Mayor Ed Sanderson says he's fighting a battle with the ghosts of misinformation and misunderstanding in dealing with issues involving the neighboring city of Cedar Hills.
"We're not going to take away people's animal rights (if they are now in Pleasant Grove instead of in county jurisdiction). If they have them, they'll be grandfathered as they always have been," Sanderson said. "There may be those who move in next to them that won't be happy about that, but they'll keep their rights."We're not on hold. . . . " said Sanderson. "And we're not preventing people from subdividing or selling their land if they want, as some have been told. . . . "
Cedar Hills City Councilman Ken Cromar maintains Pleasant Grove has been dragging its feet in allowing anyone to de-annex.
Sanderson said people are being told they can still ask out of Pleasant Grove. That agreement applies only to land in the area of the Manila township that was annexed to Pleasant Grove on March 18.
"The agreement doesn't apply to everybody," he said.
Those who want to be de-annexed must write to Pleasant Grove officials by Oct. 15.
That much is true, Sanderson said. "I need to know who wants what."
In addition, Sanderson said Pleasant Grove intends to have sewer service to the residents of the township area by Christmas - whether or not Cedar Hills decides to share its line along 4000 West.
"We'll build our own, duplicate line, if necessary," Sanderson told the Deseret News Tuesday. "We own property on both sides of 4000 West so we have right-of-way through there."
Cedar Hills officials maintain since that city has a cherry-stem annexation along 4000 West that the road belongs to Cedar Hills and it can legally block Pleasant Grove's access.
According to a letter from Cedar Hills, basically written by Cromar, there isn't enough trust that exists between the two communities to en-cour-age Cedar Hills to enter into entangling agreements with Pleasant Grove.
Sanderson said he's read the letter from Cromar that tosses out the idea of cooperation but says it was followed by a draft agreement from the Cedar Hills mayor and council that would provide for the cooperative effort.
"We're discussing that agreement," said Sanderson. "If they mean what's in the agreement, we'll probably go with that."
Sanderson said Pleasant Grove has no interest in delaying putting the sewer lines into the township area.
"It's to our advantage to take care of the sewage or we'll contaminate the drinking water," Sanderson said. "It's a good time to have an agreement."
Once sewer lines are in place and Pleasant Grove is assured that it can provide for its residents, the people originally interested in being in Cedar Hills can leave, said the mayor.
"Right now, I'm looking out for the majority of the people."