Montrose County to put question of spouses riding in county vehicles on next agenda

Leslie Kwan, interim county manager, told the Montrose County Board of County Commissioners at its April 28 work session that the county’s personnel policy restricts non-county personnel from riding in county-owned vehicles and that any exception for a commissioner’s spouse must be approved by the board.

Kwan summarized the relevant policy language: “Seat belts must be worn at all times in vehicles or motorized equipment containing seat belts,” and “Volunteers, appointed members of boards, or commissions may use a county vehicle when conducting county business when approved by the appropriate department head or elected official.” She added that “Non county personnel should not be passengers in a in a county owned vehicle unless their presence is authorized or part of conducting the county business.”

Commissioner Sean said he had asked Kwan whether his spouse could ride with him on upcoming travel and described prior occasions when his wife accompanied him on drives and for a conference trip. “I had asked Leslie if, my spouse could ride with me,” he said, explaining that the topic surfaced because of an upcoming conference in South Dakota and routine travel to the county offices.

Kwan told the board that normally a department director would authorize such travel, but because a commissioner is the traveler the authorization should be handled by the three commissioners acting together, making the step “a little more formal than we would normally do it.” The board agreed to put the authorization question on the next regular meeting agenda so commissioners can vote on whether to allow spouses to ride in county vehicles for official travel.

No formal action or vote occurred at the April 28 work session; the proposal will return for formal consideration at the next meeting. The board opened the meeting for public comment and recorded none before adjourning at 9:09 a.m.