By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

Officials have opted to delay a request to change the county’s Emergency Management director position from part- to full-time until this summer.The decision was made during the Monday, Jan. 13, meeting of the Washington County Council.

In December, Deni Stempowski, the county’s Emergency Management director, asked the Council to consider making the change so the county could receive more grant money from the state to help pay her salary.

As a part-time employee, Stempowski said the state will provide the county with about $12,500 to offset her salary cost. If her position is made full-time, the state will reimburse the county about $23,600.

During the December meeting, the Council tabled the request. During Monday’s discussion, the Council reached a consensus that further consideration of the request would be delayed until the 2026 budget process later this year.

Before reaching consensus, Council members discussed last summer’s budget discussions, which emphasized that the budget must be adhered to so it would allow an 8 percent raise for county employees.

Stempowski divides her time between Emergency Management and dispatch, so Council members were concerned about the budget impact of hiring a replacement for her in the county’s dispatch department. They noted that the vacancy would likely be filled with a full-time replacement that could cost an estimated $60,000.