Tina Meier appointed Garfield County EMD

POMEROY–The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) appointed Tina Meier as Garfield County Emergency Management Director (EMD) at its regular weekly meeting September 21, 2020.

Meier, who is currently serving as the Garfield County Communications Director and E911 Coordinator, and Registered Sex Offender Coordinator, was recommended for the position by Commissioner Justin Dixon, who felt the position should stay within the County, and within the Sheriff's Office. She accepted the appointment, stating that her duties as E911 Coordinator are a good fit with the duties she will have as the EMD.

Meier has some of the needed training, and expects to take required training online immediately. Work details with her current Sheriff's Office duties and her EMD position will be determined and managed using other counties with similar personnel situations as a model of how to coordinate all responsibilities. Currently, the appointment is for the remainder of 2020, which will give the County time to work out the compensation funding for 2021.

In other action, the BOCC approved and signed an Interlocal Agreement and Right of Access with the Port District for extending broadband to the fairgrounds, contingent upon review and approval by Prosecutor Matt Newberg.

Dixon reported from last week's meeting with the Washington Rural Counties Insurance Program (WRCIP) representatives. The BOCC and Columbia County officials discussed the possibility of switching from the Washington Counties Risk Pool (WCRP) to the WRCIP for property coverage. The discussion was prompted by the projected increases in insurance premiums for the next two to three years. It was determined at the meeting that the County will need to send a letter of intent to withdraw from the risk pool by Sept. 30, 2020, but they are locked into the current contract for now. The letter of intent will allow them to withdraw by April 1, 2021, and will give the County time to research other insurance coverage opportunities. The BOCC did ask the WRCIP for a quote to consider.

Public Works Director Grant Morgan reported on the completion of the Gould City-Mayview Phase 4 project. The initial contract bid was $1,747,000; however, the project will end at about $1,843,000, due to some unexpected extra costs caused by soft spots in the soil. The project has run about $95,000 to $96,000 over budget. He added that there is $232,000 left in grant funding to finish the project, and the last elements of work will be finished this week.

Morgan also requested an addition to the BOCC's agenda in the next few weeks to meet and talk with Tom Ruchert and Del Groate, Pomeroy High School's golf coaches, about an upgrade project to the golf cart pathways. The project will be a joint effort with the City of Pomeroy, which has set aside about $50,000, and some other possible funding sources. They will be putting together information to present to the BOCC.

The fund for the Gazebo project at the City Park is doing well, reported Morgan. The fund now has $13,000, with more expected to come in to the account being held at the Bank of Eastern Washington. The Shepherd Foundation is expected to contribute in November. Morgan estimates that the entire project should be completed at a cost of $21,000–$25,000. Any remaining money in the fund, should it exceed what is needed for the Gazebo, would go towards upgrades to the park for the tennis and basketball courts.

The next meeting of the Garfield County BOCC will be Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, at 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend by teleconference.