Commissioners cover a variety of issues

Wahkiakum County Commissioners convened quickly Nov. 20 to tackle a few issues before the Thanksgiving holiday.

In an update on the Cape Horn beach nourishment project, Public Works Director Chuck Beyer said that an archaeological review had been completed. He also said that some concern that sand placement may impact smelt spawning areas may cause more delays.

Commissioner Dan Cothren was feeling optimistic after a long conversation with Dena Horton, a regional representative appointed by Senator Maria Cantwell.

“She said everything is really looking good.” Commissioner Cothren said. “It’s going to be a long term agreement, the best one that the county has probably ever had.”

Commissioner Blair Brady said that security upgrades at county properties were going well and long overdue.

Some doors in the courthouse are now secured throughout the day, limiting access to employees and recording who is coming and going, according to Brady.

In other business, commissioners approved the sale of two small parcels of land in Skamokawa to Ken Gomes for $600.

Tristan Wozniak from Health and Human Services spoke of the organization’s plans to create a new position, which would ultimately require a restructure to their budget. The matter did not require action that day.

“We haven’t had any applications for mental health professional positions that are open to masters level clinicians, though we still have as many people coming through our doors,” Wozniak said.

Still needing to serve the population, Wozniak likened what they hoped to do to a doctor’s office that was struggling to hire doctors.

“They look at nurse practitioners,” Wozniak said. HHS wanted to create a position that would allow them to hire a case manager, which only requires a bachelor’s degree.

Finally, the commissioners approved a move to sign a contract with a managed care organization for foster children’s behavioral health.

“It doesn’t change how our people get served, it just changes the paperwork,” Wozniak said.