Commission to visit Johnson Park on Tuesday

Wahkiakum County commissioners will visit the Grays River Valley Center at Johnson Park, Rosburg, next Tuesday.

The board doesn't normally meet on a fifth Tuesday, but acknowledging a need to help the facility's board of directors reform, they decided on Tuesday to recess this week's meeting and reconvene next Tuesday in Rosburg to tour the facility.

Volunteers from the community operate the facility, but recent resignations have decimated the board of directors. The commission is looking for people to join the board.

"We have had some applicants come forward," said Commissioner Blair Brady. "We need to tour the facility."

The center also needs someone to oversee operations, Commissioner Dan Cothren commented.

Commissioner Mike Backman suggested the county could team with the Town of Cathlamet to host an Americorps volunteer who could manage Johnson Park and the Wahkiakum Community Center in Cathlamet. If the parties were to create such a position, it would come on line in September.

From the audience, Puget Island resident Greg Prestegard suggested letting the new board get its feet on the ground and then let them make a recommendation.

"It would be nice to have guidance now," Cothren responded. "It works better to have a dedicated person."

Auditor Diane Tischer commented that the present event coordinator, Tony Fest, has been doing a good job. She added that the manager should be from the Westend,

"This community center wouldn't be there if community folk hadn't come to us," Brady said. "It still needs to be community based."

The top priority, Brady continued, is for the commission to build a new board. From there, they can address other activities, including training board officers how to do their jobs, "and then find out what needs to be done."

After more discussion, commissioners agreed to tour the center next Tuesday with the remaining board members.