BOCC makes appointments and approve new hires

DAYTON-During the October 24 special meeting, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) hired or made appointments for Emergency Management Director, Interim Assessor, County Engineer, and a recruiter for a Human Resources Director. They also held 2023 budget reviews for the assessor's office, public health, the treasurer's office, and planning and building. Budget reviews continued during the meeting on October 31 as they reviewed budgets for the Sheriff's Department, Internet Technology, WSU Extension and District Court.

The BOCC formally made an offer of employment to Tina Bobbitt for the Emergency Management Director position for a yearly salary of $68,000 plus $3000 to cover moving expenses and a work cell phone. She will begin December 1. This is following a series of interviews for multiple candidates. She will fill the vacancy left by Ashley Strickland last May.

County Appraiser Tammy Ketterman was interviewed and appointed as interim Assessor effective November 1. She was selected by the Republican Committee when Chris Mills resigned last month. With being appointed she will fill the remainder of Mills' term. She is on the November ballot unopposed to serve for the next term. She has been with the County Assessor's Office since February of 2016, and she previously worked for Walla Walla County Assessor's Office.

The Commission appointed Walter Grant Morgan as County Engineer effective November 1. Previously approved on September 26 was an employment agreement with Morgan as engineer and public works director also effective November 1. Morgan worked for Garfield County and contracted with Columbia County for interim services following the resignation of Charles Eaton in February.

Also approved was the job description for a professional recruiter for the Human Resources Director position. The is a temporary position paid at the rate of $74 per hour, not to exceed 4.5 months per year or 40 hours per week.

Departmental 2023 budget reviews continued beginning with Tammy Ketterman from the Assessor's Office. She discussed a few changes from last year including step increases for others in the department to match those at similar levels in other departments. A public hearing for review and approval of levy certifications for current expense and county roads is set for November 21.

Administrator Katie Roughton and Financial Manager Jan Strohbehn reviewed the 2023 budget for Public Health. The budget is less because they will not be receiving COVID funds and multiple grants. But many of the department expenditures are covered by other grants and most of their funding comes from Foundational Public Health funds from the State. In both cases usually the County must pay a percentage or a match to receive the funds. They also reviewed employee wages, and Roughton specified that some have not been given their allowable pay increases that were already budgeted for, and she wants to bring them up to where they should be.

Carla Rowe reviewed the Treasurer's Office budget. She went over several budgets within the department. For the current expense budget, she is projecting the revenue from sales and use tax will exceed the $550,000 estimate for 2022 based on what has been collected so far. She said it is higher than before the pandemic. Things that contribute to the increase are the state level sales tax is higher and gas prices are higher. She projects it will continue to increase because of minimum wage going up in 2023 which then also increases spending, but that it might be offset some by house prices going down. She asked for a pay increase for the part-time clerk in her office.

Dena Martin from Planning and Building reviewed the 2023 budget. She conservatively raised the projected revenues for permitting as the department stays busy. She requested a merit raise for having served in her position as planning manager for a few years. Commissioner Marty Hall said they would have to consider any increase her by steps according to the salary schedule. She said they never spend as much as they budget for, but insurance costs did go up.

On October 31, the Commission held a special meeting to continue with departmental budget reviews. Sheriff Helm presented a preliminary budget for his department. He said for 2022 they are overbudget on that line item though they are underbudget overall. For 2023 the general budget is unchanged. There is a $150,000 increase in salaries because of hiring new deputies and for COLAs. He also increased the overtime budget from $35,000 to $40,000. However, when the deputies finish at the academy it will help avoid overtime pay. Helm told the Commissioners they are applying for a USDA grant for just under $1 million that would cover replacing the whole fleet of patrol cars. There was some discussion about whether the money, if awarded, would go through ER&R (Equipment Rental and Revolving fund). There is a question until Grant Morgan assumes his position as County Engineer, what will become of ER&R and the funds for it.

Also reviewed was the internet technology budget. Tim Dyke said it was mostly the same as previous years except for a step increase for him to cover a COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment).

Naedene Shearer reviewed the preliminary budget for the WSU Extension Office and said there is a 9.5% increase mostly for wages which would cover a 2-3% COLA. They have a new director that will need training. There is also an increase in the rent of the office space by $100 a month, but also a decrease because Stephen VanVleet is no longer with the County, and they will not have the cost of him leasing a vehicle.

The final budget review was with Diane Dill from District Court. They have had more cases because of increased charges from having more deputies. It's difficult to anticipate what will be coming to court and to anticipate revenues from it. The expenditures are more predictable and Dill said they are mostly following the budget of past years.