Board OK's tide gate work, plans biosolids ordinance

Wahkiakum County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a proposal to work with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to repair a tide gate and culvert on Brooks Slough Road.

In other business, the board and Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bigelow discussed points that should be included in an ordinance regulating biosolids, and the board delayed action on a request to restore staffing in the Health and Human Services Department.

The tide gate and culvert are very small and weren't included in a larger construction project to replace other culverts and tide gates along the refuge, said Joel David, manager of the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge for the Columbian White-tailed Deer.

That project, designed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, is in its second year, and the contractor will undertake two projects at the southern end of Steamboat Slough Road this summer.

The Brooks Slough project was too small to include in the larger contract, David said. It involves repairing a concrete culvert and installing a new tide gate.

County Public Works Director Pete Ringen said the county road crew could do the work at a low cost.

After discussion, Commissioner Lisa Marsyla moved to allow Ringen to contract with the Fish and Wildlife Service for the work, as long as the diking district in the area signs on with approval.

Commissioners and Prosecuting Attorney Bigelow discussed parameters of a possible ordinance to regulate application of biosolids in the county.

Western Wahkiakum residents have objected to a plan to dispose Type B biosolids, septic sewage treated with lime, on a Grays River farm. Commissioner Blair Brady asked that the prosecutor develop an ordinance so that the board could see its options.

Crystal Stanley, whose family has farmed on Puget Island for about 40 years, urged the board and prosecutor to study the issue, for they have applied Type A biosolids, sewage that has had more treatment than Type B biosolids, several times in the past.

"It didn't smell," she said. "It looked like lime."

Bigelow said he would prepare a draft for the board to consider.

The board put off a request from Judy Bright, director of Health and Human Services, to restore a full-time clerical position.

Highly paid staff are having to cover the position, she said, and it makes it difficult for staff to make the reports they need to make to obtain the state reimbursements that fund the department.

Adequate funds are available from the state sources, she added; the county Current Expense Fund wouldn't have to provide money.

Several members of advisory boards and other agencies spoke in favor of the request.

Commissioner Marsyla asked that the board delay action until later this month. She has been working with department heads to prepare an analysis of county finances and staffing needs, and she said all staff requests should be considered at that time.