During a recent government meeting, officials discussed the current budget allocations and staffing for the planning and environmental health departments. The meeting revealed that the planning department has a salary line item budget of approximately $189,000 for two employees, while the environmental health department has budgeted $223,000 for its two employees, bringing the total budget for both departments to $500,452.

The discussion highlighted a discrepancy in staffing, as there are currently only three inspectors budgeted for four positions. This has led to the need for \"out of class\" pay for environmental health staff assisting with building inspections. The proposed budget adjustments indicate a shift towards a total salary line item of $414,425, resulting in an estimated savings of $86,000 for the county's rural fund.

The meeting also provided insights into the inspection activities conducted by the departments. In 2022, a total of 3,004 inspections were completed, which decreased slightly to 2,770 in 2023. However, the current year shows a strong start with 1,654 inspections logged so far. The types of inspections performed include building, electrical, septic, and water tests, among others.

Additionally, officials noted the importance of mapping wells in Pottawatomie County, with an estimated 1,300 unrecorded wells potentially existing in the area. The partnership with the GIS department aims to improve the tracking and management of these wells.

The meeting concluded with discussions on cost-sharing requests for well maintenance, which have reportedly increased due to new funding opportunities for shock chlorination. The cost-sharing program allows for reimbursements of up to $2,000 for closing costs related to well maintenance.