Commission ratifies county clerk authority to make interim bill payments when board cannot meet

David Van Paris, the county counselor, asked commissioners to ratify prior actions by the county clerk and to authorize the clerk to make intermittent payments to avoid late fees when the board is unable to meet. He said such payments concern previously budgeted and approved expenses and relate to the mechanics of issuing payment rather than creating new authority.

"...as a result of the absence of the commission meeting, a bill is not approved for payment, and that bill could incur a late fee or expense or penalty, any form, that the county clerk, has, from time to time, taken upon herself to to pay that bill," Van Paris said, describing why ratification was needed. The board moved, seconded and approved the ratification and reaffirmation of the clerk's authority; the vote was recorded as 3–0.

Commissioners clarified that the payments cover previously budgeted items and that ratification does not supplant the board's review rights for approvals and signatures when the board reconvenes.