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Houston County holds second public hearing on moving recorder and auditor-treasurer from elected to appointed
Summary
At a second public hearing, county staff outlined reasons for considering appointed recorder and auditor-treasurer posts; members of the public and commissioners raised concerns about democratic accountability, potential for cronyism and deputy appointment procedures. A follow-up hearing was scheduled for Nov. 12.
Houston County commissioners heard staff and public comment on whether to change the county recorder and auditor-treasurer positions from elected offices to appointed posts.
Brent Parker, who addressed the board as part of the hearing, said many counties have moved those positions to appointment to allow the county to vet ‘‘qualified candidates’’ and to create efficiencies for managing taxpayer funds. ‘‘A lot of counties have gone to making the recorder and the auditor treasurer appointed over elected,’’ Parker said, noting interim appointees currently fill the recorder and auditor-treasurer roles in Houston County.
Public commenters pressed the board to retain elections. Steve Hartwick of Money Creek Township said switching to appointments ‘‘becomes a consolidation of power’’ and warned it could worsen ‘‘cronyism’’ in local government. He asked how deputy positions are filled and whether department heads could handpick deputies; county staff replied that deputies apply for positions, are interviewed and scored, and that there is not a chief deputy designation in place for the auditor’s office.
Linda Griggs of Yucatan Township said direct voter control is an accountability mechanism: ‘‘The treasurer should be serving as a financial watchdog and independent from the board,’’ she said, arguing that elected status allows voters to remove ineffective officials.
The board emphasized that the hearing is part of an ongoing process, not a final decision. Chair indicated this was the board’s second hearing on the subject and scheduled another public hearing for Nov. 12 at 6:00 p.m. Commissioners also directed staff and a personnel committee to meet and draft options, including whether to restructure the department or change job scope before proceeding with a recruitment or policy change.
Next steps: the board will hold an additional public hearing on Nov. 12 and continue personnel-level discussions to develop options for how the county fills the positions and what oversight or appointment process would look like.
