FAQ

One of the questions I am frequently asked is:

"What Do Commissioners Do?"


At the state level, a survey was conducted to discover what people know about county government. When asked what they knew about the elected offices in the county, most understood the sheriffs office. The least understood was the role of commissioner, even though they are the ones responsible for all of the other offices.

What are a Commissioner's Responsibilities?

• Establishing a budget to implement policies
• Planning and Zoning in the County
• Ordinances and Regulation
• Developing Public Policy
• Oversight of all county operations.

With all the many services that are provided by the county from various departments, one of the important roles that I as a commissioner fulfill is oversight.

So, what do Commissioners Oversee?

• County Health Services
• Libraries
• Human Services
• Tourism
• Jail
• Emergency Services
• Economic Development
• Sanitation
• Animal Services
• Public Safety

Commissioners rotate responsibility for the various departments.  We serve as liasons working with the elected official or department head over each department to ensure smooth operations in the county.

Commissioners work cooperatively with others to improve services to Weber County
Commissioners serve on many boards.  Some are local, some are regional and some state. As we serve, we become aware of areas that could be improved.  In the area of human services I recognized the need to change how affordable housing was being provided and made the necessary changes to better deliver the services.  This required the County to separate from Ogden City.  At one time all the need and the available housing was located within Ogden.  With the growth that we have experienced, the need has increased outside of Ogden and Weber Housing Authority was reestablished to better provide service for the entire county.  This required subsidy from the county as a startup, but ongoing funding is provided by federal and state monies. This is just one example of how I have worked to improve delivery of services. 

Commissioners bring government and private groups together to create something greater than the whole.
Not all services are or should be delivered by government.  A good example of this is the newly formed Weber Arts Council. 

Weber Arts Council is a nonprofit formed to better coordinate and bring additional funds to Weber County helping improve arts countywide.  I was approached by individuals who recognized a need.  They asked me to bring people together to study the Arts needs of the county.  That was the beginning of the Weber Arts Council. 

Another example of this is Weber Pathways.

Weber Pathways has been around for several years building and maintaining pathways throughout Weber County.  I was fortunate to work closely with their director and their members.  We have formed a great partnership. The County fills a role that the private could not, and Weber Pathways continues to do the great work that only private organizations can do.  Weber County is currently working cooperatively with all the cities to create a county-wide pathways map.