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Grant County sheriff's office warns of rising overtime; board approves small grants and contracts
Summary
County officials reported unusual overtime overruns in the sheriff's office and described training, court and incident-driven overtime tied to federal overtime rules. The board approved a small DNR buoys grant, several building service contracts, a conditional-use permit, cannabis temporary-event rules and other routine items.
Grant County officials told the board the sheriff's office has seen growing overtime costs tied to mandated training, court appearances and incident response, prompting concern about budget formulas and the need for closer monthly monitoring.
Sheriff Troy and Chief Deputy Jen described overtime overages in recent years and explained that federal overtime rules (171 hours in a 28-day cycle) and union contract provisions make some overtime unavoidable. Jen said the department accounted for training, SWAT pay and grant-reimbursed activities but still tracked several thousand overtime hours beyond planned coverage. "Sometimes we have call-ins, court; you can't dictate if they're getting called in for court," she said, noting that short staffing compounds coverage needs.
Board members pushed for concrete budget controls: monthly budget updates from the auditor, an inventory of overtime drivers (training, court, incidents), and a review of budget formulas that determine scheduled hours. One commissioner said the county must be prepared with levy and operational scenarios if cities decline or change contracts.
Amid that budget scrutiny the board approved a series of routine items: acceptance of a $1,586 Department of Natural Resources grant to replace lake buoys; an annual service contract for a generator and elevator at the law-enforcement building; a conditional-use permit for a small rental/retail operation called "Black Silos" (permit 264026401); and a $375 temporary cannabis-event registration fee and application process drafted with public health. The board also approved renewal of the county's email-protection service (Barracuda) and authorized purchase of a $1,031.25 laptop for an extension summer intern. The auditor's absentee/mail-ballot-board authorization resolution was adopted as well.
Sheriff's office leaders told the board they and committee members are collaborating with the budget committee on a plan to control overtime costs, better schedule training and identify where capital or staffing adjustments might reduce payroll pressures. The board asked the sheriff and budget staff to return with an updated plan and monthly budget reporting so elected members can monitor progress before finalizing budgets.
