By Associated Press - Thursday, November 9, 2017

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Residents of a small community near the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah have voted to become the state’s newest town.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Bluff residents on Tuesday voted nearly 3-to-1 in favor of incorporating.

The drive got off the ground last year at the same time American Indian tribes built momentum for their successful campaign to convince President Barack Obama to designate the 2,031-square-mile (5,260-square-kilometer) Bears Ears monument against the wishes of county leaders.

Incorporation leaders characterized municipal government as the best way to guide the town’s destiny in the face of tourism pressures, while critics were concerned about the costs of running a town and providing essential services currently provided by the county.

With the addition of Bluff, Utah has 247 cities and towns.

___

Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com

Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.

Click to Read More and View Comments

Click to Hide