Full House for Community Forum with Inspector General

	Commissioner Jess Santamaria called it his important community forum since taking office. « Previous | Next »

One of the largest crowds ever for a monthly community forum turned out on September 15 to hear from Sheryl Steckler, head of the county’s new, independent Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Commissioner Jess Santamaria told the audience the OIG needs and deserves 100 percent support and cooperation by the public, county employees and elected officials, in order to effectively fulfill its mission.

Steckler spent nearly two hours describing and answering questions about the inspector general’s duties, authority and jurisdiction, the type of complaints investigated, and how to go about filing a complaint. She emphasized that while the office is funded by county tax dollars, it operates completely separately from county government and the Board of County Commissioners.

“This is going to be the model for the rest of the country,” Steckler said. “It is truly outside the reporting authority of government.”

Assistant County Administrator Brad Merriman discussed the “County Question,” the proposed charter amendment on the November ballot that would embed in the county charter the provisions of the Office of Inspector General, the Commission on Ethics and the Code of Ethics. Local governments would also be under the OIG’s jurisdiction, if a majority of voters in each municipality vote in favor.

Questions from the audience included the county bid process, land appraisals and purchases, whistle-blower protection, and campaign finance by special interest groups.