue.
In the meantime, North Salt Lake's Wood apologized to the county council for the comments he made on the affidavit, and told them the affidavit would be re-worded.
North Salt Lake officials have remained steadfast in their position.
"It won't change our legal direction at all," said Hatch. "We will still ask to be disconnected."
clarke@davisclipper.com
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