County looks
at updating plan
Staff writer
The last comprehensive plan for the county was done 11 years ago, and commissioner Clarke Dirks would like to draft a new one.
Dirks also wanted to be made sure the current plan wasbeing followed.
After 27 years of working for the federal government, Dirks said, he knows that everything needs to be done through policy.
When organizations get sued, they better be following policy, he said.
“We have to look at all of the policies in place,” he said. “This is 11 years old, but we have to follow it.”
Dirks proposed creating a new policy before bringing it back to commissioners.
“I just need to find out what the policies are,” he said.
There is a procurement policy, and he wondered if there is anything in place for working from home or outside employment.
“There are all types of issues we need to look at,” he said. “I am willing to step up and take a look at what we have.”
County administrator Tina Spencer said a discussion was started about doing this in 2023, but nothing was done.
“I agree we need something more comprehensive,” she said.
Spencer asked about bringing in someone from the outside for guidance, but Dirks did not think that was necessary.
“The comprehensive plan needs public input, and if I can get the information gathered from 2018, I would work on it for the public,” he said. “It’s not rocket science. I don’t think it needs to be that complicated.
“It takes time and a certain area of skill is hard, but we can do it in house.”
Spencer wants to bring in an outside firm, saying it would not be expensive and would be worth it for the firm’s expertise.
The policy and its proposed changes need to be available to all county employees and the public.
Chairman Jonah Gehring said putting the plan on the county’s website was a good idea.
“I am just going to draft something we can look at,” Dirks said.
He would like to have a draft in place in time for a planning session in January.
Spencer said she would work on getting the information Dirks will need.