craigdailypress.com

Business has changed in the Moffat County Courthouse, and the difference is more than just the necktie Commissioner Saed Tayyara wears to work.

Tayyara and Commissioner Tom Gray have been in office for one month, and so far, the attitude under their leadership is optimistic. Along with Commissioner Darryl Steele, they are operating with a communicative style but have yet to demonstrate a specific agenda.

Clerk and Recorder Elaine Sullivan said the relationship between the commissioners and other elected officials has been good. Although the situation is new, she hoped it didn't wear off soon.

"The communication is really good. These guys seem like they are willing to work with us and not micromanage," Sullivan said.

Tayyara and Gray ran on platforms of improving communication with employees, elected officials and other local governments. They still are preaching a doctrine of communication.

"Our byword, from me personally, is communication. You can prevent a lot of problems through communication," Gray said.

Tayyara visits the departments in the courthouse daily to ask employees how they are doing. He's usually wearing a suit or at least a necktie.

Suggestion boxes have been or will be installed in the courthouse and at the Road and Bridge Department. The commissioners are working to meet with employees regularly, and they've scheduled monthly meetings with department directors.

Steele is chairman of the board, and during meetings, it's clear he's the leader of the board. He'll admit that during the past two years, he was the "no" man on the board, the one who opposed spending and sought to trim county services.

On his first day of office two years ago, Steele made 11 motions to cut county services and curtail spending. All his motions died for lack of a second, but many of them, including cutting the public works director and natural resources specialist positions, happened in the following months as the commissioners struggled to balance budgets.

But Steele hasn't tried to introduce any drastic changes in county business since the board changed over. Gray hasn't introduced any new business or proposed any changes in county policy, either.

Tayyara began following through on a campaign pledge to sell unused county property when he motioned to investigate selling the courthouse annex. But other than that, he hasn't proposed any changes.

Tayyara keeps his campaign card posted above his desk to remind himself of the promises he made to county residents while he was running for office. The promises are broad and general; they include improving communication and rebuilding county reserves.

"I didn't run on any mandate outside just to provide services," Tayyara said.

But in the front of his three-ring binder, he keeps a list of more specific goals, written on several sheets of legal paper. Tayyara wants to work to study the problems the Western Slope's energy boom has caused in other counties and prevent the problems before they happen here. He wants to completely de-Bruce the county from revenue restrictions imposed by the state constitution, and he hopes to work with the city of Craig to develop planning and zoning regulations agreeable to both governments for a three-mile radius around the city.

Gray's plans are less ambitious.

"What I anticipate as we handle daily housekeeping ... there will be some specific things that raise their heads," he said.

Gray said he would likely move to make changes to the county's fire plan; he has maintained that it's the job of property owners to protect their homes and land from fire, rather than the job of government. But he has no agenda, he said.

During much of his life, Gray said he didn't think about local government. He was aware county business occurred in the courthouse and that was all.

To Gray's mind, such thinking is an indication government is doing well; if people aren't complaining or attending many county meetings, it's an indication government is running business right. It's his hope that during his time as a commissioner, people almost forget the county government is there, because it's working so well.

Rob Gebhart can be reached at 824-7031 or rgebhart@craigdailypress.com.