Two evictions issued in polygamist communities so far
 
By Patrice St. Germain
patrices@thespectrum.com
 
HILDALE - Bruce Wisan, the court-appointed special fiduciary overseeing the United Effort Plan, the financial arm of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, received a warmer welcome during a city council meeting Tuesday morning in Hildale than he did in a neighboring community of polygamists the night before.

Wisan, who received a chilly reception Monday night when he addressed the Colorado City Council, spoke at length Tuesday about ensuring that local property taxes are paid in full. Wisan also said his office has served two eviction notices to residents of the polygamous communities so far. A demand letter was sent to Lyle Jeffs for a home in Hildale and the other to a family that quickly moved into a home vacated by Merrill Steed in Colorado City.

Wisan said the time periods on these evictions are running out and he is looking to other evictions in the near future. The priority homes include where some inequities have occurred - causing people to be displaced and looking at leaders and perhaps larger homes.

"We'd like to have people pay their property taxes and not have the confrontations that we seem to be having. But on the other hand the rule of law has to apply and we cannot have the situation where the largest percentage of the population are occupying the homes in which they are not paying the property taxes," Wisan said. "So I'm trying to accelerate this decision-making process for the individuals of the community and would hope that the property taxes would be paid and we can live happily ever after."

Non-payment of property taxes by individuals living in the twin cities of Hildale and Colorado City are impacting the cities and school district, Wisan said.

Initially, Wisan said, he expected a confrontation would occur in the year 2007 after the surveys had been prepared and individual property owners were made aware of their tax liabilities.

"I've come to the conclusion waiting is not the best course of action," Wisan said. "I've started to proceed in a direction that would accelerate the decision-making in respect to property taxes."

Jeffrey Shields, legal counsel to the fiduciary, also addressed the city council about the fences in the community, similar to his discussion during the Colorado City Council meeting, adding the fact that building permits need to be issued.

Shields told the council that some of the fences appear to be in violation of health and safety concerns and said some fences may need to be lowered and possibly taken down.

Mayor David Zitting said he looked into the issue of fences in other communities such as Phoenix, Las Vegas and St. George where fences go right up to street corners and are higher than eight feet.

"Just because someone else is doing it doesn't make good sense for this community," Shields said.

Wisan commented after the Colorado City Council meeting Monday night that he hoped the Hildale City Council would be more professional.

But Wisan didn't need to worry. Not only was he put on the agenda to talk to the council as requested but the meeting, which ended 15 minutes before Wisan was told to show up, simply went into recess until the special fiduciary arrived and was allowed ample time to address the council over the property tax and fence concerns.

Other business addressed by the city council was the resignation of Richard Allred. Allred, the former mayor of Colorado City, resigned last month as mayor. He also resigned from his position with Hildale as financial director.

Treasurer Jerry Barlow said by moving Lavern Fischer from part-time to full-time and reorganizing the rest of the accounting department, the department should be able to keep up with the work.

"We don't have the budget to hire another part-time person," Barlow said.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published April 12, 2006
 
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