Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman issued her first legislative veto Wednesday, although it's still unclear whether the veto will have any impact beyond creating tension between her office and County Council members.
Workman vetoed a 7-2 County Council vote to pull out of the Valley Emergency Communications Center by July if the county and VECC can't resolve an ongoing dispute.
The county has its firefighters dispatched by VECC and has been negotiating to have sheriff's deputies dispatched through VECC as well. Those negotiations, which dominated council discussions throughout much of last year, faltered when the two parties were unable to agree on costs and voting representation.
The effect of the veto remains to be seen, depending on how attorneys interpret its timing.
Under the contract that exists now for fire service, the county was required to give notice by Dec. 31 if it intended to pull out altogether. Although the council informed VECC of its decision well in advance of that deadline, County Deputy Mayor Alan Dayton said it was possible that the veto trumped the legality of that notice.
When Councilman Joe Hatch, an attorney, heard that reasoning, he burst out laughing.
"That is pure nonsense and nothing more than backroom, smoke-filled politics," he said.
Hatch pointed out that the vote happened Dec. 20, with members of the mayor's office present, who said nothing to indicate their disagreement.
"Why didn't she come talk to us?" he asked. "This is just high drama and theater. Happy New Year."
Part of what is motivating the council's decision to yank fire dispatching from VECC is an estimated $1.1 million in 911 fees the county forfeits in return for VECC handling some county dispatch services. Council members have argued that money should go to the sheriff's office.
"If the veto does succeed, Miss Fiscal Conservative just cost the county $1.1 million," Hatch said.
Workman held her press conference at 2360 S. State, the site of a fatal stabbing of a 53-year-old man. Still unsolved, the slaying of Jess Dummar had a number of police officers responding. Among the last to be notified, however, was the county sheriff's office, located just blocks away. Workman used the case as an example of the need for consolidated dispatching.
Several public safety leaders attended the press conference in a show of support for Workman's position, including the county's own fire chief, Don Berry.
He said it would be a mistake for county fire to step out of the VECC relationship.
West Valley Police Chief Alan Kerstein said the council's decision was a "slap in the face to the talks" that had been going on throughout last year.
Joining VECC also leaves open the question of what would happen to the county's existing relationship with the Salt Lake Police Department. Both law-enforcement agencies share the same type of computer system, while VECC uses one that is completely different.
E-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com