Category Archives: UtahTrust

Mayor Brian Burrows’ interaction with relevant parties: What is GRAMA?

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In Utah, GRAMA refers to the Government Records Access and Management Act, a state law that grants the public the right to access government records while also allowing for the restriction of certain information to protect privacy or public policy interests. 

People can submit a GRAMA request to any Utah government entity to obtain public records, though certain records classified as “private,” “protected,” or “controlled” may not be released without a specific exception or court order.

GRAMA is essentially Utah’s open records law, which is analogous to the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

There were some doozies in the documents that were released, including a couple emails that went back and forth, which I can sum up this way: 

Perfect. Just how decisions should be made, don’t you think? (Huge amount of sarcasm there … )

Jolley Letter #2 — Michele Jolley, your letter is clearly libelous; I will be seeking clarity as to where you got your information

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Point of Clarification to the letter of July 2, 2025 seen below: This is an open letter to Michele Jolley — Ms. Jolley, you need to get your facts straight. You’re now opening another door in your assumptions and allegations that you threw at me in this letter. You stated that I “threatened to personally sue the mayor and do everything he can to sabotage his re-election campaign.” I can tell you, that at the writing of this post, I am currently seeking legal opinions to find out if I can sue you for libel, and Brian Burrows, Cove View Golf Course PGA Pro Todd Mullen, and Mike Jorgensen, personally, for a multitude of things. That’s not a threat, that’s a promise. As to sabotaging his re-election campaign, you’d better be able to prove that (all I have to do is tell the truth; truth is not sabotaging), because I said nothing of the sort. As for the $1.3 million for my home, the actual offer was for $1.25 million for my home and the lot next door. That number is supposed to be reflective of the costs to reconstruct my house exactly as it already is. 

Click on image above to see full-size, legible copy.

Several months after that first letter that my attorney and I were able to see, a second letter was generated by Michele Jolley, Richfield City Admin/Recorder (shown above), asking for further help regarding my situation. (See initial letter in separate post.)

The letter again was to Steve Hansen of UtahTrust.gov and also was copied to a UtahTrust.gov consultant, Josh McKell. Mr. McKell is a consultant working on the “Risk Finance” team at UtahTrust.gov. Perhaps this kind of issue has been of some concern to other golf courses around the state. That’s just speculation.

In reading the letter, it’s clear that Michele and all involved are in CYA mode — and all the adults in the room know what that is.

Richfield, Cove View Golf Course, and the course’s PGA pro, Todd Mullen, seem much more interested in the CYA aspect of their conflict with me rather than actually resolving the conflict.

They’re worried about liability and lawsuits, not fixing the problem.

Here’s my note to them: fix the problem. Then you won’t have to worry about liability and lawsuits and “risk finance” issues.

 

A question for Steven A. Hansen of UtahTrust.gov: I have questions about former president and executive director of UtahTrust.gov; this goes a long way towards the credibility of your organization

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Click image above to see expanded image file. This image is used under the Fair Use doctrine. It is publicly available. To see the entire spreadsheet, click here: Utah.gov

INFO re: J. Stephen Flitton, Former President and Executive Director, UtahTrust.gov

In my research on all things connected to the Cove View Golf Course, the city of Richfield and those involved in decision-making, remediation and communication regarding my numerous complaints over the eight years I’ve lived along the 11th fairway at the course, I’ve found some interesting information. 

Not the least of which is regarding the UtahTrust.gov organization’s former President and Executive Director, J. Stephen Fitton. 

For example, I’ve found on the utah.gov website — the state’s official website — that apparently Flitton was terminated by UtahTrust. There’s a note in a spreadsheet I’ve downloaded (see section above, at top of post) that reads: 

  1. “Requesting access to tape recordings or minutes of the Board’s “executive session” regarding J. Stephen Flitton conducted on May 17, 1999. (item #4 in appeal #2019-145)”
  2. Another entry reads, “Requesting fee waivers and access to employment termination records of Flitton, Hanks, and Farrell. (items #1, #2, #3 in appeal #2019-145)”

These were notations in an Excel spreadsheet related to an apparent court case, Brady Eames v. Utah Local Governments Trust (ULGT). Each of those listed items above were marked “Approved” on Jan. 6, 2020 (the first note) and Jan. 20, 2020 (the second note). 

I find this highly curious. Under what conditions was past President and Executive Director Flitton terminated? That’s not a good mark to have on your record. 

I’m seeing and smelling a little smoke here. I’m going to keep working to see if there’s an actual fire somewhere. 

What or Who is UtahTrust.gov?

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UtahTrust.gov — not an official governmental agency of the state of Utah.

What is UtahTrust.gov, you ask? According to our research, it is a risk mitigation organization providing specialized insurance products and services to Utah’s public agencies. In Utah, “UtahTrust” primarily refers to the Utah Local Governments Trust, which serves over 550 municipalities, including cities like Richfield, towns, counties, and special service districts. 

It was established in 1974 and focuses on providing tailored insurance policies and risk management programs specifically designed to meet unique needs of government entities.

Key services offered by UtahTrust include:

  • Specialized Insurance Coverage: This includes policies like Public Officials Errors and Omissions, General Liability, Auto Liability, Property, and Workers’ Compensation, with customized terms and conditions.
  • Loss Prevention: The Trust offers a range of tools, training, and assistance to help members identify, prioritize, and mitigate risks, including on-site surveys and training events.
  • Claims Services: They directly manage claims, working with members to navigate the process and make decisions to protect resources.

Utah Local Governments Trust is self-funded, meaning its operations and programs are financed by the revenue generated from its insurance services and investments; it is not directly funded by taxpayers. It is not an official government agency. This ensures that UtahTrust can provide specialized services while maintaining financial independence and benefiting its members through rate stability and expanded coverage.

So don’t let the “.gov” fool you. It’s not a true government agency, such as the entity, Utah.gov, which is the state’s official governmental organization and website.