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County manager reports staffing, grants and planning updates; industrial‑park feasibility and HR platform highlighted
Summary
County manager Candice Bryant updated commissioners on department funding, industrial park feasibility study, hiring and HR process improvements, public health clinics, and CSU extension programming. She reported improved DHS time reporting, work on an IGA with CMC for training, and rollout of a new performance platform, Culture Amp.
County manager Candice Bryant provided a multi‑department operational update covering human services, tourism and economic development, fire resources and training, recruiting and human resources, public health and the CSU Extension partnership.
Bryant said the Department of Human Services has received most state allocations tied to the state fiscal year and reported stronger‑than‑expected state funding outcomes for child‑welfare and adult protective services. The county lost one small grant noted in the supplemental request but reported fewer cuts than were feared. Bryce also praised the Economic Security team for achieving 100% timely reporting for SNAP and Medicaid applications for June — a marked improvement from about 50% the prior year.
On economic development, Bryant said staff moved forward with an industrial‑park feasibility study in collaboration with Johnson Economics and Mead & Hunt to reassess an airport‑related industrial project and evaluate a slightly different site than earlier plans. She said the county wants to confirm viability before committing further resources.
Bryant reported work toward an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Colorado Mountain College (CMC) for a tower agreement and land lease to support training. She also said Lake County Fire Rescue has deployed resources to assist other fires and that 60 fire cadets are in an ongoing academy supported by partnerships.
On human resources and finance, the county launched Culture Amp, a new employee review and engagement platform intended to make performance reviews more actionable and equitable. Bryant said positional budgeting has been fixed in the payroll system, noted a recent internal separation of payroll and time‑entry duties to respond to audit guidance, and reported ongoing hiring — including selection processes for finance director and a new public‑health environmental health specialist.
Public health staff are scheduling immunization clinics and expect to make an offer for an environmental health specialist after interviews. Bryant said funding for public‑health emergency preparedness was confirmed at about 75% for now, with additional federal funds pending. CSU Extension programming continues under a county agreement; Bryant said extension staff are working on classes such as gardening, finance and a forestry academy to support wildfire‑risk reduction and local food production.
Bryant said the county will continue to pursue grants that expand substance‑use disorder treatment capacity and bilingual services, and she urged commissioners and staff to notify her of community needs that CSU Extension could address.
She closed noting that survey results show employees are proud to work for Lake County but identified areas for improvement — notably communicating a motivating county vision and keeping staff informed about operational changes — and said managers will work on those priorities.
