Emails to Robert Ranc, assistant Lehi Administrator, lots of questions, not a lot of answers

Here are some more emails I sent to Robert Ranc.  I have lots of questions and request for documents, information and verification of a signature.  Answers were not forthcoming and I have yet to get an answer verifying Todd Munger's signature on the Family Search plat.  I have even sent two text messages to Todd's cell phone, no response from Todd.  Todd never attended a single recorded meeting on the Family Search subdivision, he may have had discussions with other city employees, we don't know, because there is no public record.  Yet he signed the Family Search subdivision along with Gary Smith without even consulting the Lehi City Council or the Planning Commission that we are aware of. 

Here are a few of my emails to Robert.


Robert

I was reviewing the Family Search Plat recorded by Utah County on July 9th, 2015.  It appears that the subdivision was accepted and approved by the Lehi Public Works Director and Chief Building Official on behalf of the Legislative Body of the City of Lehi on June 24th, 2015.  I can make out the name Gary Smith on the recorded document as the Chief Building Official, however, I am unable to make out the signature of the Public Works Director.  Could you please take a look at the Family Search Plat subdivision and provide me with the name of the person who signed as the Public Works Director. 

Thank you

Bill Conley
-----------------------------------

Robert

 

Can you verify Todd Munger signature on the Family Search plat? I would like to see a copy of his signature. 

Secondly, it does not matter that the city believes a plat is more comprehensive than meets and bounds, the code clearly states, the recording documents are to be meters and bounds, NOT A PLAT!

I have found numerous examples where the city us not following its own code, this is just one very clear example. This needs to be corrected. The city can't pick and choose which of its codes it enforces, they must live to the letter of the law as they, the city has defined it. Read Chapter 28 of the resort community code, there are numerous examples where the city is not enforced the code as it is written.

Can't pick and choose.

Bill Conley

 

----------------------------------------------------

 

Robert
Thank you for pointing that out, it is an important distinction.  This is ONLY relevant for Chapter 28 or are the Chief Building Official and Public Works Director designated as having authority, on behalf of the City Council, to approve and sign final documents elsewhere?  If so, where and I requested some type of document identifying them as having been given authority, does one exist?  Or is it ONLY in the language you referenced? 

The designation of a plat versus metes and bounds needs to be corrected at the County!  The code says metes and bounds, not plat.

As for other enforcement examples.

Check out Chapter 2.14, Campaign Finance Disclosure REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDATES, 2.14.030 "Each candidate for elective offices shall file with the city recorder, dated, signed and sworn financial reports which comply with this chapter.  The reports required by this chapter shall be filed at least 14 days before BOTH THE PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTIONS..."
This was not adhered to and nobody seems to care!  This was handed out by either the city attorney, mayor or city recorder at a meet the mayor night, this MUST be adhered to, otherwise, why hand it out? Not everyone handed their financial disclosures in on time.  Marilyn even sent out an email requesting we hand out disclosures in by July 28th, 5 pm, 14 days prior to the primary.  If we were not required to hand one in at all, why did she send out the email.  I still contend, Kim Holmes is disqualified from running in the November ballot and I have contacted the Lieutenants Governor's office for a ruling. However, I think the city of Lehi needs to step up and adhere to the code as it is written! I know mistakes were made and I want them corrected. 

Chapter 28 Resort Community Zone
Several enforcement issues and problems that nobody seems to care about and are not enforced by current city government. I will point out a couple relevant sections and words within these sections.
Section 28.010
C.  "Outside the state"
D.  "While protecting the health, safety and long term welfare of the community."  This phrase is used by multiple departments, BUT NEVER SUBSTANTIATED!  In the future, I request that that those who use these words, substantial their position in writing.  Words are just words and mean nothing if there is nothing backing them.  This phrase is never questioned and should be. 
F.  "dedicating land or utilizing certain space within the Resort Community Zone at no cost to the city."  This certainly has not happened.  When is the city going to start enforcing their own code?
Section 07.050 Public support REQUIREMENTS
A-D, not happening!  When is this going to be enforced?

These are but a few of the codes that I believe enforcement by the city is lacking and there is no consequence to those breaking or enforcing the code.

Thanks
Bill Conley

--------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

 

Response to Chris Condi's questions and comments regarding a post I made on Facebook regarding Lehi City Hall

Chris Condi wrote the following comment on a Facebook post where I publicized a couple of new blog post I had written.  Below his comment is my response.  I attempted to response in the comment section of my Facebook post but for some reason, it will not post, so I am releasing my response here.

Chris's response.........

Bill, I support your first amendment right to speak out on any issue, to be critical of your local government, and even your fellow citizens and residents. Keep it up and God bless you for using it!

Me personally, I cannot take anymore of your tiring rants, mis-representation of facts, and the demeaning of others to make a point, which to me is illogical.

Your whole argument ignores ones right to own, sale, donate, develop, or do what they want with their property. You do not own the golf course, the city does not own the golf course, residents do not own the golf course. The Ashton's did and they did with it what they wanted to. People like the Ashton's are amazing people. I applaud them, not because they sold the property to the LDS church, but because they wanted to make their community a better place. They saw an opportunity and they took it. God bless them!

When you want to have a serious DISCUSSION I am all in.

BTW, why don't you share your email to this group that you sent to the city attorney requiring that all elected officials and city staff declare their religion? And how if any of them are affiliated with the LDS church should recuse themselves from any LDS decision that comes before them. If you lost it, I have my copy! Thank you for respecting my first amendment right to associate with the religion of my choice.

Oh, where in the constitution, or the law, does it say that I, as an elected official, have to declare my religion and recuse myself? And does your statement just apply to LDS members? What about Catholics, Jews, Non-denominational, Muslims, Baptists, Protestants, Appostalics, Evangelicals, Roman Catholics, .....? Should every candidate for elected office just recuse themselves when their particular religion has a development project come before them? Or just the LDS ones?
My response to Chris's response

Let’s breakdown Chris's comment on one of my blogpost.

 

Bill, I support your first amendment right to speak out on any issue, to be critical of your local government, and even your fellow citizens and residents. Keep it up and God bless you for using it!

 

I most certainly am not critical.  Remember, local government and those who serve in elected positions work for the people of the city, town or community. Speaking out and pointing out discrepancies in city government should not be attacked or ignored by reviewed carefully by those who work at city hall.

Me personally, I cannot take any more of your tiring rants, mis-representation of facts, and the demeaning of others to make a point, which to me is illogical.

 

Chris, if you don’t like it, don’t read it.  I have not demeaned anyone.  I simply pose questions and request answers and speak the truth as I see it. If you want to challenge what I have written, you are free to give a written response to my questions and provide me with the documents I have requested.  Simply ignoring my questions leads me to further believe that City Hall is operating in secret and has a hidden agenda.  It is critical that City Hall follow the code as it is written and not ignore the sections they don’t want to have to deal with.

Your whole argument ignores ones right to own, sale, donate, develop, or do what they want with their property. You do not own the golf course, the city does not own the golf course, residents do not own the golf course. The Ashton's did and they did with it what they wanted to. People like the Ashton's are amazing people. I applaud them, not because they sold the property to the LDS church, but because they wanted to make their community a better place. They saw an opportunity and they took it. God bless them!

 

Sold?  Have you seen the real estate purchase and sale agreement?  Sold, can you say donated.  There was mention that a portion of the property was donated, so what was the portion of the property that was sold, do you know, does the public know, I know I don’t know and would like to.  Through my research, The Church may have been looking for a developer in the Thanksgiving Point area to donate property, looks like they found the Ashton’s.  Agreed the Ashton’s have been amazing people.  They have plenty of property on the other side of the railroad tracks, maybe they could have sold (donated) property where all the other commercial development is taking place.  Donate (sell) a driving range on a PGA caliber golf course. I challenged anyone to find me a similar situation where a driving range was converted into two massive office buildings, no one has brought one to my attention.  This is not typical and in my opinion and the opinion of countless thousands of others, just flat out wrong. Pose this question to any non LDS golfer who lives outside the State of Utah and they would think this was crazy.

When you want to have a serious DISCUSSION I am all in.

 

How about answering the questions I have already asked and providing me with the documents I have requested, then let’s have a serious discussion.  Answer all my questions and provide me with all the documents.  I really don’t want a discussion.  I want those at City Hall to obey the rules and regulations just like the rest of us.  What gives City Hall the right to choose which codes they want to enforce and which codes they want to ignore, shouldn’t they have to enforce them all!

BTW, why don't you share your email to this group that you sent to the city attorney requiring that all elected officials and city staff declare their religion? And how if any of them are affiliated with the LDS church should recuse themselves from any LDS decision that comes before them. If you lost it, I have my copy! Thank you for respecting my first amendment right to associate with the religion of my choice.

 

Done.  I like Paige’s response, she laughs it off and makes a joke of my request.  I am a law abiding, tax paying citizen with the right to ask and receive information from City Hall. Working at or for the City of Lehi requires you to not comingle your religious and civic duties and responsibilities.  When your personal religious beliefs clouds your ability to be objective in your role in a non-religious entity such as working at for  the city, then you may have a conflict of interest and we the public should be aware of that. One of those that signed off on the Family Search subdivision was not at any recorded city meeting to discuss the Family Search plat, yet he signed off on the creation of the plat.  When this individual was asked why he signed off on a plat that he never was in any recorded discussions about the plat, one of his responses was that anything The Church does, they do first class. This subdivision was never discussed in an open meeting by the City Council or the Planning Commission which is typical when you create a subdivision. I think there are many who are LDS who are in favor of anything The Church does.  Remember, not everyone who lives in Lehi are LDS and you have a responsibility to represent them as well.

Oh, where in the constitution, or the law, does it say that I, as an elected official, have to declare my religion and recuse myself?

 

Do you have a problem identifying yourself as LDS in an open public forum?  Read the ethics section in the handbook I mentioned.  It is my opinion that there are many LDS people who have been conditioned to believe anything The Church does is absolutely OK and in fact, The Church conditions its members to believe that any opposition to the teaching of the Church may be wrong.  We have a right to know if you are capable of being objective and stand up for the rights of the citizens of Lehi. Your objectivity in your role as a city official is critical and if you are incapable of being objective because of your religious affiliation, then we need to know that. You work for us, not the LDS Church.

 

And does your statement just apply to LDS members?

 

In Utah County, city of Lehi, pretty much, not to many other religions other than LDS dominate the landscape. In Lehi, I believe you need to identify your religious beliefs, once again, do you have a problem doing that?  I don’t think the Catholics, Jews, Non-denominational, Muslims, Baptists, Protestants etc. as a religion are seeking land donations from wealthy business people who happen to also be LDS to donate property on a golf course to build two massive office buildings.

 

What about Catholics, Jews, Non-denominational, Muslims, Baptists, Protestants, Apostolic, Evangelicals, Roman Catholics, .....? Should every candidate for elected office just recuse themselves when their particular religion has a development project come before them?

 

No, I do believe Utah County is unique and has a rather large LDS membership.  In Utah County, as it concerns a building project on a golf course, I believe we have the right to know your religious affiliation and whether or not you are capable of being objective. Not all LDS members are capable of being objective and believe anything The Church does is OK by them, we have a right to know if that is how you believe. We also have the right to know if you are going to follow and obey all the city codes or ignore the ones you don’t want to have to deal with. Why don’t we have everyone at city hall read Chapter 28 of the Lehi resort community and sign a sworn statement that everything in the code is being followed exactly as it is written, could you sign that statement.  Don’t attack, answer my questions and provide me with the documents I have requested, then we can have a meaningful dialog. Choosing to ignore my questions and requests absolutely means you don’t have the answers and therefore are not in compliance with your own ordinances and codes.

 

Or just the LDS ones?

 

No, not just LDS ones. Please read my responses carefully and craft an answer to all my questions and provide me with the documents I have requested.

 

You will notice I did not attack Chris and I answered his comments and questions, something I hope City Hall and those that work there take a lesson from.

   

Utah League of Cities and Towns, Powers and Duties Handbook, eithics section

Here is a letter I sent to each member of the Lehi Development Review Committee.  Chris Condi, Lehi City Council asked that I publish this, so here it is.
You will notice, I have pulled information from the Utah League of Cities and Towns handbook.

For the record.  I was raised in a very small rural town in Southern Minnesota, not a LDS Church in site  I grew up Catholic, went to Catholic schools and while attending the U of Minnesota, began practicing more of a non denominational church routine.  Nineteen years ago I converted to the LDS Church.  So I have spent 19 years of my life as a Catholic, 19 years Christian, 19 years LDS.  I moved myself and my family to Utah to be closer to the Church and more LDS people. So, I am most certainly not anit-Mormon.  I am pro transparency, communication, speaking up when I see something wrong and asking questions of those who govern over us.  I hope no one suggest that I silence my voice or not speak up they believe their LDS beliefs are under attach.  For goodness sakes, don't attack me, answer my questions, don't ignore them and don't go silent.  Attack me all you like, but answer my questions - all of them. The role of a public official is to hear those they represent, not attack them, ignore and not answer their questions.  It appears City Hall is tired of me asking questions, easier to attack then to answer my questions.  Easier to attack then to do something about the issues I raise.  Easier to attack than to admit, there might be a problem.

So, this post goes out to Chris Condi.  I like Chris and value his input.  Feel free to answer every single question I have asked my blog post. Lastly, if I ask for information, why doesn't City Hall give it to me?


Hello Gentlemen,

As you are well aware, many residents that live near the Thanksgiving Point golf course oppose the controversial plans of the LDS Church/VCBO Architecture to demolish the driving range and replace it with a massive office building. As a member of the Development Review Committee, you are each instrumental in providing critical information to the Planning Commission. Therefore, I am requesting that each of you reveal your personal relationship with the LDS Church so that there are no questions regarding potential conflict of interest. Specifically, are you a member of the LDS Church, do you attend services on a regular basis, and do you hold a current temple recommend. Revealing this information is actually a requirement in the Ethics section of the Utah League of Cities and Towns, Powers and Duties Handbook (pages 43-47). It states:

1) There is a disclosure requirement of  the ethics law as well. Two types of disclosure may be required - written and oral. An officer or employee is required to make a disclosure in writing and file it with the mayor.
2) This written statement must be sworn and include certain minimal information about the conflict of interest.
3) The second required disclosure is oral and must be made in an open meeting to the members of the body of which he is a member immediately before the discussion about the topic involved in the conflict of interest. An appointed officer who is not a member of a public body or municipal employee must also disclose the information required to his or her immediate supervisor. 

If you have already filed a written statement with the mayor, as is required by point number one, I am requesting a copy. 

Second, I also request that any/all discussions you have regarding the proposed development by the LDS Church/VCBO Architecture be revealed publicly prior to each meeting in the interest of total transparency and openness, which is required by point number 3 above.

I look forward to a speedy reply so I can share it with our highly interested community of homeowners and citizens and the media, which is covering this story closely.

Thank you,

Bill Conley 

Lehi Resident
801 867 7227