This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Kanab • In the 1960s, a 12-year-old Sky Chaney rode the Kaibab Plateau on his dirt bike, falling in love with the landscape of southern Utah and northern Arizona.
In 2004, the retired psychologist and his wife moved to Kanab from northern California, drawn by the people and peaceful lifestyle of the Kane County town on the Arizona state line.
"We just love living here," said Chaney at his house overlooking the same Kaibab Plateau.
But some people in Kanab don't love Chaney living there. In his zeal to protect the town's natural charm and keep it affordable, Chaney has tangled with government officials and other residents. He even has been labeled a "paid environmentalist" even though he enjoys exploring the redrock's back roads on a motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle.
"For us he is a liability," said Joan Thacher, the vice president of Kanab Cares, a group formed to stop an experimental plant that would test a process for turning coal and other organic material into methane for industrial use. "He's not a team player but wants to be the general and everyone do what he says."
Chaney has been in the thick of most local controversies. Several years ago, he founded the Taxpayers Association of Kane County to fight a 50 percent property tax hike. He also was critical of the city's 2006 Natural Family Resolution, which defined a so-called model family.
He has opposed the county's efforts to fight the federal government on ownership of roads on federal lands including the Grand Staircase-Escalante national Monument, claiming the effort is futile and too costly.
Then, when many Kanab residents opposed a new jail, Chaney supported it. The jail is now under construction.
His musical band, Tumbleweedz, includes in its repertoire songs called "Natural Family" and "Highway Robbery" which belittle the resolution and the road battle, respectively.
He said the songs, which can be seen on YouTube, are meant to be humorous and do not accurately portray his political views. "I like to ride my ATV responsibly."
When not traveling or working on community issues, Chaney helps with the plays wife Bobbi writes and performs at the local community theater, usually with the music.
Chaney's latest cause is stopping a proposed gasification plant, which he and many others believe would degrade the quality of life in an area where the economy is joined at the hip with tourism. The experimental plant would turn coal, wood and other substances into methane.
A California company is seeking a conditional use permit for the plant from the city, but many county residents are seeking to get an initiative on the ballot that would require a public vote before the project could move forward.
Chaney's 500-member taxpayers group jumped into the fray but stirred up even more conflict with Thacher's group. She describes him as arrogant and brash.
"He [Chaney] likes to throw things in the city's face and write letters to the editor that get people fired up," said Thacher. "We like to work with the city a little more and reject what he represents."
Thacher concedes Chaney's tax-exempt group has helped raise money to fight the plant, so far spending about $24,000 on legal fees and printing placards that have sprouted in yards of many homeowners.
"He has shaken things up," said Thacher. "The town has never seen anyone like him until he arrived. He's the most outspoken person to ever hit Kanab."
Caralee Woods, also a member of Kanab Cares, says Chaney's inflammatory rhetoric can be counter-productive. She criticizes him for his frequent absences from town and said he hasn't helped enough with the petition drive.
"He likes to stir things up and just takes off leaving us to deal with the mess," she said. "That [signature effort] is 100 percent Kanab Cares."
Kanab mayor Nina Laycook declined to comment about Chaney because the Taxpayers Association has sued over the city's Land Use Plan.
While acknowledging that he can seem overpowering, Chaney said his style makes things happen.
"If there is controversy, it is because someone is challenging local government," said Chaney. "I am a strong leader who has people working with me in the most effective way. I take charge and direct people to do things for the good of the taxpayers. When something needs to get done, I'm the one doing it. I'm just trying to protect the lifestyle here."
Chaney said that even when he is traveling — he recently went trekking in the Himalayas — he is working on community issues.
And he has supporters.
"Overall he is being an active citizen doing work that most don't want to do," said Kanab resident Victor Cooper, who operates the Rocking V restaurant. "He supported a new jail, which I didn't, but he thought it was a good idea. He is very conscientious."
Cooper said much of the criticism leveled against Chaney comes from residents who don't believe the status quo should be challenged.
"There are those who do not want the veil lifted to see what's going on and start asking questions," said Cooper. "They see him as the evil Californian who just wants to stir things up. He takes action and I'm glad he started the Taxpayer's Association."
Shauna Cram, who is a member of the Tumbleweedz band and friend of Chaney and his wife, applauds his activism.
"He's controversial, but we support him," said Cram. "I'm happy he's doing what he is doing and sorry he gets such [negative] reaction on a personal level. He can be confrontational, but for the right reasons."
Cram, who has lived in Kanab all her life, said she appreciates Chaney's concern for anything that threatens the bucolic town.
"I care about Kanab, and I'm glad to see that someone else does, too."