News

Actions

New lawsuit pending over sale of former Miller Motorsports Park

Posted at 10:01 PM, Aug 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-25 00:01:41-04

TOOELE COUNTY, Utah -- A new lawsuit appears to be headed for Tooele County over the sale of the former Miller Motorsports Park.

Wednesday night, commissioners transferred ownership of the land to a Redevelopment agency (RDA). The RDA is headed by the county commissioners, who said the transfer makes it easier for them to sell the park.

Not so, says their most vocal critic.

"This is still a sale, it's just they are selling it to themselves so they can sell it to someone else," Andrew Cartwright said.

Cartwright sued after the commission passed on his first bid and accepted a proposal from a company based in China. The basis of the lawsuit was that Cartwright's company was offering more money and the county, as a public agency, should have accepted his bid. A judge threw out the sale and the process started over.

On Tuesday night, the Tooele County Commission seemed as determined as ever to make sure being the highest bid wasn't the only criteria for selling the park.

"The opportunity to make a difference in a community is one of the things we are looking for, and we hope that we can find the best opportunity, to make that best difference: That's what we're looking for," said Wade Bitener, Tooele County Commission Chair.

Acting as the RDA, the commissioners will review proposals on Wednesday. Cartwright says he has submitted a new bid to buy the park, but, regardless, will file a new lawsuit. Claiming, once again, that with the transfer to the RDA the county has sold the property and passed on his higher offer.