The board’s most pressing matter involved the urgent hiring of two social workers for the men’s Choice unit, aimed at reducing lengthy wait times for assessments. Commissioners expressed significant concern over the backlog of 51 people awaiting services. The board confirmed that as long as the positions were fully funded, there were no legal barriers to moving forward with the hiring. A motion to approve these hires was made, seconded, and carried unanimously. The move was seen as crucial for alleviating the workload on long-term staff and providing timely services to residents.

Next, the board discussed the reclassification of the Wetland and Solid Waste Program Lead position. A recommendation was made to upgrade the position from grade 8 to grade 11, with the creation of a senior position at grade 12. The board acknowledged the substantial implications of this role for the county’s economic interests and the need for technical expertise. A motion to approve the reclassification was made and seconded.

In another critical decision, the board approved a 0% increase in health insurance funding for 2025. Amy Dietrich, who joined the meeting virtually, presented the recommendation. She noted that previous larger increases had built reserves and stabilized the health insurance plan, resulting in the current balance of $1.1 to $1.2 million in the health insurance trust fund. This decision was made cautiously, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of health insurance costs but recognizing the improved financial position of the county. The motion was seconded and carried without further discussion.

The board also reviewed the Eagle View Commons septic project, presented by Roxan. The project was completed under budget, with a final cost of $442,076 against an estimated $444,000. Each property owner’s assessment was slightly reduced to approximately $11,070. The financing terms included a 10-year payback period at 1.75% interest, with a clause for immediate repayment upon property transfer. Roxan confirmed the availability of funds coordinated with the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for the project. A motion to adopt a resolution for the assessment of costs was made and received appreciation from commissioners for the effort put into the project.

Attention then turned to the annual presentation of the 2023 audited financial statements, introduced by Monty with representatives from CliftonLarsonAllen present. Kristen H. outlined the required communications and internal control measures of the audit, noting no difficulties encountered, and that the county received a clean opinion on its financial statements. Two internal control deficiencies were highlighted: audit adjustments and segregation of duties due to limited personnel in various departments. Additionally, a deficiency was reported regarding 11 of the 13 active ditches having deficit cash balances, a common issue not resolved by fund transfers year-end. The federal single audit revealed a significant deficiency regarding the ARPA program due to a vendor’s contract lacking a necessary department check.

Eric presented the financial results, noting that the county was above recommended reserve levels in unrestricted fund balances despite a slight decrease from previous years. A $3 million expenditure exceeded revenue this year, attributed to large road projects, while tax revenues remained consistent. Human services revenues and expenditures were reported as consistent, with most years seeing revenues exceed expenditures. Eric also highlighted the decrease in county indebtedness due to the payoff of certain bonds.

The meeting also included a discussion about the reconstruction project involving Gilman and Casa 3 and Casa 5. Chris emphasized the importance of coordinating with Gilman, which had sanitary sewer infrastructure beneath the roadway that needed attention. Gilman had struggled to secure sufficient funding for their project, and a letter from the Gilman mayor requested a delay in the county’s project. The board expressed openness to this delay to avoid reconstructing the roadway while leaving the old sewer system in place.

The board then addressed the maintenance of county ditches, particularly County Ditch 14 Wetlands. Chris presented a report detailing previous conversations about vegetation management. The estimated costs were approximately $4,000 per site for vegetation management. The board discussed the potential for full repairs versus vegetation management, weighing the financial implications and potential delays due to wetland impact mitigation. A consensus emerged to proceed with vegetation management while gathering more information about root structures and wetland impacts.

Lastly, Sandy from Human Services requested the early hiring of two social workers due to significant wait times for assessments, which the board approved unanimously. This decision was framed as necessary to alleviate the workload and provide timely services to residents.