GOLDENDALE —
GOLDENDALE — Some of the more interesting developments at the Jan. 27 Klickitat County Commissioners meeting came during their public comment portion. At the start, a tall man wearing a cowboy hat came to the microphone.
“I just want to say that my name is John Bruce,” he said. “I’m a retired chief of police of three different agencies, and I am currently running for sheriff of Klickitat County.”
He said no more, but a bit of internet research revealed that John Bruce oversaw the police department in Frisco, a suburb of Dallas, Texas, with a population of 200,000 and 215 officers. He has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a masters in public affairs, both from the University of Texas in Dallas. Bruce worked his way up through the ranks, serving as chief from 2013 to his retirement in 2019. He completed Session 216 of the FBI National Academy and is an alumnus of the Leadership and Command College.
After his retirement, he moved to Richland, Washington, a city of 64,000 with a police force of 65 sworn officers, and worked as chief for three years before a change in the city administration in 2022 brought in their own candidate.
There was another surprise for commissioners in the form of Robert Johnson from Wishram, where he says his neighborhood has a chicken problem.
“Our in-town chicken farm has expanded to two places now,” he said. “Thirty-plus birds running around, tearing up yards and out in the road. Six roosters I counted this morning, it’s just crazy.”
He said the people responsible refuse to pen them in, and that when asked politely to do something about the problem, they responded, “You can’t make me stop it. There’s no law.”
And earlier that day, during the board’s workshop session, commissioners played the name game. After the emergency management department was separated from the 911 dispatch center and moved to the public works department, the county needed a new name for the 911 service to adequately distinguish between the two. The dispatch center and the radio network were not moved with emergency management.
“I’ve got a little feedback that the name for the new department is creating a little confusion,” County Administrator Rob Van Cleave said.
The name they finally settled on? Klickitat County 911 Dispatch.
The morning workshop was fairly brief, with only County Administrator Robb Van Cleave and Public Works Director Jeff Hunter reporting. Hunter said that the county was saving money by building custom cabinets for the renovation of the jury room rather than hire an outside company. He said his department has a shop at the fairgrounds.
“We’ve purchased things over the years for certain projects,” he said, “and we have built a nice wood shop out there.”
But the largest portion of the morning was spent playing the name game. After the Emergency Management department was separated from the 911 dispatch center, the county needed a new name for the 911 service to avoid public confusion caused by moving Emergency Management into the Public Works Department.
The dispatch center and the radio network were not moved with Emergency Management.
“I’ve got a little feedback that the name for the new department is creating a little confusion,” Van Cleave said. “I told them they could use the title of Klickitat Emergency Communications. Having the word ‘emergency’ in there is creating a little confusion with folks, since we’re trying to separate the identities. Before I actually draft a resolution, I needed to check with you, because it’s ultimately your decision.”
The name they finally settled on? Klickitat County 911 Dispatch.
Under the consent agenda, commissioners approved:
• Dates for the 2027 budget development process.
• Awarding a bid for bundle #2 - preventative maintenance and bearing repairs.
• Final acceptance and release for the Sunnyside Road overlay.
• Signing the contracts and contract bonds for a bundle of preventive maintenance, deck and expansion joint repair.
• Appointments to the Klickitat County Public Economic Development Authority Board of Directors.
• Board of Adjustment letter and certificate of appreciation for Niemela.
• Planning Commission letter and certificate of appreciation for Riley.
• Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council Letter and certificate of appreciation for Chiles.
• An updated grant agreement signature authorization form for the 2023 Homeland Security Grant Program,
• An updated grant agreement signature authorization form for the 2024 Homeland Security Grant Program
• Authorization for the Sheriff’s Department to purchase a 2025 Chevy Tahoe through the state bid/contract system.
• Authorization for the Sheriff’s Department to purchase two 2024 Chevy Silverados through the state bid/contract system.
• A 2026 Superior Court public defender contract with Johnson & Associates Law Offices.
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