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County reviews new hires and reclassifications including victim advocate, OSA technician and wildfire‑grant crews
Summary
The commission heard detailed requests to add or reclassify staff across departments including mandated victim services, arena maintenance, film commission support, airport administrative hours and a suite of wildfire‑mitigation positions. No final personnel votes were taken; commissioners asked for cost breakdowns and grant clarifications.
Grand County commissioners examined a package of new position requests and reclassification proposals Nov. 5 during a budget workshop but postponed final approvals pending further documentation and cost scenarios.
Human Resources presenter Tess Barger walked through requests submitted by departments. She said the County Attorney’s Office has requested a part‑time victim advocate after a memorandum of understanding with Moab City Police that previously provided those services will not be renewed. "We're required to provide victim services," Barger said, and the proposed role would serve the sheriff's office, attorney's office and the Children's Justice Center.
Other requests included: • Old Spanish Trail Arena — additional maintenance technician. Staff said OSA staff cover a seven‑day schedule, overtime is already over budget, one technician position has been vacant since July and the 2026 event schedule shows heavy weekend use. • Film commission assistant — part‑time (≈25 hours/week) to support the Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission director; funded from TRT promotion funds and possibly deferred until a new director is hired. • Noxious weeds and wildfire grant hires — a four‑year Community Wildfire Defense Grant supports two existing full‑time positions and proposes additional full‑time fuels‑reduction staff and up to four seasonal crew members (≈900 hours each). Barger said salaries for those positions are grant‑reimbursable but benefits would be a county cost. • Airport staffing changes — reclassify a lead operations specialist to operations manager (mandated by an FAA audit to be in place by Dec. 31) and a request to convert a part‑time airport administrative assistant to full time; the Budget Advisory Board proposed an alternative to hire an additional part‑time assistant to reduce the general‑fund impact.
Commissioners repeatedly asked for clearer cost breakdowns: staff salary step assumptions, benefit costs, and whether grants will reimburse salaries or require county match for benefits. Several commissioners urged a countywide salary survey — the last comprehensive survey was in 2021 — and requested staff develop a prioritized list and scenarios showing general‑fund impacts if specific requests are approved.
No formal personnel approvals were recorded in the meeting. Staff was directed to return with requested spreadsheets, grant language and the estimated general‑fund share for each personnel request.
