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Show PAGE 4- - THE ZEPHYROCTOBER 89 t 1 I an interview with the grand county commission On September 18, an interview was conducted with Grand County Commissioners Feme Mullen, Dave Knutson and Merv Lawton. The interview has been edited for clarity and length. The Crescent Junction Truck Stop Zephyr: There's a proposal to establish a Special Service Dlstnct for a proposed truck stop near Crescent Junction, and there's been some question about water rights. Can vou explain this Issue? Merv: There is a water line that runs from Thompson to Cisco. It belongs to the UDOT. This truck stop needs water at Crescent Junction. How do they get the water there? The DOT are prepared to sell that line, either to the country or to a special service district The county doesnt want the line. So this truck stop entity wants to establish a special service district so they can buy that water One. Zephyr: Has that been resolved? Merv: It's in the process of being worked out Feme: The papers were filed at the last meeting, and we have to have a hearing. It'll be advertised in this week's paper. Dave: That covers it Countv Attorney Questions a Zephyr: Why didn't the Commission feel It needed to advertise for the Public Defender position? in effect vou told the Countv Attorney to ao out and find someone. , Merv: I understood from what she said, that she had a number of names left over from the last time we looked for a public defender. She had sufficient names from which to choose. Dave: That was part of the reason. I dont think we were legally bound to advertise, but the biggest reason is because the last time we advertised, we only got a couple of people who were really interested. In fact, the way we got Michael Wray was not through advertising but because Bill Schultz contacted some people he knew. I guess the bottom line Is the advertising ends up being a waste of money and we felt there were other avenues that were better. If we cant find somebody who's acceptable, well probably go back to advertising. Let's try to hurry the process along, and if we can do it legally, well do It this way. But theres not a whole lot of people interested. , Zephyr: Did the person to whom vou offered this iob accent? Merv: We made an offer to her. She has to accept or turn it down. Feme: , She turned it down. Zephyr: Since she turned it down, will vou now advertise? - GntuUk. Quality Realty, Inc 59 S. Main Suite 4 think she has a couple more names to contact rumor that drug monies for the Deputy Countv Zephyr: f had also heard a Attorney's salary are running low. Is that true? Merv: I heard that. has a contract through 1990. How I Zephyr: Rt also understand that Schultz do vou oav him if the money runs out? Dave: I believe his contract is contingent upon drug monies to fund that I Clerk told us that those monies are position. Thats what remember. The County will be coming In to the county. running low. There are other drug monies that of the year, I dont know. Im to end the to carry through Whether thats enough from the general fund. tax money not ready to fund that position with Feme: I understand theres other monies available from upstate to keep him here through the year. will be required to fund that position? Zephyr: So theres no wav the taxpayers Dave: I'm not saying 'no way, I'm saying Im not prepared to do that right now. Theres always a way. Merv: I agree with Dave. But we do have a commitment to provide adequate court coverage for anyone In the county. a part of that office. Its Zephyr: But that position has not traditionally-beeonly been there for a year and a half. Merv: That is correct But other counties have someone besides the county attorney. Zephyr: David stirred up something of a hornets nest last month regarding the Road District and the wav it hired the engineering firm of Creamer and Noble. One Salt Lake TV station contacted the Attorney Generals office to determine If anything Illegal transpired. The Attorney General stated that he must defer to the Countv Attorney In these cases. However, the County Attorney is also the Road Boards private counsel. Do vou see a conflict of interest? Dave: On one hand, I can say the County Attorney should always defend the I County, and that the Road Board should hire their own counsel, but dont think thats the question you asked, is it? Zephyr: Yes it was. Could she defend the Road Board and at the same time look for Improprieties? Dave: I really dont know. I guess you could ask her or another attorney. I I see what youre getting at It's a good question really dont know. Feme: Her first responsibility is to the County. It seems she would be In kind of an awkward position. A very awkward position. Merv: The answer is yes. Feme: She has to defend the County first, and she knew this when they hired her. I think it would be kind of hard, because in a way she would be suing herself. Feme: I n Expanding The Road Board Zephyr: Whv was it that vou had 16 applicants for the new Road Board positions and felt the need to extend the deadline? On the other hand, vou had one applicant far the Recreation Special Service District and made a choice without extending the deadline. What made the difference In these two Instances? Merv: For the Recreation District, where there was only one applicant, we had advertised a day when we were going to choose. The applications had to be In by that day. On the Road Board, due to the law, we could not choose the applicant until the 11th. We had to wait that amount of time. So we said, why cut off the names when we've got this free time. Lets leave it open. I was aware there were a couple of people who were interested, but we hadnt looked at the first 16 names and made this decision. We had this extra time. Zephyr: How many names did vou oet? Merv: Two. Dave: There are some names on that list that I dont know that I want to Merv: There are some good names on that list to. suzan martin sales associate Commercial Retirement Residential Castle Valley . talk The Courthouse AnnexJall think we discussed this last time, but we're all here this time, so IM run it bv vou again. This proposed expansion Is going to cost over S3 million. Is It possible to create a special service district for this project and use some of those UDOf funds to pav for it? Merv: We were interested in that ourselves. There is one little clause In H.B. 273 that talks about affected counties and public services. We havent got an answer on that yet. : Dave: I would like personally to see the state PILT monies to offset the cost I don't know If thats possible or not. But that would be one source of revenue, buUt still wouldn't cover it So there would still have to be some tax money going Zephyr: 1 . if someone wanted to set up a special service district and gain UDOT funds, how wouid they do it? Who decides? Dave: We do. The state PILT money, that Is. Merv: The UDOT money, however, once its committed, It Zephyr: access to those I know where the best deals are" stays. Zephyr: So that cant be changed? Dave: Anything can be changed, I imagine. Zephyr: But bv who? Merv: I don't believe we can do it A Countv Administrator Clt? has a mayor, who serves as sort of an adjyentV' a and Council that votes on policy. In the Countv. however, those two ministrator ISigS-fr- re blended in your positions as Commissioners. Do vou believe a county administrator and a separation of those responsibilities could improve government? Dave: I donL From my experience, county government really does work efficiently. I m not necessarily saying Grand County, but counties in Utah seem to worii very efficiently. Our responsibilities are broader and less specific than the City s, so there s a difference. I dont see any problem. However, there have been counties that have changed their form of government Cache County has a 7-council. ?.ep.hyr: man , .. i.Vi'.f . ni, ,i ji ,l. . |