Treasurer to open office in Upton

Alexis Barker
NLJ Reporter
 
The Weston County Treasurer’s office plans to have hours in Upton twice a
month after the Weston County
commissioners approved a request by Weston County Treasurer Susie Overman on a
temporary basis. 
On May 7, Overman asked the commissioners to consider having a “satellite office” in Upton. She said that she had first presented the idea in December and that since that time she has explored options for putting a member of her staff in Upton twice a month. 
“We are going to be in the town hall. They are not charging us any expenses to go up there,” Overman said. “They are being very generous with what they are giving us.”
Overman said that her office is getting a computer ready to use on the Upton visits and that other items, including license plate tags, will also have to be taken to Upton. 
“We are planning on two Wednesdays a month, the second and third Wednesdays. If it progresses, we are going to extend our days there,” Overman said. “We will be there from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m..” 
According to Overman, the office in Upton cannot issue new licenses plates, but it will be able to process plate renewals and collect property and sales tax. 
“We can not execute new vehicle purchases because we are lacking the title portion of that process,” Overman said. 
As far as costs, Overman said that the staff person will be paid mileage at 58 cents a mile. She estimated the total cost will be $50 a day for the trip to Upton and back. 
“I am allowing a $10 lunch allowance because we will not be closed through the lunch hour,” Overman said. “This all will come out of my travel/convention line item.” 
Overman said she does not envision any other financial obligations for the county. 
Chairman Tony Barton said that he does not recall the commissioners giving authorization to establish the satellite office. He said the commissioners only authorized exploring the idea. 
“Maybe it is not our burden, but we didn’t give the go ahead. We wanted to look at estimates before going ahead,” Barton said. 
Commissioner Tracy Hunt said that under statute, county officers must keep their offices at the county seat in an office provided by the county. He said that he is not sure whether the satellite office will fit under statutory obligations. 
Hunt also questioned the mileage charge and meal allowance. He asked if the county librarians receive mileage for their travels between the towns and if road and bridge employees receive a meal allowance when they are in Upton. 
Overman said that she was simply trying to bring revenue back to Weston County by providing an onsite option instead of Weston County residents traveling to Campbell or Crook county to purchase their tags or license plates. 
As for the financial obligations of the county, Overman acknowledged that she was unsure about the mileage question but that she believed it should be paid. She also said that she was willing to negotiate on the meal allowance. 
Hunt also questioned the need for the other county offices to have “satellite offices.” 
Overman said that her office was in a unique situation. County Assessor Tina Conklin added that everything in her office can be done through email and online and that she has no need for a “satellite office.” 
“I think this will be beneficial to the people in Upton to not have to drive 30 miles one way to do business. I think it is a good idea,” Conklin said, noting that there is no longer a county vehicle for the employees to use for travel. 
“I am not dead set against the idea,” Hunt said, noting that he would just like the assurance that if the Upton office did not attract enough people that it would be shut down and not continued. 
“We would shut it down,” Overman said. “When Becky (Hadlock, county clerk) is ready to come with her part, we will be ready for that.”
Hadlock said that if she feels a need for satellite office, she would consider sending a staff member to Upton to process new titles and allowing for people to get new plates in Upton.
Commissioner Nathan Todd moved to temporarily approve Overman’s request, stating that he believes it would be a benefit to the Upton community. The commissioners approved his motion unanimously.