The creation of a Public Lands Policy Coordination Office by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. two years ago has drained the Constitutional Defense Council of much of its responsibility, and nearly all of its ability to dispense funding. As a result, the group - comprising state and county officials - is now considering liquidating itself, or at least altering its mission.

"The question is, do we still have a purpose?" Washington County Commissioner and CDC member James Eardley said during the group's monthly meeting last week. "We've reached the point where this has become an exercise in futility."

Huntsman created a Public Lands Policy office, Director Lynn Stevens said, mainly as a way to coordinate the state's response as public land management issues arise.

Between that, and the Legislature's earmarking of funds for legal battles - Kane and Garfield counties' grazing suit against the Interior Department being the most prominent example - Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert says the time has come to at least reevaluate the CDC's mission.

"The public lands office isn't going away. It's a priority for the governor. And it's doing some good things," Herbert said.

In that light, he suggested that the CDC might be better used as a vetting body for issues to be considered by the Legislature or the Public Lands office. And that the Public Lands council might be the best place to actually make the financial decisions.

One thing is for sure: Interest in the Constitutional Defense Council is waning. Several meetings over the summer were canceled because of the inability to round up a quorum.

"In the old days, everybody showed up at [the Constitutional Defense Council] meetings because they were handing out the money," said Stephen Boyden, deputy director of the Public Lands Policy Coordination Office. "Now, there's no money to hand out."

Still, one CDC member argued for keeping the group together, even if the job description changes.

"The benefit of this group is that it has given the counties a direct contact with the leadership of the House, the Senate and the Governor's Office," said Uintah County Commissioner David Haslem. "This is the only setting where that happens."

jbaird@sltrib.com