Carbon County has officially established a position that has been the center of much discussion for several years.

During the monthly meeting of the county salary board on Thursday, the board approved establishing the position of a grant coordinator at a salary of $23.01 per hour. The position is not yet filled, but this is the first step in the process.

Commissioners’ Chairman Michael Sofranko said that this was something the board had talked about for a while.

He thanked everyone for making this happen and said the position was “desperately needed.”

“I think it is a big step forward, bringing that position on board and we look forward to filling that position in the future,” Sofranko said.

Commissioner Wayne Nothstein pointed out that the commissioners’ office eliminated one vacant position earlier this year when it restructured, which helps with being able to create this position, that will be available to all departments looking for help with grants.

This position, Nothstein added, will allow the county to better track grants as they get submitted and processed, as well as administered.

“It’s an art submitting grants,” he said. You have to know how to put blood, sweat and tears into your grant applications to really make it effective when people are reviewing.”

In other salary board matters, the board approved establishing a position of one Live Scan/mail clerk at $17.60 per hour; abolishing one Live Scan operator/corrections clerk position; and changing the rate of one administrative supervisor to $18.72 per hour, all at the corrections facility and all effective May 27.

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