# Public Safety || Health & Human Services || October 20, 2026

The Columbia County Board of Supervisors’ Public Safety and Health & Human Services committee meeting on October 20, 2026, included several personnel and purchasing actions. The committee approved abolishing a paralegal position and creating and filling a Grade 14 victim liaison position at $58,192; auctioning old radar equipment and a surplus 1994 Ford truck; appointing a volunteer EMS deputy coordinator; and multiple Human Services and Social Services staffing actions. It also approved 2027 renewals of existing Social Services contracts and memoranda of agreement, an agreement with retired employee Elizabeth Thomas for part-time SNAP unit support at $28.56 per hour, and other 2027 contracts. The Public Defender’s Office requested authorization for the county chair to sign annual contracts related to a safety manual. A budget transfer to purchase snow tires was discussed, but the transcript does not clearly capture a vote on it.

The committee discussed the county’s Flock automated license plate reader contract and privacy, data-use, and oversight concerns. No vote was taken on the proposed moratorium; committee members agreed to seek answers from Flock and the county attorney and revisit the matter at a future meeting. Separately, a Columbia Hospital nurse raised concerns about proposed hospital downsizing and its potential effects on local healthcare access, capacity, and EMS transfers. The committee discussed the concerns but took no recorded action on them.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety, Healthcare
**Topics:** Emergency Response
**Published:** October 20, 2026

### Sources
- [Public Safety || Health & Human Services || October 20, 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VafP5AAdMDA) - Columbia County Board of Supervisors