Who will represent county on new board?

by Rick Nelson

Wahkiakum County officials on Tuesday put off a decision about who should represent the county on the board of directors on the new regional mental health funding agency, Great Rivers Behavioral Health.

Great Rivers is still getting organized and hiring staff. Suzanne Holmes has been representing Wahkiakum county and its mental health program on a temporary appointment, and county Health and Human Services administrators recommended she be appointed to complete the term.

Holmes has done an excellent job, said county mental health program director Chris Holmes, who is no relation to Suzanne Holmes.

However, Commissioner Mike Backman has a different idea. Elected commissioners from other counties are serving on the governing board,. Wahkiakum should send a representative of equal status, he said, and he wants the job.

"I feel a commissioner should be there," Backman said. "In no way am I talking bad about Mrs. Holmes. This has nothing to do with her.

"I feel that if the rest of them (counties) sent all these people (commissioners) there, then I think we should have the same level of commitment."

Chris Holmes commented that the position will require a lot of time and energy, and there's a steep learning curve. The level of commitment will be steep as the board hires staff and signs contracts.

"Changing of the board member at this stage would not provide for the continuity needed," he told the board of commissioners.

Backman's fellow commissioners added their comments.

Commissioner Dan Cothren said he has served on other boards with Suzanne Holmes, and he respects her abilities. "I put a lot of trust in Suzanne," Cothren said. "If it's me, I'm going to let her do that work. It takes a lot of effort.

"And those are full time commissioners. We're part time."

Commissioner Blair Brady suggested Backman consult with some of the commissioners from other counties about the demands of the position.

Backman agreed to contact other commissioners, and the board said they would make the appointment next Tuesday or January 5.