NORTH SALT CITY -- Salt Lake County is expected to vote today, Nov. 21, on a resolution that could put a damper on North Salt Lake's hopes to develop 80 acres of disputed land it owns along Salt Lake City's benches. Meanwhile, in a separate development, a Third District Court judge in Salt Lake City has ordered a mediation team to determine the value of the 80 acres in preparation for a trial concerning a condemnation action by Salt Lake City.

North Salt Lake has been in litigation with Salt Lake City to disconnect the disputed acreage it owns within Salt Lake City's borders following Mayor Rocky Anderson's condemnation of 13 of the disputed 80 acres.

While the Third District judge has not set a date for the condemnation trial, Second District Judge Darwin Hansen has scheduled a Feb. 20, 2007, trial to disconnect North Salt Lake's disputed 80 acres from Salt Lake City.

Meanwhile, North Salt Lake officials feel betrayed by Salt Lake County's decision to vote on a resolution today, which would maintain that they will not support North Salt Lake annexing the acreage from Salt Lake County.

North Salt Lake officials had hoped by disconnecting the land it could be annexed into North Salt Lake.

Cort Ashton, Salt Lake County Council Chairman, took issue last month when he disagreed with a statement made by North Salt Lake's city manager, Collin Wood in an affidavit with Second District Court that said the Salt Lake County Council had sided with North Salt Lake on the issue.

Even though Wood has since apologized for the statement and amended the affidavit, the Salt Lake County Council recently decided to move ahead with the agenda item.

"Cort Ashton said he would table the resolution until after the case in Davis County was complete, and then we found out it was back on the agenda," said Mike Nielsen, North Salt Lake city attorney. "The way we got our notice is a reporter called; that is just disappointing."

The North Salt Lake attorney said city officials had not been invited to participate in today's meeting.

"What is disappointing is that the council made a solid decision at its last meeting that they wanted to remain neutral," said Nielsen.

The mediation team, with parties chosen from the North Salt Lake City Council, plus others. and various Salt Lake City officials, will determine whether or not they can agree on the value of the property by the end of the month.

Nielsen anticipates that the mediation team will discuss both of the lawsuits over the debated parcel of land.

"There is no prohibition about discussing any aspect of either case in the mediation meeting," said Nielsen.

If the mediation team cannot agree on the value of the land, the Third District Court will need to determine a value of the 80 acres.

The Salt Lake City Third District Court judge assigned to the case has yet to set a trial hearing for the condemnation action.

sclarke@davisclipper.com