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Mercer County Commission approves joint HR/EM agreement with wage cut, authorizes bids and confirms appointments
Summary
At its Feb. 4 meeting the Mercer County Commission approved an amended Mercer‑Oliver Joint Powers Agreement for human resources and emergency management (reducing the hourly wage for those positions by $2), authorized bids for a Golden Valley shop roof, confirmed two board appointments and approved $213,257.57 in bills.
The Mercer County Commission on Feb. 4 approved a package of routine actions, including adoption of an updated Mercer‑Oliver Joint Powers Agreement for human resources and emergency management with an amendment lowering the hourly rate for those positions to $52.94.
The change was made after HR/EM Director Alice Grinsteinner presented the updated agreement. Commissioner Casey Voigt moved to approve the agreement; Commissioner Gene Wolf seconded. Voigt then amended the motion to reduce the hourly wage for both the HR and emergency management positions from $54.94 to $52.94, a $2 decrease; Mark Pierce seconded the amendment. The commissioners voted unanimously on the amendment and again on the final motion (5–0).
Why it matters: the joint powers agreement formalizes shared HR and emergency management services between Mercer County and the partner jurisdiction (referred to in the minutes as Mercer‑Oliver). The approved hourly‑wage reduction will apply to the two positions as described in the agreement.
Other recorded actions at the meeting included: approval of Recorder December revenues of $5,353.40 (moved by Commissioner Jamee Folk; seconded by Gene Wolf; vote 5–0); authorization to solicit bids for repair or replacement of the Golden Valley shop roof after Assistant Highway Superintendent Dennis Olheiser presented a $37,300 quote from Western Steel Builders (motion by Gene Wolf; seconded by Jamee Folk; vote 5–0); and approval of the bills as presented totaling $213,257.57 (motion by Mark Pierce; seconded by Gene Wolf; vote 5–0). The minutes list the vendors and amounts approved in the bills packet.
On appointments, the commission revoted a tied motion from a prior meeting and approved Andy Thomas for the Planning and Zoning Board in a 3–2 vote (Folk, Voigt and Pierce aye; Wolf and Chairman Rick Bauman nay). The board also unanimously appointed Brian Kerns to the Water Board (motion by Casey Voigt; seconded by Jamee Folk; vote 5–0). Commissioners unanimously approved moving the March meeting from Wednesday, March 4, 2026, to Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
The meeting recessed at 9:45 a.m., reconvened at 10:00 a.m., and adjourned at 10:46 a.m. The next regular commission meeting is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the Mercer County Government Center boardroom in Stanton.
