Farmington city officials have asked the Utah attorney general to investigate the demolition of a Davis County barn.

Built around 1918 by the Edmond Whitaker family, the barn was demolished by the county in July to make way for a $21.6 million expansion of the county jail.

Farmington Mayor Scott Harbertson, who asked for the state investigation, said the demolition violates the conditional-use permit issued to the county by the city planning commission in 2005. The permit originally required the barn be saved, although city officials later relaxed the rule, in exchange for a city-county discussion of the barn's future.

"The meeting never happened. The next thing we knew the building was tore down," City Manager Max Forbush said.

The county also failed to obtain a demolition permit before destroying the barn, he said.

County officials disagree.

"It was an old dilapidated barn on county property," said Gerald Hess, chief civil deputy in the County Attorney's Office. "It had deteriorated to the point that it was an attractive nuisance and a hazard."

The dilapidated barn presented a liability for the county and its location made it difficult for the sheriff's office to secure the area around the jail, Hess said.
Hess said he didn't know if a demolition permit was required.

"It's unfortunate our actions created such a high pitch of emotion on the destruction of this dilapidated structure," Hess said.

The city's historic preservation commission, which lists the barn among Farmington's historic sites, wanted the barn preserved.

In a letter to city officials, the commission asked for a formal investigation and action against the responsible county officials.

Paul Murphy, spokesman for the attorney general's office, said Friday the city's request had been received and will be reviewed by a state attorney.