County accepts election and other grants; approves contract waivers for benefits and labor‑negotiation services

Washington County accepted multiple grants and approved several contract waivers at the meeting, covering elections, worker‑comp/disability administration and labor‑negotiation services.

Elections: The county reported remaining spending authority under 2024 grants and new awards for the 2025 cycle. The vote‑by‑mail grant and the general‑election grant were listed with amounts to be recognized and included in budget paperwork to be signed by the chairman; staff said they would present the implementing resolution for finance and board signature.

Benefit administration and labor negotiations: County HR staff presented Benetech, the vendor that administers disability and workers’ comp claims, which proposed a 2% annual rate increase for a three‑year renewal; HR asked for a procurement waiver to renew the contract with the chairman’s signature. Separately, the county’s labor‑negotiation contract (three‑year term) was presented with a proposed increase leading to a $55,200 annual fee; HR requested a waiver to continue the existing provider for upcoming negotiations. Committees approved waivers and will advance the items for full board action and signature.

Other grants and reimbursements: Finance staff reported a $100,000 reimbursement grant tied to county engineering services on a barn project; the committee voted to recognize the revenue and forward the resolution to the full board. The committee also approved a snowmobile trail grant budget amendment increasing 2025 pass‑through revenue and expense by $20,000.

Where votes were recorded, committee members instructed staff to prepare the required resolutions and budget amendments and to forward contract‑renewal waivers with the chairman’s signature for processing.

No procurement competition was initiated at the meeting for the contract renewals; staff said they would prepare the waiver documentation and required resolutions for the board.