Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

DAYTON–The Columbia County Board of Commissioners adopted the $4.8 million 2022 County current expense budget and multiple public works budgets, allocated $90,000 to the Port of Columbia and accepted the resignation of Columbia County Engineer Charles Eaton at the December 20 meeting.

Next year's $4.8 million budget was approved after thoroughly defining each department's needs and wish list during several meetings over the last month.

The Commissioners also approved, two to one, to provide $90,000 for the Port of Columbia broadband grant matching funds requirement. Commissioner Charles Amerein was the dissenting vote with Commissioners Ryan Rundell and Marty Hall in favor.

In addition to passing the budgets and granting $90,000 to the Port, the BOCC went into executive session with Eaton and upon return, approved the resignation of Eaton effective after January 28. The commissioners extended their appreciation and wished him well in the future.

They discussed the transition ahead and considered the staff already employed by the County that could assume interim positions. Assistant County Engineer Jeremy Weiland would qualify for interim engineer and other staff could possibly share some of the budgetary and personnel duties of the director position for the time being. Hall requested formal job descriptions from Eaton to be provided to them for each of his positions. Other areas Eaton is responsible for as Director is the Flood Control Zone District and FEMA. At the second meeting in January, more will be discussed and finalized for transition.