Board cool to assessor's extra help plan

Wahkiakum County commissioners discussed a variety of issues ranging from assessor department staffing to state contract renewals but didn't act on them at their meeting this week.

To avoid having to make difficult decisions on the same meeting day an issue is presented, commissioners have adopted a policy of hearing an issue at one meeting and voting on it at a following meeting.

Assessor Bill Coons ran into this policy and more when he asked the board to authorize him to hire extra help for a maximum of 79.5 hours a month for the rest of the year.

Coons has said his office is understaffed about 1-1.5 full time position equivalents. He reported that Deputy Clerk Marsha Souvenir has accumulated 324 hours of vacation and sick leave, and she will be using it as her husband recovers from surgery.

He proposed taking the money for the extra help from his professional services line item.

Commissioners said they had problems with the plan.

"The professional services line was not intended for that," said board Chair Lisa Marsyla.

Commissioners Blair Brady and Dan Cothren said they were surprised an employee could accumulate so much vacation time.

"This is a shock to me," Cothren said.

Auditor Diane Tischer explained that it is possible for employees to accumulate large amounts of leave time. The unwritten policy has been for the employee and department head to come up with a plan to use it.

"It's something that other officials have had to deal with," she said.

"There is money in my budget to pay for this, and it is my right as an elected official," Coons said.

"I'm not going to approve it now," Marsyla said, and Brady and Cothren agreed.

They suggested Coons make a follow up presentation at a subsequent board meeting, and Coons said he would prepare a proposal.

In other business:

--Commissioners recognized two employees for their long service to the county. Chuck Beyer, building and planning manager, has worked for the county for 20 years, and Mary Baldwin, who was out on leave, has worked for 10 years.

--The board discussed state contract changes with Health and Human Services staff but didn't on the issues, saving that for the July 12 meeting (the board has cancelled its July 5 meeting).

One agreement with state Department of Social and Health Services sets up a schedule for the county to repay, if necessary, seed money given to start the county's chemical dependency and developmental disabilities program.

Health and Human Services financial manager Chris Weiler said the amount totals $20,000 and would have to be repaid only if the county dropped the programs.

Also, the department presented a contract for renewal with DSHS to cover expenses for a developmental disabilities mental health specialist. Commissioners will act on the contract on July 12.

The board did approve a contract discussed June 21 to renew its $30,000 contract with the state for Tenant Based Rental Assistance.

--Public Works Director Pete Ringen reported that the county has qualified for disaster relief funds for repairing Shannon Road, which was damaged in last winter's severe weather. The major part of the repairs are finished, he said. He wants to award a contract to Naselle Rock and Asphalt, who gave the low quote for the job, for $6,100, of which $5,700 is disaster funding.