Daniels County approves claims, audit contract and elected-officer wage resolution; board backs Highway 13 tribal grant

Daniels County commissioners used their July 21 meeting to clear routine financial business and approve several motions affecting county pay and contracting.

The board approved claims and journal vouchers after the customary motions and voice votes. Commissioners then moved and approved a four-year audit contract (contractor referenced as Olness in the meeting) with an anticipated increase in annual audit fees over the term.

On compensation, commissioners considered a compensation-board recommendation and approved Resolution 2025-8 to set elected-official wages, implementing a 76-cent raise. Minutes show the resolution was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. Later in the meeting, the board also moved to give all hourly employees a 76-cent raise and directed commissioners to re-evaluate hourly compensation and longevity policies as a team.

Commissioners also voted to send a letter of support for a tribal grant application to improve Highway 13 and seconded and approved the motion by voice vote.

The board had a broader conversation about budget timing and uncertainties in mill-levy calculations, noting changes in valuation and the need to complete the budget once state revenue and assessment figures are final. Staff and commissioners discussed how carryover cash, contributions and mill levy revenue interact and whether contribution funds could be moved into equipment accounts to build toward purchases like fire trucks. No new tax measures or mill-levy increases were adopted at the meeting.

Next steps: staff will execute the audit contract paperwork; the clerk will prepare the Highway 13 support letter; and finance staff will continue to reconcile carryover and contribution accounts and report budget figures at future meetings.