Resident group urges town to hold public hearing after council discusses buying longtime community building

Sarah Gates, speaking for a community organization she identified as Community and RichStream, told the Alta Town Council on March 12 that she and other tenants were “extremely disappointed” to learn the town was considering a bid on a building the group has used for roughly 30 years. Gates said the news that the town might bid was new to many residents and left people “confused” and concerned about whether the organization would be permitted to remain a tenant and on what terms.

Gates said the group had expected to become an owner of the building they occupy and that the town had not provided written details about any tenant relationship if the town were to purchase the property. She described potential purchase price uncertainty — “possibly million dollars” — and said she was worried that town funds might be better spent elsewhere.

During the council’s brief exchange after Gates’s comments, a council member said the town was “evaluating options” and that no decision had been made. The council member said the town was open to dialogue and would “eventually come to a position” and make it public. Gates asked the council to hold a public hearing if the administration proposes a budget change to finance a purchase.

The matter was raised during the citizen comment portion of the meeting; no formal council action on the building purchase was recorded in the transcript.

The council did not adopt any motion or take a vote concerning that building during this meeting. Council discussion that followed asked staff to continue dialogue with the organization and to inform the public if and when a specific purchase or budget proposal is placed before the council.

The council subsequently moved on to other agenda items, and the record shows no ordinance, contract or appropriation linked to a purchase of the building was enacted at this meeting.