New car dealerships line the street on Sandy’s Auto Mall Drive. Such dealerships are not an option in West Jordan under current state law.
City Officials Hoping For Legislative Help In Auto Dealership Prohibition
W
est Jordan City is the largest city in Utah, and one of the largest in the nation, without a car dealership. Unless the current state law governing new auto dealerships is modified or changed by legislative action, it might never get one. That’s the predicament caused by the New Automobile Franchise Act, created more than a decade ago. It mandates a barrier between new automobile dealerships with similar makes and models—a 15-mile barrier that leaves West Jordan in no man’s land regarding acquiring a dealership of most popular brands. “The act imposes specific conditions and stipulations related
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By Tom Haraldsen
to the establishment of new car dealerships within the state,” said Jeremy Olsen, assistant to the city manager. “It says that any party interested in establishing or expanding a new car dealership within 15 miles of an existing new car dealership must have state approval. With so many dealerships in the communities that surround us, it really limits our options.” As an example, if the city was approached by someone wanting to open a new car dealership with Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Nissan,
Officer JR Steadman
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Auto Dealerships continued on page 4
West Jordan Police Mourn Loss Of Fellow Officer By Tom Haraldsen
M
embers of the West Jordan Police Department are remembering Officer Jedediah “JR” Steadman, who was found deceased in his truck at the base of a cliff in Sevier County on Jan. 4. The discovery came after a five-day search for the veteran officer, who left his home on Dec. 30 after a reported argument with a member of his family. The 34-year-old Steadman had worked for the WJPD for seven years and was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish and hunt, according to department spokesman Dan Roberts. At the time of his disappearance, family members expressed concern that he might be stranded in a remote area. That proved to be the case when his 1998 Dodge pickup truck was found just west of Emery City. Members of the Search and Rescue teams from Emery and Sevier Counties, as well as the Emery Fire Department and
Officer Steadman continued on page 4
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q u o ta b l e c o m m u n i t y :
“Over the last 18 years, we’ve been everywhere, from an
attic to a bowery to the Sugar Factory. It would just be nice to have a place to call our own.”
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