County Constable Discussed

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah.  February 3, 2016. Jim Houghtalen has a Constable Service that collects fines and outstanding warrants.  He told Commissioners that he would appreciate Rich County’s business.  He felt that it would help the County by taking care of their outstanding warrants, and he would have a new client.

He suggested several different ways to pay him for his services.  The Commissioners felt the flat rate of $75 per collected warrant with unlimited attempts until the warrant is resolved. If it appeared that additional funds should be paid to Hughtalen, the judge would have to add on an additional fee above the $75.

The appointment of Houghtalen as a constable would be for a four-year period with the authority of the County to revoke this agreement at any time.

Houghtalen came prepared with templates in his telephone that covers all of the required documents in handling outstanding warrants.  These templates would be filled in at the time of collecting on the warrant.  He would be happy to use the same company that the County currently uses for collection of outstanding bills. 

The Commissioners noted that there were over 125 outstanding warrants at the present time.  It would certain help the County to be able to take care of these outstanding citations. Most citations are ignored by individuals who live on the Wasatch  Front and assume the County will not pursue them when they are that far away.

The Commissioners made a motion to use Houghtalen’s Constable Service when the County Attorney and the County Sheriff review and approve this action.  The Commissioners will send a letter of confirmation to Jim when they get the information back from the attorney and the sheriff.

Houghtalen suggested that new codes and web pages along with telephone information be added into the County system as needed to keep up with what is happening with the warrants  He also suggested that his uniform not resemble the County Sheriff and/or County Deputies so that people will know that he is a Constable, not a sheriff.   He said it would not be good to confuse individuals or cause a conflict with the Sheriff’s work.