Millard County commission repeals old rule on department-head classification, votes to replace it

The Millard County Commission voted to approve Resolution 25-04-15A, repealing Resolution 16-01-19 and restoring the commission’s authority to treat unelected department heads as appointed positions rather than merit employees.

County staff said the move corrects a classification inconsistency created about a decade ago and gives the commission discretion to terminate appointed department heads at will when appropriate, while allowing other policy protections to be considered separately.

The change arose during a broader review of county policies and resolutions that staff said covers about 20 years of documents. County officials said the review has repeatedly raised new questions and that the repeal is a first step in a larger reorganization of personnel policies, including how step-and-grade pay and deputy classifications are handled.

An employment attorney consulted with county staff advised that greater authority for the commission over appointed department heads is appropriate because those positions carry substantial authority and can change as elected officers do. Staff and commissioners said deputies are already treated as appointed positions under county ordinances, but practice and written resolutions had not been consistent.

Commissioners said they will draft a replacement policy and continue reviewing related pay and personnel processes before approving more substantive changes. The commission moved, seconded and approved Resolution 25-04-15A during the meeting.

The discussion did not result in immediate changes to pay or step-and-grade decisions; staff said those will be part of a wider follow-up project to align policy and past resolutions.

The repeal and replacement effort will be returned to a future agenda for continued work and public review.