Disclosing what land they own and organizations to which they belong sheds light on the dealings of government officials so citizens can decide when conflicts of interest exist before decisions are made.

"We want it to be very open and visible for everybody so there are no questions," said Brian Bellamy, the county’s chief human resources officer.

Merit employees like Bellamy mustn’t disclose, but appointed department heads including Community Development Director Nora Shepard, Public Works chief Kevin Callahan and Steve Jenkins, director of the Summit County Health Department, each year declare potential conflicts of interest.

"For any decision they’re making, you want to see if they have a vested interest in it," Bellamy said.

Elected officials and their chief deputies must also file annual conflict-of-interest disclosures with the County Courthouse.

This year’s list doesn’t concern Bellamy.

"This is the same thing as when these guys run for office and they disclose who has given them money," Bellamy said. "We don’t think we have any conflicts."

Potential conflicts disclosed by county officials last week included:

Summit County Commissioner Bob Richer — Richer Development Services, president; Arnold Machinery, board of directors; Prudential Real Estate associate broker; Owner of property at 1223 Angus Court in Ranch Place

Summit County Commissioner Ken Woolstenhulme Owns Ken’s Kash, Inc., a grocery store in Oakley; half partner in 22 acres of farmland in South Summit and owner of a home on three-quarters of an acre in Oakley and a farmhouse with seven acres

Summit County Commissioner Sally Elliott Owns home at 2690 Sidewinder Drive in Park City; Member of Park City Rotary Club and chairwoman of the Courchevel Club

County Assessor Barbara Kresser Owns home at 1011 South Hoytsville Road in Coalville

County Attorney David Brickey Rents a home in Ranch Place in the Snyderville Basin where the owner of the home has shares in Summit Water Distribution Company, a business the county is presently litigating against

County Auditor Blake Frazier Owns home at 4951 N. 850 West in Oakley; owns one-quarter interest in Dick’s Drive in Kamas and one-seventh of F and V Storage in Oakley

County Clerk Kent Jones Owns a home in Henefer and is a partner in Jones Plus, Inc., a water business

County Recorder Alan Spriggs Owns his home in Coalville, a lot in the Manorlands cabin community in the Uinta Mountains and is co-trustee of 14 acres in Hoytsville

Sheriff Dave Edmunds Owns home in Kamas

County Treasurer Glen Thompson Along with home at 5375 N. Woodenshoe Road in Peoa he owns nearly 6 other acres

Deputy Auditor Janae Blonquist Owns three parcels of land in North Summit

Public Works Administrator Kevin Callahan Owns home at 2867 Lucky John Drive in Park City

Deputy Clerk Scott Hogensen Disclosed no conflicts

Deputy Treasurer Beth Jacobson Owns home at 2275 E. Chalk Creek Road in Coalville

Deputy Assessor Carla Dee Richins Owns home at 1430 E. Chalk Creek Road and 852 acres of farmland at 1430 E. Chalk Creek Road in Coalville; Owns nearly two acres near Main Street in Coalville

Summit County Justice Court Judge Lynn Sadler Disclosed no conflicts

Community Development Director Nora Shepard owns unit M1 at Pinebrook Pointe

Deputy Recorder Mary Ann Trussell Owns home in Henefer