DUCHESNE COUNTY COMMISSION
Agency History #308
The county commission was created with the creation of the county out of the eastern portion of Wasatch County on 4 January 1915. The commission governs the affairs of the county.
The county commission is the executive and legislative body for the county. The commission supervises county agencies and personnel and creates necessary districts to administer the functions of the county; controls the finances of the county, assessing taxes, serving as a board of equalization, authorizing bids, and settling and allowing claims for goods and services; administers elections; oversees the welfare of the county's inhabitants by coordinating public health, sanitation (including burials), safety (including jails and juvenile detention), recreation, and programs for the poor; licenses businesses; controls zoning and development, including transportation systems; manages public property and buildings; and coordinates programs for livestock, crops, and natural resources in the county.
The commissioners were given supervisory activity, including prosecution for delinquency, over all county officers and those of county subdivisions. They can appoint certain officials, and in the case of vacancies in elective county, district, or precinct offices, may make temporary appointments. Unless otherwise specified by law, the commission is to fix and pay the salaries of county officers. The commission also is required to furnish most books and stationery for use by county officers.
The commission is to furnish seals for most county officers and the district court clerk. In 1915, the county recorder with the concurrence of the commission could record forms in pre-printed record books. The commissioners have the power to direct the sheriff to attend all their meetings to preserve order or serve notices, subpoenas, citations, etc. The commission can subpoena individuals or officials to witness in matters of public concern.
The county commissioners settle and allow claims against the county treasury. They are to establish a salary fund and other funds as necessary to transact business and can transfer moneys between funds. They can advertise for and accept bids on a number of goods or services. They are to provide for regular publication of a financial statement for the county. In 1980, the board of county commissioners was authorized to adopt any or all of the provisions of the state procurement code.
The county can purchase and hold land and personal property as well as manage and dispose of property for county purposes. The county also can receive by donation or lease any real or personal property and has the right to exercise eminent domain. The commission can levy and collect taxes as authorized by law for general county, district, or school purposes; the legislature also periodically authorized the county to levy and collect special taxes such as one for displaying products at exhibitions. The commissioners were authorized to establish and maintain a cumulative reserve fund for major improvements beginning in 1959. They were authorized to assess sales taxes the same year. The county commission is the county board of equalization. They may remit or abate taxes of any insane, idiotic, infirm, or indigent person. The county may also borrow money and issue bonds of indebtedness within designated limits.
The commissioners create, modify, or abolish election precincts; appoint judges of election; and canvass election returns. Until 1990, the number of precincts created in turn determined the number of justices of the peace and constables. The commissioners set the amount of bond for county officers. Upon petition of the citizenry, the commission may hold an election to change the county seat, to annex territory to another county, or to have another county's territory annexed to the county. Similar procedures are to be followed to create a new county out of an existing county. Also upon petition, the board of county commissioners is to hold an election for the incorporation of cities and towns.
The county can sue and be sued. The commissioners are to control and direct the prosecution and defense of all suits in which the county is a party. Since 1943, the county commission has been empowered to study the processes and methods of county government and to present the findings to the legislature or Congress; costs are considered a proper claim on county funds.
The commission is to provide for the working of prisoners in the county jail on public projects. The county commissioners were to bring to the attention of the court any cases of incorrigible children where the parents were unable, unwilling, or negligent in controlling the child. The county commission could establish boy and girl detention homes or pay to send the child to facilities in another county; Duchesne County usually sent their cases to other counties. Similar provisions were made to coordinate services with a children's aid society in the case of child neglect. A 1961 law made it the duty of the county commissioners to arrange for detention facilities or services of some sort, not necessarily within the county, and allowed for the appointment of an advisory board. The law was repealed in 1988 when responsibility was transferred to the state.
In 1927, the commission was authorized to provide for the organization and support of a county fire department and to create fire districts in watershed areas. The power granted over watersheds was repealed in 1937 with the creation of a state fire control board. In 1951, upon petition of property holders, the county commission could hold hearings and elections and create fire protection districts; this was modified in 1965 to permit creation by ordinance as well as by election. Fire protection district commissioners were either elected or, in the case of a county-wide fire protection district, consisted of the county commissioners. After 1975, no fire protection districts could be created except as special service districts.
From 1947 until 1987 the county board of commissioners could establish and administer a retirement system for county employees. Since the enactment of legislation in 1960, the county commission can establish a merit system commission to test and establish a register of peace officers from which the sheriff, with the approval of the county commission, may appoint subordinate officers. A merit system was extended in 1969 to employees other than peace officers, although it is optional in counties with less than 130 employees not covered by other merit systems.
The commissioners are to provide suitable offices for county purposes. They are to erect or repair and furnish a courthouse, jail, hospital or other such public buildings as necessary. They accept bids and let contracts for construction. They can sell any buildings no longer required, including conducting tax sales. They are required to insure county buildings and furniture in the name of the county. Since 1981, the commission can organize a building authority to finance and construct public buildings. Under 1988 law, with the approval of the sheriff, the county commission may contract with private contractors for management, maintenance, operation and construction of county jails.
The commissioners can divide the county into road, sanitary, and other districts as required. They are to lay out, maintain, control, erect, manage, or abolish and abandon public roads, ferries, and bridges. They can grant licenses and franchises for constructing, repairing or taking tolls thereon. They also can grant franchises along and over public roads. Starting in 1925, the commission was given similar authority over airplane landing fields and hangars. Since 1963, the commission may build livestock highways. A method by which the county commission could incorporate public transit districts was enacted in 1969. The commission can provide for the construction of gates across certain highways to avoid the necessity of building highway fences under 1976 law. The law in 1977 allowed the county commission to issue permits authorizing certain aircraft to land on or take off on designated county roads.
The commission could name school districts by resolution and create precincts within county districts for the election of school board members. This was repealed in 1988, but the commission was to reapportion county district precincts at least once every ten years.
Upon petition, the commission could create drainage districts and appoint a three member board of supervisors. This law went out of effect in 1975 when drainage districts were to be created as special service districts. The county is to acquire water rights, sink wells, erect reservoirs and pumps to obtain water for sprinkling roads or other county purposes. The commission, upon petition, can create irrigation districts after conducting the necessary elections. Until 1935, the commission was required to enact rules and regulations regarding water flow from artesian wells. Since 1921, the commission has been authorized to call for water surveys.
Under 1923 law, upon petition, the commission could create mosquito abatement districts. The law in 1933 provided details for the commission's creation of water supply, sewer, and flood control districts and the construction and maintenance of associated systems. Many particulars were altered by the legislature over the years. For example sewage law was further elaborated in 1947, providing for the creation of special improvement districts, appointing trustees, taking bids, and financing improvements. The 1947 law was repealed in 1949 and replaced by one which, among other changes, required electing trustees. In 1953 the law was substantially amended and contained provisos by which in some circumstances the county commission would serve as board of trustees and in others appoint a three member board, or upon petition, hold an election for trustees. By 1957, improvement districts could be created for streets, curb and gutter, lighting, sidewalks, etc. as well as water supply and sewers.
Also in 1957, the legislature approved the creation of special service areas to provide so- called municipal type servicesextended police and fire protection, recreation, libraries, sewage, garbage collection, health services, etc. The county commission could hold hearings, create such areas, tax or bond for such areas, and appoint all or, in some cases, part of a three-member board of trustees to oversee the service area which became a body corporate and politic. A 1969 re-write allowed the commission to constitute all of the trustees, to appoint a board, or to have trustees elected.
In 1969, improvement districts to coordinate conversion of overhead utilities to underground ones were authorized. Laws in 1985 and 1986 allowed for the creation of improvement districts for distributing gas and electricity. The 1975 "Utah Sidewalk Construction Act" encouraged construction of sidewalks and authorized the use of a portion of road funds for pedestrian safety devices developed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the state department of transportation. Revisions and recodifications of special improvement districts law in 1979 allowed county commissions to make improvements or create special improvement districts for streets, sidewalks, parking facilities, drains, lighting, landscaping, waterworks, parks, libraries, recreational facilities, etc.
Initially, the commissioners were to provide for the care and maintenance of the indigent sick or otherwise dependent poor of the county. In some cases, the commission could enforce support by relatives. The commissioners were to erect and maintain hospitals and poorhouses or otherwise provide for those same services. They could appoint a county physician and officers to head the hospital and poorhouse. They also were to provide for a farm connected to the county hospital or poorhouse. They subsidized the commitment of the indigent insane to the state asylum. They could make regulations to prevent the leaving of indigent, insane, contagious, or dead persons in the county if not residents. In 1974, the county was relieved of responsibility for making medical expenditures to persons eligible under Social Security and Medicare. In 1981, the county was relieved of the responsibility for the dependent poor, and in 1987 was also relieved of responsibility for the indigent sick. The commission could continue to provide a farm in connection with county facilities, nursing care facilities, employment aid, rehabilitation programs, etc. and accept funds for the operation of such programs.
Until 1993, the county commission could appoint one of their members as commissioner of the poor; they could appoint a pauper clerk and one assistant to the pauper clerk as well. Until 1993, the commission was to provide funds for the partial support of dependent mothers. The law from 1929 to 1947 provided for the county commission to grant monthly pensions to the elderly poor. Similarly, from 1931 to 1947, the commissioners could levy a tax to care for certain needy blind adults in the county; applications for funding were submitted to the commission and reports made by the commission to the school for the deaf and blind. The county always had paid for indigent blind at the school and continued to do so until 1987. In 1937, a county or district welfare board was created to coordinate all aid. This board was made into an advisory board of assistance payments administration for the state public welfare department in 1973; the act creating the board was repealed in 1988.
The law in 1917 specified methods for the commission to establish and fund a public hospital in the county. The law was repealed in 1933, and any county hospitals which had been established under the 1917 law were placed under the jurisdiction of the county commission rather than under an elected board of trustees.
Commissioners have the right to purchase and lay out cemeteries and to regulate the burial of the dead. The commissioners also were to provide for the burial of the indigent dead. A law passed in 1945 allowed for the creation of cemetery maintenance districts upon petition to the county commission by landowners and a subsequent election. Another law the same year required the permission of a majority of the board of county commissioners for a court justice to exhume a body. A majority also was required for the justice to be able to subpoena a physician and a chemist to perform an autopsy; the state medical examiner's office assumed full responsibility for these actions in 1975.
Until 1921 commissioners were to provide a non-pauper burial for indigent veterans. Until 1923, the commission was to receive and retain lists of all those male residents eligible for military duty. Since its authorization in 1927, the commission may tax for, erect, and maintain memorials to veterans in the county.
The commissioners are to make provisions for the health of the county and to pay for the expenses incurred. Whenever a sanitary district was formed, the commission was to appoint district health officers, who in conjunction with the county commission, were to constitute a board of health. A 1981 revision of the health code required county commissions to create and maintain a local health department to provide public health services, solid waste management, and water management. The local board of health which oversaw the county health department was appointed by the county commission. Beginning with 1988 law, the county commission could appoint mental health advisory councils. Under 1990 law commissioners were to provide mental health and substance abuse services monitored by the state, the county commission being declared a local mental health authority and a substance abuse authority. Also beginning in 1990, the county was required to submit solid waste management plans to the state.
The commissioners were to appoint registrars of vital statistics for two-year appointments. This was in effect until legislation in 1945 made local registrar appointments a function of the state health department.
The commission was to license all businesses within the county, outside incorporated cities, for the purposes of regulation and revenue. Businesses are defined as any enterprise for the purpose of economic gain and so includes all shows, exhibitions, and lawful games. The commission was further required to provide for the examination, registration, and licensing of stationary engineers. The commission is to provide for the inspection, measurement or graduation of any merchandise, manufacture, or commodity and to appoint the necessary officers. Since 1923, the commission could regulate advertising along county roads.
The commissioners are to make and enforce police, sanitary, and other laws and regulations within their area of jurisdiction as long as they do not conflict with general laws. They are to adopt rules on the storage of gunpowder or other explosives. Under 1941 law, until repealed in 1981, local defense councils could be created. Since 1977, county commissioners have been authorized to offer rewards towards law enforcement, and with the approval of county commissioners, any county officer or agency could offer rewards to the same extent.
The commissioners provide for the destruction of certain wild animals, birds, noxious weeds, and injurious insects. They tax dogs and provide for the prevention of injuries to cattle and sheep. They could hold elections, or after 1969 create an ordinance, on the issue of fencing vs. open range and thereafter make ordinances on what constitutes a lawful fence. Until repealed in 1979, the commission was to provide each poundkeeper with a brand. Also repealed in 1979 was the 1923 law requiring the commission to levy a tax for tubercular cattle indemnities. Since 1927, the commission has been authorized to provide for the elimination of abandoned horses. The commission is to make regulations for the protection of fish and game as long as they do not conflict with state law.
The commission, upon application of the agricultural college, could lease the college land for an experimental farm. The commission also could fund a farm and home demonstrator from the Utah Agricultural College. Revisions of the law in 1929 allows the county commission to fund agricultural extension work in the county through the college.
Commissioners could encourage the planting and preservation of shade and ornamental trees on public grounds until the law was repealed in 1986. The commission was authorized to appoint a county horticultural inspector and any necessary deputies. Provisions for appointing a horticultural inspector were repealed in 1917 when the commission was authorized to appoint a corp pest inspector and any necessary deputies. The appointment of crop inspectors by the county was repealed in 1923. Since 1935, the board of county commissioners has been permitted to establish pure sugar-beet seed districts.
The owner of land in the county may layout and plat that land into lots, streets, etc. but is required to obtain the approval of the county commission prior to recording those plats. A major addition to the law in 1941 authorized the commission to regulate planning and zoning of unincorporated territory within the county and to adopt a master plan. Since 1953, any county could appoint a planning board or continue to have the commission serve as the planning board. The commission also may grant or deny building permits as a means of regulating zoning . The creation of a housing authority to assure decent housing for low income residents was authorized in 1969. Also since 1969, the county commission may serve as a redevelopment agency to plan and accept or borrow funds to renovate blighted areas. In 1991 the county commission was mandated to adopt ordinances for residential facilities for the handicapped and elderly. Also in 1991, the county was to appoint a board of adjustment to assure equity in zoning ordinances.
Legislation in 1965 empowered the board of county commissioners to provide for the development of the county's mineral, water, manpower, industrial and other resources. A committee was to assist in promoting development and to make recommendations to the county commissioners for resource development programs. A law specifically providing for the creation, maintenance, and leasing of industrial parks was initially enacted in 1969.
Since a 1923 law, land could be acquired for playgrounds and recreation centers. Amendments to this same playground and recreation law permitted Duchesne County to organize a TV department in 1961 to provide for television reception in the county. Beginning in 1965, the county commission was authorized to establish, promote, and finance recreational, tourist, and convention promotion bureaus to be funded by a transient room tax. In 1967, the commission was authorized to acquire, preserve, and protect historical areas and sites . This was expanded in 1979 to provide for the acquisition, compilation, preservation, publication and dissemination of information reflecting the history and culture of the county. Beginning in 1978, the commission was authorized to levy a tax for the acquisition, construction, establishment, maintenance, and operation of a public planetarium. Beginning in 1982 the county commission could levy a tax for establishing a zoo.
The county commission consists of three members elected from the county. Vacancies are filled by appointment until the election. The commissioners elect one of their members to be chairman. Two members constitute a quorum. The commission makes and enforces its own operating rules and regulations. The county clerk is the clerk of the board of county commissioners, responsible for the records and minutes of the board and other clerical and recording duties. Meetings must be held regularly at the county seat.
The first county officers were elected in 1914 in anticipation of the region becoming a county. One commissioner was elected for four years and two commissioners for two years with elections every two years at which one would be elected for four years and one for two years. In 1990 the term of all county commissioners was extended to four years. A commissioner must be an elector of the county he represents and must have resided there at least one year immediately preceding the election.
Vacancies are filled by appointment by the remaining commissioners until the next election. The law provides for the governor to fill the vacancy if the commissioners take more than thirty days to do so, or if there was not a majority remaining in office, the governor is to appoint one or two members until there is a majority. Vacancies were to be filled with members of the same political party as the person vacating the office. A 1979 re-write of the law required the county central committee of the party to provide a candidate list.
A 1972 constitutional amendment authorized selection of other forms of county government, but Duchesne County residents have retained the three member commission.
The county commission directly appoints numerous officials and oversees county agencies. The commission is the Board of Equalization and either serves as or oversees a Planning Board (1953-). Other officials and agencies under the county commission have included election judges; merchandise and commodity inspectors; health officials including a county physician (1915-1987) and a Health Department (1981-); a Welfare Board (1937-1988); Road Supervisors (1915-1921); a Crop Pest Inspector (1917-1923); and a TV Department (1961-). The county has the ofpion of creating other positions and districts which Duchesne often did in cooperation with other counties.
The county commission generally approves oaths and bonds for both elected and appointed officials. In the case of most vacancies in an elected office, the county commission appointed officials until a special election or the next regularly scheduled election was held. Many county, precinct, and district officers could, with the approval of the county commission, appoint deputies.
The county commission appoints judges of election. The commission is to appoint the necessary officers to provide for the inspection, measurement or graduation of any merchandise, manufacture, or commodity.
The commission appointed district health officers for any sanitary districts created. In 1981, there was a regular health department, but the commission did appoint a board to oversee the department. Beginning in 1988, the commission could appoint a mental health advisory council. The commission initially could appoint a county physician and later also an assistant county physician and one female office assistant until the law was repealed in 1987. Until 1945 the commission appointed registrars of vital statistics in each precinct.
The county commission could appoint one of their members as commissioner of the poor; the law allowed for the appointment of a pauper clerk and one assistant to the pauper clerk as well. These provisions were repealed in 1993. From 1937 until 1988, the county or district welfare board consisted of a county commissioner and/or appointees of the county commission.
Until 1919, the commission was given the power to appoint a district water commissioner from persons recommended by the State Engineer. Until the law went out of effect in 1975, the commission could appoint a three member board of supervisors for drainage districts.
Since 1923, the commission has been authorized to appoint one (or more members under certain conditions) to the trustees of mosquito abatement districts. Also since 1923, the commission could appoint a five-member recreation board, which Duchesne county did at least in the 1960s with regard to television. By 1953, the county commission could appoint a planning board. Since 1965 the commission could appoint a county resource development committee which was also to include one or more commissioners. Since 1969, public transit district directors were to be appointed by the county commissions and/or municipalities involved. In 1969, the five persons overseeing a housing authority were to be appointed by the commission. After 1978, the commission could appoint a board of directors to any planetarium established. Under 1987 law, the commission could appoint a cemetery maintenance district commissioner if at least two persons did not file as candidates. In 1991, the county was authorized to appoint a board of adjustment to assure equity in zoning ordinances.
In 1947, under terms providing for the creation of special improvement districts for sewers, the commission could appoint trustees of the district. The 1947 law was repealed in 1949 and replaced by one which, among other changes, required electing trustees. In 1953 the law was substantially amended and contained provisos by which in some circumstances the county commission would serve as board of trustees and in others appoint a three member board, or upon petition, hold an election for trustees. In the case of many improvement districts, the commission may serve as, or appoint, all or part of an equalization board.
Under a 1957 law applying to special service areas the commission could appoint all or, in some cases, part, of a board of trustees. A 1969 re-write allowed the commission to constitute all of the trustees, to appoint a board, or to have trustees elected.
In 1960 the county commission began appointing a three member merit system commission for peace officers; a county employee also was appointed to act as secretary. In 1969, with the extension of a merit system to all county employees, the commission was to appoint a three member merit council.
From 1961, when the law required the county commission to arrange for detention services until the law was repealed in 1988, the county commissioners could appoint an advisory board. Since 1965 the chairman of the county commission, with the consent of the majority of the commission, could appoint one or more responsible and discreet persons to be bail commissioners.
Until the position was abolished in 1921, the county commission appointed road supervisors. The commission, if petitioned, was to appoint the county road commissioner as ex-officio weed inspector and pay him. Until 1917 the commission was to appoint a county horticultural inspector and as many deputies as necessary. From 1917 until 1923, the county was to appoint a crop pest inspector and any necessary deputies. The commission could appoint stock detectives, but by 1917 this had become a state function. When petitioned by bee keepers, the county commission is to appoint bee inspectors.
COMPILED BY: A.C. Cone, June 1995
Duchesne County Commission. Minutes, (Series 10216)
Legislature. Laws of Utah, 1896-1994, (Series 83155)
Legislature. Utah Code Annotated, 1896-1994, (Series 83238)