Commissioners act on personnel requests

Wahkiakum County Commissioners handled a variety of business at their meeting Tuesday.

The board rejected a request from Assessor Bill Coons to allow him to hire a commercial appraiser to replace a departing employee.

Coons said the office needs a qualified residential and commercial appraiser, and he isn't qualified for commercial appraisals. Previous appraisers have had commercial appraisers, but that has been lost to employee turnover. The union contract places a commercial appraiser in pay class 6, but it has historically been pay class 7. Coons offered a memorandum of understanding with the union to correct the situation.

Coons said additional salary for this year would total $4,612.50, and it could be covered by transfers in this department's budget.

Commissioners weren't receptive to the idea.

"That would be a big (budget) jump for 2016," said Commissioner Blair Brady. He suggested Coons train local and bring someone up through the ranks.

"I'm not going to go for a higher pay rate," Brady said.

Commissioner Dan Cothren was in Olympia for a Board of Natural Resources meeting and participated by telephone.

"Right now I don't support it," Cothren said. "It's more . . . I'm concerned with the way the economy is going for timber."

Coons suggested he could hire the commercial appraiser for the rest of the year and intern under him or her, and if there wasn't money for the increase in 2016, he would probably qualify for commercial certification and he could lay off the person.

Brady commented a layoff would contain separation and unemployment costs that would be unnecessary.

After more discussion, Commissioner Chair Mike Backman moved to approve Coons's request, but neither Brady nor Cothren would second the motion, and it died.

In other business:

--Commissioners passed a resolution declaring vehicles and equipment surplus, including the old ferry Wahkiakum.

Commissioners and Treasurer Tammy Peterson discussed ways to reach the widest audience in the auction, especially for the ferry. Peterson said she was considering an auction website with buyers worldwide. She added that because her office is finishing up tax season, she wouldn't be able to proceed with an auction until late June.

--Commissioners approved a request from the Department of Health and Human Services to allow a county employee to move from the auditor's office to H&HS and keep the same level of pay. According to the union contract, employees who move from one department to another are expected to start at the bottom of the pay scale. This penalizes good employees, said H&HS representative Chris Weiler.

Brady responded that the language is designed to protect department heads who can spend time and effort to train an employee and see them jump to another department.

Brady said that if commissioners approve the move, they should have a memorandum of understanding (MOU)with the union stating it didn't set a precedent.

Weiler proposed the commission approve the move with the department and union signing a MOU.

Brady turned the recommendation into a motion, emphasizing it was not a precedent; Cothren seconded, and it passed.

Treasurer Peterson was present for the discussion and said she had recently filled a position by hiring a person from another department, and she felt the conditions merited similar treatment.

"That is an option for you to come and ask," Brady said. "This can be done by the board of commissioners without changing the union contract. They can come on an individual basis."

--In the public comment period, Puget Island resident J.B. Robinson asked about progress with the US Army Corps of Engineers in creating agreements to place dredged sand on East Sunny Sands.

Public Works Director Pete Ringen said he had tried to contact the Corps representative last week, but he was told she was on vacation, and she hasn't yet contacted him.

Robinson suggested this might be part of a recurring pattern in which the agency ignores the county's concerns.

"Maybe we should go up there," said Backman, who had recently wanted to take a group of citizens to visit the Corps office but was discouraged by Commissioner Cothren.

"We put it off, but now, maybe we should go."