County board hears personnel requests

Wahkiakum County commissioners worked on a variety of personnel issues when they met Tuesday.

At the end of the meeting, Commissioners Dan Cothren and Blair Brady--Commissioner Mike Backman is in Alaska--voted to increase the salaries of certain elected officials for the first time in years.

The county clerk, auditor, assessor, sheriff and treasurer will receive 15 percent raises effective July 1.

Assessor Bill Coons presented the request on behalf of the officials.

"An adjustment needs to be done," he said. Based on the length of time since the last increase, a 20 percent raise is justified he added, "but we're only asking for 15 percent."

Commissioner Dan Cothren supported the request. Since the commissioners had to lay off employees in 2008, the elected officials haven't had an increase. The officials have continued to work hard and are often in their offices on weekends.

"I think we made the promise that when things got better . . . elected officials would get something," he said.

He added that the commissioners wouldn't get raises. Their salaries had been set by a salary commission which has been disbanded.

"When you look at the private sector, they (salaries) are way up there," Cothren added. "It needs to be done. You guys took the heat and did the extra mile."

Commissioner Blair Brady agreed, adding that the board should reconvene a salary commission. He seconded Cothren's motion to implement the 15 percent raise, noting that the increase would total less than $50,000 for the year.

"I hope we're able to sustain it," he said.

Earlier Coons had asked the board to authorize him to hire a deputy assessor/residential appraiser. Commissioners said they would study the request and act on it at their next meeting.

Coons said the office's duties and responsibilities are more than the staff can handle.

Since 2014, the office has been required to revalue every property in the county; previously revaluations were done on a four-year cycle.

"I really don't like doing this--admitting that I'm failing to get my work done," he said. "Valuing the whole county has taken more effort than first anticipated."

Besides the extra work, the office has wrestled with turnover and health issues, and they've fallen behind.

"I need more help in the office to crank out the values," he said.

Commissioner Brady asked if expensive software programs purchased to help with the switch to annual evaluations hadn't helped.

"I'm still required to analyze each piece of property every year," Coons said. The office has fallen behind, and the backlog is threatening to snowball, he added.

Treasurer Tammy Peterson commented that when the assessor's office gets behind, it affects her office as well.

"We have provided extra help in the past," Brady said. Bringing his index finger and thumb close together, he said, "We came that close to layoffs. How about we get back to this next week and get some numbers."

Commissioners also heard a request from the Public Works Department to create a new pay classification for the road department mechanic in recognition of the duties he's called on to perform, ranging from repairing motorized tools to maintaining the new ferry.

The request would require an agreement with the county union.

"I wish you had brought this up during our negotiations," Brady said. "Let me look at numbers and get back to you.