Carbon County Commissioners field calls concerning employees on a regular basis. Often callers voice complaints. Sometimes they praise service, but all issues are heard and dealt with accordingly.
A call from a county resident who has long struggled with the demons of drug abuse was especially poignant because she was not criticizing her drug court supervisors, but thanking them. She wanted to make sure that commissioners and the public knew how life-changing these interactions can be.
Jennifer Marakis stood with Carbon County Chief Deputy Tom Stefanoff and human services director Rose Barnes in awarding Wally Hendricks and Angie White the county employees of the month award.
Marakis had tears flowing as she explained that despite the anger and resentment she has felt toward both of her drug court supervisors, they did not give up on her. She has struggled with drug abuse for well over a decade and is now determined to stay clean and sober.
In other business, commissioners gave a nod to a short list of potential contractors for the repaving of the Nine Mile Canyon Road. The project is set to begin this summer subject to a public hearing on Feb. 19.
ECDC requested a rate increase for dumping fees by the county. They asked for a 4% increase in loads under 350,000 tons and an 8% increase on anything larger. The commission gave approval on a straight across 4% increase. The rate has not increased since 2007 and it will affect the average homeowner approximately .36 cents per bin.
The Carbon County Sheriffs’s Office will be contracting with Reep Consulting to re-write its personnel and policy manual. The company specializes in policy for law enforcement agencies and should help mitigate some of the past issues that have come up in the department.
Several other agenda items were addressed including CenturyLink being named as the the sole long distance carrier for the county-wide telephone system.