A number of recent resignations and retirements had the Monroe County Board playing musical chairs during Monday’s meeting. 

Brian Coats was appointed to the Monroe County Board of Appeals, filling the unexpired term of Dennis Rodenberg.

Rodenberg’s resignation for personal reasons was announced during the March 4 meeting.

The commissioners then accepted the resignation of Coats from the Monroe County Planning Commission and appointed Alexander Knoll to fill his position.

Thomas Faulk was also appointed to the planning commission to fill an empty seat. 

Martin Mertz was appointed as commissioner of Road District 6 to replace Richard Heine, who recently resigned.

Eric Sutton was also on hand and was appointed as building inspector for Monroe County. 

Sutton had already been serving in the county zoning department as a code enforcement officer.

Commissioners also officially approved Pam Poetker as the new executive director of the Monroe County Economic Development Corporation. Poetker replaced Edie Koch, who recently retired.

In other business on Monday, commissioners approved a revised purchase order for an ambulance remount on a new chassis.

The change added just over $31,000 to the job, bringing the total to $181,000.

Monroe County Ambulance Director Carla Heise explained the additional cost is to remove corrosion discovered on bottom of the ambulance “box” – the enclosed part of the vehicle which contains medical equipment and is used for patient transport.

Heise explained the corrosion was “not detectable” through visual inspection while attached to the older chassis, and the change order was necessary to cover additional costs. 

She also said the box could still be remounted if the corrosion was not addressed, but it would not be able to be remounted again.

Monroe County Maintenance Director Joe Lewis also had an amended work order for the ongoing Monroe County Jail expansion project.

Lewis said extra excavation work was needed while digging for the new building’s footings. 

He explained two spots underneath the former site of the jail parking lot created a minor issue.

The areas, Lewis explained, had once been wells which are now dry.

Lewis also said work on the jail expansion is “ahead of schedule” and is currently on track for completion in mid-October.

Commissioners also approved a flood plain variance on a property in the 9000 block of Taake Road in Columbia. 

Commissioner Vicki Koerber explained the variance was approved because the site is used only for agricultural purposes.

The variance also received unanimous approval during a recent meeting of the Monroe County Board of Appeals.

The county board denied a similar request during its March 4 meeting because the proposed construction in the flood plain was not ag-related.

Also during Monday’s meeting, Monroe County Treasurer Kevin Koenigstein gave commissioners an update on county finances through the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

Koenigstein said the county is “right on target” in projections for both revenue and expenses. 

He also noted that sales tax income is “really strong,” but cautioned the inflation-based increase will likely be offset due to increased costs to the county for upcoming projects.  

The next meeting of the Monroe County Board will be Monday, April 1, beginning at 8:15 a.m. at the Monroe County Courthouse.