2023-07-10-minutes-discuss-possible-county-administrator

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07/10/2023 MINUTES 1 COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON AUDITORIUM SPECIAL MEETING MONDAY 10:00 A.M. JULY 10, 2023 Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright; Vice-Chairman Brett Wachsmith and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz. Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Todd Davis, Noxious Weed Coordinator; Patti Stacey, Solid Waste/Interim Maintenance Director/Project Manager; David Ohl, Airport Director; Jeanne Killgore, Human Resource Director; Doug Fessler, IT Director; Eileen Murphy, Office of Public Defense Director; Bryan Elliott, Auditor; Mark Cook, Public Works/CDS Director; Brian Carlson, Auditor; and 2 members of the public. SPECIAL MEETING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR COMMISSIONERS Chairman Wright opened a Special Meeting to discuss a County Administrator position. He provided some history on the subject including the committee who worked over the past 7-8 months which had been facilitated by Eric Johnson, WSAC Executive Director. At the conclusion of their study, it resulted in an overwhelming 8-1 vote in favor of creating the position. The Management Team also had a presentation by Mr. Johnson and then discussed it at a later meeting. They also voted in favor of the recommendation and to forward it to the Board of Commissioners. At this time the Board would like to hear from their Department Heads. Chairman Wright said they received a cost estimate from the Auditor’s office in the amount of $312,000.00, including an Administrative Assistant. Chairman Wright said Chelsey Loeffers, Public Health Administrator, was unable to attend the meeting, but had provided an email in support of the position. Patti Stacey, Solid Waste Director/Interim Maintenance Director/Project Manager, said she had a few questions and would like to know how the Board sees their interactions with an Administrator. She questioned how communications would be between the Department Heads and the Commissioners. Commissioner Wachsmith said he didn’t see a lot of Board involvement in the day-to-day decisions. Commissioner Osiadacz questioned what the interactions were like in other Counties with Solid Waste Directors for example, as she’d heard there were challenges, and they liked having the ability to have a relationship with their County Commissioners. Chairman Wright said the model presented was made for an opportunity for our County to build upon and best practices. He said it was important to have a sense of trust within the process. Mark Cook,