Wasatch County is reconsidering how it processes and analyzes conflict of interest disclosures with the election on the horizon.  The last conflict of interest disclosure policy was created in 2022. Wasatch County Council Chair Erik Rowland said there is “some room to improve.” Rowland said the current form doesn’t consider multiple areas.  The form, which is currently voluntary, partly covers employers, owned businesses and board seats held. Sources of income, stocks and bonds, real property, spouses and occupations are not covered. Rowland said that’s a problem.  Instead he proposes a more robust conflict of interest disclosure process, for elected officials, appointed officers and employees, board and committee members and political candidates. Disclosures would be filed in January, and whenever someone takes office, runs for office or accepts paid help.  Rowland said that, even if it’s on a disclosure form, county officers still need to make those disclosures public during open meetings. That ensures any conflicts are made public as soon as possible and that they’re recorded in meeting minutes.  County Councilor Luke Searle said the county could benefit from copying Heber City leaders, who ask for conflicts of interest at the start of each City Council meeting.  “It’s a nice reminder if there’s anything that happens,” Searle said. “We’re all individually responsible for doing right.” State law already requires county officials to disclose personal conflicts with public duties, including gifts, favors, confidential information, annual and candidate statements, and paid help in a county transaction.  Penalties for failure to disclose would be changed with the new conflict of interest proposal drafted by Rowland. Right now, consequences include “public scrutiny.”  “In reality there’s actually significant penalties if we don’t disclose even as much as removal from office,” Rowland said. “This is more than just public scrutiny.” Consequences for failure to disclose start with a notice from the Wasatch County Clerk-Auditor within five days of any deadline. Then the officer has one week to file or correct the disclosure. Failure to do so may result in a class B misdemeanor and a $100 fine, or a class A misdemeanor and removal from office, depending on the lateness and severity of the failure to disclose.  The new proposal suggests a streamlined process with an online form.  “My hope is that we can move this forward and have this implemented as early as January,” Rowland said.  Rowland said background checks aren’t in state law but are an important aspect of conflict of interest disclosures. The rule is that a felony conviction bars a person from office. Today’s check is loose, with no verification of the officer’s answer.  “They simply have to swear they don’t (have felony convictions),” Rowland said. Background checks are currently voluntary, too. Rowland said requiring background checks fit the county’s transparency goals. Results of the background check would not be posted online.  All current Wasatch County Council members have disclosures available online. For example, Rowland’s form states his privately owned entities, including Rowland Development Group, boards and assignments, subcommittees and family connections.  County Attorney Scott Sweat, Clerk-Auditor Joey Granger, Assessor Bob Adams and Sheriff Jared Rigby also have disclosures available. Of the County Council candidates running in the general election, Alex Folmer, Jami Hewlett, Rachel Kahler and Shawn Taylor completed disclosure forms. Folmer disclosed her employment with the University of Utah and her business, Runa Digital LLC. Hewlett listed businesses owned by her and her husband, and a property in Heber City. Kahler disclosed that she is the executive director of the Community Alliance for Main Street, as well as boards served on and properties owned. Taylor listed family ties to foundations, boards and receiving previous county grant funding.  Paul Moore, an unaffiliated candidate for Wasatch County sheriff, filled out a form but did not list any conflicts. Republican Jeremy Hales, a Wasatch County employee running for sheriff, did not fill out a form.  Clerk-Auditor candidate Michelle Kellogg, Seat A candidate Robert McNeill and Seat F candidate Joe Tugaw do not have conflict of interest forms listed on the county website.  Sweat said he appreciates the direction Rowland is taking and that an online process would be beneficial. The attorney’s office will continue to work with the county in the creation of the new conflict of interest disclosure process. The post Wasatch County assesses conflict of interest disclosures ahead of general election appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less