Assessor, commissioners continue job struggle

Assessor Bill Coons and the Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners are still far apart on paying for extra help for Coon's office.

They plan to consult with Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bigelow about the interpretation of statutes and how they might settle their dispute.

On June 28, Coons reported his clerk has accumulated 140 hours of vacation time and he asked the board to authorize a transfer from the Professional Services budget line to the Extra Help line.

The board refused, saying that wasn't what the appropriation was meant for and because he had appeared and asked for a decision the same day. The board has adopted a policy of hearing requests and other business one week and acting the following week to avoid being rushed and not having adequate information for decisions.

Coons said he would come back, and he appeared Tuesday to revisit the issue. He requested a transfer of $7,200 to employ a part-time clerk a maximum of 79.5 hours per month through the rest of the year.

Commissioners began by expressing anger that Coons had hired an extra help employee after the June 28 meeting without their permission, and Coons maintained that the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) gives him authority "to hire or appoint qualified persons or deputies" that he deems necessary "in order to complete the listing and the valuation of the property of the county within the time prescribed by law."

Commission Chair Lisa Marsyla said she was offended by Coons's action. They've had previous discussions; other departments could use more labor to do their work, but the board has held the line.

"This is an ongoing rat race," she said.

"Power struggle," Coons interjected.

"I don't know how the other commissioners feel, but I take exception to it," Marsyla said.

Commissioner Dan Cothren agreed. "You couldn't have said it any better," he said to Marsyla. "To me, this is what I got, a slap in the face.

"I'm not going to appropriate any money out of the fund."

He added that in coming annual budget preparations, he would study budgets of all departments closely to prevent similar occurrences.

"I do agree this could have been handled a lot better," said Commissioner Blair Brady. "As far as that line item in his budget, as I interpret the memos from our attorney, we really don't have the ability to stop him from doing what he has done, this year."

"It is for the hiring of professional services, not other employees," Marsyla commented, adding that the board had already approved one previous transfer for extra help.

"We can do this by transferring money to the extra help line item, or I can exercise my power under that RCW," Coons said. "Either way."