Direct deposit arrives
Thursday, October 5, 2000
Steamboat Springs — It may be the 21st Century, but Routt County has just caught up to the 20th century when it comes to banking its employees' checks.
Eleven years after the city of Steamboat Springs started direct deposit for its employees, the county has finally worked out a deal with Wells Fargo to do the same.
In other action, the Routt County Commissioners: Signed a resolution opposing adoption of Amendment 21 to the Colorado Constitution Signed an agreement with Wells Fargo Bank to provide direct deposit for county employees Signed a contract to put in crossing gates at Hudspeth Lane and County Road 35, south of Steamboat Springs Signed a forest service agreement on dust control Awarded a bid of $19,993 to Steamboat Motors to purchase a Dodge Dakota club cab for the coroner's office. Total cost of truck with amenities is $21,153.21 Authorized a donation of an old computer and printer to United Way Fair Board and Extension Service requested a full-time administrative assistant and seasonal full-time maintenance person for the county fair. Board acted favorably but is waiting to see if they can afford it Tabled a contract between Armor Coatings Inc. and Routt County for airport improvements Signed an agreement between Penhall Co. and Routt County for fog seal coating of taxiway at airport, worth $49,750 Tabled indefinitely the signing of Development of Land Agreement between Gordon Munson, Florence Munson and Southpack Trust Inc. and Routt County Denied petition of tax refund or abatement to: Thomas Freutel, Milford Thieszen and Edward Ryan Approved a tax refund or abatement for: Richard Mills, Deborah and Hum Marchand, Deborah Champin Approved a change in land classification to agricultural for Amy and David Tweedy Board discussed wildland fires issues with Chuck Vale, Sheriff John Warner and Paul Draper
"Our county attorney had some concern about some of the language originally in the agreement," said Commissioner Nancy Stahoviak.
When asked if he was just stubborn, the county attorney replied quickly.
"Of course I am," said County Attorney John Merrill. He explained that the bank expected companies to know federal regulations but wouldn't supply the information directly to its clients.
"Are you going to comply with rules that are distributed to the bank and no one else?" Merrill asked. "Wouldn't you want them to tell you what the rules were and when they changed?"
But it appears Merrill is one of the only people in Colorado to question how electronic banking rules affects his client.
The agreement Merrill refused to sign for years merely stated that the county agreed to abide by the rules regulating direct deposit and other electronic banking. Merrill wanted to know what the specific rules were.
"The attorneys for Wells Fargo had never had anyone question this," said Jill Leary, Wells Fargo's senior vice president.
"But, I'm pleased as heck we signed the agreement," said Leary who's been working with Merrill since 1994 to resolve the problem.
Leary said they gave Merrill a copy of the rules years ago when the bank was still Norwest.
In the meantime, city officials at Steamboat say direct deposit is the way to go.
"They don't have to worry about going to the bank," said accounts technician Edna Tellier. "You can be gone on vacation, you're money is there. You don't have to have someone deposit it."
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