A final public hearing on the proposal to change Summit County's form of government is set for Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Sheldon Richins Building at Kimball Junction. A vote is possible after the hearing.

- COALVILLE - If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

That's what Summit County commissioners heard Wednesday from a dozen constituents, who weighed in on whether a proposal to change the form of government should go before voters in November. A governance committee earlier recommended the county morph from a three-member commission to a five-member council with an appointed manager to run the county and its $40 million budget.

"I don't think we're in a crisis," said Coalville-area resident Doug Geary. "The current form of government runs rather well. Twenty-four of 29 counties in this state still have this three-member-commission form of government."

But Eric Easterly, who led the committee, told commissioners that "Summit County lacks a day-to-day manager. We felt an overall administrator would facilitate efficiency and productivity," the Park City resident said. "If you hire a good manager, you will add value" and save money.

If the commission endorses the proposal, it would appear on Summit County ballots in November. If it is not approved, 10 percent of registered voters in Summit County can petition to get it put on the ballot.

Commissioner Ken Woolstenhulme opposes the change, while Commissioner Sally Elliott favors it. Commissioner Bob Richer is undecided.

Hoytsville resident Bill Wilde told the commission that adding an appointed manager would increase the layers of bureaucracy.

"You three were voted in to run the county," he said. "To put in another individual and build more government . . . is not the answer."

Snyderville Basin homeowner Ron Duyker worried an unelected county manager would not be as responsive as the elected commissioners have been.

"I'm not comfortable with a non-elected manager with that kind of responsibility," he said. "I like accountability."

Grand and Wasatch counties have seven-member councils with appointed managers.

Morgan County elects a seven-member council, but has no executive. Cache County has a seven-member council and an elected executive. Salt Lake County has a nine-member council and elected executive (mayor).

Henefer Mayor Randy Ovard said he has talked to officials in Morgan and Wasatch counties who don't find the council-manager form of government to be effective or efficient.

"I have yet to run into anyone who likes it," he said. "Some wish they could go back."

If Summit County voters were to approve the change and find they don't like it, they could vote again to change it back, Easterly explained.

"But we haven't seen that in the counties that changed," he said. "I don't think a five-member council and appointed manager is a foreign form of government. You see it in many municipalities."

csmart@sltrib.com