Timber revenue holding; clinic staff changing

Revenue from logging sales on state managed trust timberland is holding its own, Wahkiakum County officials learned Tuesday.

The timber sales generate a large portion of the County's Current Expense Fund budget, and poor market conditions have threatened to reduce the revenues. The county based its Current Expense Fund budget on an estimated $2.1 million for 2008.

Marcus Johns and Collin Robertson of the state Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday that sales appear to be generating nearly in the revenue that was predicted.

One large sale, named Cougar Rose, was recently completed and came in $85,000 under the $1.7 million estimate, Robertson said. A recent sale of timber blown down in 2006 storms came in at $171,000, and there is interest in two other blow down sales the agency is offering this month.

The DNR is also offering for a second time a large sale called Nagasawa Pass, which has poor quality, limby trees. There were no bidders the first time it was put up for auction.

"We talked to the bidders and learned their concerns and went back and retooled the sale," Johns said.

"Is there any back plan if there are no bidders on Nagasawa Pass," Commissioner Blair Brady asked.

Robertson responded that there were no specific plans, but the agency could advance a sale planned for later this year or next.

"You don't want to offer your best stuff in this timber market," Robertson added. "We wouldn't get what we could get for it (from the bidders)."

In other business before the board of commissioners on Tuesday, Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic Business Manager Kathy Patterson reported on the staff changes and revenues and expenses.

Dr. Keith Wright's resignation will be effective June 1. His last day in the clinic will be May 22, Patterson said; the rest of the time will be taken at a conference and by using vacation time. Patterson said people are planning a party for Dr. Wright, possibly on June 1.

Dr. Janice McClean was able to work only one day in April because her credentials were being processed by health insurance providers. Dr. McClean will start full time next Monday.

Patterson said clinic managers are recruiting another nurse practitioner. Betsy Anne Johnson's temporary contract as a nurse practitioner will end soon, Patterson said.