By Mari Radtke
Two new people are under consideration to be part of the Commission to Assess Damages. Members of this committee are selected when needed to determine fair value for condemnation proceedings. No action was taken. Two other sitting members of the committee are expected to leave the county in the near future.
Jared Johnson, EMS Director returned to share some conversations with representatives of Cherokee Regional Medical Center (CRMC) about their ambulance operations. CRMC operates a centrally located ambulance service covering all of Cherokee County. He requested approval from the supervisors for the prior week’s increased funding request for the 2023 Fiscal Year budget. It was approved.
Travis Scott, O’Brien County Conservation Director requested $20,000 be transferred from the general fund to the salary line item of Conservation. The transfer was approved and will be part of the budget amendment presented for public hearing at a later date. The move was said to cover costs resulting from the “Separation Agreement” with former Assistant Director Amber Wetherell.
Wetherell’s settlement amounted to just over $25,000. The remainder of her budgeted and funded salary for the remaining fiscal year would be approximately $19,000.
Auditor Barb Rohwer said the move was caused because as the agency was operating in the winter months with a much lower than budget payroll the OCCB approved the transfer of $20,000 from the salary line to equipment line to purchase playground equipment for Dog Creek and Mill Creek Parks. Other playground equipment approved for purchase is being paid for with ARPA funds.
Scott reported to the board in the February meeting that some of the playground equipment will not be received in the current budget year. The funds will either be returned to the county’s general fund or different spending from the equipment line item will have to take place.