Advocacy groups call for UTA investigation

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 News) – The Attorney General is being asked to investigate UTA.

And the focus of the possible probe is one of its board members.

Terry Diehl is a board member and developer.

The controversy started when UTA was gauging where to build a passenger station for Frontrunner.

UTA choose the 12800 South site despite the other sites in which they already owned or were being offered for free.

Prior to selecting this site Diehl declared a conflict of interest but legislative auditors in a December 2010 audit concluded he may have broken the law.

“The trustees actions may constitute a violation of the misuse of the official information provision of the transit district act,” said Chris Otto at the time the audit was released to lawmakers.

And that's why Wednesday several advocate groups and a lawmaker are pressing the attorney general to investigate potential wrongdoing by UTA.

“Was the law broken?” asked Rep. Janice Fisher. “Have UTA board members profited off of the transit business in Utah and if so how much?”

When board members chose the 12800 South site UTA officials say Diehl wasn't involved.

“Our board policy will not allow a board member who has an interest in a site to participate in anyway in our process,” said UTA spokesman Justin Jones.

But advocacy groups want to know just how much Diehl as a developer will profit from the site.

“I have no idea, I have no idea,” said Jones. “I don't.'