Commissioners authorize mediation agreement, drop terrorism insurance and approve local contracts and projects

Washington County commissioners handled multiple administrative actions in early February, voting to accept a mediation agreement, remove terrorism insurance coverage, retain cemetery mowing services and approve some project corrections.

At the Feb. 3 meeting, the board approved a mediation agreement to resolve litigation concerning the Wilson property and authorized Commissioner Phillip Marshall to sign documents related to the settlement; Commissioner Tony Cardwell abstained on the motion. The board also voted to drop the county’s terrorism insurance, a cost cited as approximately $9,839 annually, after a presentation that said rural counties are now rated low risk for terrorism coverage.

Commissioners retained Top Notch Lawn Care for cemetery mowing at the prior rate and approved a correction to the BOT agreement (signing date and addition of exhibits and signature pages), a motion that passed with Cardwell opposing. The board also approved a policy amendment clarifying ambulance schedules and pay calculations and received an additional-appropriation request from the highway superintendent for bridges (Bridge Fund 1135 request of $796,525 for Franklin Bottoms and Bridge 61).

On Feb. 17, commissioners approved installing eight additional cameras at the fairgrounds for $7,938.75 to provide full coverage, and reappointed Greg Zink to the Salem Plan Commission. The board approved claims and payroll during the Feb. 3 meeting despite Cardwell noting he had not had two hours to review the claims docket in detail.

The actions reflect a mix of litigation resolution, cost-saving measures, operational contracts and ongoing project oversight; some votes were contentious or recorded as opposed by Commissioner Cardwell.