Will Web site help reap FLDS taxes?
 Fiduciary posts facts online about the church's UEP Trust
 
By Ben Winslow
Deseret Morning News
 
People within the Fundamentalist LDS Church have long been told to shun newspapers, radio and TV — but what about the Internet?

The court-appointed special fiduciary of the FLDS' United Effort Plan (UEP) Trust is hoping people within the polygamous border towns of Hildale and Colorado City, Ariz., are plugged into cyberspace — at least enough to see his Web site and pay their property taxes.

Bruce Wisan has launched www.ueptrust.com to "communicate information about UEP land and management issues to the people living on trust land and other interested parties." It includes the latest court rulings, notices and updates on the financial battles surrounding the UEP Trust.

"I know there are FLDS people that use the Internet," Wisan said Wednesday. "There's some FLDS that — through business — do have Internet capability."

The UEP Trust controls homes, businesses and property within Hildale, Colorado City and a scattering of homes in Bountiful, British Columbia, in Canada. In 2005, the state of Utah took control of the UEP and ousted the board of trustees, including fugitive FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. A judge placed Wisan in charge, assisted by an advisory board. The UEP Trust has assets estimated at more than $110 million.

"The long-term goal of the UEP Trust is to administer housing solutions and to spur economic development by way of investment and job creation," the Web site said.

However, the short-term problem has been getting people to pay their property taxes. So far, Wisan has had property-tax notices served on some of the FLDS Church's most high-ranking people. It has been difficult, with people going out of their way to avoid being served with papers. In most cases, people run and hide from process servers.

"There's a lot of misinformation about the Trust and what the fiduciary is doing," Wisan said. "Part of my mantra is to be as transparent as possible."

Warren Jeffs has reportedly told his followers not to pay their property taxes. Jeffs is a fugitive on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. He faces criminal charges in Utah and Arizona, accusing him of forcing teenage girls into polygamous marriages with older men. A $100,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.

Wisan hopes that when he adds more to the Web site, like correspondence and a FAQ page, he'll be able to reach church members and explain to them what is really happening. However, he doesn't believe he'll change the FLDS faithful's perceptions.

"From everything I've heard and from people that report to me, they pretty much look at it as a government takeover," he said. "A hostile takeover."

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
 
deseretnews.com
Originally published Thursday, June 1, 2006
 
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