Benton County approves bulk consent agenda, OKs malt-beverage permit and inmate housing agreement

The Benton County Board of Commissioners approved most consent agenda items and separately voted on several pulled items during the special meeting.

Earlier in the meeting the board moved to approve consent agenda items 1 through 6 and 8 through 11, with items 4, 7 and 10 pulled for separate consideration. After discussion and a correction to item 4 (an outside-agency funding line), the board approved the corrected consent item by roll call.

Item 7 — an application tied to a farm winery seeking a county malt-beverage (3.2) license in combination with a wine license — drew a brief exchange. County staff explained that state rules treat the combination of a county wine license and a county 3.2 license together with the state farm-winery license as permitting “strong beer” service under state law. Following the clarification, the board moved and passed approval of item 7 by roll call.

Item 10 involved a proposed joint powers agreement to house inmates from other jurisdictions. Commissioners asked whether the $75-per-day figure in the joint powers agreement was state-mandated. Sheriff Troy (online for the meeting) and staff told the board that the state sets the statutory amount for housing inmates under the agreement and that the county’s internal fee schedule for housing other counties can be higher; the joint powers agreement would use $75 per day. Commissioner questions about the county’s actual per-inmate cost prompted staff to say they would research and report back. The board approved the joint powers agreement by roll call.

The board recorded aye votes on the motions to approve these pulled items; specific roll calls were taken for each.

Other routine consent items were handled as part of the motion to approve the consent agenda.