Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes May 29, 2020

May 29, 2020

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular session with Supervisors Bierschenk and Seeman present, Primmer participated via zoom, and Bierschenk acted as Chair and called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Members of the public were provided the zoom access capability to join in during open session and watch live at the county's YouTube channel. Unless otherwise noted, all actions were approved unanimously.

Seeman moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #20-36, Employee Wage and Classification Change. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #20-36

Employee Wage and Classification Change

WHEREAS: Benton County has an employee that has been employed by Benton County for six months, and

WHEREAS: Upon the completion of the probationary period the base wage is to be increased from the starting wage

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Benton County Board of Supervisors that the hourly base wage of Richard McNamara be set at $21.47 effective May 25, 2020. This position carries a Labor Grade IVB classification.

Signed this 29th day of May 2020.

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Rick Primmer, Chairman

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Gary Bierschenk

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Tracy Seeman

ATTEST:

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Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

Benton County officials are moving forward to draft a policy for plans and procedures regarding the COVID Pandemic and how to work on getting the facilities and offices open to the public. Sheriff Ron Tippett provided an update after his most recent meeting with the director of public health for Benton County. People are still obviously encouraged to continue social distancing and using protective equipment. Scott Hansen, Emergency Management Director explained how the protective equipment he is provided can be issued.

The court system has a draft on guidance for suggestions on opening up the buildings. The court will also have to get its own protective equipment. Courts will rely on video conferencing until then. The County Attorney urged the need for a written policy that can be drafted and approved before a decision is made. He would like to see masks required. Overall everyone agreed to keeping the building as restricted as possible and how to handle screening and masks at the entrance. Everyone agreed to try and limit to one person per family if necessary to come in, calling ahead for appointments, restrooms for employees use only etc. And for those things that can be done on line to continue doing so or utilizing the drop boxes at the west entrance. Lexa Speidel, Recorder, mentioned how some counties never closed, and how neighboring counties will be opening in June. Her office was ready to open back up. Melinda Schoettmer, Treasurer outlined how her office will try and require appointments for issuing driver's licenses. This topic brought up further discussion on extending deadlines on licenses, registrations and property taxes and possibly even cancelling the tax sale. Auditor Hayley Rippel relayed how nobody can plan for such a pandemic, and how all of these things have already affected budgets and will only continue to do so moving forward. Local Option Sales Tax will probably decrease along with road use tax and not to mention the interest collections we can't collect and how this will continue to trickle down to our county level. We want to keep our employees and public all healthy, yet we have to continue getting our work done. We are being paid to do our jobs with taxpayer's dollars. Hansen and Rippel are working together looking into applying for some reimbursement and encouraged everyone to continue marking their added expenses due to COVID for easier tracking. Sanitarian and Land Use Administrator, Marc Greenlee said he sees people out in the public that a huge part of his job can't be done over the telephone or on line. Life has to go on, so we're going to assume some risks because we are employees. Supervisor Seeman would like to see employees reporting back to working in the office vs from home, but was worried about a jump in the curve as more things open up everywhere. This followed up the earlier discussion for how having one positive case get into our county courthouse, how this could shut us down completely in a hurry. If employees are required to report back to work at their offices and are at risks in terms of health, what will be required or a plan for them to continue to be able to work from home.

As for the Conservation Department, they will continue to stay at Level 1 for parks, and will discuss opening up more next week. Karen Phelps, Director of Conservation said they are monitoring at two-week intervals and also watching what other counties are doing.

Officials will continue preparing their offices and relaying their department information and suggestions to Scott Hansen who will draft a policy that can be discussed before being approved. The overall goal in mind is to get every office ready with preparations made to open back up to the public by Monday June 15, with added restrictions and proper guidelines in place. No action was formally taken but will be discussed further at next week's board meeting to allow for more time preparing the policy and to also keep an eye on the curve in Benton County.

Seeman moved//Primmer seconded: To adjourn. Motion carried.

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Gary Bierschenk, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor