Commissioners approve county marketing contract with Meadowlark Marketing, $3,750 monthly retainer

Valley County commissioners on Sept. 24 approved a contract for marketing and public-relations services with Meadowlark Marketing (agency name in packet) with a monthly retainer of $3,750.

Public relations officer Mackenzie Kramer gave commissioners a report on social-media and web analytics, noting roughly 110,000 impressions and about a 9.5% engagement rate over the past 30 days; she recommended establishing consistent communications and draft FAQs and talking points for upcoming impact-area public hearings. Kramer explained the contract options: a monthly retainer intended to smooth costs and provide predictable staffing, or hourly billing at a capped $100 hourly rate. The retainer was presented as an average of historical work (roughly 37 hours per month) and offered budget predictability.

A motion to execute a marketing services contract with Meadowlark Marketing, including a monthly retainer of $3,750, was moved and seconded; commissioners voted in favor. Commissioners asked staff to finalize the memorandum of understanding and confirm contact details in the contract; staff responded that the contract had been corrected to show $1,000 per month was actually $1,000 per month was incorrect in the initial draft and had been updated prior to the vote.

Staff said the marketing effort will prioritize public information around the impact-area hearings and the county's new grant program.