County Council commits an additional $250,000 toward 4-H Building
In this week’s Washington County Council meeting, the council raised the county’s mileage reimbursement rate and daily per diem Monday morning, approved transfers and additional appropriations, and committed an extra $250,000 next year toward the new 4-H building at the fairgrounds.
President Brad Gilbert called the meeting to order. Present in the meeting were Gerald Fleming, Todd Armstrong, Andrew Davisson, Karen Wischmeier, Preston Shell, and Mark “Bubba” Abbott. Auditor Kyra Stephenson and Deputy Auditor Michele Fleenor were also present. Brad Benson served as council attorney for the day.
No one signed up for public comment, so the council then amended the agenda to add the 4-H project. Following this, the October meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
The county’s current mileage rate was $0.44 per mile. Wischmeier said the rate has not kept up with inflation or federal and state increases.
“I feel like we probably need to visit increasing that a little bit because the mileage rate has gone up as a national standard in the last few years,” she said. “We’ve never really adjusted for inflationary costs the way the federal government has.”
It was noted that the federal rate is now about $0.76, and the state rate is around $0.62 to $0.64. Shell moved to raise the county rate to $0.62 per mile. Fleming seconded, and it passed unanimously.
Several departments had also asked about the $30 daily per diem. Discussion turned to state and federal meal rates. The federal standard is currently $64. Shell recommended $50.
“It’d be hard to eat anywhere for $30 a day for three meals,” one council member said.
Shell made the motion for $50. It was seconded and passed unanimously.
Transfers for the public defender’s office, the auditor, and the park were approved. Additional appropriations of $41,000 for the HSA contribution for county employees and $60,000 for inmate meals through the end of the year were also approved.
The meeting then turned to funding for the new 4-H building. The commissioners have not yet awarded a bid. That is expected tomorrow morning, November 4. Even with money already appropriated, there will be a shortfall.
The council was asked to commit an additional $250,000 next year, when the funds would actually be needed. 4-H currently has a capital campaign planned and expects donations.
Commissioner Todd Ewen said $250,000 is not enough. He estimated the remaining gap after the new commitment would still leave roughly $240,000 that would need to come from the public. He noted that 30 or 40 businesses and individuals already give heavily each year, including to the 4-H fair, and questioned whether it is fair to lean on them further when the county has investment earnings available.
Armstrong had suggested using interest earned on the county’s investments rather than the principal. Ewen called that a good approach. The council already set aside $300,000 last year based on a previous engineer’s estimate. This year’s investment interest is expected to be roughly $300,000 to $350,000. Using a portion of next year’s interest for the remaining gap would avoid touching the principal.
Gilbert said he is comfortable with the additional $250,000 now and wants to give the group a chance to raise more. He noted possible naming rights for donors.
Danielle Walker, speaking for the 4-H side, said the capital campaign has not officially started. Organizers waited until bids were opened and a contract was closer so they would not appear to be “putting the cart before the horse.” She said she was very surprised that the bids came in around $1.9 million to $2 million. Their goal is about $200,000 in additional donations. They have some money already in a building fund from pin fees and other sources, including $4,000 from a tractor ride this year. Community Foundation grants have helped with tables, chairs, and other interior items. Kitchen equipment is expected to be covered by separate nutrition-education grant funds.
“We are anticipating that we would try to get $200,000. That would be our main goal,” Walker said. She acknowledged other local fundraising efforts, including the YMCA daycare and an inclusive playground, and said they know they are asking a lot.
Angie Buchanan noted that some additional grants would need to come through the county because the county will own the building. The 4-H Council can apply for items it would own and could take with it if needed.
Andrew Davisson moved to commit another $250,000. Shell seconded. It passed unanimously.
“These opportunities don’t come around that often,” Gilbert said. “There’s a lot of competition for these federal grants… This is an agricultural community. There’s a lot of people involved in that. A lot of our youth are involved in that. And I think we need to do everything in our power to make this happen.”
The December meeting was moved to 6:30 pm on December 7. The council will finalize next year’s schedule then.
During final comments, Shell said December will be his last meeting. He has enjoyed working with the council and will miss it. Wischmeier added that he has been there since she arrived and it will be hard not to see him in the seat next year.
Fleming encouraged people to vote in today’s election and thanked the clerk’s office and other county employees. He said he has been in political arenas for 30 years and that this service was challenging. “I encourage all good people to be more involved in the political arena, because if you don’t, the bad element will take over,” he said. He looks forward to more coffee and front-porch time.
Councilman Gerald Fleming Councilwoman Karen Wischmeier Councilman Andrew Davisson
Gilbert thanked Shell and Fleming for their service and said cooperation between the council and commissioners has been strong in recent days. He then urged more people to vote and to run for office.
“We need great people. We have great people in this county and people that have servant hearts,” he said.
The meeting then came to a close. Wednesday morning will see the first Washington County Commissioners meeting of November, and they plan to award a bid for the 4-H building project.
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