The City Council chamber was packed Tuesday with folks who couldn't wait to tell Sandy officials what a great job they're doing in their much-publicized battle with Utah Power.
It was a nice change of pace for Mayor Tom Dolan and the council. Usually, the comment period at the start of meetings is a forum for angry folks to vent their frustrations at City Hall."We are here to both thank you and praise you," said Dale Ash, the first resident to reach the podium. "You have stood tall and protected our property values and quality of life."
More than a dozen residents spoke in support of the city. Many of them experienced one or more power outages last week when temperatures soared and the power company said it couldn't provide electricity to everyone in southeast Sandy and Draper. It couldn't, it said, because it has not been allowed to build a power substation in the Dimple Dell area.
The city has argued the proposed substation isn't needed and that an upgrade of the Dumas substation in Draper would suffice. If the Dimple Dell substation is built, Sandy wants the transmission lines buried at the company's expense.
The prolonged feud has been in and out of court, but last week's outages seemed to speed up negotiations. Both sides say they are near a long-term agreement. Dolan said Tuesday that because the city has provided a backup diesel generator and has offered to supply another one, no more planned outages should be necessary this summer.
Ash, who helped collect more than 150 signatures on a petition supporting the city's position, urged officials not to give in to Utah Power on any point.
"We hope you have not given up on the Dumas upgrade," Ash said, referring to a proposed agreement that would allow the Dimple Dell substation to be built and place the lines underground. "Don't worry about us. . . . Some people say we should turn off our power and give the money to (pay for) legal fees."
The speakers spent an hour trying to outdo each other in praising the council, mayor, attorney Walter Miller and others. Even Paulina Flint, a White City resident and County Commission candidate whose past tirades against the council are almost legendary, had nothing but good things to say about the city.
Robin Snyder said she approached 23 people with the petition and all agreed to sign it.
"They are disgusted with the way Utah Power has acted and what they're doing," Snyder told the council. "It's appalling to them that someone could come in and reduce property values (by installing overhead lines) and they can't do anything about it. That's a violation of our rights."
The petition circulated by Ash, Snyder and others calls Utah Power an "out-of-control and uncaring monopoly" and charges the company with violating the state's public utility code by failing to provide power. "Don't let Utah Power strong-arm and bully the people of Sandy in order to extort the decision they want from Sandy city by blacking us out in violation of State Utility Code," it states.
"They're suppose to provide adequate service," Ash told the Deseret News. "This company is deliberately blacking us out."
Utah Power spokesman Dave Eskelsen, who did not attend the meeting, said Wednesday the company has not shut off Sandy's power on purpose.
"That assertion is completely false," he said. "It ignores the physics of the situation. It ignores the independent review of the Salt Lake County special hearing officer and Sandy's own electrical engineering consultant, both of whom clearly stated and substantiated the need for the substation."
Eskelsen reiterated that the planned outage program was approved by the Public Service Commission.
Sandy spokesman Rick Davis said Wednesday that an agreement with Utah Power should be reached within 30 days.
Eskelsen said residents should realize that such an agreement would solve the long-term problem but might not prevent the need for further outages this summer. Whether or not power will be shut off again in certain areas depends on temperatures staying below the high 90s and Sandy's ability to locate another generator and make it available to Utah Power, he said.