GREEN RIVER - During their last two meetings, Sweetwater County Commissioners were unable to reach an agreement regarding the relatively minor appointment of a volunteer resident to the local Joint Powers Water Board.

Unanimous decisions are hard to come by when you're working with only two commissioners on a three-member board.

Commissioners hope to remedy that problem tonight when they meet to select a replacement for the late commissioner Joe Oldfield, who died last month.

"We do need this position filled by next month if at all possible," commission chairman Wally Johnson said during a meeting Tuesday in which several items were tabled after he and commissioner Debby Boese couldn't agree.

Oldfield, of Rock Springs, died Aug. 7 after a brief illness. The popular Democrat had two years remaining on his term.

Two weeks ago, Sweetwater County Democratic officials met as required by state law and selected three candidates to replace Oldfield.

Officials said 14 people sought the open seat. The three names were forwarded to the commission for their consideration.

The Democratic candidates include former commissioner John Pallesen of Green River, Green River City Councilman Randy Walker, and retired school teacher Howard Logan, also of Green River.

Pallesen defeated fireman Michael Springer in the Aug. 19 primary for this year's open seat currently held by Johnson.

Johnson ran unopposed in the Republican primary in his bid to retain his seat on the commission and is slated to face Pallesen in the November general election.

On Tuesday, the commission decided to host tonight's forum to hear presentations from, and to interview, the three candidates. Johnson said after the forum, Boese and him expect to vote on a replacement.

According to state statutes, the commissioners have 20 days from the receipt of the names to select a replacement. If the commissioners cannot agree on a selection, then a district judge will be randomly selected to make the decision within the next 20 days.

"It was really, really unfortunate that we lost commissioner Oldfield … but between these three candidates, I'm sure we can come up with somebody to fill the job," Johnson said.

Boese said it was important that any decision be made in a public setting.

"This is a really big decision to be making … the two of us are taking on the election process for the citizens of Sweetwater County," she said.

"The gravity of this is tremendous and this must be open to the public … so they can best see why we make the decision we do," Boese said. "The more citizens who attend, the better."

Contact Jeff Gearino at (307) 875-5359 or gearino@tribcsp.com