Commissioners handle light agenda

A short handed board of Wahkiakum County Commissioners handled a light load of business on Tuesday.

The board voted to affirm the distribution of PUD Privilege Tax as recommended by Treasurer Marlena Silva, subject to comparison with values for 2011. The tax, 3/4 of 1 percent of the gross collections for Wahkiakum PUD, would have been slightly over $43,000, with $5,499.84 going to the Town of Cathlamet and $37,535.12 going to the county.

Stanley Sanitary Service submitted the only bid for hauling of the county's recycling boxes. The bid came in at $48,058.95, but Fred and Crystal Stanley said it could be $5,000 to $10,000 higher, depending on application of a state law requiring companies undertaking public works contracts to pay prevailing wages. Those rates are generally higher than wages paid by local, non-union companies.

Public Works Director Pete Ringen said the contract qualifies as a "public works contract," but he was unsure of the rate and wage that should be applied.

Commissioners Blair Brady and Lisa Marsyla--Dan Cothren was excused to attend another meeting--referred the matter to Ringen to research and make a recommendation for the commission's next meeting, July 24.

Sheriff Jon Dearmore introduced new Deputy Sheriff Nathan McBride. McBride, a native of eastern Washington, comes from Barrow, Alaska, where he was a law enforcement sergeant. He replaces Deputy Sheriff Helen Coubra, who resigned recently to become the town marshal of Odessa.