Public forum: county staff prepare focus groups for comprehensive plan; interest expressed in mental health first-aid training

At the start of the meeting a county staff member reported progress preparing focus groups for a county comprehensive plan and asked the board to circulate invitations and contact lists to reach community stakeholders. The speaker said groups will include realtors, major employers and a separate focus group for residents organized around wind energy so opponents cannot dominate town-hall style meetings.

The speaker also described having completed an hour-long webinar on mental health first aid and expressed interest in scheduling in-person training for county employees. He said certification costs run about $250 per person and that smaller classes have lower per-person prices; he asked county management to share course information with employees so those interested can sign up. Commissioners praised professional development but emphasized that taking on county-wide coordination would be a significant task and suggested the county HR or extension staff could help circulate information.

The public forum remarks also included a request that staff consider inviting a local advisor who understands community development and legislative processes to provide input for the focus groups. The board agreed staff will share materials and that focus-group scheduling and participant lists will be refined with the county planner.