Commissioners hear staffing requests

 


They keep coming: Wahkiakum County courthouse department heads in the past few weeks have made several proposals to reorganize their staffs.

County commissioners Dan Cothren and Blair Brady weren't having it Tuesday.

First they had a request from the county auditor's office which they approved. Auditor Diane Tischer has been modifying her staff's job descriptions. The board approved a request to boost the new deputy auditor II to step three on the salary schedule, and they approved moving the payroll clerk into non-union status.

"I've been talking to the auditor about this," said Commissioner Dan Cothren. He said he supported the changes.

Board Chair Blair Brady agreed.

"We've been trying to get this position (payroll clerk) out of the union for some time," he said, adding that the clerk handles lots of confidential information.

Next came Assessor Bill Coons with a request to increase and restructure his staff. As reported last week, Coons said the moves are necessary to allow his office to keep up with the increased demands from revaluing the entire county every year.

"It seems like we have a domino effect of people asking for things," Cothren said. "You (Coons) weren't the first and you won't be the last. We need to have a workshop to get all the entities together."

Via telephone, Commissioner Mike Backman agreed, and they set a tentative date of August 9 for the workshop.

Coons replied that he understood Cothren's points. He said he would welcome a discussion of staff needs. He said he would come back with a detailed request for extra help.

Last came District Court Judge Bill Faubion asking to move his office's two employees into higher pay class positions and also to give the judge's salary an increase.

The two employees have long tenure, experience and knowledge, he said.

However, the commissioners weren't ready to act. Cothren said the board wants to have a workshop with all department heads to go over ideas for raises and restructuring.

"We'll discuss and talk about it," Cothren said. "People can come in and present their cases.”

 

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