Copperton presses county over park title transfer; county cites possible federal restriction

A long‑running effort to obtain clear title to Copperton Park from Salt Lake County continued at the council meeting on Feb. 18, with town attorneys saying they have found no recorded federal restriction and county staff pointing to potential prior federal funding that could create a reversionary condition.

Town legal counsel (Nathan) summarized the issue: when Copperton incorporated, the county offered to convey park land but included a reversionary clause stating the property would revert to the county if it were used for anything other than a park. Nathan said his title review and paralegal search turned up no recorded easement or grant restricting the land, and he questioned the county’s recent insistence that federal grant conditions apply. "If they can't tell us what federal funding was used for our park, then how can they... charge us?" a council member said.

Councilors said they do not intend to redevelop the park but want the title transfer to remove ambiguous restrictions that limit future options. The council discussed asking the county to identify the specific federal program and amount that would trigger repayment. Town staff and council said they will continue negotiations and aim to present a clean transfer agreement at the March meeting.

Council members noted the county had previously relied on similar federal‑funding arguments in other municipalities; town staff said they would escalate the matter if necessary and consider legal remedies if the county does not produce documentation of any federal grant.