Ledtke rehired as fair manager

Wahkiakum County commissioners approved hiring of a manager for the county fair and acted on other business on Tuesday.

The board approved the recommendation of the fair board to rehire former manager Becky Ledtke.

The commission had closed down Ledtke's former position in February and subsequently worked with the fair board to restructure the position and its financing.

The fair board also recommended a candidate to fill the vacant handyman position, but commissioners decided to wait till next Tuesday to act on that because the application form of one candidate hadn't been passed to the fair board from the commissioner's office.

Fair Board President Philip Vik said the position needs to be filled as soon as possible so that the fair staff can prepare the grounds for the Dollars For Scholars Rods and Reels car show and barbecue fund raising program on June 1.

Commissioners said they wanted the fair board to consider all applicants.

"The process should have been followed," said Commissioner Dan Cothren. "I don't want people to get in trouble."

Commission Chair Blair Brady agreed and asked Vik if a seven-day wait was acceptable. Vik responded that he would do a telephone poll of fair board members and have a recommendation for the commissioners next Tuesday.

Commissioner Mike Backman said the application had been handed to him in the commissioners' office, but he mistakenly believed it pertained to other work the person was doing for the county on another contract.

"We have addressed that and will deal with it next week," Brady said.

In other business, the board approved Treasurer Tammy Peterson's request to restore a part-time clerk's position to full-time status.

Peterson said her office has been unable to keep up with its workload. A part-time foreclosure clerk is going to retire in June she said, and that would be a good time to restore the position to full-time status.

Peterson said her only full-time employee is unable to use vacation leave time because that would leave the office understaffed. They are also foregoing additional training because they don't have staff to keep the office going, she said.

"It's vital this be returned to full time," she said. She added that the Current Expense Fund has sufficient money to cover the cost.

Backman asked if it would help to have the office closed to the public one day a week.

Peterson responded that it might help them catch up with their work, but it still doesn't allow them to leave for vacation or training.

Cothren moved to restore the position to full-time; Backman seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

The board met in executive session with staff from Health and Human Services to discuss acquisition of real estate.

Upon reconvening in regular session, the board authorized staff to discuss a non-binding purchase agreement.