The question is, who will sign the letter that accompanies the check?

Democratic Councilman Joe Hatch objected Tuesday to allowing County Mayor Nancy Workman, a Republican up for re-election, to put her name on the letter.

"This was our baby and no one else's," Hatch said, arguing that Council Chairman Steve Harmsen, a Republican, should be the one who signs the letter detailing why residents are getting the money.

Council Democrat Jim Bradley added that the letter was "not true" in saying that the mayor had approved the rebate since the council - sitting as the sanitation district board - had voted to grant the refund and it wasn't the mayor's idea.

In the end, the council voted 7-2 - with Hatch and Bradley objecting - to let Harmsen decide who will sign the letter. Harmsen said Tuesday evening that his will be the only signature, but that the names of all nine councilmen and the mayor will be on the letterhead.

Deputy Mayor Alan Dayton accused Hatch of trying to score political points.

"All of the employees in the sanitation district answer to one elected official, and that's the mayor," he said. "She has managed an efficient operation. She should get some credit for the surplus."

The sanitation district includes mainly unincorporated areas.