County talks federal COVID cash

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
A proposal to spend roughly $220,000 of the funds received by Weston County through the federal American Relief Fund was tabled by the Board of Weston County Commissioners on Dec. 7 after tensions arose during discussion on appropriate spending of the funds. 
As previously reported, Weston County received $672,744.50 in funds from the federal stimulus package related to COVID-19. The funds represent half of the total amount that the county will receive, with the first half being included in the fiscal year 2022 budget for the county. 
Since the funds were first received, Chairwoman Marty Ertman has said that the county should not spend the funds until the rules tied to the spending are released. She has also suggested on multiple occasions, including Dec. 7, that the county should not spend any of the funds, returning the full $1.3 million to the federal government. 
But, on Dec. 7, several elected officials, including County Treasurer Susie Overman, County Clerk Becky Hadlock, County Assessor Tina Conklin and District Court Clerk Tina Cote, asked the commissioners to use a portion of the funds for premium pay for county employees. 
“We are here to present to you for all employees, $200 a month from March of 2020 through December 2021,” Overman said, noting that this would amount to roughly $4,400 for each employee, depending on the length of their employment. 
“It has been brought to our attention from other counties that this is how they’re spending funds. We didn’t know it was an option until it was brought to our attention,” Hadlock added. 
According to Overman, no other designations on spending the funds have been released at this time, besides the premium pay, and she is afraid that if the county does not start spending the money, the federal government will want it back. 
 “There was conversation when the money came in. We were debating what was happening with dispatch. It is still in debate what is happening with the dispatch center,” Ertman said. “There was also conversation that we just give it back.”
She noted that she also believes there are statutory issues regarding elected officials receiving extra pay or additional compensation, including gifts, that amount to over $250. 
Commissioner Don Taylor spoke in favor of the additional pay for employees after doing some research on the topic. He did say that he questioned whether the commissioners or elected officials should receive the payment. 
Commissioner Ed Wagoner cited the list of eligible employees tied to the potential premium payments. He said that the list is huge and opens windows to not just county employees being eligible for premium payments from the county. 
“Where do we draw the line on who gets what,” Wagoner said. 
Ertman added that the payment would “open up these boxes” and that the county “can’t please everyone.” She also questioned whether the county would need to consider payments to other entities in the county, including employees of the library and the fairgrounds, although they are not technically on the county payroll, according to Hadlock. 
The board tabled the discussion until its next meeting. Ertman recommended that those involved in the discussion take some time to calm their emotions.