The Grant County Commission started 2025 with a bang January 7, hearing updates from assembled staff members and approved wages for several county employees.
Public Works Supervisor Shaun Minks, County Treasurer Terri Trotman, Health Department Administrator Denise James, EMS Director Jeff Baier, Appraiser Cindy Wellbrook, new senior center director Nancy Borthwick, Sheriff James Biddle, county clerk Anita Lane, and civic center manager Mari Instead were present for the staff meeting, and the commissioners approved Lane’s wage as well as 80 hours accrued vacation to be paid out at the Deputy Clerk’s wage. The commissioners also approved wages for the county treasurer and sheriff, and wage increases for a deputy treasurer as recommended by county treasurer Trotman, as well as a wage increase for a deputy appraiser and an appraiser clerk as recommended by Wellbrook.
State Representative and former county commissioner Marty Long spoke to the commission regarding the upcoming legislative session and announced he was appointed to the state Tax Committee.
Ulysses city administrator Luke Grimes spoke to the commission and said seeing the community move forward together was at the top of his agenda. Grimes said there are several entities that need to work together to keep the community moving forward.
Grimes updated the commission on the city’s Unity Plaza project on Main Street, and came up with that name to commemorate the “People in authority in this community right now who are absolutely committed to moving us forward as a united front,” Grimes said.
“The park is going to be a small space for people to hang out displaying maybe some artwork and a plaque,” he added.
Grimes hopes to have a grand opening in the spring.
Health Department Administrator Denis James requested 35 hours accrued vacation time be carried over for Kathy Guaderrama, which the commission approved.
The commission discussed the health department changing from a 4-day to a 5-day work week, as suggested by Commissioner John Martin. James said the health department is open until 6 p.m. Mondays and is never closed for a lunch hour. James added that many health departments close for lunch and closes or open until Noon on Fridays, but added that she would research the reason for it to be closed Fridays. The item was tabled.
Senior center director Nancy Borthwick wanted to have a water faucet removed and put in a rotating library in that space. Martin recommended Ted’s Plumbing remove the faucet and commissioner Mark McGaughey gave her the OK to have it removed.
Borthwick also requested Marissa Correa to carry over 48 hours of accrued vacation due to moving to the interim director position, which the commission approved.
Economic Development Director Bob Dale and Eco Devo board member Kristy Frazee discussed the city housing project and Martin said he was under the impression that Economic Development was not open to supporting the project. Dale said they hav e not officially been asked to provide funding until now and said they could maybe go a third or half.
Martin said, depending on how much is funded be Economic Development, “We may have to reduce the appropriations we budget them.”
Frazee thinks the county, city, and Economic Development should come together to fund the project. She said the board would be willing to take funding out of the Incentive fund.
The commission approved a road crossing project, accepted a land lease from Dew Farms to Moyer Aviation, and appointed Andy Cole to the Economic Development Board to replace Rachael Thooft.
KCAMP suggested the county have a lease agreement with the Historic Adobe Museum, and McGaughey asked about insurance coverage. Sheila Brown said the museum was supposed to be carrying all of the insurance, Ginger Anthony requested reimbursement for insurance they paid in 2024 and realized the museum was not properly insured, and were only covered for error and emissions, Workman’s Comp and liabilities.
The county immediately added the museum to its policy, excluding the error and emissions and workman’s compensation. With the museum now on the county’s policy, there is no need for a lease agreement, and the commissioners denied the reimbursement request from Anthony.
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