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Rio Tinto says it will donate fenced portion of park; council raises county-title and reimbursement concerns
Summary
Rio Tinto representatives told council they have approval to donate the portion of parkland behind their fence to Copperton by boundary adjustment; council members noted Salt Lake County currently holds title to adjacent parcels and directed staff to coordinate with the county mayor and pursue a joint letter.
Copperton — Representatives for Rio Tinto told the Copperton Town Council that the company has internal approval to donate the fenced portion of a local park to the town. Council members welcomed the offer but flagged a key complication: the county holds title to the adjoining parcels, and a boundary adjustment could result in the remaining parcel’s ownership reverting to the county unless parties agree otherwise.
At the meeting a Rio Tinto representative described a boundary-adjustment pathway that would place Copperton’s land up to the fence line. MSD staff warned that because the county currently owns the other park parcels, a boundary adjustment executed now could cause the remaining parcel to end up in county ownership. Council members raised the town’s years of maintenance and insurance payments for the park and asked whether those costs could be recouped; staff said legal discussion and negotiation will be required.
Council instructed staff to contact Mayor Barney and to draft a joint letter to Salt Lake County outlining Copperton’s position. Nathan (MSD legal adviser) recommended the MSD coordinate with other mayors in the MSD who face the same issue and noted some communities had accepted a reversionary clause to obtain land back while others have pressed the county further.
What’s next: Staff will prepare follow-up correspondence to the county and report back at the next council meeting with options for the boundary adjustment, potential legal pathways and any cost-recovery strategies the town may seek.
