Commissioners work on ferry, traffic fines

Wahkiakum County commissioners dealt with a variety of issues at their meeting Tuesday, including traffic tickets, health department fees and repairs to the county ferry.

Health and Human Services Department administrators Sue Cameron and Chris Holmes explained that a former driver of Wahkiakum On the Move had accumulated four traffic tickets under the City of Longview's camera enforcement program. The tickets totaled $496, and Elochoman Valley Partners (EVP), who operate the transportation program, paid the tickets. The administrators asked that the county compensate EVP. The county owns the vehicles, and the tickets were assessed against the vehicle owner. EVP attempted in vain to have the driver pay the tickets. EVP is under no contractual obligation to pay the tickets, the administrators said, but EVP paid anyway because of a tight timeline.

"We tried to recover from the driver," Holmes said. "We were told by the prosecuting attorney that we had no way of recouping the costs.

"The driver lost her job. We have to pay."

Commissioners weren't willing to compensate EVP.

"I'm not going to pay for someone who broke the law," said Commissioner Blair Brady.

In further discussion, there was uncertainty over the legal obligations, and the board tabled a decision in order to clarify legal obligations.

Commissioners voted to increase fees charged for public health services in 2016.

Cameron said the increases will help the department pay for the cost of services.

"We looked at them pretty carefully," Cameron said. "We're no where near where we should be."

In developing the new rates, she said, they compared rates with Pacific and Cowlitz counties and tried to come in reasonably close.

There will be no increases to non-profit organizations, she added. "We will be subsidizing them," she said.

"Overall, it (the increases) will help our budget and bring us more in line with our costs," she said.

County officials are still working on a solution to the mechanical problems that have shut down the ferry Oscar B.

The ferry was shut down last week when debris clogged the intake to its water cooling system. Commissioners said Tuesday that staff have been consulting with the engineering company that designed the vessel.

"It's still under warranty, they said.