Board approves sheriff's requests for a deputy credit card, staff phone lines and assigns highway to maintain radar signs

Grant County commissioners approved several public-safety and equipment items requested by the sheriff during the work session, including a credit card for a newly hired deputy, county cell-phone lines for key records and systems staff, and a plan to fund maintenance of radar speed signs from the highway budget.

The sheriff announced the March 23 hire of Deputy Monica Mets and asked that the county issue a credit card for overnight training and equipment purchases; the board approved the motion by voice vote. The sheriff also told the board that the records supervisor (Tina) and the local system administrator (Josh) had been using personal phones for work and recommended the county provide phone lines so official communications and data requests would not attach to personal devices. The board agreed and approved adding county phone lines for those roles; staff said older county phones are available and monthly line costs are roughly $36–$40 per line.

Commissioners discussed 14 radar speed signs around the county (three were reported broken) and debated whether maintenance funding should sit with the sheriff's budget, the highway budget or 911 funds. Opinions differed about which fund was appropriate; the board ultimately approved a motion to charge maintenance to the highway department budget and asked the sheriff and highway staff to coordinate on repairs, data access and budgeting for future replacements.

The sheriff also recognized several deputies and dispatchers who have been assigned additional duties or training and who are receiving incentive pay; he read a list of names and roles to the board.

Staff will follow up to execute phone-line arrangements and to provide an estimate for anticipated maintenance costs for the radar signs ahead of next year's budgeting cycle.