Commissioners hear plan for emergency manager

Wahkiakum County may soon restore the position of emergency management coordinator.

The position would be responsible for developing emergency response plans for the county and for coordinating the county's response in emergencies.

The position was cut from the sheriff's department budget several years ago as county commissioners reduced staffing to cope with anticipated revenue shortfalls.

On Tuesday, however, Sheriff Jon Dearmore and Undersheriff Mark Howie outlined a plan to restore the position by combining funds from two continuing grant programs funded by the US Department of Homeland Security and the Washington State Military Department, Emergency Management Division.

Dearmore said the two programs would provide $64,000 a year, enough to cover the cost of a person in the job.

"I've been trying to get back to a full-time or half-time emergency manager," Dearmore said. "This pays a good chunk of that cost."

Since the county dropped its emergency manager, the Homeland Security funds have gone to the Town of Cathlamet which hired Cathlamet Fire Department member Beau Renfro to administer the grant, which has paid for extensive upgrading of the county's emergency services communication system.

Dearmore said he has discussed the issue with Mayor George Wehrfritz, and it appears there will be no problem with the town relinquishing the grant. Dearmore and Howie plan to attend next Monday's council meeting to discuss the issue there.

Dearmore added that emergency management work has been handled by two officers, Howie and Chief Civil Deputy Joannie Bjorge, and by volunteer Ron Kimmel, but the scope of work exceeds the time they can devote to it.

In other business at Tuesday's meeting of the board of county commissioners:

--Commissioners approved a contract with a software company to install and maintain a new program in the Public Works Department at an estimated cost of $39,145.65.

--The board approved a resolution setting up automatic transfer of certain fees from district and superior court to the county Current Expense Fund.

The courts will begin assessing fees on people convicted of offenses to help cover incarceration costs and also the cost of court security.

--Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bigelow announced that Cowlitz County Superior Court has scheduled a hearing September 30 in Kelso to hear oral arguments between the county and the state Department of Ecology's suit over the county's biosolids ordinance.

--County Mental Health Services Director Chris Holmes announced that Mental Health staff are preparing a local celebration to observe September as National Recovery Month.

Mental Health is coordinating a community picnic scheduled next Thursday in Erickson Park.

The event, named SoberBration, will feature guest speakers and people telling their personal stories of recovery from addictions.