Series 84229

San Juan County (Utah). County Commission Minutes

Dates: 1892-

3 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 minutes record the actions of the county commission (known during the territorial period as the county court), the governing body of the county. The court was formed in 1880 and authorized to manage all county business and county property. This included auditing all claims against the county, authorizing salaries, and the purchase of supplies and services. They levied property taxes for county purposes and served as a board of equalization. The members created election precincts, road districts, and school districts and appointed superintendents of such districts. The commissioners provided for elections and accepted official bonds. They also appointed other county officials (e.g. quarantine physician, fruit tree inspector, deputy statistician, fish and game warden, sheep inspector, health officer) and set the salaries of each. The court supervised the lay out of roads and located sites and oversaw the erection of public buildings such as a court house and jail. Business licenseswere obtained through the commission. The commissioners set bounties on varmints and regulated fences. The selectmen in conjunction with the court (after statehood, the commissioners) were to provide for the maintenance of the indigent and incapacitated. All these activities are noted in the minutes.

Following the formation of territorial government, 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 as the county court. The probate court clerk (also known as the county clerk) was to keep the records of the court. This same structure was followed by San Juan county upon its creation in 1880. Archives holdings do not begin until 1892. With statehood in 1896, an actual board of county commissioners was created. The probate judge was removed, but theselectmen continued serving as commissioners until elections were held. The county clerk remained the clerk of the board, recording the minutes.

Gaps in Series

Volume(s) covering the period from 1880 to 1892 are missing. Later volumes are held by the county.

Access Restrictions

This series is designated as Public.

Reproduction and Use

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Indexing Terms

County budgets--Utah--San Juan County.

Tax collection--Utah.

Water resources development--Utah--San Juan County.

Sewage disposal--Utah--San Juan County.

Police--Utah--San Juan County.

Highway planning--Utah--San Juan County.

Fire departments--Utah--San Juan County.

County government--Utah.

Refuse and refuse disposal--Utah--San Juan County.

San Juan County (Utah)--Politics and government.

REEL	DESCRIPTION
1	1892 Jun 06 - 1899 May 24