Snyderville Basin Cemetery District delays vote on 10‑year legal services interlocal with county

The Snyderville Basin Cemetery District board on Tuesday discussed a proposed interlocal agreement that would obligate the district to pay the Summit County Attorney’s Office for legal services at a market rate of $350 per hour.

The item came as the county attorney’s office seeks to recoup time spent advising special service districts after providing free support while districts organized. Brian, an attorney representing the county attorney’s office, told the board the draft interlocal agreement proposes quarterly invoices due within 30 days, indexing the hourly rate annually to inflation and a proposed term of 10 years. He said, “this is the draft agreement that’s been put together,” and that some districts already operate under similar agreements.

Board members asked whether the agreement would be exclusive. Brian said the draft includes language by which the county attorney must approve any outside counsel the board hires: “the board and its manager may upon the approval of the county attorney employ outside counsel to assist the county attorney or represent the district,” and he added the county would not normally withhold consent for a legitimate need for outside expertise.

Directors noted the district has benefited from free legal assistance while it organized. One director said the district should remain able to obtain independent opinions and suggested the board seek to have exclusivity removed. Several directors asked for more time to read the draft and proposed that two or more board members review the contract with county counsel before returning it to the full board.

The board voted to continue the matter to next month’s agenda and to circulate the draft to directors for redlines and comment before the next meeting. The board did not approve or sign the interlocal at the meeting.