Commission presses to start recruitments and pauses KVOC jail-rate change pending sheriff and city input

Commissioners discussed next steps on staffing and a separate policy item affecting jail billing.

Several commissioners said the public works administrator and the CVV director positions need prompt action because vacancies have left one employee covering multiple duties. Commissioners asked staff to compile interview lists and said they planned to schedule interviews in late December or the first week of January; they requested names of potential interviewers by the end of the following business day.

Separately, the commission reviewed a resolution related to KVOC that appears to change the per-diem rate charged at the county jail. One commissioner read a statute and emphasized that local rates must match the resolution language. Commissioners expressed concern about revenue impacts, the county’s existing interlocal agreement with Junction City (which pays a flat rate), and possible downstream effects on dispatch and jail operations. They agreed to involve the sheriff’s office and Junction City in renegotiation and to avoid implementing any rate change until those parties had been consulted.

No formal action on the KVOC/resolution item was taken at the meeting; the commission directed staff to get the matter done "ASAP" but to confirm terms and stakeholders before finalizing any change.