The York County Board of Commissioners approved funding for two grant requests, reappointed its highway superintendent and reached consensus to keep the courthouse open for an upcoming federal holiday while granting county employees a floating holiday to use in 2025.

The board voted to accept an $84,000 competitive juvenile diversion grant application (EV) and a $177,000 improvement grant for the Henderson Heritage Park building. Commissioners reappointed Harvey Keim as highway superintendent for another year. The board also discussed holiday staffing and decided to keep the courthouse open for the federal holiday and offer employees a floating holiday they may use later in 2025. A swearing-in for newly elected officials was scheduled for Thursday at 9 a.m. in the commissioners’ chamber.

The board conducted routine business at the start of the meeting, including approving minutes from the Dec. 23, 2024 meeting and adopting the agenda for the day. County Attorney Gary Olson told the board that work on several grant files is continuing and that staff expects to return with a fuller grant update in roughly two weeks.

Tristan (juvenile diversion coordinator) briefed the board on the $84,000 EV application, describing it as a competitive allocation that would pay personnel wages and fringe for two existing diversion positions. The application is due the week of the meeting; commissioners moved to accept any award and to submit the application.

Representatives of Henderson Heritage Park presented the improvement grant request and materials showing building progress. Suzanne Ratzlick, chairman of Henderson Heritage Park, said the building’s event space will seat “a little over 100 people” and aims to increase year‑round tourism and group visits. Alex Sadoff of the York County Visitors Bureau described local demand for larger meeting space and noted the visitors bureau had reviewed the project.

Commissioners asked about timing of payments and whether the board should divide the award; the visitors bureau reported an improvement fund balance of about $465,000. The board approved a one‑time payment of $177,000 for the Henderson Heritage project.

On personnel matters, the board reappointed Harvey Keim as highway superintendent for another year. Keim indicated he would accept the reappointment.

On the holiday question, commissioners discussed whether to treat the federal holiday as a courthouse closure (with holiday pay/time‑and‑a‑half implications) or to leave operations open and give employees a floating holiday to use later. County payroll staff agreed to check legal and payroll implications; the board’s consensus was to keep the courthouse open and provide employees one floating holiday to be used in 2025. County court and district court staff noted judicial obligations mean some court offices will remain open regardless of county decisions.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes of Dec. 23, 2024 meeting — outcome: approved (roll-call tally: yes 5, no 0). Motion text: not specified in transcript.
- Adopt agenda — outcome: approved (roll-call tally: yes 5, no 0). Motion text: "I move to adopt the agenda for today." Mover/second: not specified.
- Approve vendor claims and payroll — outcome: approved (roll-call tally: yes 5, no 0). Motion text: "Move to approve the vendor claims and payroll." Mover/second: not specified.
- Reappoint Harvey Keim as highway superintendent — outcome: approved (roll-call tally: yes 5, no 0). Motion text: "Move to approve Harvey Keim as our highway superintendent for the next coming year." Mover/second: not specified.
- Approve submission/acceptance of EV juvenile diversion grant application for $84,000 — outcome: approved (roll-call tally: yes 5, no 0). Motion text: "Move to approve the EV grant for $84,000 for juvenile diversion." Mover/second: not specified.
- Approve improvement grant to Henderson Heritage Park for $177,000 (one-time payment) — outcome: approved (roll-call tally: yes 5, no 0). Motion text: "Move to approve the improvement grant for Henderson Heritage." Mover/second: not specified.

The board recessed after the public business portion of the meeting to conduct a scheduled jail visit and to hold the swearing-in the following Thursday.