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Commissioners approve budget amendments including medical examiner funding and health‑department relocation costs
Summary
The board approved a package of budget amendments: $70,000 for medical examiner services, $54,012 to support temporary relocation and upfit of the health department, a position‑count update to add an attorney, reductions to two project ordinances tied to grant closeouts and bid results, and a dentist contract requisition for the health department.
Finance Director Heather Wood presented several budget amendments and project‑ordinance changes the board approved by voice vote.
Key items approved included a $70,000 appropriation from fund balance to cover professional services for medical death investigations and autopsies, which Wood said exceeded the originally budgeted $45,000 after heavy usage in the first five months of the fiscal year. Wood explained that county payments can include about $200 for the examiner to respond and between $1,600 and $1,700 if the state performs an autopsy.
The board also approved $54,012 to help cover rent and minor upfit costs for a temporary health‑department relocation, with roughly $35,000 earmarked for rent. The board increased the county attorney office position count to six so it can advertise for another attorney to help with caseload.
Two project ordinances were adjusted: a farmland‑preservation grant was reduced and funds returned to the state after the project did not proceed; and the IDF (International Logistics Park) water/sewer/road extension ordinance was reduced by $357,734 because the construction bids came in under the engineer’s original $2.6 million estimate. Finance staff said the IDF grant remains at no cost to the county as a Tier 1 applicant.
The board also approved requisitions including a $119,600 contract for a dentist for the health department. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about expenses and fund‑balance capacity before approving the full package.
