Grand County Public Library Director Carrie Valdes and Grand County Facilities Supervisor Marvin Day, supported by Grand County Council Assistant Ruth Dillon, have been designated as a committee to advise other county department heads during the time it takes the county council to find a new council administrator.

The current administrator, Shawn Warnke, will depart Grand County later this month. On Tuesday, Warnke proposed the advisory committee as a way to help the county get through the interim period without placing an “impossible burden” on Dillon.

The Grand County Council unanimously approved the measure for the interim step and included a provision to hire a temporary worker to relieve Dillon from clerical duties so she would have more time to work on council meeting agendas and packets.

The motion also stipulates that anyone appearing on the agenda will have to prepare his or her own report required for the meeting packet. All agenda requests and back-up material will have to be submitted to the council office on the Wednesday before the council meetings to ensure adequate time for processing.

The council chairman will review the agenda and materials to ensure that agenda items are ready to be acted upon as per the policies and procedures of the council.

But the chairman cannot make administrative decisions. Chairman Bob Greenberg said it is “critical” to remind county department heads that, “the council, as individuals, have no authority to make operational decisions for the county.”

“We have executive responsibilities,” said councilman Chris Baird, who suggested appointing a department head to be acting council administrator, or a council member “we trust” to represent all members.

Councilman Gene Ciarus and Greenberg agreed it could not be a single council member, and that special meetings of the whole council could be called as necessary to deal with emergencies.

The council also announced on Tuesday the search for a new administrator has begun. Official notices will be published locally and throughout the region, county officials said, and an interview process is being finalized.

The deadline for applications for the position of Grand County Council Administrator is June 12.