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Show Commissioners respond to allegations duties? Attorney Wilson sees them as: 1 . Examine the books of elected officials; offi-cials; 2. Report to the county commission com-mission the findings; 3. Endorse claims for money to the county as a safeguard to avoid paying items not approved by the commission. The county auditor's job was combined with the clerk responsi-bilities responsi-bilities until nine years ago. Duties were separated and the auditor was elected as well as the clerk. County Attorney Mel Wilson said that all county officials answer to the commissioners; com-missioners; it is not correct to believe be-lieve the attorney and auditor are watchdogs of the commission. There is currently some discussion regarding the recombining of the clerk-auditor position in the future. By KATHLEEN WILSON County Auditor Ruth Kenning-1 ton recently alleged that county commissioners are usurping her authority and impeding her ability to perform auditing functions. She attacked the checks and balances in county government, stating that the county commission is doing both the legislative and executive functions. She is upset that they moved her former chief deputy out of her office into the administrative services department. As a reply, Commissioner Saunders Saun-ders stated that it has been blown out of proportion. The commissioners commis-sioners are interested in smoothly running the county government. The former chief deputy, LaMar Holt was relieved of chief deputy duties a month before he was moved into administration services ser-vices department, which was done to facilitate consolidation of purchasing pur-chasing and contracts in one office. The responsibilities of auditor and commission are in the process of being outlined by the county attorney, Mel Wilson. He will submit sub-mit the outline to the state attorney general for approval. The commission is, in a sense, the executive branch in the traditional tradi-tional three branches of government. govern-ment. The state legislature makes the laws, the commission is responsible re-sponsible for carrying out the laws, the courts interpret laws. The county commission is a stem of the state system according to past county commissioner Ernest Eberhard. He said the present commissioners are men of integrity and the public is well served by them. Administrative duties are the main function of the commissioners. commis-sioners. Saunders stated that county programs are going forward despite de-spite this dispute, although he agreed a preoccupation with this issue can't help but waste time. County Attorney Mel Wilson said that the actions taken by commissioners com-missioners of moving personnel as needed are fully within their authority. au-thority. The commission also has ordinance making authority, but cannot conflict with state law; the legislature makes laws and counties coun-ties make their individual ordinances ordi-nances to comply. The main issue that has not been resolved is what are the auditor's |