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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOut of State Travel Request - Development ServicesGRANT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA MEETING REQUEST FORM (Must be submitted to the Clerk of the Board by 12:00pm on Thursday) REQUESTING DEPARTMENT: Administrators - D'eWLW REQUEST SUBMITTED BY: Tom Gaines CONTACT PERSON ATTENDING ROUNDTABLE: T011l Gaines CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: ❑YES ©NO DATE: 9-17-2026 PHONE: 3276 DAgreement / Contract DAP Vouchers ❑Appointment / Reappointment DARPA Related ❑ Bids / RFPs / Quotes Award ❑ Bid Opening Scheduled ❑ Boards / Committees ❑ Budget ❑ Computer Related ❑ County Code ❑ Emergency Purchase ❑ Employee Rel. ❑ Facilities Related ❑ Financial ❑ Funds ❑ Hearing ❑ Invoices / Purchase Orders ❑ Grants — Fed/State/County Ell -eases ❑ MOA / MOU ❑Minutes ❑Ordinances ❑Out of State Travel El Petty Cash ❑ Policies ❑ Proclamations ❑ Request for Purchase ❑ Resolution ❑ Recommendation ❑ Professional Serv/Consultant ®Support Letter ❑Surplus Req. ❑Tax Levies ❑Thank You's ❑Tax Title Property ❑WSLCB Respectfully request this be placed on the Boards letterhead so we can recommend Michele Mercer for the Data Center Peer Exchange in South Carolina. Also request this be an Out of State travel request for Michele. If selected her travel expenses are covered by the host county. Dates of Travel are Dec. 14-16, 2026 If necessary, was this document reviewed by accounting? ❑ YES 0 NO If necessary, was this document reviewed by legal? ❑ YES A NO DATE OF ACTION: %4z-/7-(e APPROVE: DENIED ABSTAIN D2: D3: IMF DEFERRED OR CONTINUED TO: 4/8/24 Out of State Travel Request Application DEADLINE: Due by Thursday at 12:00 p.m. to the Commissioner's Office with BOCC Consent Agenda Request Form, to be on the following week's Consent Agenda. Traveler's Name(s): Michelle Mercer Department/Office: Development Services -Planning Purpose of Travel: Destination: NACo Data Center Peer Exchange Dorchester County, SC Dates of Travel: 12/12/26-12/16/26 Total Trip Cost Estimate: $ _ (This line will auto -sum the costs listed below) Travel Type (Select One) : Fund Number/Department: M Out of State Travel ❑ Out CONUS Travel (AK, HI or US Territory) Planning ❑ Foreign Travel ❑ Extradition Grant Funded? If Yes, List Grant Amount: Cost Application (Select One): M Yes $ 1,243.00 ❑ Government Rate ❑ No ❑ Conference Rate o Regular Rate Hotel - GSA Rate: Hotel - Nightly Rate: Hotel Total: $ 218.00 $ 436.00 Explanation for Rate: Required if hotel cost is greater than per diem or government rate Conference Fee: NACo will reimburse the full cost of attending $ - Rental Car Required? If Yes, Rental Car Cost: Total Estimate of MI&E During Travel: Q Yes $ 207.00 Q No Air Carrier: Cost of Flight: $ 600.00 N/A (Addt'l costs for extended stays, flight upgrades, etc. at the expense of the traveler) Preparer's Name/Title: Preapproved by EO/DH? If Yes, EO/DH Name: Michelle Mercer 0 ❑ Yes Tom Gaines/Jim Anderson -Cook No GRANT COUNTY ❑ FFI C E OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS P 0 BOX 37 EPHRATA WA 9BB23 (509) 754-201 1 September 22, 2026 National Association of Counties Rural Energy Academy ATTN: Data Center Peer Exchange Selection Committee RE: Letter of SuppoNt for Michelle Mercer to Attend the 2026 Data Center Peer Exchange To Whom it May Concern: We, the Grant County Board of Commissioners, are pleased to recommend Michelle Mercer, Planning Manager for Grant County Development Services, as the County's nominee to participate in the National Association of Counties Rural Energy Academy Data Center Peer Exchange, scheduled for December 14-16, 2026, in Dorchester County, South Carolina. Ms. Mercer leads the County's land use planning and long-range policy including the siting of renewable energy facilities, industrial development, and related infrastructure. As Grant County continues to experience tremendous interest in large scale energy projects, battery energy storage systems, and other infrastructure, this peer exchange would provide valuable insight into the opportunities and potential impacts associated with rural data center development. While Grant County is home to several data centers located wholly within the City of Quincy, the County anticipates future data center development in its unincorporated areas. This exchange will allow Ms. Mercer to learn directly from counties managing rural data center development and apply those lessons to Grant County's future planning, siting, and permitting efforts. Ms. Mercer will bring meaningful experience to the peer exchange and will be well positioned to apply the lessons learned to Grant County's planning and development review work. Her participation will strengthen the County's ability to support economic opportunity while addressing agricultural protection, water use, infrastructure capacity, energy reliability, environmental considerations, and community input. She is committed to sharing relevant information and best practices with County leadership, staff, partner agencies, and stakeholders following the exchange. Sincerely, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - -w" �,''�...-",. Kevin R. Bur s, Chair Rob Jones, Wei Chair Cindy Ca er, Member Kevin R. Burgess Rob Jones Cindy Carter District I District 2 District 3 INTO MEET CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS9 SERVING TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES9 WHILE FOSTERING A RESPECTFUL AND SUCCESSFUL WORK ENVIRONMENT."