Health department, aging services and community development seek targeted staffing and capital funds

The county health director and community-development staff presented multiple personnel and capital requests that the commission will consider during budget adoption.

Health and aging: The health director asked to reclassify a health educator and an emergency planner to reflect expanded responsibilities, and to move three part‑time aging workers (one Meals on Wheels driver and two food-prep workers) to half‑time to sustain increased service demand; the aging change would require approximately $30,000 from the general fund. The director said Meals on Wheels deliveries have roughly doubled since 2019 and remain at a plateau requiring more staffing.

Capital and operations: The health department requested $36,000 from the general fund to run fiber from the CJC to the transportation garage to support digital locking and camera systems, $26,000 for a six‑bay carport to protect Meals on Wheels vehicles during winter and speed morning deployment, $10,000 to asphalt a parking lot, $20,000 to secure vaccine cold‑chain equipment for the Wendover clinic, and modest audio/ touchscreen upgrades at the senior center.

Community development: Staff requested promotion of the GIS administrator to GIS manager and a transportation‑plan update ($100,000) that incorporates UDOT connectivity and Safe Streets recommendations, a replacement inspector pickup ($55,000), and funding for engineering‑contract rebid and grant‑writing services. Economic development expenses were projected slightly lower in 2026 than in 2025.

Outcome: Commissioners asked clarifying questions about cost sources and implementation; no formal approvals were made. Staff were asked to include these items with funding sources in materials for the next budget meeting.