Commissioners set new meeting schedule

RITZVILLE – The Adams County Board of Commissioners elected a new chairman, and set a new meeting schedule for 2022 during its Jan. 5 meeting.

The new chairman is District No. 2 Commissioner, Jay Weise.

The meeting schedule has been changed from Monday and Wednesday to Tuesday and Wednesday. The new meeting schedule is intended to streamline and shorten the turnaround on decisions.

The board can hear and consider county business during the Wednesday session and be ready to act on items from the previous week, using the consent agenda, during the Tuesday session.

"It gives us time to do legwork between Wednesday and Tuesday," Weise said.

Public Works Director Todd O'Brien met with the board for a department update.

O'Brien said the department had staff called out New Year's Eve and over the New Year's weekend to open roads blocked by snow drifts, and to clear routes for school busses.

"Generally speaking, all residents should have a way in and out (on gravel roads)," O'Brien said. "It may not be the preferred route, but there is a route."

O'Brien discussed the age of some snow-removal equipment, specifically sanders in excess of 40 years old on truck chassis in excess of 30 years old.

He indicated the department would look at slide in sanders, which could be put in trucks on a seasonal basis, and removed when winter is over.

O'Brien also discussed staff shortages in Public Works.

He described an apprenticeship program, which had been successful in the past, where employees are hired to engage in a program of work and department sponsored training intended to result in a commercial driver's license.

Employees who successfully complete the program are obligated to continue to work for Adams County Public Works for two years after obtaining their CDL, or reimburse the county for prorated portions of the training costs.

O'Brien told the board they are currently advertising for applicants who currently hold a CDL, but if those efforts are not successful, he would like to launch the apprenticeship program again.

The board concurred with that strategy.

In other business, he discussed a waste-hauling contract with Yancey of Othello that expires April 30.

The contractor has submitted a proposal for renewal which includes increased in rates due to rising fuel and labor costs.

O'Brien and the board discussed the proposal, rising costs and a potential process for handling future rate adjustments.