Commissioners approve filing notice of interest for infrastructure grant and direct MOU for joint-owned generator

The Weston County Board of County Commissioners voted to file a notice of interest for a 75/25 infrastructure grant to purchase a backup generator for the courthouse and associated facilities and authorized the county attorney to draft a memorandum of understanding (MOU) spelling out ownership and maintenance responsibilities.

County staff said a generator would power servers used by the sheriff's office and support dispatch and courthouse operations during long outages. Board members discussed capacity needs, siting options, fuel costs and long-term maintenance. Commissioners noted that an earlier generator had been purchased for City Hall and dispatch and that the county would want an MOU to clarify who pays fuel and maintenance and who has authority to move or dispose of the unit.

The board heard a preliminary price range from staff based on past purchases (an earlier triple-phase generator and installation was described as costing about $55,000 total), and members directed staff to obtain a rough contractor estimate before the grant application deadline. The board passed a motion authorizing the clerk to submit a notice of interest by the March 17 deadline; commissioners said if the full project cost made the county's 25% match unaffordable, they would withdraw.

Separately the board approved a motion directing County Attorney Michael to prepare an MOU that would include signature lines for all parties and that the MOU be reviewed by the county attorney before the county commits funds.