‘It’s the people I’ve gotten to know’ – Bartholomew reflects on years in office

Editor’s note—To see our story on Scott and Lila Bartholomew being honored as grand marshals of the 2026 Sanpete County Fair, click here.

MANTI—When Scott Bartholomew joined the Sanpete County Commission in late 2013, he expected the learning curve to be steep.

Shortly after his appointment, Bartholomew said, “I’m sure it’s going to take some time to get used to this position and feel comfortable as a commissioner.”

More than a dozen years later, Bartholomew is preparing to retire at the end of his term, concluding more than 13 years on the commission and several years as its chairman.

Appointed in December 2013 to fill the vacancy created when Jon Cox was named to the Utah House of Representatives, Bartholomew brought experience as the former mayor of Fayette and a longtime public servant. During his tenure, he oversaw a broad portfolio of county responsibilities, including roads, public health, mental health, public lands, the Sanpete Water Conservancy District, several special service districts and the Six County Association of Governments.

Looking back on his years in office, Bartholomew said the greatest reward has been the relationships he built.

“That’s easy,” he said when asked about the best part of serving as a commissioner. “It’s the people. It’s the people that I’ve got to know that I would never have got to know before. The people that work here and the people that we interact with. We’ve got some good people here in the area.”

Ironically, he said people have also provided the greatest challenge.

“Ever since COVID, things have changed,” Bartholomew said. “Social media has just been nasty and brutal, and people have been able to write and say things there that they’d never say to your face.”

Rather than engage in online arguments, he said he learned it was best to ignore them.

“It doesn’t do any good to reply because you’re not going to win,” he said.

Bartholomew also said counties continue to face increasing pressure from state government through mandates that are not always accompanied by funding.

“The state government always complains about the federal government sending mandates down to them and controlling them,” he said. “We feel the same thing. They give us unfunded mandates and things that we have to do, and we don’t have the money to do it, but it’s law now.”

As he prepares to leave office, Bartholomew offered advice to AJ Mower, who is the presumptive winner of the June primary election to succeed him.

“Listen to the people that we’ve hired here,” he said. “They’re the experts.”

Bartholomew said he has relied heavily on the county’s elected officials and department heads throughout his tenure.

“I’ll ask them all the time, ‘What do we do? What’s your opinion?’ Because they’re the experts,” he said. “Most of the time, we’ll listen to them and do what they suggest.”

He also encouraged cooperation with local governments.

“Absolutely work with them,” Bartholomew said of mayors and council members. “Don’t work against them.”

Reflecting on his years in office, Bartholomew said he is proud of several county projects completed during his tenure, including construction of the Central Utah Public Health building, improvements at the Sanpete County Fairgrounds and renovations to the historic county courthouse. He noted that several of those projects were funded with federal American Rescue Plan Act money rather than local tax dollars.

“We’ve accomplished a lot of neat things,” he said.

Fayette Town Clerk Tyson Holyoak said of Bartholomew, “Scott and his family have been close family friends my entire life. I have fond memories of going to Fayette to help him on his farm, and of him and his kids coming to our farm to provide help needed. My love for hunting developed around Scott and his farm, and I still hunt with his kids today. Ultimately Scott sold me a parcel of land in Fayette, where I built my home, and have loved every moment. Even my kids have come to love Scott and Lila, and view them as second grandparents. Scott really is the type of man who will just give you anything you need.”

Sanpete County Clerk Linda Christiansen said Bartholomew’s years of public service were defined by quiet dedication and an unwavering commitment to the community. She said much of his work took place behind the scenes, driven by a lifelong investment in the county and its future.

“No one knows the true magnitude of Commissioner Bartholomew’s impact on this county because so much of his devotion happened outside the spotlight, in endless meetings, local service, and the quiet hours of the night spent weighing the hard decisions that affect us all,” she said. “Having grown up and raised his own family here, his commitment wasn’t just political, it was personal. He gave everything to ensure a brighter future for our community, and he leaves behind a legacy that will be incredibly missed.”

At 73, Bartholomew said retirement will not mean slowing down. He plans to spend more time helping on the family’s Fayette farm, which is being transitioned to his sons.

“I was up this morning getting the pivot started,” he said. “I was on the mountain yesterday chasing cows. I’m going to go back up there today chasing cows and trying to keep them happy up there, which is near impossible with the weather and the dry conditions.”

Despite leaving elected office, Bartholomew said he will carry with him memories of the people he served alongside, including former commissioners Claudia Jarrett, Scott Collard, Reed Hatch and current commissioners Jim Cheney and Mike Bennett.