County retains current standard of funding for Superior Court Judge's Administrative Assistant

POMEROY-The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) decided on the criteria of determining Garfield County's share of funding the Superior Court Judge's Administrative Assistant position, and discussed insurance details at their meeting on November 7.

The Superior Court Judge's Administrative Assistant position serves Garfield, Asotin and Columbia Counties and is jointly funded by all three. Asotin County requested the shares be determined by tax assessed value, in the same manner as the funding for the Superior Court Judge's position. The BOCC determined to maintain the current standard of population basis, as it more closely reflects the share of service that Garfield County receives from the position. The current share of funding for Garfield County is 8%.

Garfield County's insurance coverage through Washington Rural Counties Insurance Pool will renew on December 1. The county will not have a rate increase due to a two-year rate lock that was agreed upon when the county joined the pool in 2021. The commissioners are expecting a significant rate increase when the lock expires and discussed options of cutting costs with Obenland & Low insurance agents Adam Hodges and Rochelle Williams, including lowering the insured square footage of some county buildings and negotiating risks based on past and future trainings on WRCIP-provided simulators.

In further business, County Road Crew Chief Rod Norland gave a maintenance report of the road crew's activities. They have been preparing for the onset of winter weather and taking care of trees downed in last weekend's windstorm.