The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Wahkiakum County commissioners handled a variety of business when they met Tuesday on topics ranging from the treasurer's office to participatoin in economic development districts.

New Treasurer Tammy Peterson asked the board to consider increasing funding for staffing her office.

Peterson and the board discussed the matter last week, and commissioners asked Peterson to wait a few months to see what levels were needed.

This week, Peterson returned and said the situation couldn't wait till spring.

"My office is stretched to the max," she said. "The chief deputy is overloaded.

"The more I'm digging and digging, the more I'm finding that the office is in turmoil."

It's hard to balance accounts, she said, and there office hasn't submitted some required reports to the state Department of Revenue. The office is still converting from one software program to another, and staff need to attend trainings, but there is no one to cover for absences.

"We need someone to maintain the office so I and the chief deputy can go over the systems," she said.

"Work up some numbers and get on the agenda for next week," suggested Commissioner Blair Brady.

"Look at alternative plans," said Commissioner Lisa Marsyla, "such as shutting down the office one day per week, which is what we asked Assessor Bill Coons to do when he came on board."

The commission approved a request from Sharon Bertroch, president of the board of directors of the Columbia Pacific Resource Conservation and Economic Development District (Col-Pac), to become a co-sponsor of a grant application for a construction project at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Elokomin Salmon Hatchery. The county's contribution would be 3-5 hours of engineering and review time from Public Works Director Pete Ringen.

Bertroch also urged the commission to become again members of Col-Pac. The organization's members include Pacific and Grays Harbor counties, and it offers a variety of planning and grant writing services.

Later in the morning, representatives of the Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Council of Governments made a similar suggestion. Executive Director Steve Harvey and economic specialist Jennifer Keene suggested Wahkiakum join the Cowlitz/Lewis Economic Development District. The districts work with local economic development boards on economic development projects, and the federal agency channeling funds to the agencies would like to see the districts include at least three counties.

Commissioners acknowledged they had strong ties with the council of governments. They said they would maintain working relationships with both parties, but they would consider a written proposal from Harvey and Keene to join the Cowlitz/Lewis Economic Development District.

Commissioners also signed a letter which Cothren will take to this week's meeting of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to seek Fish and Game Department action to conserve deer and elk populations in the lower Columbia region.

Cothren said deer and elk populations have declined substantially because of illness--hair loss in deer and hoof rot in elk, and because of long hunting seasons.

"We would like to see a halt to do and cow seasons until herds are brought back to substantial sizes," the letter states. "We feel the seasons are too long, and we suggest eliminating more hunting days during the September to mid-December season."