Commissioners pick new H&HS director

Wahkiakum County commissioners hope they have a new administrator for the Department of Health and Human Services (H&HS).

Three candidates for the job visited the courthouse last Thursday for interviews with commissioners, department staff, and representatives of community health providers.

On Tuesday, Commmissioners Dan Cothren, Blair Brady and Lisa Marsyla met in executive session with interim H&HS Director Sherri McDonald to evaluate the candidates.

After the session, McDonald recommended hiring Sue Cameron of Lake Oswego, Ore., and the commissioners responded by voting to authorize McDonald to offer the position to Cameron.

Cameron met the qualifications the commission was looking for in a new director. The qualifications included having at least a bachelor degree in a health related field and three years of experience in administration at the management level.

"She had a big breadth of knowledge," commented Commissioner Lisa Marsyla.

"I was impressed with the number of applicants," said Commissioner Blair Brady. "After interviewing the three final candidates, I'm willing to make an offer."

McDonald said she would contact Cameron, negotiate a salary, and contact the other candidates to let them know the result. She plans to have final hiring documents ready for board action next Tuesday.

In other business before the board of county commissioners Tuesday:

--The board approved Public Works Director Pete Ringen's plan that he contact the County Road Administration Board (CRAB) for an outside assessment of road department staff and structure.

The department is experiencing staff turnover in the office, and this has a big impact on the department's ability to operate effectively and efficiently, Ringen said. For example, the department uses state and federal grant and road funding programs to finance projects, and it is a daunting task to file the necessary paperwork for the funding agencies.

"During periods of turnover, there is increased risk of failure to comply with various rules and regulations of these agencies," Ringen wrote in his staff report.

CRAB officials could conduct the assessment in September, Ringen said. They would provide a recommendation of staff levels and responsibilities that the county could consider and act as the board sees fit.

By consensus, commissioners told Ringen to move forward with the project.

--Department of Emergency Management (DEM) Coordinator Beau Renfro presented a plan for relocating the county's emergency operations center (EOC) while the Cathlamet library moves into the EOC space in the county's River Street Building.

The Town of Cathlamet is going to remodel the old Town Hall Building, and the library will relocate to River Street while the work is done.

Renfro proposed moving the EOC to the Cathlamet Fire Hall while the work is done, and he further suggested the county make the move permanent.

The building has adequate communications lines; it is built to higher earthquake standard than the River Street Building; its elevation is higher, and it would locate the EOC at the headquarters of the local ambulance system and Cathlamet Fire Department.

The temporary move should cost the county nothing, Renfro said; making a permanent move would cost around $7,000.

"On August 22, the Washington State Military Department of Emergency Management stated that if we make the move permanent, that they saw benefit in the move to a more seismically stable and higher elevation building," Renfro reported. "They state that they would give us a $7,254.32 grant to aid in a permanent move."

"I'm open to discussion," Commissioner Marsyla said.

"I think it's a great idea," Commissioner Brady said.