Reader comments
Oversight of special districts sought

Citizens do have the right to oust any elected official at any time, so the constitutuon says, but this right has been legislated out of citizens rights. It allows bad and irresponsible elcected officials to remain in office and many times become lifer politicians. As for oversight committees, they aren't needed if our elceted officials were held accountable. Our elected officals are the oversight committees and its their job to insure taxes and funds are accounted for. Legislators have passed the buck on taxation levies to the county assesors office and now they want to establish more committees to oversee the officials they appoint to these special districts and other public offices. Our elected officials and legislators are ultimately responsible and they want to put another layer of an organization between their responsibilty's and accountabilty to the taxpayers. It is the legislators responsibilty to control and regulate taxation, not a third party appointed individual.

I think that this legislation is a good idea. I used to work for a local sewer district and the amounts of money flying around were surprisingly large. I think this district had amassed about $25,000,000., in their savings, to be used for a "rainy day". They did hold elections, for board members, but the district manager pretty much ran the show. Local sewer districts would be a interesting topic, in the hands of a good investigative reporter.

I live in Sandy and we are part of the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy (Metro). I think it would be a big mistake to elect our board members for the following reasons:

1. Our Board representatives are appointed by the Mayor and City Council who are (in turn) elected by the voters (hence accountability).

2. Metro's member cities have citizen advisory boards (i.e. Sandy's Public Utilities Advisory Board) which are very active and influential (hence, more taxpayer accountability).

3. Local District elections are generally small and attract little attention. Therefore, a one-issue radical, out of the mainstream, with no long-term vision, and a few friends, could get himself elected to the Board. (i.e. less accountability).

4. Metro board members are generally trained professionals, capable of understanding complex water systems, such as engineers, accountants, city planners, lawyers, etc. These people generally have no political ambitions or agendas and will watch out for the needs of all water users. This could end with Board elections and water is just too important for our community.

These are just a few of the few of the downsides to having an elected Board with Metro.

I live in West Jordan and am paying over $100 per year for a recreation complex in Kearns - eight miles away. Who makes up these boundaries anyway?