Grant County Fiscal Court approves claims and departmental budgets; formally disclaims ownership of Grantland connector road

The Grant County Fiscal Court on Jan. 7 approved routine financial items and departmental fiscal orders and voted to record a resolution stating the county will not adopt a 50-foot connector easement in Grantland Estates.

The order of business opened with unanimous approval of the Dec. 17, 2024, meeting minutes and the claims for the general, road and jail funds dated Jan. 7, 2025. The court then heard presentations and voted to approve annual budgets and the statutory “annual order setting maximum amounts for deputies and assistance” for the county clerk and the sheriff.

Grant County Clerk Tabitha Clemens presented the clerk’s proposed 2025 budget and a short review of 2024 trends. “I’m happy to entertain any questions in regards to the budget that’s presented this evening for 2025,” Clemens said. She told the court the office had an uneven fourth quarter in 2024, said staffing levels had been trimmed to conserve funds, and reported the budget before the court “has us bringing in 8,600,000 in revenue and leaving a book balance of about $1400,” while noting invoices were still pending and that she was awaiting final figures. Clemens also described recent staffing losses in the motor-vehicle and recording/elections lines and said the office expected a difficult first quarter of 2025 as one employee prepares for maternity leave.

Sheriff Dennis Weitzer attended his first fiscal-court session as the county’s newly seated sheriff and presented his office’s annual order. Weitzer summarized operational pressures facing the department, including staffing turnover and equipment problems. “Calls for service is probably up about a 100,” Weitzer said, and he reported five applicants were in the hiring pipeline to fill three deputy positions and that some civilian service officer positions had also turned over. He also described electrical issues on newly upfitted patrol vehicles and said the two cars that experienced problems were expected to be covered under warranty.

The court spent the largest portion of discussion on a title/roadway housekeeping matter in Grantland Estates. Court members and staff recounted that plats approved by Grant County Planning and Zoning in 1978 and 1991 showed a 50-foot easement for a connector between Grantland Drive and Spillman Drive. County staff reported the easement was never improved as a public road, no county funds were used to build it, and the property appears to remain in private ownership. Clerk and staff recommended the court document, for the record, that the county does not claim the section as a county road and has no present intention to adopt it.

After discussion about whether to memorialize the position via a minute entry, motion or resolution, the court voted to initiate and approve a resolution affirming that Grant County is not adopting the section of the connector road in Grantland Estates shown on the plats. County staff said the resolution would be drafted and placed in the minutes with a resolution number at the next fiscal-court meeting to assist any future property conveyance or title work.

Other reports: the judge praised the road department and first responders for extended storm work after a major snow-and-ice event earlier in January, saying crews worked around the clock and expected to have roads cleared by the evening. A short citizens’ address period produced no substantive developments requiring court action.

Votes at a glance - Approval of regular meeting minutes (Dec. 17, 2024): motion carried by voice vote; mover: Magistrate Coldon; seconder: Magistrate Humphrey; outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote; individual tallies not specified in the transcript). - Approval of claims dated Jan. 7, 2025 (general, road, jail funds and transfers): motion carried by voice vote; mover: Magistrate Humphrey; seconder: Magistrate Riley; outcome: approved. - Approval of the Grant County Clerk’s 2025 budget and annual order setting maximum amounts for deputies/assistants: motion carried by voice vote; mover: Magistrate Riley; seconder: Magistrate Coldon; outcome: approved. Clerk reported pending invoices and staffing shortages; stated figures as presented to the court: revenue "8,600,000" and book balance about "$1,400" (as spoken in the meeting). - Approval of the Grant County Sheriff’s 2025 budget and annual order setting maximum amounts for deputies/assistants: motion carried by voice vote; mover: Magistrate Coldon; seconder: Magistrate Humphrey; outcome: approved. Sheriff reported increased call volume, ongoing hiring, and electrical issues with recently upfitted vehicles (two units under warranty). - Resolution initiating court position that the county is not adopting the 50-foot connector easement in Grantland Estates (plat approvals 1978 and 1991): motion carried by voice vote; mover: Magistrate Riley; seconder: Magistrate Humphrey; outcome: approved. County staff will draft a formal resolution for inclusion in the minutes at the next court meeting.

The court adjourned after scheduling its next regular meeting for Jan. 21, 2025.