Series 84102

Sanpete County (Utah). County Commission Minutes

Dates: 1852-

9 microfilm reels

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

An agency history is available.

Scope and Content

These minute books record the actions of the county commission (known during the territorial period as the county court), the governing body of the county. The commission is authorized to manage all county business and county property. This includes budgeting, equipment purchasing, and auditing; use of county lands; districting for schools, roads, voting, etc.; taxing, specifically acting as an ex- officio board of equalization; business licensing; arranging for the construction of roads, public buildings, etc.; contracting for services; supervising the conduct and payment of all county personnel; providing for basic health care, public safety, and care of the indigent; canvassing election returns and appointing certain officials; incorporating municipalities; and by the 1980s, planning and zoning. All these activities are noted in the minutes with the day's entries prefaced by date, names of those present, and where and when they met.

Following the formation of territorialgovernment, the legislature in 1852 passed acts relating to the formation and government of counties. There were no county commissions, but the probate judge in conjunction with the county selectmen were invested "with the usual powers and jurisdiction of County Commissioners" and as such were known ass the county court. The probate court clerk (also known as the county clerk) was to keep the records of the court. This structure was followed by Sanpete County upon its organization on 30 March 1852. With statehood in 1896 an actual board of county commissioners was created. The probate judge was removed, but the selectmen continued serving as commissioners until elections were held. The county clerk remained the clerk of the board, recording the minutes. The previous responsibilities were maintained and expanded.

One of the principal activities noted in the minutes is the monitoring of the fiscal health of the county. Claims submitted for the purchase of supplies and services arerecorded regularly. By the 1950s, proposed annual departmental budgets are presented. They set the salaries for county employees. The county commission assessed taxes and served as a board of equalization, adjusting assessments of individual property. The commissioners appointed and oversaw numerous county, district and precinct officials, and were generally responsible for the oversight of county agencies.

The commissioners created school districts and road districts. A major responsibility noted throughout the minutes is the layout of roads and bridges. The commissioners served as canvassers of elections, also appointing election officers, setting the boundaries of voting districts, and assigning polling places. They approved the incorporation of towns. They licensed businesses, beginning with liquor and butcher licenses in the 1860s and expanding to all businesses when so authorized in the 1880s. Commissioners provided for building public buildings such as a jail and a poorhouse.They oversaw the resources of the county, initially allocating timber and water rights; allowing bounties on varmints; and appointing fish and game wardens, bee inspectors, crop pest inspectors, and weed inspectors.

A major addition to county commission functions was made in 1941 when the commission was empowered to provide for the development and zoning of unincorporated areas of the county and to appoint a planning commission. In 1968, Sanpete County began approving subdivision plats, but had no zoning plan or restrictions. In 1980 the county commission appointed a regular planning commission.

The commission provided for the well-being of the county's citizens and recorded the details in these minutes. They financed the care of the incapacitated, indigent and the insane, initially building a "House for Lunatics" in 1867 and a poorhouse in 1895. These were followed later by regular health and welfare boards and in 1971 by membership in a Six County Development Program, acooperative venture of rural counties to provide health programs. The commission formed districts for schools, irrigation and drainage, and fire control. In 1942 the commission organized a civil defense program which became part of a broader state civil preparedness program in 1974. In 1971, the county established a county recreation department.

Gaps in Series

There is no volume "D". The books note that the letter was skipped when the volumes were initially designated; there is no actual gap in the recording of the minutes.

Research Note

Given the diversity and extent of the county commission's activities, the minute books should be consulted not only by researchers seeking information on the commission, but by those seeking information on any county agencies, their personnel, or their services to individuals; on private contractors and their plans for work on county projects or private subdivisions; on private businesses operating within the unincorporated county limits; and on private individuals or charitable institutions holding taxable or untaxable property within the county. Virtually any person living in, or any activity taking place in,

unincorporated areas of Sanpete County (up to and including the incorporation or disincorporation of municipalities) was affected by the activities of the county commission and is reflected in the minutes.

Research Note

Access Restrictions

This series is designated as Public.

Reproduction and Use

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Finding Aids

Indexes: Volumes F through L contain indexes at the beginning of each volume. The indexes are alphabetical by topic, thereunder chronological, covering from January 4, 1909 thru November 10, 1992.

Related Records

Ordinances from Sanpete County (Utah). County Commission, Series 15778, record the laws enacted by the commission and discussed in these minutes.

Indexing Terms

Sanpete County (Utah)--County commission.

County budgets--Utah--Sanpete County.

Tax collection--Utah--Sanpete County.

County government--Utah--Sanpete County.

School districts--Utah--Sanpete County.

Election monitoring--Utah--Sanpete County.

Land use--Utah--Sanpete County.

Roads--Design and construction--Sanpete County (Utah).

Zoning--Utah--Sanpete County.

Personnel management.

Municipal incorporation--Utah--Sanpete County.

Public welfare.

Public buildings--Utah--Sanpete County.

Sanpete County (Utah)--Politics and government.

Sanpete County (Utah)--Appropriations and expenditures.

Sanpete County (Utah)--Officials and employees--Selection and appointment.

Minutes.

Formulating.

Planning.

REEL	VOLUME	DESCRIPTION
1	A	1852, Mar 30-1866, Sep 3
2	B	1866, Dec 3-1890, Mar 8
3	C	1890, Jun 2-1901, Jan 2
3	E	1901, Jan 7-1909, Jan 4
4	F	1909, Jan 4-1920, Jul 6
5	G	1920, Aug 3-1927, Jun 7
5	H	1927, Jun 7-1934, Jan 11
6	H	1934, Jan 11-1935, Dec 27
6	I	1936, Jan 7-1947, Apr 1
6	J	1947, May 6-1958, Dec 29
7	J	1959, Jan 6-1971, Mar 2
7	K	1971, Apr 6-1988, Dec 27
7	L	1989, Jan 3-1992, Nov 10
8	L	1992, Nov 24-1996, Jun 18