Childcare system to be explored

POMEROY-The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) approved funding for initial advertising for a childcare navigator; approved a bid for sidewalk construction; and passed a resolution rescinding a temporary overtime policy at their meeting on March 3.

The BOCC approved funding initial advertising for a childcare navigator position, who will do the legwork of creating a daycare system under supervision of a committee consisting of Garfield County Public Health District (GCPHD) Administrator Martha Landman, Pomeroy City Councilwoman Rachel Herres, and Mayor Jack Peasley. The position will be as a temporary contractor, and the initial advertising will be paid for through the County’s Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Funds money. There is Foundation of Public Health Services funding available for the position, and the matter will come before the GCPHD board at their meeting on March 18.

The commissioners also approved a bid from Tucannon River Construction for sidewalk construction for the Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum. The bid is for $20,090.38, and the funding is coming from a grant from the Harold and Helen Shepherd Foundation. The project will begin immediately.

The BOCC passed resolution 2024-05, rescinding resolution 2023-11 which authorized a temporary overtime policy for the Garfield County Dispatch office due to short-time need caused by low staffing. The policy has been deemed unnecessary due to increased staffing. Resolution 2024-05 will take effect at the end of March.

The board was approached by Garfield County Memorial Hospital Co-CEO Mat Slaybaugh in an effort to secure local support for construction of an imaging suite at the Hospital that will include a CT scanner. The project is estimated to cost over $3.5 million, and the Garfield County Hospital District is seeking congressional funding for at least 2 million. The commissioners stated their intent to draft a letter of support for the project.