Budget discussion continues at County Commission
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DAYTON-Preliminary budget review meetings continued for the Board of County Commissioners during their regular meeting on November 1.
Assessor Chris Mills requested to bring on an additional employee at the beginning of the year, preferably someone who is an accredited appraiser to train to learn the department before her retirement. Columbia County Extension office for WSU interim Director Stephen VanVleet requested a budget increase of $2000 for communications for internet and phone service.
The budget was also reviewed for the Flood Control Zone District and administrator Charles Eaton reported that a grant from FEMA is due to be accepted later in the week which will affect the final budget. The cash balance and revenues going into 2022 currently is at $620,000. Revenues needed for the district to operate is $100,000 which is funded by interlocal agreements with other agencies – two of which are already in place with the County and County Roads, and the other three with City of Dayton, City of Starbuck and State of Washington still need to be readopted. He also proposed holding a public hearing for November 30 at 8:30 about placing the flood levy on the ballot again for next year. The Commissioners agreed.
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Eaton also met with the Commissioners for Public Works to present several resolutions including for seasonal road weight restrictions and specified road closures. A public hearing was set for November 15 to discuss the fee schedule for Parks and Recreation and another public hearing was scheduled to review the Transportation Improvement Plan on December 6.
Also discussed was the approaching vacancy of the administrator position for Public Health. The Commissioners after speaking with staff decided to have two current employees, Chelsey Eaton and Delphine Bailey take on some of the responsibilities for the interim with a pay increase.
Misty Yost from the Emergency Management department read a letter drafted by those in the department on behalf of Director Ashley Strickland in response to recent criticism in a letter to the editors of the paper and on social media.
