Richland County board finalizes committee assignments and elects standing-committee chairs

Following officer elections on May 4, the Richland County Board completed its committee business, electing members to the committee on committees and selecting standing-committee chairs and vice chairs.

In the at-large election for the committee on committees the board announced the top five vote-getters: Mark Kooie (16), Randy Skoonover (14), Tiffany Thompson (13), Shirley Welty (12) and Sandy Kramer (11). The committee on committees will review supervisors’ committee preferences and prepare standing-committee assignments for the board.

The board then confirmed standing-committee leadership. Community & Health Services elected Sandra (Sandy) Kramer as chair and Rod Perry as vice chair by unanimous ballot. Natural Resources elected Randy Skoonover as chair; the committee also selected a vice chair. Public Works elected Mark Kooie as chair and David (Dave) Turk as vice chair by unanimous ballots. Public Safety elected Supervisor Frank as chair and Tiffany Thompson as vice chair.

The board also ratified a revised Executive and Finance committee membership list to reflect the newly elected standing-committee chairs; the board voted to approve the revised membership by voice vote. Supervisors repeatedly noted the county faces tight budgets and several upcoming decisions — including ambulance-service options and work on the county campus property — that these committees will be asked to address.

The meeting record shows the board completed the organizational work required after officer elections and prepared to move substantive policy questions to the appropriately chaired standing committees in the coming weeks.