GOLDENDALE — A final resolution transferring responsibility for the Klickitat County Jail from the sheriff’s department to the newly created Klickitat County Department of Corrections will be on the Klickitat County Commissioners’ Dec. 3 meeting. If passed, the actual transfer would take place at 12:01 a.m. Dec. 4.
That was the word from Human Resources Director Robb Van Cleave at the Klickitat County Commissioners meeting Nov.12. Bill Frantz, who has 25 years’ experience with the Washington State Department of Corrections, will run the facility as jail administrator.
In a jail-related development, Van Cleave told commissioners that he had received that morning a letter from supply company Aramark, which has been providing food for the prisoners. The letter said the company had been losing $100,000 a year on the contract and would not renew when it expires at the end of the year.
He also announced that interviews with five applicants for the new county coroner position have been scheduled for Nov. 22.
Van Cleave had one more HR issue: In years’ past, he said, commissioners had gotten into the habit of allowing departments under their supervision to leave in the early afternoon on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
“When you do that,” he told them, “the sheriff’s department, corrections officers, dispatchers and public works do not get to go home early. While appreciated and understandable from the employees who get to go, it’s a source of angst for those who can’t.”
It’s to the point, he said, that the union has already vowed to pursue that issue in upcoming contract negotiations, because it’s perceived as unfairness.
The commission also held three hearings that day.
The first was for a supplemental budget amendment, adding $2,070,221 to cover increased expenses. The three largest components of the overrun were $613,000 for the sheriff’s office, $470,288 for commissioners, and $467,512 for emergency management. The second involved a moratorium and interim zoning controls for bulk storage of lithium batteries were extended for another six months.
And the third, on the six-year road plan, was held in two parts: An afternoon session and evening session. Testimony taken at those two sessions will be taken into consideration for the final document, which will be voted on in the next commissioner meeting.
Note that there will be no commissioner meeting on Nov. 19 as commissioners will be attending the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) meetings.
Under the consent agenda Commissioners approved:
• The appointment of Donald E. Williamson to Klickitat County Emergency Medical Services District No. 1
• A two-year contract with Potts & Associates for legislative representation beginning Jan. 1, 2025
• Budget Adjustment Transfer requests from certain Klickitat County Departments regarding employee COLAs
• An agreement with Tracy Cramer, an independent contractor to fill the position of Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Lead
• An agreement with Jordyn Caven, an independent contractor, to fill the position of Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
• Approval of a contract for snow removal in the Klickitat County parking lot with J&S Enterprises
• An amendment to the agreement with the County Road Administration Board (CRAB) for the purpose of increasing grant funding from $1,994,300 to $2,580,00 and removing the local match for the Sunnyside Road Overlay Project
• An agreement with WSDOT for the White Plastic Edge Lines Project, CRP 380
• A local prospectus with WSDOT for the approval of funding for the White Plastic Edge Lines
• A memorandum from Klickitat County Public Works to carry unused vacation time over to the new year, and employees will have to use the excess leave hours by June 30, 2025
• An agreement Washington State Department of Agriculture and Klickitat County Senior Services to provide funding for Klickitat and Skamania Counties for additional emergency food purchases
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