The Uintah County Attorney’s Office has issued a statement concerning the topic of County Commissioners sitting on Special Service District boards. “The Uintah County Attorney’s Office legal opinion about whether a Uintah County Commissioner can sit on the Administrative Control Board of a Special Service District without jeopardizing PILT money is consistent with other legal opinions previously rendered by other legal counsel,” shares Chief Deputy Uintah County Attorney Jonathan Stearmer. A 1988 legal memorandum from the Department of the Interior, guidance issued from the Associate Solicitor, a 1988 legal opinion to the Utah Association of Counties, and a 2016 statement from the Office of the Utah State Auditor are all cited as legal opinions supporting the Uintah County Attorney’s legal opinion. “There is no legal requirement for the County Commissioners to remove themselves from the special service district boards,” continues Stearmer. “To do so would be a policy decision and it is not the duty of the Uintah County Attorney’s Office to force a policy change.” Stearmer’s letter also clarifies that the Uintah County Attorney’s Office has not been requested by any county official to issue an opinion on the propriety of a commissioner participating in a special service district meeting where another commissioner sits as a board member. All legal opinions referenced in the statement have been posted to the Uintah County website under the County Attorney’s page.
http://co.uintah.ut.us/departments/a_-_e_departments/attorney/county_attorney_legal_opinions.php
