After reading Mayor Patrick Dunlavy’s “State of the City” address (Feb. 18 issue) and how he was dealing with the tough economic times, I read the article on the next page regarding Tooele City’s economic development consultant Randy Sant (“Council ups development consultant’s contract”). Last year Sant’s pay for a part-time position was $247,240. Tooele City recently signed a four-year contract — the same amount of time as the mayor’s term — giving Sant a 27 percent increase in salary. That’s $301,205 for part-time work. Sant works for Sandy City for only $129,103 per year. Salt Lake City pays three people a total of $264,825 for the same services. Sant is also paid incentives: 10 percent of any federal or state grant he brings to the city. That means he will pocket $350,000 from a $3.5 million grant like the one he applied for on the 1000 North road project? Can’t anyone else at City Hall fill out a grant application? Sant also gets a 3 percent property management fee for assisting with the sale of redevelopment property. Aren’t any of the city’s three full-time attorneys qualified to do this type of work? Last year, city employees were told no raises would be given and contributions to 401(k) retirement plans would be reduced. Does the fact the mayor’s son works for Randy Sant have anything to do with this gross waste of the city’s money? If Tooele City’s goal is to attract quality businesses, why don’t they start by cleaning up Main Street and the rest of the town?

Joe Roundy

Tooele