Elko County Board of Commissioners

Transcription

1 Elko County Board of Commissioners Commissioners Sheri Eklund-Brown Demar Dahl John Ellison Charlie Myers Warren Russell Elko County Manager Robert K. Stokes STATE OF NEVADA, ) COUNTY OF ELKO. ) ss. The Board of Elko County Commissioners met on Monday, May 18, 2009 at 4:00 p.m., in Room 105 of the Elko County Courthouse at 571 Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada. There were present: County Commissioners Sheri Eklund-Brown, Chair ABSENT Demar Dahl John Ellison Charlie Myers ABSENT Warren Russell County Manager Robert Stokes CFO/Asst. Manager Cash Minor Deputy Comptroller Debbie Armuth Deputy District Attorney Kristin McQueary Deputy County Clerk Marilyn Tipton Library Director Jeanette Hammons District Court I Linda Sarman Carlin Justice of the Peace Teri Cantrell NDF Fire Mgt. Officer Sam Hicks NDF Elko Battalion Chief Keith Westergard Treasurer Rebecca Erickson Assessor Katrinka Russell Chairman Eklund-Brown called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. Commissioner Ellison led the meeting participants in the Pledge of Allegiance. I. COMMENTS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC: No comments were submitted from the general public. PAGE 1

2 II. NE AREA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT: Request for authorization to apply for a FEMA Equipment Grant in the amount of $149,980. This grant will purchase nine (9) sets of Personal Protective Equipment and requires a 10% match in the amount of $14,980. Keith Westengard, Elko County Battalion Chief, explained that they would actually apply for a federal grant for 90 air bottles to be used in the entire county, which was in his original budget request. He stated that over the next three years these bottles would expire. He noted the grant would also acquire 30 sets of protective clothing for the eastern half of the County. Keith Westengard clarified that the grant amount was $149, Commissioner Myers asked if they anticipated any money remaining in their budget by June. Keith Westengard stated there would be some savings of about $10,000 to be reimbursed to the County if the grant was awarded to them. Commissioner Ellison asked if they could take approximately $5,000 from contingency. Cash Minor stated that there would be some reimbursement from the State on fire costs and felt they could take the balance out of that. Sam Hicks, NDF Fire Management Officer, explained that there was no specific time frame except the grant deadline. He stated this could carry over into Fiscal Year 2011 because it was a nationwide grant. He stated this could extend into the next fiscal cycle but the grant deadline was May 20 th or 22, Cash Minor stated it could come from the reimbursable monies and they would bring it back to the Commission for approval. He asked that they give authorization to apply for the grant. MOTION: Commissioner Myers moved to approve the application for the FEMA Equipment Grant. Commissioner Ellison seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. III. FISCAL YEAR BUDGET: Overview of appropriations by category for all Elko County Funds inclusive of any other items that may need to be reviewed with possible approval of additional budgetary appropriations and all other matters related, thereto. Commissioner Eklund-Brown disclosed that Randy Brown, her husband, was the Director of Planning and Zoning, and they have separated out his salary for the last two budget hearings. She stated they have given notice about this budget meeting to the Civil District Attorney and Mr. Brown s salary has not been changed. The only amendments were to the Tentative Budget and they would not be voting on the issue of his salary. She noted there were only three commissioners present. A. Review and approval of the Elko County Ambulance Enterprise Fund and all other matters related thereto. PAGE 2

3 Debbie Armuth reviewed a spreadsheet depicting the revenues estimated for the Elko Ambulance Service. She commented that this Board added personnel to this Department and augmented the 2009 budget to include some additional operational expenditures to accomplish several of the goals of the new Ambulance Director. She estimated 1.2 million dollars in revenue based on the actual calls. Debbie Armuth noted some of that revenue had not been received yet because it would come from Medicare. She expected $600,000 from Medicare by Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired about the 30% they had not received in collections. Debbie Armuth replied in some cases it was contract write off or bad debt. She noted it was normal to have a 30% write off in the medical field. Debbie Armuth reviewed the expenditures and stated these estimates were based on previous Board action. She stated they had adjusted the budget by $155,000 and the numbers were shown on page two in the second column. Debbie Armuth stated in 2010 the estimates were based on actions already taken by the Board. The total estimated budget was 1.3 million dollars. There was a $75,000 capital outlay expenditure which was an actual capital asset so they were spending their ending fund balance down. Debbie Armuth stated the last page showed the net profit and that was inclusive of the depreciation that they have to budget for. She noted there was a substantial depreciation in the Ambulance Department. Commissioner Ellison noted they were basing it on the City not running their ambulance. Debbie Armuth stated they were basing it on the past numbers. Commissioner Eklund-Brown felt it would reflect improved service to Spring Creek. Commissioner Myers stated that for the first year the City services would perform first response and would not be ready for transport. Commissioner Ellison noted he had previously objected to the additional personnel but the Board voted in favor of this four to one. He would respect that majority vote and since there were only three commissioners present today he would vote in favor of this. MOTION: Commissioner Myers moved to approve the County Ambulance Enterprise Fund, Section A of the Budget. Commissioner Ellison seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. Review and approval of the Elko County Road Fund, Road Construction Fund, Road Equipment Reserve Fund RTC Fund and all other matters related thereto. Debbie Armuth reported there had been no revenue increase for several years and the Budget Committee would like to treat all of the SRS money the same as they do the PILT funding. Debbie Armuth noted it was collected in one year and not expended until the next ensuing fiscal year. She noted in the Road PAGE 3

4 Fund 110 she did not budget the SRS funding this fiscal year. Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired if they would recover the costs on the Jack Creek Bridge at a later date. Commissioner Ellison noted that would be in the Secure Rural School Fund other than the match. Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated that they would have to form the RAC before they could review the Jack Creek Project. Robert Stokes clarified that they were to use the portion of the SRS Fund for that bridge that required the RAC approval. Cash Minor explained there were three divisions under SRS funding: 1) The money they actually receive for roads; 2) the Title II funds which was the RAC funding through the Forest Service ; and 3) Title III which this Board controls. He stated the Commissioners had the Title I and Title III funding from SRS. Debbie Armuth clarified that the Secured Rural Schools funding was in Road Fund 110 and there was a separate fund established for the RAC funding. Debbie Armuth stated the Road Fund, the general operating fund, included all of the salaries, wages and benefits. She stated there was a request for $390,000 which was an increase of $44, The Budget Committee recommended a $30,000 increase. Debbie Armuth stated that there was some building repair maintenance that Otis wanted to talk about. She stated the shop building was starting to have some problems. She believed the Budget Committee s idea was to wait until the debt service was paid on the new shop building to do the major repairs to the facility. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted that was a difference of $14, from the committee s recommendation. Commissioner Ellison noted that there would be a surplus on PILT and asked if that would be earmarked for the Road Department. Cash Minor stated that funding had not been allocated at this point. Commissioner Ellison felt that was the intent to put the surplus into the roads. Commissioner Myers stated that was the SRS funding and there were three categories on SRS funding. Commissioner Ellison noted they had discussed the extra funding from PILT which was about one million dollars. Cash Minor stated that would have to come to the Board for the decision. Commissioner Myers noted that they discussed the SRS and they had allowed for the committee to be formed. Commissioner Eklund-Brown explained that they had a two and one-half cents gas tax that they had allocated toward roads. Commissioner Ellison noted that in general discussion they had discussed putting more money in the Road Department. Commissioner Eklund- Brown stated that there was some discussion but it was never voted upon. Cash Minor noted that there may be some offset in the PILT funds so the million dollars may be reduced by the offset. Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated the Secure Rural Schools would offset a part of that amount. Debbie Armuth stated that under Fund 110 he would see the Secure Rural Schools funding. Commissioner Ellison noted he had spent a lot of time trying to get the PILT funding and he PAGE 4

5 would like to see it go where they had hoped it would go to. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted that there were other departments that did not get their requests funded either. Debbie Armuth stated that they were transferring $950,000 from the Road Construction money to fund the general operations. She stated the gas taxes were completely flat in this fund and has not risen for over five years. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted that with the increase to the gas tax did she anticipate these two funds would increase based on the state s perception that the County was doing more on our end. Debbie Armuth replied no, that was based on population and road mileage. Cash Minor stated the current gas tax formula revenue would not change until their population went over 100,000. Debbie Armuth noted that the other communities were also growing. Commissioner Ellison inquired if they were seeing a difference in the RTC funds with the two and one-half cents gas tax increase. Commissioner Myers noted there was not much difference because people were not traveling as much so they saw some loses. Commissioner Myers stated part of that money, a $100,000 was taken out for the Spring Creek roundabout and another $100,000 was taken for the Road Advisory Committee. He stated the budget committee discussed recommending that the funding go back into the Road Department because it would take a while for the Road Committee to decide what they see as their priority. Debbie Armuth stated in Fund 109, the Road Equipment Reserve Fund, the Budget Committee recommended $360,000 but the total request was for $421,000. Debbie Armuth noted that was all that was left from the Road Construction Fund to buy equipment with. Otis Tipton stated that a motor grader cost $330,000. He asked to replace two pickups, replace an old tank and one motor grader. Commissioner Myers asked where they would get the money to make the difference. Otis Tipton suggested they take the match from the roundabout that the State was going to pay for. Commissioner Ellison commented that the State wanted that match to be used for safety features. Commissioner Myers stated the State would pay for the roundabout but they wanted the County to address the safety issues. Commissioner Ellison asked if they could take the other half of the cost for the motor grader from the roundabout commitment and schedule for a two year payment. Commissioner Myers inquired where the motor grader was needed and could they stretch the pickups for another year. Otis Tipton stated that the problems they were having at the Road Department was the same problems they were having since he got there. They were running motor graders that were from the 1970 s Otis Tipton stated they have twelve motor graders and they have not replaced one in the last three or four years. He stated they need to purchase one every now and then to retire the older ones. Commissioner Myers noted he had sat on the board for six years and they only PAGE 5

6 had to address one major issue last year. Otis Tipton stated that was the motor grader in Jarbidge. Cash Minor noted they funded $360,000. Debbie Armuth stated they could get a motor grader and one truck. Otis Tipton stated they replace two trucks every year because of the mileage. Commissioner Myers asked what the average mileage was on the trucks. Otis Tipton replied 60,000 to 80,000 a year. Commissioner Myers noted they were buying gassers which were costing money to the taxpayers. Otis Tipton stated that the previous Commissioners position was they run off gas tax and to have diesel pickups it did not put money back into the gas tax. Commissioner Myers believed there would be a savings to the taxpayer of $40,000 to $60,000 because of the amount of time they could run a diesel. Otis Tipton commented upon the expense of repairs on a diesel. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted the equipment, other than the grader came to about $90,000 with $270,000 remaining that could be applied to next year. She felt they could buy two graders next year. Commissioner Myers stated that if they come back with the $100,000 from the Road Advisory Committee then there would be enough funds. He did not think that they should use the $100,000 from the safety fund money on the roundabout. He did not know what the State would require. Commissioner Eklund-Brown suggested a 60/40 distribution. Commissioner Myers felt that they would have to bring that back in Resolution form because they approved it under a Resolution and specifically identified those items. Commissioner Ellison noted one motor grader went down this year. Otis Tipton stated it was the transmission in an old grader. Commissioner Myers felt he should do some research on diesel trucks and if it was not feasible then they should consider extending their vehicles for one more year or 160,000 miles on their gas trucks. Commissioner Myers recommended that they approve this based on having something come back to us on that to separate $60,000 out of the Road Committee or to change the Ordinance. Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated they did that under Resolution. Commissioner Ellison asked what the amount would be. Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated it would be $421,000 instead of the $360,000. Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated it would accomplish all the equipment needed. Debbie Armuth stated in the past they did quite a few major projects and all their maintenance items from the Road Fund 110. She stated in there they would see the Secure Rural Schools funding. She stated they would recognize it 2009 and spend it in Debbie Armuth stated whatever they get in 2010 they would spend in 2011 similar to PILT funding. The big thing was the $950,000 coming from here to the Road Fund 100 and $350,000 was going to the Equipment Reserve Fund 109. She stated $200,000 was for the debt service on the new facility and there was one more year before it was paid for. Debbie Armuth stated that left $48,000 after the transfers out and they pay all the maintenance items for 2010 which was a total of $255,000. Commissioner PAGE 6

7 Eklund-Brown inquired why she did not show any more funding from Secure Rural Schools in the tentative under column 3 and 4. Debbie Armuth stated they would budget it like PILT and would not recognize it until they do the 2011 budget. Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired if they had already received the $450,000. Debbie Armuth replied in the affirmative. Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated they would not know what the amounts would be for the other two years. Debbie Armuth stated that was why they were not spending it until they got it. Commissioner Ellison inquired if the weed abatement would go up. Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated it may be reduced at the state level and felt it was reduced to $35,000 by the state. Commissioner Ellison noted the budget did not give them much room if they have any problems. Commissioner Myers suggested they take the other $40,000 from the Road Advisory Committee budget and put it into this Fund. He recommended that $60,000 go to the Equipment Reserve Fund and the $40,000 go to Fund 110. Commissioner Ellison agreed. Debbie Armuth stated Fund 113, RTC Fund showed an increase with the additional gas tax. She stated they took the Road Advisory Committee out of the 2009 because they did not assume they would spend anything in 2009 and they moved it to She stated that was the actual allocation based on the gas tax that they actually received. She explained that they allocate RTC the same way they do PILT and they don t spend the funds until the next year. Commissioner Myers felt they could move $60,000 out and it would still leave $97,000 because they budgeted $157,000. Commissioner Myers suggested they put some in Fund 110. Commissioner Ellison requested clarification. Commissioner Myers stated under Road Advisory Committee it stated $157,811. He suggested $60,000 be taken out of Road Committee and go to Road Fund 109 and $50,000 go to Road Fund 110 and that leaves $47,000 in the Road Committee. Commissioner Myers stated that Committee could contact the Road Department and maybe they could work something out. Debbie Armuth asked if they would leave the $60,000 for the Road Committee. Commissioner Myers clarified that the $60,000 would move from the Road Committee to Road Fund 109, and the $97,811 that was left would be moved to Road Fund 110. He stated if the Road Advisory Committee had something specific they would like to work on then they could sit down with him, Cash Minor, and Otis Tipton to see if that was feasible. Commissioner Eklund- Brown inquired if the $57,810 was carried over from last year and received an affirmative answer from Debbie Armuth. Debbie Armuth stated that was the roundabout apportionment. Commissioner Ellison noted that the state mentioned the one million dollars for the roundabout when they met in the Governor s Office. They had discussed using that funding for safety features along the road. Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated they rolled over the $57,810 from this year PAGE 7

8 into the Road Committee with the additional $100,000 but they also put another $100,000 for the roundabout. Debbie Armuth requested clarification. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted under budgeted projects she showed the roundabout as $57,810 and then she rolled that down into the Road Committee instead of the Roundabout. She noted that the Roundabout could stay at $100,000 which was enough for safety features. Debbie Armuth explained that they took out the Road Committee in Commissioner Myers noted they did not need the additional $57,000 in the roundabout either because they were not even going to start on the project until Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated that by that time there would be $200,000. Commissioner Myers recommended that they take $60,000 to Road Fund 109 and $97,811 to Road Fund 110. He suggested she leave the Roundabout Year 2 as it was and take the Road Committee funds out. Debbie Armuth clarified that there would be nothing in the Road Advisory Committee Fund. Commissioner Myers stated that if something comes up then the committee could sit down with him, Cash, and Otis. Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired about the cost allocation. Debbie Armuth stated that the cost allocation was what they charge all the funds. She noted that previously it has come out of the County s portion. She believed the question of why it should come from the County s portion should go back to the RTC. Debbie Armuth believed it should come from everyone s allocation. She stated that would reduce the cost allocation to the County. Commissioner Myers asked where that was taken out now. Debbie Armuth stated from the County s allocation from RTC. She stated it was presently $38,000. Commissioner Eklund- Brown inquired if those allocations were proportionate to amounts. Debbie Armuth stated it was compared to their assessed value because that was how they apportion the RTC tax. She believed it should be proportioned equally to the entities MOTION: Commissioner Myers moved to approve the Elko County Road Fund, the Road Construction Fund, the Road Equipment Fund, and the RTC Fund with the changes as noted. Commissioner Ellison seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. IV. FISCAL YEAR FINAL BUDGET HEARING: Pursuant to Notice , conduct and hold a Public Hearing for the approval of the Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2009/2010 for the following entities: County of Elko, Unincorporated Town of Jackpot, Unincorporated Town of Montello, Unincorporated Town of Mountain City, Unincorporated Town of Jarbidge, Tuscarora Water District, and the Starr Valley Cemetery District. PAGE 8

9 Debbie Armuth gave an overview of what they approved. She stated approximately 3.75 of the full time would not be exact because no full time was added until October 1 on an annualized basis. She noted there was $504,203 in personnel requests. There was $203,000 approved in additional personnel for 3.75 FTE s. She stated they approved 74% of their Services and Supplies requests in the amount of $216,000. Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired about the DA s investigator. Debbie Armuth explained that was the paralegal. Debbie Armuth stated in Capital Outlay they had $1.3 million dollars in requests and approved $514,258. She stated two of those items would be annual debt service payments so they were actually services and supplies expense. She stated in Buildings and Grounds there was a total of $333,195 requests and they approved $76,750. Under Community Service requests they had almost 1.2 million dollars in requests and the overall approval was $190,500. Debbie Armuth asked for discussion on the Midas canopy. Commissioner Eklund-Brown had received a request from them that she had submitted to the Budget Committee after their meeting. Commissioner Myers suggested that when they start the budget there should be notification to the unincorporated areas and then if they do not meet the schedule, their request would not be considered. Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated it was $50,000 and they had asked for half and would match dollar for dollar at $25,000. She stated that their request was reduced to $20,000 and they were anticipating the costs would not be as high as $50,000. She stated they believed they would get more donations. She noted their engineer stated they would have to pay prevailing wage. Commissioner Ellison asked to see their numbers before they approve it. Debbie Armuth commented they would still have to go out to bid. Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated they had an engineer. Cash Minor stated this recommendation was on the contingent that they could not have it prior to October 1 and they have to meet with them prior to them getting the check. They wanted to see the bids, plans and the match. Cash Minor stated they would like to see the engineered plans because he did not believe it was a prevailing project unless the bill passed legislature. Debbie Armuth noted they had $15,000 going to CASA and the recommendation was to increase it to $20,000 to save the County money in the long run. She stated there was the same caveat that it would not be available until after October 1 st and they have to meet with finance. Commissioner Myers asked what happened to the bill draft SB 292. Cash Minor stated SB 292 died on the May 15 th deadline. Commissioner Ellison understood they had approved the $15,000 and not the $25,000. Commissioner Myers noted that they had a conversation with CASA when they came back in and they recommended PAGE 9

10 approval under the auspice that SB 292 would pass. He stated that if SB 292 had passed it would have been cheaper to have CASA do it rather than hire attorneys. Commissioner Ellison felt that they should leave it in there but they could bring it back for discussion. Commissioner Myers stated that it would be available after October 1, 2009 and they could not pull it later. Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired if there would be anything available to them by July 1, Debbie Armuth understood it would not be available until October 1, Commissioner Eklund-Brown commented that just recently they had their budget augmented and they were counting on this for a match for their grants. Robert Stokes stated this was reviewed by the Budget Committee and they recommended $20,000. Commissioner Myers noted he presented $15,000 at budget time and $10,000 after the 1 st of October depending upon what took place with SB 292 legislation. He had no problem reducing it back down to $15,000 and if they run out they could come back in and it could come from contingency if they need augmented. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted that they had augmented it $10,000. She voiced support of the organization and felt they reduced a lot of costs. Commissioner Ellison inquired about the Judge s requests. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted that went from one-half to a three-quarter for community service. Commissioner Ellison supported the $15,000 to CASA and if they come back then the $10,000 could be available. Debbie Armuth suggested paying them in quarterly distributions so they could count on a certain amount. Commissioner Ellison stated they could do that internally. Commissioner Myers agreed with the quarterly payments. Commissioner Myers suggested they take it to $15,000 in quarterly payments with the option for them to come back in for additional funds, if necessary. MOTION: Commissioner Myers moved they take it to $15,000 in quarterly payments with the option for them to come back in for additional funds, if necessary. Commissioner Ellison seconded the motion. Commissioner Ellison asked if they were going to make one motion. Commissioner Myers withdrew his motion. Commissioner Ellison refused to withdraw his second. Debbie Armuth stated the total requests recommended for approval was $960,000. She stated the Community Service Coordinator would cost approximately $30,000. She stated Judge Puccinelli has accessed some additional grant funding to pay for additional two-thirds. Commissioner Eklund- Brown noted that person would be in the Juvenile Probation Department. Debbie Armuth stated that they had some part-time wages that they would use to offset that cost. Commissioner Myers understood they would have to pay $3,600. Debbie Armuth stated it would be $14,000. Debbie Armuth explained that the PAGE 10

11 additional cost was $36,000 from the part-time wages but they would have to fund part of the Drug Court Coordinator position. She noted there were two different positions but they were combined. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted they received an from Judge Memeo s office stating that they were already using that person for community service coordination and the funds in their budget were being used for something else. Debbie Armuth stated those funds were being used for a match for the Community Services Coordinator position. Commissioner Ellison asked how they would track this based on what was being said. Debbie Armuth stated the Judge kept good statistics on this. Commissioner Myers noted that in two years they would probably be paying the entire cost for that position because the State would not pick it up. Commissioner Myers noted he had reviewed the budget with Judge Memeo and he felt his budget was fine. Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired where the Community Service Funds were going toward. Linda Sarman stated there seemed to be some confusion on their first budget in March. They did not have the Community Service position worked out with Judge Puccinelli in Juvenile Probation. She stated that has since been worked out and the budget of $303,000 was adequate. Linda Sarman explained that the $4,800 was originally budgeted for Community Service. She noted originally they had a full time Community Service person but there were some changes and they retained a special contract person. She stated now the Juvenile Department has a full time position that they have been using. Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired about rectifying the Carlin court employee position to be consistent with the other courts. Debbie Armuth stated it was discussed and the Budget Committee recommended keeping it the same for one more year and hopefully they can fund it next year. Commissioner Eklund- Brown asked that they work on that in the interim. She noted the employee was currently a City employee and their maximum wage was less than the County s. Commissioner Myers asked how long they had worked like this. Debbie Armuth stated it was a part-time position, they worked seven hours. She noted that now it has become a full time position. Debbie Armuth stated she was actually working for the City of Carlin and the County was paying one-half of her wages. Debbie Armuth stated the City paid for one employee as well. Commissioner Ellison inquired if that was the same as West Wendover and Debbie Armuth stated they were the City of West Wendover s employees. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted in Carlin one employee was County and one was with the City. She explained the County wage level was higher than the City s. She stated that there was a maximum cap on the City wages and she was already at that cap. Judge Teri Feasel understood that they had been working on the budget and did not know of any other meetings held to discuss this further. She was willing to PAGE 11

12 discuss this with them. She recommended they leave it the same this year but requested that they seriously address it next year. She would submit the request again. She previously thought all clerks in the Justice Courts were working eight hours a day but Wells Court was working seven hours a day. Judge Feasel stated that last year Human Resources had asked her to bump it up to eight hours so that all clerks in the County would be on board. She assumed that they were the only court that worked seven hours. Judge Feasel asked that in the new budget it go under the legal and professional services and that there was enough budgeted to cover the wages because this year she put in the half time budget request under salaries and wages. Debbie Armuth stated they would move those wages out of salaries and wages line item. Commissioner Ellison noted they had been doing the same as Wells and Wendover. Debbie Armuth stated they were paying West Wendover for the County Court Clerk. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted here they were all County and in Wells. Commissioner Ellison replied no. Debbie Armuth stated the City reimbursed the County. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted Carlin was the only one that was not consistent. Judge Feasel stated until a year ago she was working three hours for the County and four hours a day for the City of Carlin. The County sent her a check for her wages and also paid PERS but she did not get any vacation or sick leave for the hours she worked for the County because she was classified as a part-time person. Judge Feasel explained there was no full-time, part-time classification even though it was a permanent part-time position. Commissioner Myers stated his issue was HR getting involved when all the courts were different. He stated it depends whether they were a City employee or a County employee and who they were reporting to. He would like to see some kind of Budget Committee with the HR to review all of those positions this year. He noted in the two District Courts they just set a wage and they do not have a clue what the County budget looked like. He felt there should be some consistency in the program. Commissioner Eklund-Brown believed they were reviewing those positions statewide. Commissioner Myers noted that statewide they might be handling more cases. Debbie Armuth explained that previously all County employees were seven hours per day and slowly the departments have changed over to eight hours a day which was a budget issue. Commissioner Ellison noted they were working eight hours. Debbie Armuth explained that was why Human Resources became involved because it became a PERS issue. Robert Stokes stated it was appropriate that be fixed. He noted that those employees were working under the city and county and putting in a full day but they were not getting full benefits. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted they looked at the Judges as whole to find equity in their positions and pay. Robert Stokes had conversations with Human Resources to clean up some things because some positions do not work full time but they were getting benefits. PAGE 12

13 Commissioner Myers did not believe the issue was whether they were working a seven or eight hour day. He believed it matters that if the Clerk in the Judge s office was doing a specific job and was the same as the Clerk in the Wendover Justice Court then the pay should be same based on steps for longevity. Robert Stokes stated the steps where there but they have two separate step systems, the city and the county. Commissioner Ellison commented that they have two clerks in Wendover and one was paid by the city and one was paid one/half by city and one-half by county. He noted the clerk paid ½ by city and county did not receive benefits. Debbie Armuth stated they did make them full time employees. Robert Stokes stated in Carlin they were full time now. He stated when you have two different employees under two different management systems it becomes a major problem if there was a discipline issue that affects both. He encouraged them to put all clerks under the same management. Commissioner Myers felt the Budget Committee should address this. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted they looked for equity in all their departments and department heads and comparables. Cash Minor stated those issues were looked at every time there was a labor contract. Debbie Armuth noted the total requests funded were $950,000. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted the only request altered was the CASA. Debbie Armuth noted CASA, Midas and the Community Service Coordinator were the three updated items. Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired about the offset for the Community Service Coordinator. Commission Myers stated the actual cost to the County would be $14,000. Debbie Armuth stated there were some changes to the Recreation Fund Budget because of the Midas canopy and there was a balance of approximately $44,000. Commissioner Myers stated that he did not vote in favor of the West Wendover fireworks at $2,500 because the cost was less than what they did for ours. He would have suggested $1,000 or $1,500. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted that was the only thing they had asked from the County. Commissioner Myers noted the City of Elko had not requested anything yet. He warned them that next year he would not approve the $2,500 next year. He would approve it this year because they were lacking commissioners. He did not like being in this situation. Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated Commissioner Russell has asked to be excused from the Budget Committee next year. Commissioner Myers asked that be brought up on another agenda item. Debbie Armuth commented that they were approximately $260,000 short from their 8.3% Ending Fund Balance. She stated two other items were not discussed: the Health Consortium and the steam cleaner for NDF. Commissioner Myers stated they had approved the $35,000 but it was not included in the budget. Cash Minor stated there was a bill draft to allow health districts in counties under 100,000 and that was reverted into an interim study. He believed that would come PAGE 13

14 back in two years and felt there would be a push to put all the health services down to the County level. Commissioner Ellison asked about provisions for the Health Nurse and financial impact. Robert Stokes stated the Commission made a motion to provide office space. Commissioner Ellison inquired about the Health Consortium and Debbie Armuth replied $34,460. Debbie Armuth stated the other item was the steam cleaner for the NDF. Commissioner Myers stated because of the state budget they had increased the ECEDA allocation. Cash Minor stated there was no increase in ECEDA. Commissioner Myers stated they discussed this in the Budget Committee meeting and he had asked for an increase of $40,000. Debbie Armuth stated it was regularly $28,000 for ECEDA. Commissioner Eklund-Brown asked if there were new members at different levels. Commissioner Myers stated this was the County participation and it was discussed at the beginning of the budget process. Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired what the total amount was. Commissioner Myers replied $71,000. He had told them at that time it was important to fund ECEDA to get the railport filled and property sold. He suggested that they take notes at those meetings. Commissioner Ellison noted $40,000 was not available. Commissioner Myers stated it would have to come out of their Ending Fund Balance. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted they were already contributing $27,000. Commissioner Myers noted he had suggested an additional $40,000 but if they could not do anything he would contact her. Commissioner Myers stated ECEDA had dropped off eight hours of staff per week. He commented that he had mentioned this at the beginning of the budget process and assumed it was in the Commissioners budget. Debbie Armuth stated that was where they set up the line item. Cash Minor stated the ECEDA line item was $27,000 and that was their base budget amount. Commissioner Ellison suggested they make up the difference to $40,000 and take it from the Ending Fund Balance. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted other companies would be coming in. Debbie Armuth noted the steam cleaner was included for the Elko County Fire Protection District. Commissioner Ellison asked how much the steam cleaner cost. Debbie Armuth replied $6,000 and was included in the budget. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted that included the steam cleaner for NDF, the Health Consortium, and the CASA decrease. Chairperson Eklund-Brown asked for public comment on the budget. Teri Feasel asked if there would be any rate increases for the Tuscarora Water District. Debbie Armuth stated potentially there should be because it was not funding the depreciation of the system. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted that in other areas the increases were gradual but they were not completely funding the depreciation as they should be. Teri Feasel stated their rates went from $15.00 to $35.00 and then up to $ She suggested a gradual increase PAGE 14

15 each year rather than a drastic jump in rates. Debbie Armuth proposed a percentage increase each year. Commissioner Myers noted when they hit the big numbers the people on fixed income could not pay. He agreed they should look at yearly rate increases for the systems to pay for themselves. MOTION: Commissioner Myers moved that they approve the Fiscal Year Final Budget with the recommended changes that Debbie has written down. Commissioner Ellison seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. V. Sign Certification Letters for FISCAL YEAR FINAL BUDGET HEARING: MOTION: Commissioner Ellison moved to approve signing the letters. Commissioner Myers seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. VI. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY STAFF COMMENTS: Commissioner Ellison expressed appreciation to Debbie Armuth and Cash Minor and the Budget Committee for their efforts on the budget. Commissioner Eklund-Brown publicly thanked Robert Stokes who was part of the Budget Committee and the department heads and Judges. She commented that they have been very conservative. She felt that the legislature may have an impact upon the county. She thanked everyone for their hard work. She commented that Commissioner Myers and Russell were on the Budget Committee. Robert Stokes voiced appreciation to the Budget Committee, staff and thanked the three Commissioners for seeing beyond their personal feelings and voting on some issues they did not agree upon. VII. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION: Commissioner Myers moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Ellison seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously. There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. APPROVED, SHERI EKLUND-BROWN, Chairperson ATTEST: MARILYN TIPTON, Deputy Clerk PAGE 15