Washington County EDC seeks county-leased employee under MOU; commissioners agree to place item on consent agenda

Tracy Andrews, president of the Washington County Economic Development Council, asked the Board of County Commissioners to approve a memorandum of understanding that would make the EDC’s next executive director a county employee while the EDC covers the department’s insurance and benefit costs.

Andrews said the MOU is “critical to helping us provide a full benefit packet and attract a highly skilled executive director,” and that other rural communities have used similar arrangements. She told the board the EDC has vetted benefit tiers (bronze, silver, gold) but that the final cost will depend on whether the hire enrolls as single or family coverage.

County staff and the county attorney reviewed the MOU during the presentation and confirmed the arrangement would create one new county full‑time equivalent (FTE) because the employee would be a county payroll employee. Commissioner discussion focused on funding and oversight: Commissioners and staff clarified the EDC would reimburse the county for insurance costs and would exercise hiring/management authority under the MOU while the county would hold the employment relationship on payroll records.

After questions, the board directed staff to place the MOU on the consent agenda for the next commissioners’ meeting for final action.

The EDC also announced a February “EDC 101” outreach session for local officials and stakeholders to coordinate economic development planning and asset inventories for future site opportunities.