The county sheriff told commissioners during a budget discussion that persistent transport duties and hospital stays have left the department short-handed and asked for additional staff and vehicles, and commissioners voted to add personnel and allocate funding to address the shortages. "I don't see how we can keep operating with what I've got as far as employees," the sheriff said, and later added, "I'm asking for 2 deputies and 2 jailers."

The request grew out of what the sheriff described as frequent transports in multiple directions on the same day and several lengthy hospital stays that removed deputies from street duties. The sheriff said two recently ordered vehicles are on the way but that the fleet still needs replacements and additional vehicles to support new hires; commissioners were told the two cars under discussion would cost about $184,000.

Commissioners discussed where to place new positions in the county budget. The group agreed — by voice vote — to move two deputy positions into SB 22 and to fund two jailer positions from the county's regular (general) budget; commissioners also approved using SB 22 money to cover two replacement vehicles. The motion carried by voice vote; the meeting record did not include a roll-call tally.

Details discussed at the meeting: the sheriff said the department currently had about 16–17 sworn officers on patrol, with two vehicles en route, and that adding the requested staff would bring the department to approximately 19 sworn peace officers once hires and vehicle deliveries are complete. The sheriff and staff noted that starting pay for a jailer is shown on the budget sheet at about $40,000 and that two vehicles would cost roughly $184,000 together. Commissioners and staff asked the sheriff to confirm position labels and to update the budget worksheet so payroll lines and vehicle purchases appear correctly in both SB 22 and the general fund.

Commissioners emphasized the need to use the SB 22 allocation before drawing further on the general fund; one commissioner said the county should "drain" SB 22 because it is available funding. Staff committed to revising the payroll/position sheet to reflect the agreed changes before finalization.

The action directs staff to update the budget and position listing and to proceed with hiring and vehicle procurement consistent with the funding split the commission approved; staff will bring corrected sheets back to the commission for the record.