Grand County (Utah). Council Minutes, 1890-

These minute books record the actions of the governing body of the county. The council (until 1993, the county commission, or in the territorial period, the county court) was authorized to manage all county business and property. This included auditing all claims against the county. The members authorized salaries and the purchase of supplies and services. They levied property taxes for county purposes and served as a board of equalization. The members created election precincts, road districts, and school districts and appointed superintendents of such districts. They also appointed other county officials (e.g. board of teacher examiners, quarantine physician, game commissioner, bee inspector, fruit tree inspector, sheep inspector) and set the salaries of each. The court located sites and oversaw the erection of public buildings. Business licenses, particularly liquor licenses, were obtained through the county. The county also approved the incorporation of towns. The county was toprovide for the maintenance of the indigent and incapacitated. All these activities are noted in the minutes.

Following the formation of territorial government, the legislature in 1852 passed acts relating to the formation and government of counties. There were no county commissions, but the probate judge in conjunction with the county selectmen were invested "with the usual powers and jurisdiction of County Commissioners" and as such were known as the county court. The probate court clerk (also known as the county clerk) was to keep the records of the court. This same structure was followed by Grand County upon its organization in May 1890.

With statehood in 1896 an actual board of county commissioners was created. The probate judge was removed, but the selectmen continued serving as commissioners until elections were held. The county clerk remained the clerk of the board, recording the minutes. The previous responsibilities were maintained and expanded. The county council and itsappointed administrative officer continued with the governance of the county when that management form was selected by county voters and begun in 1993.

One of the principal activities noted in the minutes is the monitoring of the fiscal health of the county. Claims submitted for the purchase of supplies and services are recorded regularly. The county governing body also assessed taxes and served as a board of equalization, adjusting assessments of individual property.

The creation of various districts and the appointment of officials also is noted regularly in the minutes. During the territorial period, the governing body set the number of justices of the peace and constables and approved their bonds. The county court created school districts and appointed superintendents of schools and a board of teacher examiners. They also created road districts and oversaw the layout of roads. They set the boundaries of voting districts and assigned polling places.

Other responsibilities notedin the minutes include overseeing the health of the community, appointing a quarantine physician and health officer, and financing the care of the indigent or incompetent. The county approved the incorporation of towns and licensed businesses, particularly granting liquor licenses. The governing body provided for locating public buildings, notably a courthouse and jail in the 1890s. They oversaw the resources of the county, allocating water rights, authorizing bounties on varmints, and appointing game commissioners, a bee inspector, fruit tree inspectors, and a sheep inspector.