Special Meeting County Engineer dismissed

DAYTON– Following an executive session to discuss personnel on June 13, County Commissioners approved action for separation of employment for cause with County Engineer Jeremy Weiland, effective immediately.

At the special meeting, Commissioners also considered an emergency budget amendment hearing which was requested by interim Emergency Manager, Misty Yost.

Yost will be leaving her position later this month and is working to follow through on an annual maintenance contract, radio upgrades, and phone upgrades for texting 91,1 of which none were presented in the budget for 2022.

The projects need to be added to the budget as expenditures so they can be accounted for. Money is available in one of the budgets for $32,520 maintenance and half of the radio upgrade which is $24,500 plus tax. The other half is to be paid by the Sheriff’s Department. The phone upgrade will cost $93,420 plus tax which will be paid for with funds paid by the City.

A surplus of $38,000 from the budget last year from the city will also be applied to this project. Yost said the remaining $12,000 to cover the projects would need to come from current expense unless there is additional surplus from the money paid by the city or if grant money becomes available. A budget hearing was set for 10:00 during the regular meeting next week.

The drone program project was also discussed and options for cost with Federal Aviation Administration certification. There is a deadline is August 1 for spending grant funding from the Wildhorse Foundation.

Commissioner Charles Amerein pointed out the help drones would provide in scoping out situations concerning emergencies like flooding and fires. Commissioner Ryan Rundell suggested the Fire District could maybe chip in to help pay for use of a drone or have their own dedicated drone.

Also proposed by Commissioner Marty Hall was to enter into an interlocal agreement (ILA) with the Fire District for usage of the drone, but Auditor Anne Higgins said they would have consult with the risk manager to discuss situations where use results in damage to the County property.

The Commissioners agreed that an ILA could be a reasonable option whether it for drone use with a certified County operator or the Fire District pays to certify their own operator.

County Commissioner candidate Jack Miller was in attendance for the public portions of the meeting.