Summit County Council unanimously passes resolution opposing federal public land sale

Summit County lands on the Ure Property. Photo: Summit County Lands and Natural Resources Department

PARK CITY, Utah — In a move that underscores Summit County’s commitment to public lands, the Summit County Council unanimously passed Resolution 2025-16 this week, voicing strong opposition to proposed federal legislation that could lead to the largest sale of public lands in U.S. history.

The resolution comes amid a groundswell of national concern over a controversial land sale provision championed by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT). Though a new version of the bill includes several new safeguards for selling off public land and eliminates the sale of U.S. Forest Service land, Summit County leaders said the threat remains and local government must take a stand.

Councilmember Megan McKenna introduced the resolution, citing an outpouring of concern from residents. “This is one of those rare issues that transcends politics,” McKenna said. “This is one of those issues that will, or has the potential to impact Summit County residents. It also provides an opportunity for us to really come together on something that is not partisan.”

The resolution affirms Summit County’s opposition to the federal land sale and calls on other counties and municipalities to adopt similar measures.

Natural Resources and Land Manager Jess Kirby supported the measure, pointing out that Lee’s legislation prioritizes housing development without regard for appropriate land use planning. “We’ve spent the last two days in the field with the Forest Service,” she said. “The message was clear: these are not lands we should be building on, especially from a wildfire risk standpoint.”

While recent amendments to the federal proposal would exempt Forest Service land — which makes up the vast majority of public land in Summit County — councilmembers emphasized that policy changes remain fluid and must be closely watched.

“Senator Lee has has made it clear that it is still definitely something that he wishes to pursue,” McKenna said.

Councilmember Roger Armstrong voiced frustration with the Utah Association of Counties (UAC), criticizing its support for the legislation and questioning Summit County’s continued membership. Chris Robinson echoed concerns about UAC’s positions but cautioned against judging counties with limited room for development and high percentages of federally managed land.

Still, the overarching message was one of solidarity with public land advocates across the state and nation.

With the resolution now adopted, Summit County joins a growing chorus of local governments speaking out against the land sale proposal. Councilmembers expressed hope that their action will inspire others to do the same.

“This is about putting people over politics,” McKenna said. “I think our public lands is something we can all get behind.”

Key components of the resolution

• The Council explicitly opposes any attempt to sell, transfer, or dispose of federally managed public lands, which make up approximately 40% of the county’s land area.

• Summit County affirms that agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are best positioned to manage these lands for public benefit, including wildfire control, watershed protection, and recreation access.

• The resolution highlights that outdoor recreation contributed $9.5 billion to Utah’s GDP in 2023, supporting over 71,000 jobs — underlining the economic risk of privatizing public land.

•  County leaders urge Utah’s congressional delegation to oppose legislation that would reduce protections, limit funding, or alter landmark federal laws like the Antiquities Act.

•  While advocating for protection, the Council also acknowledges the importance of multiple uses of public lands, including grazing, recreation, and energy development.

•  The resolution encourages continued cooperation between local communities, stakeholders, and federal land agencies to promote sustainable, community-aligned land management.