RIVERTON — It's 8 p.m. on a City Council night. Do you know where your city officials are?
On the night of a Riverton City Council work session, a staffer and councilman were instead at a West Jordan City Council meeting, pushing for an office-residential development there — they both have an interest in the project. Some now have questions about their loyalty.
Riverton City Councilman Mark Easton, who is running for mayor, and Riverton City Planning and Economic Development Director Don Adams pitched the Millview Office Park. Easton is one of six Millview partners and hired Adams as a planning consultant. Adams does not own land in the project.
The two asked West Jordan to rezone nearly 23 acres of rural residential property at about 1200 W. 7700 South — near Gardner Village — to allow for 89 condominium units and six two-story office buildings.
"I was shocked to find out that Mark was at a West Jordan city meeting promoting his own development projects instead of attending the Riverton Council meeting," Councilman Steve Brooks said. "I have a real concern that the Riverton city planner and director of economic development, Don Adams, was with Mark involved in his project with his own financial incentive in the development.
"Don is being paid to promote Riverton, and I think there is a definite conflict of interest," Brooks added. "If you work for or represent Riverton, that is where your allegiance and dedication should be."
Adams said it is common for other members of the planning department to handle discussions at work sessions, "And this was one of those times."
Easton justified his actions, saying his council seat was a part-time job and that from time to time he has to be out of town for work reasons, like any other council member. "This was a business thing," he said. "I made arrangements not to be there."
Easton also said partners came to him because of his expertise at Pacific West, which plans to turn 50,000 tons of concrete and asphalt construction debris left on the property into road-making materials for Millview. It's cheaper, he said, than hauling it away.
Riverton Mayor Sandra Lloyd was equally concerned, particularly since the council was left with only three members Tuesday — Brooks had surgery that day and could not attend. Easton excused himself but did not say where he was going, but that he would be back. As a result, Lloyd said, people on Riverton's agenda stuck around, thinking they'd get input from Easton that night.
"We really needed to have him there," Lloyd said. "But of course Easton never did return."
Were Easton's actions appropriate under the circumstances?
"Absolutely not," Lloyd said. "Not when we have city business being discussed.
Mayoral candidate Adam Bass agreed with Lloyd, saying Easton was "derelict" in his duty by skipping a meeting to foster his own development interests when Riverton is trying so hard to create its own economic base. Lloyd is not running for re-election.
"Their dedication and their interest lie with city business," she added. "That's what Don was hired to do, and that's what Mark was elected to do," Lloyd said, adding she did not know what actions, if any, she will take.
The West Jordan City Council eventually approved the rezone request with a 5-1 vote — Councilwoman Natalie Argyle was the lone dissenter, preferring a large-lot development instead of yet another business research park in an already competitive area market.
E-MAIL: sspeckman@desnews.com