Even though the issue was temporarily placed on the back burner, the Salt Lake County Council is still considering hiring its own outside council to look into allegations of continuing abuse in the clerk's office.

"We're just reviewing our options now," council Chairman Steve Harmsen said. "We're trying to meet with the county attorney and see where we agree and disagree. There haven't been any lines drawn — yet."

The election and the yearly budget process put off discussion of the matter, which the council first brought up last month. While council members are far from unanimous on the need or even advisability of splitting from District Attorney David Yocom, whose department has so far handled the matter, some feel the situation has reached a point where they need to step in.

"Right now the council has to set a standard and give people who have grievances a chance to be heard," Harmsen said.

Some employees in the clerk's office have complained that they have been harassed — sexually and otherwise — and when they reported the alleged conduct, "before they even get back to their desks, personnel has told (officials) what they said," one council member said.

The allegations have gone beyond the actions of former chief deputy clerk Nick Floros, who retired 10 months ago after being accused of sexual harassment. His accuser, former clerk's employee Marcia Rice, has since filed a lawsuit against the county.

Some employees believe they have been punished for speaking out, saying the entrenched interests within county government are closing ranks to protect their own.

The Deseret Morning News has so far unsuccessfully sought to obtain the report of an investigation into the Floros/Rice matter. Requests for the report have been denied, and Monday an ad hoc appeals board within the county affirmed the denial.

The next step is to appeal to the County Council. And Harmsen, for one, is urging the newspaper to take that step.

"I think you should pursue that," he said. "I'd like to see how the council reacts."

Interestingly, Yocom has denied even council members the opportunity to see the report, and yet they are the ones who would decide whether it goes public.

"That's ironic," said Councilman Russell Skousen, "that we should be deciding whether to release it when we ourselves aren't supposed to see it."

Skousen said he leans toward making it public.

"I'm inclined just to get it out there and let it speak for itself," he said.

Even while the clerk's office imbroglio continues to simmer, the council has — with little fanfare — passed an ethics ordinance resulting from the "guzzle-gate" and Nancy Workman hiring scandals that consumed county government for several months last summer and fall. As part of an attempt to clean up the situation that caused the scandals, the council Tuesday passed new, tougher lobbyist disclosure, campaign finance and ethics code ordinances.

---

E-mail: aedwards@desnews.com