Commissioners delay roadside MOU after debate over $13,343 Master Gardener oversight

Clallam County commissioners on Oct. 8 paused action on a proposed roadside memorandum of understanding that would expand the noxious-weed program—s work on county rights-of-way and public works sites.

County staff told commissioners the proposed MOU would fund a full-time lead specialist, part of a noxious-weed technician—s salary and a program that pays a Master Gardener coordinator $13,343 to manage volunteer roadside monitoring. The noxious-weed fund is projected to open 2026 with a $244,038 balance, $479,512 in revenue and an expected year-end reserve of about $247,304; staff said 2026 expenditures would rise about 6.2% mainly because of personnel changes.

Commissioners and the roads deputy director raised concern that the county—s road fund has been running down reserves and that a larger MOU would add to long-term road-fund pressure. The deputy director told commissioners that road costs were "growing faster than the revenues," and asked for better visibility on indirect charges that had been included in the MOU cost. Staff said removing a projected indirect allocation reduced the MOU to about $190,000 in an updated estimate.

Staff defended the Master Gardener monitoring line as a low-cost oversight mechanism that helps the public and staff alike. The noxious-weed presenter described the monitoring program—s practical value: volunteers walk treated road edges, identify where re-treatment is needed and provide a neutral third-party point of contact for residents who worry about herbicide use. Staff framed the $13,343 payment as a partial salary allocation for Master Gardener coordination, not a payment to volunteer monitors.

After extended discussion, commissioners directed staff to delay finalizing the MOU until the auditor's office issues updated indirect-rate allocations and to consult the prosecuting attorney about whether assessment-derived reserves may fund the Master Gardener oversight. In the interim, commissioners said they would count on the noxious-weed fund balance to bridge any near-term costs rather than approving a final MOU.

What was decided: Commissioners asked staff to update the MOU with the auditor's indirect rate, seek prosecuting-attorney guidance on allowable uses of assessment reserves, and hold final approval until that information is returned. No formal vote was recorded at the meeting.

Why it matters: The decision defers a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar interdepartmental agreement and preserves time for legal and accounting review. It also highlights a recurring budget trade-off: public-outreach/oversight programs (for example, Master Gardener monitoring) can be small in dollar terms yet politically sensitive and that sensitivity can affect funding source choices.

Supporting transcript excerpts: "We are fully staffed right now," said staff about recent hires; staff also described the Master Gardener monitoring program—s value and the $13,343 coordinator allocation for the program.

Next steps: Staff will return the MOU with auditor-provided indirect rates and written advice from the prosecuting attorney on whether assessment reserves can be used to pay the Master Gardener coordination expense.