Working the kinks out of the budgets

POMEROY-The Garfield County Commissioners are currently working to set budgets for each department for 2020, and most of the meeting on Monday, November 25, 2019, was spent in budget discussions. Grant Morgan, Public Works and County Roads Director, presented his preliminary budget report, with the statement that he is still working on some adjustments and expects to have the final budget ready for the next meeting on December 2.

Martha Lanman, Garfield County Health District Administrator, also presented a budget for the Health District, citing significant increases in income through a $2,500 car seat grant, a $13,000 grant through the Health Resources and Services Administration, and $42,000 Foundational Public Health Services grant. The most significant budget increase in expenses for 2020 is $5,388 more for program supplies.

In other business for the Health District, Lanman announced that Asotin County is interested in helping Garfield County with environmental health services due to the cancellation of the contract between Whitman and Garfield counties, which included food service inspections and septic tank permits.

Walla Walla County has expressed an interest in sharing services in order to establish some consistency across neighboring counties. Lanman also stated that the health district needs to renew their solid waste contract, and that a new solid waste code is coming soon from the state. The county commissioners approved and signed Resolution 2019-26 to approve the 2020 Contract for the Aging and Long Term Care SAIL contract, which provides $4,000 for continuation of the exercise class at the Senior Center on Friday mornings. The last class was November 22, 2019, but with the new contract, the classes will resume in March, 2020.

Sheriff Drew Hyer reported he has applied for another flashing solar-powered speed sign to put on the west end of town on Highway 12 where the reduced speed limit sign is posted. Due to complaints He has been out every morning at the crosswalk located near there that is used by children walking to school because of complaints by citizens. It has been reported that there has been at least one near-miss by a logging truck that was speeding and almost hit a child there. The sign he has requested will be a mobile one, so it can be moved to other locations to use as well. Commissioner Justin Dixon stated that the signage that exists there now, which alerts drivers to reduce speed to 25 miles per hour, is barely visible due to blockage by trees, especially in the spring. He also stated that he thought the state highway department should take care of that situation.

The next regular meeting of the County Commissioners will be December 2, 2019 at 9:30 a.m., in the board room of the courthouse. December 9, 2019, will be a workshop by the County Commissioners and County Public Works department to discuss a Six-Year Plan, as well as a discussion about proposed changes to the maintenance and upkeep of the Fairgrounds.

The Six-Year plan will take place on December 2 at 1 p.m., the Fair discussion is planned to begin at 2:30 p.m., and they will both be held in the courthouse courtroom.

December 16, 2019, 9:30 a.m. will be the Six-Year Plan/Annual Construction Hearing in the board room of the courthouse.