FARMINGTON -- As a part of the just-completed County Government Week, several Davis County employees and projects have been recognized.

The Utah Association of Counties made the honors to coincide with its 2007 theme, "A Noteworthy Accomplishment."

The county jail expansion project was recognized along with employees Steve Rawlings and Kyle Garfield.

The recognitions came based on nominations made by county officials.

The jail expansion took several years to complete, when time is included for a citizens study committee report, which took a year to complete, and other preliminary efforts. The $23.8 million project increased the capacity of the jail to 775 inmates, alleviating frequent overcrowding.

Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Kevin McLeod oversaw the project. He is also credited with being instrumental in the project finishing under budget, allowing about $1.5 million to be returned to county coffers.

Rawlings, the county's clerk/auditor, was recognized by Davis County officials and the UAC as "one of the hardest working elected officials in the state."

Acting as both the county's budget officer and election official, Rawlings is reported to be in the office on a routine basis from early in the morning until often into the evening.

Davis County has earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting award from the Government Finance Officer Association for 13 consecutive years, largely due to his efforts, a press release from UAC notes.

Kyle Garfield, Programmer/Analyst II with the Information Systems Department, was also recognized. He was "instrumental in implementing a computer valuation program for the Assessor Office," the release notes.

The program pulls sales from the assessment database and provides an indicated market value through a schema entered by the property appraiser. The program has been determined to be more accurate than a typical modeling program and is much faster than having an appraiser do each property individually.

Implementation of this program has streamlined the valuation process for the Davis County Assessor's Office.

"It's not surprising because we have myriad stellar employees who are doing a stellar job," said County Commissioner Louenda Downs. "The county has a lot of excellent employees. The taxpayers are getting a great return with the efforts of these and many other individuals.

"I thought it was commendable that Kevin (McLeod) and those who worked on the jail were determined, right from the beginning, to come in under budget, to do this project in such a cost-effective kind of way."

"County Government Week is a time to recognize and celebrate all that counties do for the citizens of Utah," says Doug Perry, UAC communications director.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com