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Show Proposed change is a good one A group of dedicated private citizens, working for no compensation other than the satisfaction of doing what needs to be done, has put together a proposal to change county government that deserves the consideration of every Utah County voter. The county's current commission form of government was mandated by Utah's constitution in the 1890's -- and stayed that way by law until a dozen years ago, when the constitution was rewritten to give counties some say in the way their government was run. That change came after it was seen that the three commission form of government was adequate for small counties -- but for larger counties, there is a better way. . , , . And Utah County is not the only one in the state interested in-terested in seeing some changes made. Salt Lake County residents are being asked to change that county government as well this year. Late last year, Utah County's three commissioners admitted that there may be a need for some changes, and even went so far as to appoint a group of citizens to make an extensive review of the way county business was done. That group has never met. In the meantime, the Citizens Interested in Utah Government have gotten to business - meeting up to I twice a week drafting the proposed county charter they will present to the county commission today. The charter calls for a revolution in the way county business is handled, with a seven member part-time county council to serve as the legislative branch of the government and an appointed county administrative officer to serve as the executive county authority. It mandates regional representation - with five ! regionally elected council members. There will be no more reliance on any so-called "Gentleman's Agreement" which will never be honored by the more populated center of the county. It turns county government service into just that -service, with a total of $30,000 paid to the council each year, as opposed to the highly paid three commissioner form, which encourages professional politicians rather than concerned citizens to conduct the public's business. Yet, with an appointed administrator, it also allows ! for professionalism in public office. The 45-page charter provides for a smooth transition from one government form to another, so voters can decide whether they want to make the change when they go to the polls in November, and if they approve the change, in January the county will go forward under the new council. : The proposal has been carefully thought out, and solves the problems of the current commission form of county government. It provides for the checks and balances that are missing from the commission by its nature. But it will require the interest of local voters to get the proposal placed on the ballot. The current county commissioners are not open to proposals that will in effect eliminate their high-paying jobs. The petition calling for an election on the proposed charter will require the signature of 15,000 registered voters - and those signatures must be collected in time to find persons interested in running for council seats that will be filled if the proposal passes, and that will not exist if it fails. If north Utah County wants representation in county government, local voters should sign the petition and support the proposed charter. It's a move that will put the voice of the people back in county government. |