February 10, 2023 |
As Bigfoot 99 reported on Thursday, the Carbon County Board of Commissioners has delayed creating and funding a new position—a deputy emergency manager—until some financial questions can be answered during the upcoming budget process.
At Tuesday’s commissioners meeting, Emergency Management Coordinator Lenny Layman asked the board to approve an assistant for him. Commission Chair Sue Jones said more discussion is needed.
Pictured above: File photo of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners. Photo by Cali O’Hare/Bigfoot 99.
Last year, Layman asked the commission to approve a deputy EM. He said it would ease some of his workload and make his office more efficient. A grant would cover half of the deputy’s salary. Layman asked each municipality in the county for a written agreement to contribute a portion of the salary not covered by the county.
Chairperson Jones told Bigfoot 99 that each town’s share was based on population. The sitting town councils agreed to contribute, but Jones said the county needs to be sure future councils will uphold their end of the bargain.
Another question surrounding a partial funding agreement for the new position between the county and the towns is whether the municipalities would demand that the deputy EM focus more on their needs. Chairperson Jones said the memorandum of understanding, or MOU, would address that situation.
Carbon County Attorney Ashley Davis is drafting the MOU. Chairperson Jones said the commissioners haven’t decided that working with the towns is the way they will go.
Jones said the commission may not accept funding from the municipalities at all. The county might find the money for the deputy emergency manager’s salary when they put together the budget in May. The board chair said taking the towns out of the mix could avoid future headaches.
Jones added that working with the towns isn’t off the table, though.
Although Tuesday’s discussion with Layman seemed dramatic at times with Layman not hearing the response he was seeking, Jones stressed that delaying the decision doesn’t mean it will never happen. The county commissioners simply need to make sure money is in the budget for Layman’s deputy emergency manager. Jones added the decision wasn’t a statement on Layman’s performance.
Jones said whether the towns contribute or not, now isn’t the right time to create a new county position. The budget process begins in another month.
