County to defray City short staffing

DAYTON-City of Dayton Mayor Zac Weatherford presented to the Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) a draft or a temporary interlocal agreement of six months at the July 6 meeting. This agreement proposes to utilize Columbia County's planning services until new staff is in place to handle building permits and follow through with projects that are in place.

Commissioner Ryan Rundell commented that the draft was more than they thought it would be by asking the County planner to attend City Council meetings and Planning Committee meetings. Commissioner Chuck Amerein was concerned about the length of the contract.

Weatherford told the BOCC, "The City would be very appreciative of any help that we can get from the County as far as planning goes–this contract is not set in stone. We are very flexible as far as what the Commissioners can help assist with."

County Planning Manager Dena Martin was present and agreed she would meet with City Deputy Clerk Deb Hays to look at the projects and determine if she is able to help along with Building Official Clint Attebery. Commissioner Amerein said the County would take their input and draft another contract to present to the City to which Weatherford was supportive.

The Commissioners decided after meeting with Charles Eaton for the Flood Control Zone District they would review the most current situation concerning the permitting for debris removal in the Touchet River from FEMA during the next regular BOCC meeting on July 19 and decide how to move forward. Eaton reported permitting is in place for woody debris removal in the Tucannon River.

Eaton also provided updates for Public Works pertaining to the current work on the Pavilion restroom at the Fairgrounds. At this time, the estimated completion of the project will not be in time for the County fair due to delays in the receiving construction materials.

The engineering projects for the County are many but the department is understaffed by two people. The job openings have been posted for some time. A request for qualifications for a consultant to make bridge inspections has been made. Eaton shared that, "One of the great things we want to do is we want to establish a bridge inspection program for our small structures. What it does is, when I talked to the bridge inspection people is non-certified bridge inspectors go out and then rate all those...and that qualifies as experience to become certified." Bridge inspectors are in high demand according to Eaton. He also spoke about a program in Adams County that takes recent high school grads and gives them jobs while they go to school and will look at presenting it to the BOCC.

The county roads projects include chip seal work for South Touchet Road, asphalt patching on Tucannon Road, finishing up South Patit Road from flood damages, and removing woody debris for Flood Control Zone District in the Tucannon River. According to Eaton, the County assisted the City on Tremont for grading and will be also doing the chip seal.