Commission amends nepotism rule to broaden definition of relatives and allow contract termination

Tooele County commissioners on Dec. 30 adopted Resolution 2025-34, amending section 3.13 of the Tooele County Personnel Policy Manual to expand the definition of "relative" and to add a contractual compliance option. Nathan, the staff presenter, said the draft adds businesses owned in whole or part by relatives to the definition and references state law on employment and nepotism. The policy also gives the county the option to terminate contracts found in violation, subject to legal review.

The change centralizes the restriction within departmental contracting authority, Nathan explained, meaning a contract is prohibited only when an employee works in the department that initiates, evaluates, approves or oversees that specific contract. He illustrated the department-limited scope with a hypothetical involving the county attorney’s office and a roads department contract.

Councilman Wardle proposed an amendment to add "daughter- and son-in-law" after the term "brother-in-law" and to remove the final sentence of section 3.13.5 that listed examples (including 1099 contractors, vendors and seasonal employees). The amendment was moved and seconded; the commission voted to adopt the amendment. The commission then voted to adopt Resolution 2025-34 as amended; the chair recorded the motion and a second and the resolution passed with all members present voting in favor.

The changes take effect as a policy update to the county personnel manual and, per Nathan, will be applied with legal review where contracts might be terminated. The resolution text and the personnel manual section were not read into the record in full; the meeting minutes and adopted resolution will contain the definitive language and any implementation details.