Tempers flared at the meeting of the Cache Council on Tuesday, April 12.
CACHE COUNTY – The ongoing feud between County Executive David Zook and members of the Cache County Council took a weird turn on Tuesday night.
After an altercation in Zook’s office between the county executive and Council Vice Chair Paul H. Borup, the Brigham City Police Department is investigating.
The matter was referred to an outside agency after the Cache County Sheriff’s Department decided that conducting an inquiry would be a conflict of interest.
On Mar. 29, Borup took advantage of an unexpected absence by Zook to move that the council members end Zook’s contact with the Lincoln-Hill Partners lobbying firm and replace it with a contract with themselves.
That motion passed, but Zook on April 12 indicated that the council had not communicated their desire to him, so the contract had not been canceled.
Borup then proceeded to move that the council transfer funds from the county executive‘s budget to fund a policy analyst for the council.
Zook called that motion “ … a personal attack against me, my office and my staff.”
After both Borup and council member Gina Worthen took issue with the county executive’s statement, Council Chair Barbara Y. Tidwell tried to calm the waters.
“Alright, I’ve had enough of this,” Tidwell said. “It’s done.”
“I’m tired of having to listen to it. I’m tired of having to feel like I am the mediator. I’m tired of it.
“So let’s just settle down. Let’s calm down. Let’s not put anything personal into it. Let’s take care of business and do what needs to be done as a council.”
Borup’s motion failed due to the absence of council member Nolan Gunnell, a “Nay” vote by council member Gordon A. Zilles and Tidwell and council member Karl B. Ward voted to abstain.
Borup plans to bring the matter up again at the council’s next meeting on April 26, suggesting that more fireworks are due in the future.
Following the meeting, there was an exchange between Borup and Zook in the county executive’s office that the Brigham City Police Department is now investigating.
The $4,500 a month lobbying contract had been a bone of contention between the county executive and the council from its beginning.
Identified as one of the most influential lobbyists in Utah by the Salt Lake Tribune, Lincoln-Hill Partners represents a wide-array of clients before federal, Utah state and local policy makers.
Actively involved in Utah’s politics by representing national clients such as Northrop Grumman, General Motors and Oracle, Lincoln-Hill also works with several local entities ranging from business and commercial developers, counties, cities, the insurance industry and healthcare providers.