County discusses office hours, biosolids

Wahkiakum County commissioners handled a variety of business ranging from office hours to a biosolids ordinance when they met Tuesday.

The board delayed action on a request from Assessor Bill Coons to modify the hours of his office and work schedule of his appraiser.

Coons proposed having the appraiser condense his normal five work days into four longer days to cut down on his commuting time.

Coons also said he himself would like to work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and would keep the office open one hour past the traditional 4 p.m. closing time in the courthouse.

Presently, courthouse workers are on the job 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with time off for lunch. Offices are open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. Officials started these office hours two years ago after commissioners reduced staff because of a revenue decline.

Coons added that there is a precedent for his appraiser to work a non-traditional schedule; one former appraiser worked weekend hours and took time off during the regular work week so that he could have interruption free time in the office.

Coons said he had checked with Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bigelow to confirm that the arrangement would meet terms of the county's contract with its employees' union.

Commissioners and other department heads expressed some concerns about the proposal, and the board decided to delay action until they had discussed the matter with department heads.

Auditor Diane Tischer said the current schedule fits her office staff, and she wouldn't want to have customers come to the courthouse to find one office open and the next closed. That wouldn't be good for the citizens, she said.

Commission Chair Lisa Marsyla commented that she thinks it is important to have consistency in office hours. And if one employee is allowed to work just four days, others will want to, she said.

Commissioner Blair Brady said the board should allow Coons to run the department the way he desires.

"He's an elected official; I don't see were we have anything to say in how he manages his office," Brady said. "We have budgetary authority, not authority over how they manage their offices."

Commissioner Dan Cothren said the board needed to act cautiously.

"Being in this job, I've learned you don't just jump at something," he said. "Let's take a week and make sure we don't get backlashed by something."

In response to questions from Westend residents, commissioners said they want to meet with state and county officials before deciding whether or not to write an ordinance regulating how biosolids are applied on land in the county.

The state Department of Ecology has approved a permit for a Long Beach company to spread septage, a form of biosolid, on a Grays River Valley ranch. Many Valley residents oppose the project, saying the septage could harm wildlife, water quality and the environment in general.

Last fall, the county drafted an ordinance with controls over septage, but the DOE, which has authority to manage biosolids statewide, threatened to sue if the county drafted an ordinance interfering with the department's powers.

Commissioners will meet in February with representatives of the DOE and Lewis County to discuss biosolids, Marsyla said.

Also, commissioners have asked state representatives to consider changing the state law to give counties some authority over biosolid application, and, Brady said, the state association of counties is surveying members to see what issues they may have with biosolids and how they propose to address them.