The last Carbon County Commission meeting was rather interesting. If you haven’t had a chance to watch it online, you should.
It’s available on YouTube. If you don’t want to watch the whole thing (it’s pretty boring), skip to the last segment.
The last segment is the most interesting thing that happens during the meeting. Apparently Commissioner Jake Mellor has exhausted his 2018 travel budget. He wants the commission to increase the allocation.
Each commissioner is allowed $3,500 for travel. In April Mellor had already used his entire 2018 budget. And he is still submitting requests for reimbursement.
During the meeting Commissioner Casey Hopes said Mellor has asked that the money come from the economic development budget, but any changes need to be advertised and approved by a vote of the entire commission. That hasn’t been done.
Mellor accused Hopes of putting the issue on the agenda just to put him in a bad light. Hopes said the reason he put the issue on the agenda is that the commission needs answers and the entire commission needs to be involved in the discussion.
The county is in the midst of a budgetary crisis, and Mellor wants his travel budget increased. Nearly every county department had its budget slashed for the current year, and Mellor wants his travel budget increased.
The county had to release (terminate) several employees in order to balance the 2018 budget, and Mellor wants his travel budget increased.
The reasons for the budgetary crisis can be debated, and should be. But not here. I’m sure that will be done as part of the upcoming commission election.
Now, to be fair, Mellor claims the county is getting a return on its investment when he travels, including a trip to Washington, D.C. in conjunction with a board on which he sits.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I would have to be convinced. It seems to me Mellor might be using his travel for self promotion.
During that same commission meeting, Commissioner Jae Potter said there needs to be some personal responsibility when it comes to travel and staying within budget.
The budget is set by the commission and adopted by a vote of the entire commission.
What Potter said is very true. Every department in the county is required to stay within budget. Just because one doesn’t like the budget doesn’t mean one can just spend money that magically appears out of nowhere.
For some department heads, staying within budget is very difficult since most budgets have been reduced.
Yet, Mellor thinks he should be allowed to travel whenever he wants to wherever he wants, and the county should come up with the money.
I don’t think so. I am calling on the commission to take a stand. If every department is required to stay within budget, so is the commission.
I am calling on the commission to refuse Mellor’s request. Voters will decide in November who should occupy that seat anyway.
Commission right to highlight Mellor’s travels
STEVE CHRISTENSEN