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Show THE ZEPHYR MARCH 1991 PAGE 4 an interview with Ms. Sam Cunningham (grand county commissioner) Jim Stiles conducted an Interview with Grand County Commissioner Sam Cunningham. The Interview has been edtted for clarity and length. Zephyr: You've been on the lob for two months now; how do you like It and Is It what vou expected? Sam: It Is exactly what I expected It to be.... I like It line. Zephyr: lean see you're going to be one of these taciturn Interviewees. That was mv lead-i-n Question, but It didn't work, so let s go right to the Issues. vou commit taxpayers' money to clean up San Juan Countys mess? Sam: No. My main thrust Is If we discontinue running them, all we could do Is give a strong directive and not be Involved monetarily, but morally. Some kind of passive monitoring. Zephyr: Have vou talked to San Juan County officials about It? Sam: They were largely unaware and we only had ten minutes to talk about It Im not willing to discard the possibility of us running them with some firm assurance that we could get EPA cleanup money so Grand County wouldnt be Impacted My question Is ultimate liability. Is It toe dumper or toe owner? system and Zephyr: But how would vou possibly know? If s a I doubt someone dumping Illegal substances Is going to sign In. Sam: You bet Absolutely. If we continue to run It, It looks like It will require an te person and more expenses. self-registrat- ion THE HOSPITAL Zephyr: You'd mentioned at the Democratic Central Committee meeting the other night that the commission did not really have the expertise to run a Hospital Board, and vou had In mind a committee to advise the commission. Who would compose this committee? Sam: That was something I was forming In my mind. Whenever I feel I'm at a loss, the easiest way Is to say: you - you and you answer It for me and Ill read what you condense. So thats what was on my mind. And It's academic now because we now have an administrator. Zephyr: Is the next step now to appoint a new Board? Sam: Eventually. But well be a board and recommend It to ourselves and then new administrator should be In place by next Monday (March 1). So that takes The It ratify care of the Immediate problem. It would be wonderful If we could follow all toe protocol and sit down and think. What's correct? Lets form a committee and do this and this. Absolutely. But I think this Is such a critical situation that we have to do something now. You've got to make a Judgment call. And hopefully this Is the last one that's done that way. And Its a catch-2- 2, because you do that and then you trick yourself Into thinking you can always do that and everything Is an emergency. You have to draw a careful line. Zephyr: It gets confusing When I talked to John Johnson and the former Board, are so positive about toe progress that LH.S. was making. But to talk to vou and toe they Commission, toe picture Is so bleak. There's such a difference of opinion. Did vou sit down with John Johnson or toe Board and go through toe books before these decisions were made? Sam: Thats an easy fix. I would see how that could be an attractive alternative from the outside. But the bottom line is, you had to look at toe $161,000. The Hospital Service District could not afford that It doesnt matter If they were doing everything right What was wrong was we couldnt afford $161,000. So hopefully for a fourth of that we have an administrator who can do all of what LH.S. was doing. Zephyr: So you're saving It really didn't matter If vou talked to them because..... Sam: ....because we couldnt afford them. Zephyr: I know Its a moot point now and that It hits a raw nerve with vou. but Id like to discuss this allegation of conflict of Interest It seems the point being made here was more the perception than toe realltv. You and the commission appointed Don Davis as acting administrator: vet Don Is your supervisor at toe hospital. People could easily believe that Don Davis might feel restrained as vour supervisor If vou were doing a less than adeguate lob, since vou. In effect are also his supervisor. Sam: And probably were I not In my position, Id be one of the most vocal on toe other side asking those very questions. The only way I can address that Is on a very factual basis. Factually speaking, that might be true If I were a borderline employee, but I've always had top marks as an employee. At toe time I saw this coming down toe pike, I froze my own salary. In fact, personally Its going to be very detrimental to me, because looking across the board we are below toe salaries of other rural hospitals so there will be some adjustments and I wont be able to benefit from them. So I'm really taking a beating over It, but morallstlcally I feel strongly about It THE KEYSTONE PIT Zephyr: Do vou support the purchase of toe Pit? Sam: Thursday, Im going to look at It with David. I think I could have a conflict of Interest, because Im a rampaging environmentalist Always have ben, always will be. I think theres a lot of merit In saying that It Is ecologically sound to be your brother I dont know what San Juan will do with county's keeper. those pits If they take It over. Or toe owner. If we cease, we should have some Input on how they're to be directed. Zephyr: But vou have to admit first of all San Juan Countv Is a much wealthier county than Grand County. Sometimes realism has to take precedent over Idealism. Can on-si- EARTH FIRSTK?) Zephyr: Is It true youre a member of EARTH FIRST!? Sam: Thats right Zephyr: You opposed toe SUWA appeal on toe leep safari, but Earth First supports 16.000.000 acres of wilderness In Utah which would pretty well eliminate all those trails. Sam: I guess the ultimate test of toe organizations you belong to Is your participation In them, and I thought that SUWA's appeal was Irresponsible. So while you can stand with your hand up In defense of environmentalism, If you have an Idiot whos trying to push environmental matters, he's still an Idiot The concept of wilderness Itself yes, I toe folks In toe county who want support It to toe hilt But theres toe eternal problem to make a living, and toe folks who say toe living Is going to Impact my wilderness experience. Zephyr: EARTH FIRST! Is known for Its direct action tactics, and some people call For Instance, does McDonalds need to worry abouttoelr new billboards them In town with vou here? Sam: No comment.. Just call me Doc. Zephyr: What do vou think of Wavne Owens' bill? Sam: Register long pause.... I suppose my own choice would be somewhere between five and seventeen (million acres). I dont think one million Is enough. eco-terrori- sts. THE COUNTY ATTORNEY Zephyr: Was Lyle Anderson on toe selection committee to select a county attorney? Sam: Well, Lyle gave us Input on toe applicants. Its hard to understand which are better than others. Zephyr: Since he was an applicant himself, did vou have a problem with him giving advice on other applicants? Sam: Well, he was also acting county attorney, so It was In that capacity that we asked him. But It Is another one of your potential conflicts of Interest Zephyr: Did he sit In on toe Interviews? Sam: No, he did not Zephyr: Connie Navarre was on toe committee and she's toe paralegal for the county attorney's office. Sam: Thats toe very reason she was sitting there. Zephyr: But she was working for Lvle Anderson at toe time. Sam: Yes, but as a courtesy to her, he requested her Input And since toe final decision rested with toe three commissioners, I guess you could say wed take Input from anybody. Zephyr: Is Lyle Anderson going to make his father deputy county attorney? Sam: There Is no designated deputy county attorney. If In toe pursuit of their business, Lyle Is not available, he has toe resource to call his father to help him. Zephyr: How does that work? Is It like a contract? Sam: That has to be worked out The budgeted salary Is $4800 for both a month. Thats $2800 salary plus $2000 a month discretionary money. Zephyr: Many people In Grand County voted against toe last countv attorney because the budget tor that office Increased dramatically In four veara. Would an additional Increase reflect what toe voters want? Sam. Your points well taken. 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