Fourth District Court Judge Jennifer Mabey is considering a disincorporation petition from residents of the town of Independence.  On Sept. 14, Mabey issued a court order to address procedural issues before the case could move forward. Petitioners, including Phil Sweat, Randy Stocks and Julia G oodrich, are listed as residents seeking the disincorporation.  The Wasatch County Commission appointed Sweat as Independence’s first mayor when it was incorporated in 2008. He served as mayor until 2025.  The petitioners filed a correction to procedural issues (providing their contact information) on Sept. 17. Unified Independence LLC also requested to join the case as an official party in the legal proceedings.  Unified Independence is a developer that owns around 1,500 acres of land around the town. In a court filing on Aug. 19, the developer argued that dissolving the town would directly harm its property rights, local zoning rules, town services and governance.  Because no party in court is arguing to keep the town intact, Unified Independence said it needs to step in to defend its own interests.  “Unified Independence has a direct interest in whether the town continues to exist as an incorporated municipality,” court documents read. “If disincorporation is ordered, Unified Independence’s property rights, municipal services, zoning protections and governance interests will be directly and irreversibly impacted.” Independence, a town of fewer than 100 residents, contains a swath of undeveloped land from Heber City to Daniels Summit. Of the town’s 75 registered voters, 23 signed the petition for municipal disincorporation, which was delivered to the Wasatch County Clerk-Auditor’s Office on July 27.  The petition does not explain why town residents want to disincorporate, and town Mayor Pro Tempore Bonnie Wilson did not respond to requests for comment.  Since the disincorporation petition was submitted, the town website has been updated to include a page dedicated to “saving” Independence from disincorporation. “Without the town, local residents would have no control over the development of thousands of acres of private land that is within the town boundary. Development decisions would be made by Wasatch County,” the town’s website stated.  Meeting minutes from a Sept. 2 Independence Town Council meeting showed that postcards containing the previous information were sent to residents that week.  It is unclear when Mabey will issue a ruling. If the judge allows disincorporation to move forward, there would be an election within 90 days.  The post Fourth District Court judge has yet to formally weigh in on Independence disincorporation appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less