Utah Inland Port Meeting Moved To Police Precinct

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A police precinct isn’t your typical location for a meeting about the Utah Inland Port. But organizers say they moved it here after learning that protesters were planning to attend. 

A working group meeting for the inland port was quickly canceled as soon as it started due to interruptions from protesters. 

Police then arrested one man for disorderly conduct.

The Utah Association of Counties said they chose the police precinct for the meeting once they caught wind of protesters’ plans.

Last month, violence erupted when inland port protesters stormed the chamber of commerce building and clashed with police. 

“We really didn’t want to have our property damaged,” said Stuart Clason, Regional Economic Development Director, Utah Association of Counties. “We heard that people urinated on the walls. It just seemed very inappropriate for us, and staff was concerned, and felt unsafe.”

“I’m appaled,” said Salt Lake City resident Deeda Seed. “There are some really serious, hard questions that need to get answered.”

Those against the Inland Port said today’s gathering was canceled prematurely and also questioned the location. 

“They hold it at a police precinct,” Seed said. “It’s very intimidating. We had to be screened before we went in. Is this any kind of public process that people should feel comfortable with?”

“We’re not the unreasonable ones,” said Salt Lake resdient Ethan Petersen. “You can see who’s unreasonable. They held a public meeting, and workshop in a police precinct.”

This meeting was focused on satellite port development, where other counties could partner with the port. And because it was just a working group, it’s exempt from Utah’s Open and Public Meetings Act. That fact definitely added to the confusion today.