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Show Attorney's proposed salary increase denied By KATHLEEN WILSON FARMINGTON A public hearing was held recently by Davis County Commissioners to discuss increasing the county attorney's salary to $58,500 from the present $44,002 per year. The increase is being considered to allow the present County Attorney Attor-ney Mel Wilson to eliminate his pri vate practice which supplements his income. The county case load has increased ten percent per year since he has been county attorney. There are currently 1200 felonies per year. The private practice is located away from county offices, thus he divides his time between the offices. The commissioners say they need to have the best legal advice available, and they heed to pay for that service, much the same as hiring a skilled physician for a medical problem. Commissioner Tippetts stated they would need to hire additional staff to carry the present work load if they do not increase Wilson's salary to allow him to work full-time full-time for the county. Another part-time part-time attorney would increase the cost of benefits offered to the part- time employee, while they are already paying benefits for Wilson. Other counties employ part-time attorneys allowing them to have private practice also, depending on their needs. One small county, Sevier, employs a full-time attorney attor-ney for $60,000. Salt Lake County's Coun-ty's full-time attorney is an admi- O CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Attorney's salary increase denied CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 O nistrator only, with a staff to direct. Normally a county the size of Davis would have an administrator only attorney to direct the office, but Wilson has been involved in prosecution because of the work load. Strong opposition was voiced by several groups who attended the hearing. A spokesman for the Utah Taxpayers Coalition chastised the council for considering increasing a salary, saying he was vehemently opposed. Candidates for the county commission com-mission seat were also present to object. Howard Stoddard believes the salary should be left the same and Wilson should be allowed to continue his private practice. Dub Lawrence objected saying that when a person runs for public office he is aware of the salary offered, and that he should not get an increase after he is in office. Dave Piggott, a Bountiful resident, resi-dent, expressed concern about the fact that a few public employees are paid so much when the average taxpayer in the county's income is much less. At Monday's meeting the decision deci-sion was made to keep the county attorney's salary at its present level. He will continue his private practice to supplement his income. The decision was made in deference defer-ence to public outcry at last week's meeting. Referring to Mr. Piggott's comments, com-ments, Commissioner Stevenson said the "commission is not insensitive insen-sitive to views of citizens. It should be understood that the request was , not a salary raise, it was to buy more attorney time." Commissioner Tippetts was very disappointed in some media j. coverage of the public hearing, particularly par-ticularly ripping an editorial that appeared in an Ogden newspaper. He said the attorney is needed that has the skill and knowledge to best handle the heavy caseload of our growing county. The salary of $44,000 pays for an administrator, but more time is needed. Wilson was willing to work full-time with a $15,000 increase. Attorney Mel Wilson expressed appreciation to the commission for their support of his position. It is a matter that will need to be addressed addres-sed in the near future. |