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The Draper City Council unanimously rejected a proposal to loosen the anti-nepotism ordinance that prohibits the municipality from hiring family members of elected and appointed Draper officials.

Councilwoman Michele Weeks had requested the change at a meeting on March 1, saying that while she understood hiring a family member as a department head would be inappropriate, she thought hiring family members as laborers would be "fine," according to the meeting minutes.

According to City Manager David Dobbins, the city is "having a challenge hiring for some of our positions because the labor market is tight right now."

"In general, we just have quite a few positions that we're not getting the number of applications that we've received in the past," Dobbins said.

Councilman Alan Summerhays agreed with Weeks in the previous meeting, as did Councilman Jeff Stenquist, who noted that under the current law, his son would be turned down for a job mowing lawns at a city park.

Despite the earlier expressions of support from a majority of the council, the proposal was defeated by a 5-0 vote Tuesday night, according to a city news release. No reason was given for the decision or the apparent change of heart of some council members.