San Juan County commissioners review rules of order, direct staff to draft clearer meeting procedures

SAN JUAN COUNTY, Utah — At a June 3, 2025, San Juan County Commission work session, county attorney Johnny reviewed statutory requirements for meeting rules and recommended that the commission adopt a clear, updated set of rules of order and procedures that are kept both at meetings and on the county website.

Johnny, San Juan County attorney, told commissioners the Utah Code requires governing bodies to have rules of order and procedure for how they conduct meetings. “Many didn’t realize that there is a section of code, 17 53 2 0 6 that requires every governing body in the state of Utah to have separate rules of order and procedure for how they conduct their meeting,” he said.

The training matter is aimed at ensuring compliance with the Open Meetings Act and at reducing confusion about how the commission manages agendas, public comment, motions and closed sessions.

County attorney’s guidance and why it matters

Johnny emphasized two distinct statutory sections: Utah Code 17-53-206, which he described as a “shall” requiring rules of order and procedure for meetings, and 17-53-207, a separate “may” that permits a commission to adopt rules about how it governs business (for example, how payments are approved or appointments are made). He told the commission the separation matters because the two cover different topics and should be maintained as separate documents for clarity and public access.

He advised the commission…