County commission approves 2016

Wahkiakum County commissioners set county levies for 2016 and acted on other business when they met Tuesday.

Commissioners approved a 1 percent increase in levies, the maximum allowed by state law without a public vote and the county's first increase in years.

The General Fund Levy will total $969,888.63. It includes four parts--Current Expense, $515,787.26; levy shift from County Road, $471,000, Mental Health, $8,000, and Veteran's Relief, $4,000. There is a $28,898.63 reduction to compensate for "amount over levied."

The Emergency Medical Services levy, approved by voters, is $105,000.

The County Road District levy is $535,480.75, with $471.000 shifted to Current Expense.

Commissioners also settled their duties for 2016. They elected Blair Brady chair, and present Chair Mike Backman moved to vice-chair.

Backman and Commissioner Dan Cothren agreed to trade membership on two organizations. Backman will take over Cothren's spot on the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council, and Cothren takes on membership on Great Rivers Behavioral Health board of directors.

Cothren said he wanted to be the alternate to Great Rivers and that Suzanne Holmes, temporarily appointed to the position, should fill out the term. Brady moved to formalize the arrangement; Backman seconded, and the motion passed.

Previously, Backman had pressed to have a commissioner, which would have been him, as member of the Great Rivers board because commissioners from other counties were on the board, and he felt Wahkiakum should send someone of equal stature. At last week's meeting, he agreed he would consult with commissioners from other counties about the job.

Holmes has served on several county mental health advisory boards; county Health and Human Services administrators had recommended she have the position as Great Rivers continues its formation.