Petition sponsors who put the county government study question on Tuesday’s ballot are anxious to start the study process.
Unofficial election results show 11,437 voters, or 65 percent of votes cast, approved the appointment of a study committee to consider and possibly recommend a change in the form of Tooele County government.
“We could not be more excited about the results,” said Erik Gumbrecht, one of the petition sponsors. “One thing has been absolutely clear during this entire process: the citizens want a sense of ownership of their government.”
While campaigning for the study committee proposition, Gumbrecht said he found a lot of support for completing a county government study. The large margin of support in the election was not a surprise, he said.
“People want to be a part of creating a bright future for this county,” Gumbrecht said. “Once [a] study committee that diversely represents the county is established, citizens will be able to gather data on the pros and cons of the various structures of government and present them to the remaining citizenry in an organized fashion.”
The first step in initiating the study process begins no more than 10 days after the election results are finalized, according to state law.
Tuesday’s election results will be finalized when the Tooele County Commission meets Nov. 21 as the county’s board of canvassers and approves the final tally of votes.
Within 10 days of that canvass meeting, a three-member committee is required to meet. The committee is composed of one county resident designated by state legislators to represent any part of the county, one resident appointed by the county commission and one resident appointed by the petition sponsors.
Within 10 days of the first committee meeting, the three members are to select two additional committee members, according to state law.
The five-member committee then has 30 days to select between seven and 11 members of the committee that will complete the study.
Each member of the study committee must be a registered voter in the county, but not a public office holder or a public employee. The committee, according to state code, should “broadly represent the county.”
The first meeting of the study committee is to be held within 10 days of its appointment.
If the appointment committee takes the maximum time allowed, the first meeting of the study committee should be around Jan. 10, 2017.
State law charges the study committee with the responsibility to examine the current form of county government and compare it to available options.
The three-member commission form of government used by Tooele County is the default form of county government approved by the state Legislature.
Other forms of county government approved by the state Legislature include: an expanded county commission with five to seven commissioners with the commissioners retaining both legislative and executive powers; a county council with legislative authority and an appointed county manager with executive authority; or a county council with legislative authority and an elected mayor with executive authority.
The study committee will determine if a change in county government can strengthen the government, make it more accountable or responsive, or improve its economy or efficiency.
All meetings of the study committee are open to the public. The study committee holds public hearings and uses other means to gather public input, according to state law.
“Citizens who are not on the study committee will be invited out to the public events to get educated and voice their opinions,” Gumbrecht said.
If the committee recommends changing the form of government, the committee prepares a detailed plan for an optional government that complies with state code. The committee has one year from its first meeting to complete a written report.
State law gives the county attorney 45 days to review the study committee’s optional government plan and determine if it is consistent with statutory and constitutional requirements.
The study committee may revise its plan after the legal review to comply with statutory and constitutional requirements.
With the completed study and proposed optional government in hand, the county commission may, by resolution, put the optional form of government on the ballot for a vote, or a petition of the county’s registered voters may be used to place the optional form of government on the ballot at the next general election.
During the campaign for the study committee ballot proposition, Gumbrecht said he is not necessarily unhappy with the present form of government or commissioners. He just wants to take a look at the options.
“All in all, this will be a very informative and engaging process,” he said.