Dear Editor: At their April 22 meeting, the Ouray County commissioners will be deciding to approve or deny a request from Commissioner Lynn Padgett to pay her personal attorney fee of approximately $11,000. Padgett hired this attorney to represent her in the formal harassment complaint process initiated in August 2024 by Ty Barger, superintendent of Road and Bridge. Taxpayers paid $14,000 for an independent investigation and salaries for the time spent on this complaint by the county manager, human resources director, county attorney and those interviewed during the investigation. Commissioner, employee and constituent time was devoted to this complaint in public hearings, work sessions and BOCC meetings. According to the county attorney, there is no legal reason for taxpayers to foot the bill for Padgett’s attorney. It was her decision to invest in legal counsel. Padgett is highly educated, has a reputation for researching topics in depth, speaks easily about controversial issues, and never hesitates to share her opinions. There was no reason for her to hire an attorney. He consulted with her concerning the complaint process, wrote letters submitted to the BOCC, but never spoke on her behalf.