Utah County commissioners approve new deputy amid cuts to law clerk positions, set closed meeting

The Utah County Board of Commissioners voted 2–0 to authorize the addition of a full-time career-service Deputy Sheriff I position after hearing that state funding reductions have prompted staffing changes in the judicial area.

Undersheriff Mike Forshee told the board that the state "did pull that back" — referring to a reduction in funding he estimated as "a couple $100,000" — and that the sheriff’s office is shifting roles to cover courthouse security. Forshee said the office historically had about "10 12 law clerks, and we're cutting that back to 7, basically, security people," and described replacing some law-clerk duties with bailiff and security positions.

The vote came after the commissioners discussed the judicial staffing plan and the effect of the funding pullback. An unidentified commissioner moved to authorize the new deputy position as regular agenda item 2; another commissioner seconded the motion and both voted "Aye." The chair announced, "Motion passes 2 0." Commissioner Lee was excused from the meeting.

In the same meeting the board voted 2–0 to strike regular agenda items 10, 11 and 12. The panel also approved a motion to set a closed strategy session to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation to be held following the regular agenda at the same location; that motion likewise passed 2–0.

There were no public comments before the board moved into the closed meeting.

The board’s actions reflect an immediate personnel change at the sheriff’s office driven by a reduction in external funding and a reallocation toward courthouse security. The closed session was set to allow commissioners to discuss litigation strategy in private as permitted under the county’s closed-meeting procedures.