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Show ; Elected county officials who ! would remain in office until ; the end of their terms, should ! city-county consolidation be ; approved by the voters, were ! interviewed this week regard-zing regard-zing their opinions of the 'merger plan. A degree of anxiety regarding regard-ing the first several years of operation was expressed by most officials, and some were outspoken in their dislike of the consolidation concept as it is currently planned. - - Sheriff W. H. Bowman stated he is against the consolidation plan. He charac- . terized the plan as "taking a lot of our rights away, putting too much power into too few hands. "I think people have a right to vote for their county officials. Like in my job, if people don't like the way I'm doing my job they can vote me out next election." The sheriff also indicated that he has information showing show-ing that in other places where consolidation was approved, the election of sheriff was retained, and that if the measure, as written, is passed in Grand County it will be the only one in the nation set up where the chief law enforcement enforce-ment officer of the county was i hired official. Recorder Opposed Recorder Alice McKinney also voiced strong objections to the consolidation plan, stating, "I'm very much against it." She said the plan has "forgotten one important thing, and that is the human element. The way it is designed is an idealistic dream, but not realistic. It would not work." Asked her reasons for this opinion she responded, "I don't think this (consolidated) government would be respons ive to the people. It wouldn't matter what the taxpayers, who are paying the salaries, wanted, the County Manager and whoever is running the Council would be the only ones you (as county employees) would have to satisfy. I feel it would be a personality situation situa-tion instead of a business situation." In addition, Mrs. McKinney said she is concerned about the County Manager position. She said; " don't think there-is there-is a person anywhere that could handle the job of County Manager the way it's set up without being swayed by his own wishes and those who are influencing him." Opportunity to Vote She said in conclusion, "We are celebrating our 200 years of independence this year independence which gives us the right to vote. I have never missed an opportunity oppor-tunity to vote in any election since I have been old enough, and I don't want to lose this right." Clerk-Auditor Barbara Dom-enick, Dom-enick, asked her opinbion of the plan, said, "I can see some good points of consolidation and also some problems." One problem she pointed out was allocation of space within the city-county building with the functions of some offices being combined with others, and some departments moving under different heads. Asked about the functions of her office she said, "I can't see any problems with combining combin-ing the (County) Clerk and Recorder with the City Recorder's Recor-der's office because they are all records functions." The auditing function, she said, would go to a different department. "Changing to something new is a difficult process," said Mrs. Domenick. She predicted that "eventually consolidation would save the people money," but that the first few years would be difficult before things began to run smoothly. Period of Turmoil Treasurer Donna Loveridge said she sees the first two years after consolidation as a period of turmoil. Asked her opinion of the plan she said, "It it's going to save taxpayers money, I am for it. If it's not, I'm against it. I'm against anything that doesn't save the taxpayers money, and I don't care what it is." As keeper of the coffers Mrs. Loveridge said she was keenly aware of the effect re-evaluation of the property had on Grand County taxpayers taxpay-ers and how difficult it was for many to pay their taxes this year. She said, from this standpoint, she feels it would take 3 times the salary being paid current county officials to hire a qualified County Manager, Man-ager, and that this would mean raising taxes. She concluded, "I don't see anything wrong with the government we have now." Assessor Kenneth Beach said that although he didn't know how the city is run, "I don't think it will make an iota of difference in the way the County is run, but it will cause a lot of confusion." Surveyor John Keogh said of the plan, "I have some misgivings, however, I wouldn't would-n't mind seeing it tried. I would be willing to try, and if it didn't work out we could throw it out." County Attorney Bill Benge was not included in the interview of current officials because under the plan his office would continue to be elected by the voters. County Commissioners also were not interviewed because, if consolidation consol-idation is approved, their offices will be replaced by the new County Council. |