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SALT LAKE CITY -- Allegations of insider trading privileges flew when news broke in March that UTA board member Terry Diehl had a financial interest in the team aimed at developing a large new project next to a proposed FrontRunner stop in Draper.
Now, environmental advocates fighting that location say they were blindsided to learn a second UTA member had a conflict of interest. Lawyer Greg Simonsen, the UTA board vice chair, also represents Danville Land/Woodside Homes, a seller of a large parcel of land involved in the potential deal.
"We were shocked today to learn that another UTA board member is financially involved in this FrontRunner station," said Zach Frankel, with the Utah Rivers Council.
Frankel says UTA earlier had bought land for a stop in Bluffdale, only to abruptly and, he says, mysteriously change course to Draper.
"This project stinks. UTA needs to pull this site south of Bangerter," Frankel said.
UTA says both men had earlier declared their conflicts to the board, which now is looking to clarify disclosure policy.
One board member says she's not troubled by the conflicts. "I think disclosure is huge. If you know what's going on, you can do whatever you need to do. It's when there's an unknown that there's a concern," Michelle Baguley said.
Meantime, the board announced Simonsen, who was not present Wednesday, has resigned. But UTA says there's no connection between the resignation and the Draper controversy.
"No, it has nothing to do with that. This is a personal health matter," said Bruce Jones, general council for UTA.
Frankel is calling for an investigation. "We need an external audit of this agency to figure out what's happening on the board," he said.
UTA officials say they are currently studying a number of issues regarding that Draper stop, including the impact on a 3,000-year-old archaeological site. A final decision isn't expected for several months.
E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com
