Crafting of 2021 County budget underway

POMEROY–The Garfield County Employees Group presented the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) with a request for wages and insurance benefits for 2021, during the meeting on October 5.

The premise for the request came from an increase in insurance premiums from the Washington Counties Insurance Fund (WCIF), from $56 to $155 more per month, per employee, depending on the employee's chosen coverage (i.e., for self, self and spouse, or entire family). Currently, county employees pay insurance co-pays, $100 of the premiums for themselves, $200 for coverage of spouses, and $300 for entire family coverage. However, each employee receives $100 per month in a special account to use towards out-of-pocket medical expenses. There are 52 eligible employees.

The letter from the Employees Group requested that the County pay the increases in premiums for 2021 for each employee's life, dental and vision coverage, in addition to retaining the insurance coverage through Premera. They also requested the County pay all other out-of-pocket expenses, except for co-pays, and they asked for a 3% wage increase. The BOCC approve the WCIF Group Master Agreement, continuing the coverage for 2021 as requested by the Employees Group.

Judge Tom Cox also submitted a request for an increase in wages, to $79,850. The commissioners made no decision.

Tina Meier, Emergency Management Director, and Sheriff Drew Hyer, addressed the BOCC regarding the need for updated radio equipment for the Sheriff's Department. Meier cited an incident last week where the main radio system used by dispatch went down. She stated the system was originally purchased in 2004, and has presented difficulties in getting replacement parts.

The Sheriff Department's dispatchers are now depending on a portable back-up system, which can only use one channel at a time. Meier said they can use the back-up system for now, but they do have to replace it as soon as possible. A new replacement radio system is estimated to cost $90,000 to $110,000, and funding resources are getting difficult to find. The expense of the replacement system is what has kept them dependent on the old system that has now failed.

Because a new system would be more of a computer system, Commissioner Justin Dixon would like to see if the County's computer fund could be a possible source of money. Meier also stated that there may be another funding source they can locate that would pay a portion of the cost. Hyer added that a newer system will be stronger and more reliable than the old one, and may reduce some of the dead spots that are often encountered throughout the county.

Hyer also reported that a cougar that had been spotted on Fifteenth Street had been euthanized, along with three others this month throughout the county. The cougar sited on Arlington Street is thought to be still at large. He stated that there had been some backlash from the public about the euthanizing these animals. However, Fish and Wildlife officials say that it is the best action, because if they are relocated, they will just return. He believes that the cougar activity is due to a lot of movement of deer in the community, which will continue with the approaching opening of deer season.

An 10-minute executive session with County Prosecutor, Matt Newburg, was held. No decision resulted from the session. The next meeting of the Garfield County Board of Commissioners will be Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at 9 a.m., rather than on Monday as usual, due to the Columbus Day holiday. The public is invited to attend by teleconference.