Commissioners, assessor agree eye to eye

Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday handled a variety of business ranging from modifying the assessor's budget to hearing citizen input on the state's Discovery Pass.

Assessor Bill Coons presented several requests for budgetary action and had mixed success.

Commissioners approved an $8300 expenditure from the department's Professional Fees line item to host a week long training on the department's computer program. The expense will cover costs of a Chicago based consultant's round trip air travel , lodging and meals, rental car, and 40 hours of training for department staff.

Commissioners also supported Coons's request to shut the office doors during the week so that staff can make the most of the training.

The board approved part of a request for Coons to travel to Vancouver and Ellensburg for appraisal training. Coons had also requested $575 for deputy Michelle Budd to take the first round of appraisal training, but commissioners rejected that request.

Finally, Coons renew his request for a transfer of $4,000 from Professional Fees to Extra Help. He said he needed the staff time to help his office catch up on unfinished work.

Coons said other department heads supported his request. He presented a statement of support signed by four, Clerk Kay Holland, Judge Bill Faubion, Sheriff Jon Dearmore, and Treasurer Paula Holloway. Prosecutor Dan Bigelow cited a conflict of interest, and Auditor Diane Tischer declined to sign.

Commissioner Blair Brady moved to approve the request, but no second came, so the motion died.

Coons indicated he would hire a clerk on contract, if he couldn't use extra help, and he said he and the county union had reached an agreement on the scope of the contract employee's work.

In other business at Tuesday's county commission meeting, Puget Island resident Len Lindsley asked the board to oppose the state's Discovery Pass. The pass, created this year to raise revenue for state Parks, Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife, is needed to access sites or land maintained by the agencies.

Lindsley contended that the $30 fee for each vehicle was unreasonable for casual users of the state lands.

Commissioners said they agreed and suggested that Lindsley contact elected representatives about the pass. They also have spoken with the representatives about complaints about the pass.

"I don't like it," said Commissioner Cothren. "Just keep hammering the representatives."

Commissioners agreed to send a letter to the US Coast Guard to certify a change in the maximum number of passengers allowed on the ferry "Wahkiakum."

Public Works Director Pete Ringen said the Coast Guard has revised the Assumed Average Weight per Person (AAWPP) from 165 lbs. to 185 lbs. and capacity needs to be calculated using that weight.

"This is due to the need to update the current weight per person partly because the average American weighs significantly more than the 165 lbs. in current regulations," the Coast Guard said in its letter to Ringen.

Ringen said the current maximum number of passengers is set at 76 persons, but with the new weight, the number will be reduced to 65 persons.

The rule change applies to all vessels, the Coast Guard said.