Bradley County Commissioner Dan Rawls said the family of Joe Keller, who died from an apparent fall from a cliff in Colorado and was long missing, have not been able to get the return of his cell phone and laptop computer.
Commissioner Rawls said he felt that officials of Conejos County were "being vindictive" toward the family because of criticism about the county earlier calling off the search for the teen who disappeared after going jogging.
He said he could understand the county calling off the search because it is a small county with a limited budget.
And he said much of the criticism on social media came from others, not the Kellers.
Commissioner Rawls asked that the commissioners write a letter to Conejos County officials asking for the return of the cell phone and laptop.
Commission Chairman Louie Alford recommended that before the letter is written that officials of the Bradley County Sheriff's Office make a phone call to ask about the items.
Richard McAllister of the sheriff's office said the office would try, but he said the Colorado officials "weren't always cooperative with us."
In other action, Bradley County Commissioners approved a new $5 court fee with the proceeds to go to archiving court documents.
Some commissioners said they did not like to keep adding court fees, but said the county needed a strong record archiving program.
Commissioner Charlotte Peak, who said she might be the only commissioner sensitive to the concerns of prisoners, said she hated to add the charge, but said the county "is running out of room in our buildings" (for paper records).
Vice Mayor Jeff Yarber, who said, "I come from a family of criminals," also reluctantly supported the move, while noting that the fee will not just apply in criminal cases.
Finance Committee Chairman Milan Blake, who proposed the fee, acknowledged the county had "enough fees to choke a horse." He said it was going to be difficult to add another fee, but this one for archiving was necessary.
On cutting some fees, he said many were state imposed while others involved private acts of the Legislature.
Commissioner Rawls said the county ought to be working toward reducing fees, not adding more.
Opposed to the new fee were Commissioners Rawls and Howard Thompson. Bill Winters was absent.
Officials said some upgrades to security at the Bradley County Courthouse were being planned under the advice of former Sheriff Dan Gilley.
It will include moving a scanner system from the second move to the first floor as well as additional cameras.