The independent Citizen Review Panel examining Salt Lake County's policies and procedures in the wake of a vehicle-abuse scandal was supposed to report its findings this week.

But it may be next month. Or even later.

The five-member panel has requested boxes of documents, scheduled lots of interviews and still has a load of work to complete, according to Chairwoman Carol Hunter, a vice president at Pacificorp, which operates as Utah Power in the state.

"It just took a little bit more startup time than any of us anticipated," Hunter said Thursday.

The panel, which will meet today to decide a timeline, has hired attorney Randy Dryer as counsel and the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers to review some documents. Hunter says some panel members want to interview county officials one on one and that there may be some open hearing interviews.

Hunter added that public comments sent to the panel will be reviewed by at least two panel members and maybe by all five.

"We're trying to make sure that we check everything and double check everything," she said. "We're trying to make sure that all our eyes see all the important documents."

Hunter says she wants the panel to be done with its report in early August, but the panel will take as long as it needs.

The delay is fine with County Mayor Nancy Workman, who appointed the panel to look into county government after the vehicle-abuse scandal cost the resignations of two top officials, one of whom was independently elected.

A third official resigned shortly after. The mayor charged the panel with looking at fleet operations, cell phone use and gift policies, but she told members they could expand their review.

"It's an independent review panel," mayoral spokesman Jim Braden said. "They've got all the help they need, all the time they need. Anything they want, they get."

tburr@sltrib.com

Seeking input

Salt Lake County's Citizen Review Panel welcomes comments. They can be e-mailed to SLCitizensPanel@yahoo.com or through regular mail, care of panel member Gil Miller at PricewaterhouseCoopers, One Utah Center, 201 S. Main, Suite 900, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111.