County managing COVID-19 relief funds

POMEROY–John Hirsch, Garfield County Emergency Management Director, addressed the County Commissioners regarding how to budget coronavirus relief funds from the Department of Commerce (DOC) during the meeting on May 18. The DOC has issued a list of requirements on how the funds may be used. The funds will be paid as a reimbursement to the County, and it has not yet been decided if that will be at 75% or 100% of the incurred expense. Hirsch believes that there is a "good possibility" that it will be at 100%. The hospital and fire districts may file their own claims.

The funding is expected to be available through the end of 2020, and eligible expenses are those associated with COVID-19, deemed necessary, not already a part of the County's budget, or funded through another line item, and that would not exist without the COVID-19 pandemic. Hirsch stated that the DOC is trying to be flexible about what expenses are eligible. The relief fund will cover overtime wages or additional wages that became necessary due to COVID-19 response efforts. The assistance may be extended and the amount increased, depending on how long the need lasts.

Garfield County Public Works Director, Grant Morgan, informed the commissioners that projections from the State for fuel tax revenue will include a reduction of $401,000 for Garfield County. Morgan stated that they will need to develop a strategy to deal with the loss, and will be reassessing the amount of service that will be needed to keep the County moving. He suggested that projects which require a large amount of heavy equipment be cut back, and they should focus on doing more labor-intensive projects.

The hay crop bids for the fairgrounds were opened at this meeting. Three bids were received: Ernie Kimble for $70 per ton; Mike Ledgerwood for $106 per ton; and Bill Cox for $105 per ton. The bid from Mike Ledgerwood was approved as the high bid.

Two Sound System proposals had been received by email as of the deadline, 9:30 a.m. Because these were proposals, rather than actual sealed bids, the procedure for choosing the vendor is a little different. The decision has been tabled for now, until a discussion with Matt Newburg, Garfield County Prosecutor, can happen, which will help decide how to proceed.

The commissioners continue to negotiate a contract with attorney Julie Karl for indigent defense services. It appears that the final offer has been presented to Karl and countered. Karl's original request was a simple 40% increase per month for the next three years. The commissioners offered her the 40% increase, but in increments over the three-year contract, which would be an increase of 13.3% per year, in the form of a flat $344 increase each year. Karl agreed to the annual incremental increases, but wanted the amounts compounded for the second and third years. Commissioner Wynne McCabe stated that he felt this was the final negotiation and that Karl had already compromised her original request by agreeing to the incremental increases. Commissioner Justin Dixon stated that they would take some time to review the offer and make a decision at a future date.