The purpose of the Commissioner’s Column is to provide information regarding the daily operations of Iron County. The column’s intent is to address the commission’s decision-making process for budget, taxes, and community issues, and also to profile county departments, their functions and their accountability to the taxpaying public.

This month, the column will provide a synopsis of the County Commission’s powers and authority as authorized by state statute. Under state law, the commission is considered the governing body of the county.

The commission consists of three members each elected to serve a four-year term. The commission is charged with providing general management of the county and has both legislative and executive powers.

In a broad sense the legislative powers of the commission are two-fold. They allow the commission to enact laws and ordinances and the ability to control generating and spending government funds. In this sense, the commission has the power to levy, assess, and collect taxes, borrow money on the county’s behalf, make special assessments and the authority to set fines and set fees for county services.

In acting as the county’s legislative body, the commission is charged with the promotion of health and safety, land use issues, and overseeing numerous boards and committees, such as the planning commission.

In the daily operation of the county the commission acts as the executive body which encompasses a number of functions. The commission has hiring and termination authority for county employees. They are tasked with planning for the improvement of county services and county government in general.

The commission maintains financial controls, unless state law provides that another elected official has specific responsibilities, for finances. The commission insures compliance with county ordinances and negotiates contracts.

In addition, the commission exercises supervision over appointed department heads with individual commissioners acting as “liaisons” to each of the county departments, including those headed by elected officials.

A fact that many are unaware of is that the

commission has limited authority over the independent elected officials, such as the county clerk, treasurer, auditor and recorder.

These independent elected officials are charged with exercising the executive duties specific to their office such as law enforcement by the sheriff; legal representation and prosecution by the county attorney; assessing property values, by the assessor, and so on.

In general terms, the commissioners’ authority over these offices is through the budget approval process and broad based policy decisions. The commission can approve or deny a requested department’s budget, and adopt policy that pertains to all county employees. However, the commission cannot run another elected official’s department.

In the course of their daily duties, the commissioners are involved in a myriad of issues. These issues range from participating in legislative issues at the local, state and federal level, addressing land use, economic development, recreational and agricultural development, to being actively involved in discussions and on committees regarding endangered species issues such as that of prairie dogs.

Through contracts and participation on various boards and committees, the commissioners work with other agencies such as the Five County Association of Governments and the Southwest Utah Public Health Department for services and the administration of various mental and public health programs, housing, winterization, transportation, aging and other community-based programs

The county commissioners welcome questions and input from the public regarding these issues as it is critical to their decision-making process.