There are about four months for Utah County citizens to evaluate and prepare to vote on a proposed switch in the system of county government. The county study commission, which is proposing a “Separation of Powers Plan” after an 18month study, presented its finished version of the proposal to the county commissioners Friday. Firmed up after three public meetings and a short period of receiving citizen input, the plan provides for a part-time seven-member elected county council as the basic governing body with legislative powers; and a single elected county executive as the top administrator. The study commission was appointed by the county commission in 1974 under a 1972 constitutional amendment permitting counties to change their forms of government, Since the local study commission submitted its work in mid-June, the people have had opportunity to offer input. As a result, a number of changes most of the minor were made in the finished draft. Two major changes were made – one to continue the office of sheriff elective rather than appointive; and the other to designate that the three at-large council members from the northsouth-center zones as county commissioners presently do under a so-called gentleman’s agreement. Possibly more public input would have been received had the people had longer to peruse the document covering the proposed change in government. The two weeks-plus the public had for this simply wasn’t enough. However, the study commission had to meet the prescribed deadline. The people’s role now will be to carefully study the final document of the study commission preparatory to voting in November. People should not spare the horses in studying pros and cons so they can vote intelligently, Copies of the proposal, it is anticipated, will be available from the county commission “at cost” and the law requires that the document also be published a couple of times, Voters should not take the proposal lightly. They are being entrusted with a mighty important responsibility as well as privilege in deciding what is best for the county.