The short version
- Most of what MIDA said lines up with the records. 13 of the 32 statements mostly match, including county consent, the Box Elder vote and the Air Force request behind Stratos.
- MIDA said it gets "zero state money." MIDA's own 2023 presentation to the Legislature lists $71,194,600 in "Legislative Appropriations" for projects in fiscal years 2022 through 2024. The table doesn't show this year, or how much was paid to MIDA itself.
- MIDA said the State Auditor is auditing it "right now." The Auditor's own MIDA page says the office "does not audit MIDA." A news report says the office asked for documents. The Hive found no published announcement of an audit.
- MIDA said counties keep control of land use. Box Elder's agreement says the MIDA board appoints the review committee (the county recommends 7 of 8), and Wasatch County's says "no submissions to or approvals by the County shall be required."
- A promise that money goes back to every taxing entity if a project finishes early was not found in state law or the agreements checked.
Unelected Power pages (tap to open)
- Unelected Power rosterEvery case file, searchable
- MIDA at the LegislatureHearing claims checked against the record
- The MIDA hearing, in plain wordsThe short, simple version
- The Inland Port at the LegislatureHearing claims checked against the record
- The Inland Port hearing, in plain wordsThe short, simple version
- Falcon Hill and RoyMIDA Falcon Hill Project Area · Roy City
- Steve WaldripGovernor's Office · State Housing Coordinator
- Mike OstermillerMIDA Board · CEO, Northern Wasatch Realtors
- Chris KylerCEO, Utah Association of Realtors
- Dallin KoecherWasatch Open Lands Board · Heber Valley Chamber
- Matt BrowerHeber City Manager · Hired, Not Elected
- Ryan StarksEDCUtah · Former GOEO Director
- Chris RoybalPresident, Northern Utah Economic Alliance
- Laura WarburtonUtah Forward PAC · Keep Our Valley Free
- Jefferson MossGOEO · Former House Majority Leader
- Community Alliance for Main StreetOrganization · Sole-Source City Contract
- Dan HemmertExecutive Director, MIDA · Former State Senator
- Utah RisingOrganization · Chamber-Led Economic Initiative
- EDCUtahOrganization · Private Business Recruiter
- The Ogden Officer & The ICE AgentOgden PD · Federal ICE Agent
- Jed StevensonAcademica West · One West Construction
- The Layton ShuffleSix seats in Layton, South Weber and Davis County
Start here: what MIDA is
The Legislature created the Military Installation Development Authority in 2007 (S.B. 232, 2007). It is run by a board that is appointed, not elected.
MIDA develops land on or near military sites. In its project areas, MIDA keeps up to 75% of the new property tax that comes from growth, for 25 years per parcel, and its board can add 15 more years. State law says project area land is not subject to county land-use law (Utah Code 63H-1-202(2)). MIDA's website lists 8 project areas. Three of them came up most at the hearing: Falcon Hill at Hill Air Force Base, the Mayflower area in Wasatch County, and Stratos in Box Elder County.
The words used on this page, like "tax increment," "interlocal agreement" and "review committee," are explained in Words to know.
Fact or fiction: claim by claim
Each card shows what was said, the verdict, and what the record shows. Use the buttons to show one kind of verdict at a time. The number on each card (#1 to #32) is the Hive's log number for that statement.
MIDA's own presentation lists state money. MIDA's Sept. 18, 2023 presentation to the Legislature has a table titled "Legislative Appropriations." It lists $71,194,600 for fiscal years 2021-22 through 2023-24 (the table is below). A MIDA overview given to lawmakers around 2014 reported $20.89 million appropriated since 2008. State law also provides for state appropriations and loans to MIDA (63H-1-104 and 63H-1-706).
Context, in fairness to MIDA: in the captions, the "zero state money" line comes during talk about private money at Mayflower and the military rooms, and is followed by "All of our money, our admin, everything comes from local tax increment." The 2023 table lists money appropriated for projects. It does not show whether the money was paid to MIDA itself, whether it was for operations or construction, or anything about this year.
Not found yet: whether MIDA received state money in FY2026 or FY2027. The FY2027 budget form's columns came out jumbled in a text pull and need a look at the rendered page.
Added Nov. 2, 2026 (second pass). The Hive's Sept. 4, 2026 notes read MIDA's FY2026 budget filing ("Fiscal Year Ended 6/30/2026," utah.gov/pmn/files/1453631.pdf) as a text-based PDF. It lists "Intergovernmental revenue" of $26,391,863 (FY2025 actual), $31,317,916 (current year) and $31,150,387 (proposed). The filing does not say which governments that money comes from, so it does not settle whether any of it is state money. (Notion's notes say this filing could not be opened on Oct. 24; the Sept. 4 read is kept here with its method.)
Sources: MIDA presentation to the Legislature (Sept. 18, 2023), "Legislative Appropriations" table; MIDA overview to the Legislature (about 2014); Utah Code 63H-1-104 and 706; MIDA FY2027 budget form.
Not found in state law or the Box Elder agreement. No clause returning money to every taxing entity on early completion turned up in either.
What is there: Wasatch County's 2023 West Side agreement sends leftover Development Fund money to the county after MIDA's list of projects. That money goes to the county only, and it is not tied to early completion. State law lets MIDA use the money "before, during, and after" the collection period.
Not checked yet: the Falcon Hill and Wasatch East Side agreements. "Not found in the records checked" is narrower than saying the clause doesn't exist anywhere.
Sources: Utah Code 63H-1-501(1)(a)(ii); Box Elder Agreement 26-15; MIDA Res. 2023-01 with the Wasatch West Side agreement.
25 plus 15 matches the law (63H-1-501).
Doesn't match: the extra 15 years is the MIDA board's call ("if the board determines..."). The statute doesn't require local approval for it. The clock also runs parcel by parcel, and money may be used "before, during, and after" the collection period. Box Elder's agreement runs 50 years, and its end doesn't change the project area's boundaries.
Sources: Utah Code 63H-1-501; Box Elder Agreement 26-15; MIDA Res. 2023-01 (Wasatch West Side agreement).
Box Elder's agreement is a negotiated package: energy taxes, a 3.5% telecom tax, a 1% room tax, a sales tax share, 25% of dedicated tax collections (not counting any Compute Complex), and a $10,000-per-megawatt minimum.
Context: the law caps MIDA at "up to 75%," and a county's consent can't be taken back. In 2019, Wasatch County's manager said the state "somewhat forced our hand" (KPCW, May 31, 2019).
Added Nov. 2, 2026 (second pass). The draft Stratos Master Development Agreement (§13), which MIDA's own document page lists as approved "in substantial form" but still "a draft and unsigned out of respect for the current referendum process," splits the remaining Compute Complex payments 80% to the Master Developer and 20% to MIDA, with part of MIDA's 20% going to the State. Box Elder County is not part of that split; the county's share comes through the interlocal agreement terms above. (Hive notes, Sept. 4, 2026, read from the posted documents.)
Sources: Box Elder Agreement 26-15 §6; Box Elder Stratos timeline; MIDA Res. 2023-01; KPCW (May 31, 2019).
Matches: 63H-1-502(1)(e) allows infrastructure outside an area if the board finds it benefits the area, and the board's decision "is final."
Left out: 502(1)(g) also allows spending on military morale, welfare and recreation programs. MIDA has also made partner payments outside its areas: $50,000 each to six Falcon Hill neighbors (Res. 2025-18), $300,000 to the Hill Aerospace Museum and $100,000 to the Wasatch School District.
Added Nov. 2, 2026 (second pass). S.B. 316 (2025), primary sponsor Sen. Jerry Stevenson, MIDA's vice chair, is described in the Hive's notes as also letting MIDA move project revenue outside a project area's boundary. See #21 and the Jerry Stevenson profile.
Sources: Utah Code 63H-1-502; utah.gov/pmn/files/1352399.pdf; MIDA Falcon Hill page; utah.gov/pmn/files/1164231.pdf.
None of the four figures was found in the records the Hive could open. MIDA's FY2025 budget planned about $2.05 million in "PTA Shared with Taxing Entities" and shows Falcon Hill FY2025 "Revenues" of $4,605,378 (labeled revenue, not lease payments). On the tape, the local share is called both "25%" and "20%." MIDA's 2026 audited financial statement may answer this; the Hive could not open it yet.
Sources: MIDA budget (June 11, 2024); MIDA Falcon Hill page; le.utah.gov/interim/2017/pdf/00003679.pdf.
No record of lease payments that size was found. MIDA's FY2025 budget shows Falcon Hill "Revenues" of $4,605,378, labeled as revenue. A 2008 Air Force release describes the payment as in-kind (office space), not cash.
Sources: MIDA budget (June 11, 2024); Utah Business (Sept. 12, 2025); Air Force release (2008).
The Hive has not checked this yet. Certified tax rates are public, but they have not been pulled for this file, so this stays open rather than getting a verdict.
Good to know when it is checked: Utah's truth-in-taxation process lowers certified rates when property values rise, so a lower rate alone would not show that MIDA caused it.
The math fits the parcel-by-parcel law (2020 plus 25 is 2045). No record was found showing the first collection was in 2020. The Mayflower area's base years run from 2011 (Part 1) to 2022 (Part 7).
Sources: MIDA Res. 2023-01; utah.gov/pmn/files/1164231.pdf; Utah Code 63H-1-501(1)(b).
Matches: 63H-1-604(2) says MIDA's bonds are not obligations of the state or its subdivisions. Box Elder's agreement §4 says the county bears no operational or financial responsibility.
Not found: the legal opinions themselves. Liabilities other than bonds were not checked.
Sources: Utah Code 63H-1-604; Box Elder Agreement 26-15 §4.
Annual audit: matches. State law requires one (63H-1-704), and MIDA posted its 2026 audited financials in October. That audit is done by a private firm.
State Auditor "right now": the State Auditor's own MIDA page says the office "does not audit MIDA." The Auditor's May 28, 2026 release calls its new MIDA website "an informational tool." FOX 13 reported after the hearing that Hemmert said the Auditor's office had requested documents. The Hive found no published announcement of a State Auditor audit. A web page alone can't rule out a newer review, so this stays "partly."
Legislative audit: no earlier legislative audit of MIDA was found in the sources checked.
Sources: Utah Code 63H-1-704; State Auditor MIDA page; State Auditor release (May 28, 2026); FOX 13 (Oct. 21, 2026).
Matches: the state Public Notice Website has MIDA's notices (for example April 24 and June 26, 2026). MIDA's website has an email signup for news.
Also at the hearing: Rep. James Dunnigan said posting on MIDA's website is "not adequate notice to the public." Hemmert answered that a local notice requirement "might be a great modification." State law says MIDA is "not required to physically post notice" (63H-1-202(7)). The Hive found no law requiring newspaper or mailed notice of MIDA board meetings; narrower notice rules are in 63H-1-402(2) and 403(1).
Sources: Public Notice 1075195; Public Notice 1091257; MIDA transparency page; Utah Code 63H-1-202(7), 402, 403.
True. The April 24 and June 26, 2026 notices have audio and minutes attached. The April 24 meeting, where MIDA's board adopted the Stratos plan, was noticed April 22 at 7:29 p.m. That meets the Act's 24 hours, about a day and a half ahead.
Left out: the law applies the Act to MIDA with exceptions, including no physical posting and no anchor location for electronic meetings (63H-1-202(7)(a)).
Sources: Utah Code 63H-1-202(7); Public Notices 1075195 and 1091257.
MIDA is subject to GRAMA, Utah's public records law (63H-1-202(8)). No public count of its requests was found.
Sources: Utah Code 63H-1-202(8); Utah News Dispatch (June 1, 2026).
The history notes in the MIDA Act show changes in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015, every year from 2019 through 2026, and the 2025 First Special Session. The gap years may have had bills that don't show in today's code.
Added Nov. 2, 2026 (second pass). Bills the Hive has tracked with Sen. Jerry Stevenson, MIDA's vice chair, as primary sponsor: S.B. 178 (2017), S.B. 192 (2020), S.B. 233 (2021), S.B. 232 (2022), S.B. 169 (2024) and S.B. 316 (2025). S.B. 316 was signed March 27, 2025. The Hive's Stevenson profile reports it let MIDA act as "lead agency" for environmental review of its own project areas, and that MIDA's board, with Stevenson voting yes, adopted the Stratos plan about 13 months later, on April 24, 2026. Sources: Jerry Stevenson profile (utah-senators repo); S.B. 169 case file.
Source: Utah Code Title 63H, Chapter 1 (MIDA Act), history notes.
63H-1-201(2) makes MIDA an independent body corporate and politic and a political subdivision. Utah Constitution Article VI, Section 28 bars handing city functions to special commissions. The "why" is a legal reading, not something a record can prove.
Added Nov. 2, 2026 (second pass). A court case is testing this. Alliance for a Better Utah has sued in Utah's 3rd District Court, naming MIDA, Box Elder County, and Sen. Stuart Adams and Sen. Jerry Stevenson. Utah News Dispatch quoted the complaint saying the constitution "forbids plural office holding by legislators" (Article VI, Section 6), and the complaint says MIDA's structure puts lawmaking power over "taxation, zoning, land use" in "a non-elected MIDA Board and the Interlocal Agreement's special commission." The Hive has not yet confirmed whether the complaint cites Article VI, Section 28 by number, and has found no final ruling as of its notes. Read from news coverage and Better Utah's posted materials, not the full complaint PDF.
Sources: Utah Code 63H-1-201; Utah Constitution Art. VI Sec. 28.
There is a review committee. But Agreement 26-15 §3(b) says it has 8 members, chaired by the MIDA director. The county recommends the other 7, the MIDA board appoints them, and they "serve at the pleasure of the MIDA Board."
Also in the record: §3(a) gives MIDA the "exclusive right" to police powers over the private land, and state law exempts project area land from county land-use law (63H-1-202(2)). See Who controls land use.
Added Nov. 2, 2026 (second pass). More of the exchange, from the Hive's own voice-typed notes (not yet checked against the official video): Hemmert said the county "still controls that Design Review Committee" and decisions are made "in most cases, almost all cases, with approval from the county explicitly." Asked by Rep. Dunnigan who sits on it, he said the county appoints the members and "it's usually staff members," such as planning and fire department staff, and agreed the committee has final approval. Dunnigan answered: "In a city, it's going to go back to the legislative body for final approval, and the elected officials can be held accountable." Hemmert also said a rezone from agricultural to industrial goes to the committee. Rep. Larson read 63H-1-202 aloud at the hearing.
Added Nov. 2, 2026 (second pass). In fairness to the county: Box Elder County's May 4, 2026 release lists a seat for one local landowner on the Development Review Committee among the terms the county negotiated (Hive notes, Sept. 4, 2026).
Added Nov. 2, 2026 (second pass). Moratoriums: the draft, unsigned Master Development Agreement (§3(f)) says the project area "shall be excluded from any moratorium" unless MIDA's board finds one necessary. Box Elder later adopted a 180-day data center moratorium (Ordinance 654). Because the agreement is still a draft, how this applies is not settled.
Sources: Box Elder Agreement 26-15 §3; Utah Code 63H-1-202(2); Governor's Office Stratos FAQ.
The county does the permit work. The 2023 West Side agreement has the county perform permitting and inspection services (§7(c)).
But the same agreement says "MIDA shall retain and exercise full and exclusive jurisdiction, including all land use authority," and "no submissions to or approvals by the County shall be required" (§8(b)). Wasatch County's own page says MIDA keeps full land use authority west of Highway 40.
Sources: MIDA Res. 2023-01 (Wasatch West Side agreement); Wasatch County Jordanelle page; KPCW (May 31, 2019).
The money flow looks like an RDA's: after MIDA's priority list, the county decides how remaining Development Fund money is used (§10(d)(iii)).
The difference: unlike a city or county redevelopment agency, MIDA holds the land use authority on the west side (see #4). This is his description, not a provable fact.
Sources: MIDA Res. 2023-01; Park Record (Oct. 31, 2023).
Matches: state law requires county consent (63H-1-401(3)). Box Elder's commissioners voted unanimously on May 4, 2026 (Res. 26-11 and 26-12) after public meetings on March 25, April 22, April 27 and May 4.
Left out: MIDA's board adopted the Stratos plan on April 24, ten days before the county's vote. A referendum was filed May 9.
Added Nov. 2, 2026 (second pass). Also at this hearing, during the Inland Port's turn: a legislator said a county commission had called itself a "rubber stamp" on a northern Utah data center because MIDA had already decided it. The Inland Port's presenter said "Dan might be better to comment," and the legislator withdrew the question. The Hive's notes from MIDA's own portion do not show the question being put to MIDA again. Source: the Hive's phone Recording 9, machine transcript; the county was not named on the recording, and this has not yet been checked against the official video.
Sources: Utah Code 63H-1-401(3); Box Elder Stratos timeline; Box Elder May 4, 2026 agenda (Public Notice 1076001); Deseret News (May 12, 2026).
63H-1-401(3) requires the owners' consent and the consent of the county or city legislative body (the law's term, not "land use authority"). The rule covers land that isn't military land. Box Elder Agreement 26-15 §2 matches.
Sources: Utah Code 63H-1-401(3); Box Elder Agreement 26-15.
True that MIDA was created in 2007 (S.B. 232, 2007), and MIDA's 2014 overview lists "mitigating risk of base closure" among its benefits.
Left out: Hill was in the 1995 base closure review and was spared (Deseret News, June 22, 1995). MIDA came 12 years later, two years after the 2005 round.
Sources: Deseret News (June 22, 1995); State Auditor MIDA page; MIDA overview (about 2014); S.B. 232 (2007), from a search result.
Close to the record: a 2017 Air Force presentation called it the "Largest commercial office EUL in DoD," and MIDA and Utah Business say similar things.
Not found: other states copying it. "Premier" is an opinion.
Sources: le.utah.gov/interim/2017/pdf/00003679.pdf; MIDA Falcon Hill page; Utah Business (Sept. 12, 2025).
Hill is the state's largest single-site employer (26,762) with a $12.7 billion yearly impact (Layton, 2024). The Governor's office called TI's $11 billion Lehi plant "the largest economic investment in Utah history" (Feb. 15, 2023). "Cumulative driver" is not a standard measure.
Sources: Layton economic development, Hill AFB page; Governor's Office (Feb. 15, 2023).
MIDA's website lists 8 project areas. The FY2027 budget has spending lines for 5 (none for Stratos, Dugway or Tooele Army Depot); "active" isn't defined. The 13 staff figure is MIDA's own (KUTV, Oct. 21, 2026); 2022 slides said 9. The State Auditor's site counts 29 or more project areas and PIDs combined.
Sources: midaut.org; MIDA FY2027 budget form; KUTV (Oct. 21, 2026); le.utah.gov/interim/2022/pdf/00003567.pdf; Utah News Dispatch (June 1, 2026).
Northrop reports "about 5,200 employees working on the Sentinel program" (a program count, not a campus count). MIDA's page says the campus has "capacity for more than 6,000." They are contractor staff, so "civilian" fits.
Sources: Trade & Industry Development (July 21, 2026); MIDA Falcon Hill page; Davis Journal (July 21, 2026).
Part 1's base year is 2011, the first interlocal agreement is dated Sept. 11, 2012, and the project area was created in 2012 (State Auditor, via Utah News Dispatch). KPCW in 2020 cited a "40-year history." Not found: the 2011 county consent vote and the 2009 master plan.
Sources: utah.gov/pmn/files/853287.pdf, 1164231.pdf, 952129.pdf; Utah News Dispatch (June 1, 2026); KPCW (Mar. 24, 2020).
Matches: it was torn down for the Olympics, and Park City and Summit County opposed the replacement there.
Doesn't match: KPCW in 2023 called it a "44-room ski chalet" (the captions may have misheard the number). The replacement site came from 2001 federal legislation (Rep. Jim Hansen) that gave the Air Force a Park City parcel. That was a congressional arrangement, not a state promise.
Sources: utah.gov/pmn/files/1164231.pdf; KPCW (Oct. 20, 2023); Hill AFB article on the MWR hotel; Park Record (2021).
100 military rooms: matches. The hotel's size is reported as 387, 400 or 442 rooms; no source found says 435.
Left out: MIDA's $390 million bond project list (October 2024) includes "MWR Conference Hotel Reimbursement" and "Retail & Commercial & Conference Facilities (portion of)." That is a list of uses the bonds may pay for, not proof the money was spent.
Sources: Hill AFB; Park Record (2021); TownLift (December 2024); KUTV (2026).
The 6,000: MIDA board member Erik Rowland said East Village will need about 6,000 workers within 10 years (Park Record, Aug. 28, 2026).
The "3,500": Hemmert said "about 3,500" (the Hive was at the hearing and heard "3,500"; Nov. 2, 2026 update). The developer, Extell, reported about 350 daily construction workers at MIDA's Aug. 20 board meeting. No record of 3,500 jobs at Mayflower was found.
Earlier on this page (Nov. 2): this card said the number was not yet checked against the video ("3,500" or "350").
Sources: Park Record (Aug. 28, 2026); KPCW (Aug. 24, 2026).
Matches: the Governor's Office Stratos FAQ says, "The Undersecretary of the Air Force asked MIDA to find locations for independent energy and computing power." No Air Force or Defense Department record of the request was found.
The announcements are a prediction. FOX 13 reported: "Can't talk about it. Yet."
Added Nov. 2, 2026 (second pass). Other records on how Stratos started: MIDA's April 24, 2026 board packet, as quoted in the Hive's Oct. 21 notes, says the developer "brought the Development Project to MIDA" and had "contracted with all of the landowners." The Hive's notes from July 2026 news coverage also report that the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity referred Stratos to MIDA in January 2026, citing military use. These do not contradict the Air Force request; they add who else was involved. The packet has not been re-read for this page.
Sources: Governor's Office Stratos FAQ; MIDA Stratos page; FOX 13 (Oct. 21, 2026).
No Stratos "but-for" analysis was found in the agreement, MIDA's Stratos page, the Governor's FAQ or the county timeline. The Stratos Project Area Plan, the most likely place, could not be opened yet. None is in the Wasatch West Side agreement, and the MIDA Act sections read have no but-for requirement.
Added Nov. 2, 2026 (second pass). At the hearing, Rep. Dunnigan asked whether MIDA ever studied whether the Wasatch development would have happened without MIDA. Hemmert answered, "I don't know the answer." (Hive voice-typed notes; matches the official captions' summary that no but-for analysis was known for Wasatch.)
Sources: Box Elder Agreement 26-15; MIDA Stratos page; Governor's FAQ; MIDA Res. 2023-01.
The state money table
This is the table from MIDA's own Sept. 18, 2023 presentation to the Legislature, titled "Legislative Appropriations." The five lines add up to the total shown.
"Legislative Appropriations," FY2021-22 to FY2023-24
| Fiscal year | Listed in MIDA's table |
|---|---|
| FY2021-22 | $57,707,100 |
| FY2022-23 | $4,160,000 |
| FY2023-24 | $9,327,500 |
| Total | $71,194,600 |
Who controls land use: what was said vs. the agreements
Hemmert said counties keep control of land use. Here is what the two agreements checked say.
How the money moves
Also listed: $71,194,600 in legislative appropriations for projects, FY2022–2024
Map: places named at the hearing
Pins are approximate, placed at the town or described area, not the parcel. Copper pins: a statement about this place left something out or didn't match the record. Tap a pin for details.
People connected to the record
- Dan Hemmert: MIDA Executive Director since Aug. 1, 2026, and a former state senator; answered most of the questions. His Unelected Power file covers his years as a registered lobbyist, including for MIDA.
- Ariana Farber: spoke for MIDA about Falcon Hill. Her title is Deputy Director in a 2024 record; her current title was not confirmed. At the hearing she introduced herself as deputy director (Hive voice-typed notes). MIDA's board-members page lists her on the Falcon Hill Development Review Committee (per the Hive's "Below The Line" page).
- Rep. Jon Hawkins: chair of the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee.
- Rep. James Dunnigan: told Hemmert that posting on MIDA's website is "not adequate notice to the public."
- Sen. Ann Millner: part of the exchange about the military lodging (#28).
- Sen. Ann Millner (added Nov. 2): also said on the record that MIDA's original purpose was military land around Hill Air Force Base, which she called "very different than the Port Authority" and "the Point" (Hive voice-typed notes).
- Sen. Stuart Adams (added Nov. 2): MIDA's board chair since 2008, through the Senate President's seat; signed the Stratos resolution and ordinance as chair on April 24, 2026. He lost his June 2026 Republican primary. Under Utah Code 63H-1-302 and 303, three of the governor's seats become vacant when the member leaves local office, but the Senate President's seat has no such rule; who fills it is up to the next Senate President. See The Seats That Move.
- Sen. Jerry Stevenson (added Nov. 2): MIDA's vice chair, on the board since 2008; primary sponsor of S.B. 316 (2025) and earlier MIDA bills (see #21). Which leader appointed him is inferred, not confirmed on state records.
- Gage Froerer (added Nov. 2): Weber County commissioner on MIDA's board since 2019. The Hive's Oct. 2026 notes record the state boards registry listing his seat as "County Commissioner from Weber," term March 31, 2023 to March 31, 2027 (not re-read for this page; the Hive's earlier board page said the seat record was not located). He did not run for reelection to the commission in 2026.
- Mike Ostermiller (added Nov. 2): on MIDA's board since 2008 in the governor's "interested in military efforts" seat. His own 2026 MIDA disclosure form lists the role as "paid consultant / board representative with staff," and Transparent Utah lists MIDA payments to Michael Ostermiller PC of $28,000 (2025) and $42,000 (2026). He disclosed the income source on his form; the amounts come from Transparent Utah, read from search results the Hive saved in October 2026. Whether those years are fiscal years is not confirmed.
- Other committee members named in the Hive's notes on this hearing: Rep. Jackie Larson, Rep. Doug Fiefia, Rep. David Shallenberger, Rep. Leah Hansen, Rep. Troy Shelley and Sen. Evan Vickers. What each asked MIDA is not yet logged.
- Paul Morris: signed Box Elder Agreement 26-15 as MIDA's director, before Hemmert started.
- Note on Paul Morris and the agreement (added Nov. 2): MIDA's own Stratos document page, as read in the Hive's Sept. 4 notes, describes the interlocal agreement, development agreement and development standards as approved "in substantial form" and still "a draft and unsigned out of respect for the current referendum process." Whether the Box Elder copy numbered 26-15 carries signatures is not yet confirmed from a rendered page.
- Erik Rowland: MIDA board member; said East Village will need about 6,000 workers within 10 years (#30).
- Box Elder County Commission: gave the county's consent to Stratos in a unanimous vote on May 4, 2026.
What this hearing teaches
- Check what an agency told lawmakers before. The "zero state money" table came from MIDA's own 2023 presentation to the same Legislature.
- Ask which audit. A yearly financial audit by a private firm and a State Auditor audit are two different things.
- Read who appoints. "The county recommends" and "the MIDA board appoints" are both true of the same committee.
- Give credit where the record backs it. County consent, the unanimous Box Elder vote, posted meetings and the Air Force request all check out.
Open questions
Where is the record of 3,500 Mayflower jobs? (#30)
Hemmert said "about 3,500." The developer, Extell, reported about 350 daily construction workers in August. Ask MIDA for the job count behind the 3,500.
Has the State Auditor opened an audit or other review since the hearing? (#8)
The Auditor's MIDA page says it "does not audit MIDA." FOX 13 reported a document request. No published announcement found yet.
Did MIDA get any state money in FY2026 or FY2027? (#14)
The FY2026 budget filing could not be opened, and the FY2027 form's columns came out jumbled. Both need a look at the rendered pages.
Added Nov. 2: the Hive's Sept. 4 notes did read the FY2026 filing as a text PDF; its "Intergovernmental revenue" line doesn't say which governments the money came from (see #14).
Where are the $433, $4.6 million, $3.37 million and $10 million figures? (#15, #26)
Likely in MIDA's 2026 audited financial statement, which the Hive could not open yet.
Is there a written "but-for" analysis for Stratos? (#32)
The Stratos Project Area Plan is the most likely place; it could not be opened yet.
Do the Falcon Hill or Wasatch East Side agreements have a "waterfall" clause? (#12)
Those two agreements have not been checked.
Did local tax rates go down? (#16)
Certified tax rates have not been pulled for this file yet.
Which county commission called itself a "rubber stamp," and did MIDA ever answer? (#1, added Nov. 2)
The question came during the Inland Port's turn and was withdrawn. Checking the official video would settle who said it and whether MIDA responded.
Is the Box Elder agreement signed? (added Nov. 2)
MIDA's Stratos page has described it as a draft "unsigned out of respect for the current referendum process." The county's posted copy needs a look at its rendered signature pages.
Where does the Better Utah lawsuit stand? (#20, added Nov. 2)
The Hive's notes show no final ruling. The court docket would show the current status.
What is Ariana Farber's current title?
Only a 2024 record was found.
Questions to ask, and whom to ask
- Your state legislators: MIDA told the committee it gets "zero state money." MIDA's own 2023 presentation lists $71,194,600 in legislative appropriations for FY2022–2024. Did MIDA mean this year, one project, or its whole history? Did MIDA receive state money in FY2026 or FY2027?
- Office of the State Auditor: Your MIDA page says the office "does not audit MIDA." Has the office opened an audit or other review of MIDA since the hearing?
- Box Elder County Commission: Stratos review committee members "serve at the pleasure of the MIDA Board." Which land-use decisions in Stratos still come back to the county?
- Wasatch County Council: The West Side agreement says "no submissions to or approvals by the County shall be required." What land-use decisions does the county still make there?
- MIDA board: Is there a clause that returns money to every taxing entity if a project finishes early, and which agreement is it in? Is the Stratos "but-for" analysis posted?
- Your state legislators: Rep. Dunnigan said website posting is "not adequate notice to the public." Should state law require local notice of MIDA board meetings?
- Your state senator (added Nov. 2): Three governor-appointed MIDA seats open automatically when the member leaves local office, but the Senate President's seat does not. Should the same rule apply to legislators' seats on MIDA's board?
- Box Elder County Commission (added Nov. 2): A legislator said a county commission called itself a "rubber stamp" on a data center. What did the county decide on its own before MIDA's April 24 vote?
Updates since this was posted
- Nov. 2, 2026This page posted, with 32 statements from the Oct. 21, 2026 hearing. #16 and #30 are marked not yet checked; their cards will be updated when they are.
- Nov. 2, 2026 (later)#30 updated: Hemmert said "3,500" (the Hive was at the hearing). No record of 3,500 jobs found, so the card now reads "Not supported by the records found."
- Nov. 2, 2026 (second pass)Checked against the Hive's earlier research and recordings. Added context to #1, #3, #10, #13, #14, #20, #21, #31 and #32; added Sen. Stuart Adams, Sen. Jerry Stevenson, Gage Froerer and Mike Ostermiller to People; added the draft-agreement note, new open questions and sources. No verdicts changed.
New updates will be added here with their dates. Earlier entries are not changed.
Connected Hive work
Words to know
Tap a card to see what it means.
Behind this piece
Posted Nov. 2, 2026. Built from the committee's official video and captions, and checked claim by claim against state law, MIDA's budgets and presentations, and the county agreements.
Connecting stories
- The MIDA hearing, in plain words (UP 100.12)The short, plain-language companion to this page.
- Dan Hemmert (UP 100.02)MIDA's executive director; answered most of the committee's questions on Oct. 21, 2026.
- Falcon Hill and Roy (UP 200.02)MIDA's Falcon Hill Project Area, home of Northrop Grumman's Roy Innovation Center (#25, #26).
- Mike Ostermiller (UP 100.07)MIDA board member since 2008. His 2026 MIDA form calls the role "paid consultant / board representative with staff" (added Nov. 2).
- Jefferson Moss (UP 100.06)Holds the non-voting seat on MIDA's board.
- The Inland Port at the Legislature (UP 100.04)The Inland Port presented to the same legislative committee on Oct. 21, 2026.
Sources
Sources — click to open (with links)
- Utah State Legislature, Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee, Oct. 21, 2026, official video (auto-generated captions; Vimeo 1227437550)
- Utah Code Title 63H, Chapter 1 (MIDA Act), whole chapter: sections 104, 201, 202(2), 202(7), 202(8), 401(3), 402(2), 403(1), 501, 502, 604, 704, 706
- Box Elder County Agreement 26-15 (MIDA–Box Elder interlocal agreement, Stratos): §2, §3(a), §3(b), §4, §6 (read through a text pull on Oct. 24, 2026; a later re-check could not reopen it)
- Box Elder County, Stratos Project Timeline
- Box Elder County Commission agenda, May 4, 2026 (Res. 26-11, 26-12)
- MIDA Res. 2023-01 with the Wasatch West Side agreement (March 7, 2023): §7(a), §7(c), §8(b), §10(d)(iii)
- MIDA presentation to the Legislature, Sept. 18, 2023 ("Legislative Appropriations" table)
- MIDA overview to the Legislature, about 2014 ($20.89 million appropriated since 2008)
- Falcon Hill presentation to the Legislature, 2017
- MIDA presentation to the Legislature, 2022
- Office of the State Auditor, MIDA page
- Office of the State Auditor, release on its MIDA website (May 28, 2026)
- Governor's Office, FAQ on the Stratos Project
- Governor's Office, TI Lehi announcement (Feb. 15, 2023)
- MIDA board meeting notice, April 24, 2026 and June 26, 2026 (Utah Public Notice Website)
- MIDA budget (June 11, 2024)
- MIDA FY2027 budget form (columns came out jumbled in a text pull)
- MIDA Res. 2025-18 file (Falcon Hill neighbor payments)
- MIDA Mayflower records (utah.gov/pmn/files/1164231.pdf)
- MIDA Mayflower interlocal records (utah.gov/pmn/files/853287.pdf)
- MIDA, Falcon Hill Project Area page; MIDA, Stratos page; MIDA, transparency page; midaut.org (project area list)
- FOX 13 on the hearing (Oct. 21, 2026)
- KPCW, former state senator tapped to lead MIDA (June 30, 2026)
- Utah Constitution, Article VI, Section 28
- S.B. 232 (2007), which created MIDA (from a search result)
- Wasatch County, Jordanelle page (wasatchcounty.gov/jordanelle)
- Layton economic development, Hill AFB page (laytonecon.org)
- News coverage cited on the cards: Deseret News (June 22, 1995; May 12, 2026); KPCW (May 31, 2019; Mar. 24, 2020; Oct. 20, 2023; Aug. 24, 2026); Park Record (2021; Oct. 31, 2023; Aug. 28, 2026); KUTV (Oct. 21, 2026, and 2026); Utah News Dispatch (June 1, 2026); TownLift (December 2024); Utah Business (Sept. 12, 2025); Trade & Industry Development (July 21, 2026); Davis Journal (July 21, 2026)
- Air Force records: Hill AFB article on the MWR hotel; Air Force release (2008)
- Added Nov. 2, 2026: The Weber County Hive, phone Recordings 9 and 10 of the Oct. 21, 2026 hearing (machine transcript) and voice-typed notes of MIDA's portion (Oct. 21, 2026)
- MIDA FY2026 budget filing, utah.gov/pmn/files/1453631.pdf (read Sept. 4, 2026 as a text PDF)
- Stratos Master Development Agreement and Development Standards (draft, unsigned) and MIDA's Stratos document page (read Sept. 4, 2026)
- Box Elder County release on Stratos (May 4, 2026)
- Alliance for a Better Utah, MIDA lawsuit page (betterutah.org/mida-lawsuit/) and Utah News Dispatch coverage of the complaint
- Transparent Utah vendor search results, MIDA payments to Michael Ostermiller PC (saved Oct. 2026); Mike Ostermiller, 2026 MIDA conflict-of-interest disclosure
- Utah Code 63H-1-302 and 63H-1-303 (board appointments and terms)
- Jerry Stevenson profile, The Seats That Move, Below The Line, S.B. 169 case file (the Hive's own earlier pages)
How these were read: every document above was read through PDF text extraction or a web page pull, not rendered pages. Quotes from the hearing come from the official auto-captions. Three MIDA records could not be opened: the 2026 audited financial statement, the Stratos Project Area Plan and the FY2026 budget filing.