Retiring Extension Agent Paul Carter receives plaque for service

DAYTON–The Board of Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC), meeting for the first time in 2021, presented a plaque of recognition to Paul Carter for 15 years of service as the Columbia County Regional Extension Agronomist/Soil Scientist through WSU Extension. Carter is retiring.

The first 2021 meeting on January 4 included new Commissioner Marty Hall with Ryan Rundell assuming the Chairman position as well as Chuck Amerein.

The Commissioners also heard from Public Health Administrator Martha Lanman, who reported the current cases within the County has decreased to four. Three hundred doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine have been distributed in the County to those in the 1B category, which are health workers and nursing-home residents.

The BOCC approved County Engineer Chuck Eaton's resolution and request to acquire equipment and vehicles for the County. This cost is included in the 2021 budget, however Eaton said the actual cost will be $30,000 more than anticipated for purchase of a truck for the Emergency Management Department.

The Commissioners consulted with County Attorney Dale Slack about holding public meetings under the Governor's changing mandates. Some of the County employees, including the Commissioners and Department heads, have been attending in-person while keeping six-feet apart and wearing masks at the Commissioner's Office. Concern within the County Departments has been growing over continuing meetings this way where some have the benefit by choosing to attend in-person where others choose to try to meet with the limitations of Zoom.

Generally, at the Commissioners' Office, there has been issues with sound quality holding meetings by Zoom, which limits Zoom attendees being able to hear clearly. An improved system with a microphone and speakers is expected in about a month according to Clerk Leanne Peters.

The BOCC also considered the possibly of facing repercussions from the State. Slack said that the protocols haven't changed since the beginning of the initial lockdown last spring where Labor and Industries is assigned with the task of warning and potentially issuing fines to those not conducting business according to the mandate.

"We are trying to conduct business the best way we possibly can," Amerein said about addressing the inconsistencies of holding meetings in-person. "We can't meet with people together because that's in violation of the Governor's order. We can't meet individually with people one after the other because that would be illegal."

Slack affirmed that meeting by Zoom would be the best way to comply while getting business done. Though because the Commissioners' work space is at the office, they would be allowed to be in-office for the meetings.

Freshman Commissioner Marty Hall said attending in separate places would help with sound quality. Rundell noted that some moderation is needed so that people don't talk at once. The Commissioners decided to move forward by meeting for the Work Session next week in separate locations by Zoom which would discourage in-person attendance, and try the use of headsets to help with sound.