Three appointed to the newly expanded Board of Health

DAYTON–The Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) approved three new Board of Health positions and Resolution 2022-23; heard discussion on a change of venue for certain courthouse offices; update on drone project; and fairground borders vacate premise a few weeks prior to the Columbia County Fair during the July 18 meeting.

After holding several interviews during the July 11 meeting, the County Commissioners had one final interview July 18 by the County Commissioners for three new positions to the Board of Health, and three appointments were made: Chuck Beleny, D.O., retired United States Air Force Flight Surgeon and Board-certified Family Practitioner; Debbie Davis, former L.P.N, R.N.; and Nancy Laughery, R.N.

New state law RCW 70.05.030 has required Boards of Health to have three non-elected community representatives besides the county commissioners. The Commission formally passed Resolution 2022-22 expanding the Board of Health to six members with the newly appointed serving staggered terms with subsequent terms of three years. The initial appointments made were Beleny for a three-year term, Davis for a two-year term and Laughery for a term of one year. The expanded Board will hold its first meeting in August.

Tim Dyke, head of Information Technology, reported a recent failure of the generator in the courthouse to reboot after it overheated. He said the entire network is based on the generator working and they need to address the recurring issue of overheating caused from being located in the courthouse. He suggested the County consider using the back office of the County Planning building to house a back-up dispatch center with generator.

In addition, he suggested purchasing the Columbia Pulp building and move the firewall with the other internet infrastructure there from the courthouse, as well as the offices of the assessor, auditor, treasurer and possibly planning. He proposed moving the courts' offices from the third floor to the second floor of the courthouse along with moving the prosecutor over making the entire courthouse a law and justice center.

Treasurer Carla Rowe was in favor of this idea and added that they could have someone cross trained at the reception area of the proposed building to handle various general multi-departmental needs. Commissioners are taking it under advisement.

Fire Chief Jeromy Phinney told the Commission that he has been designated as the new administrator for the Wildhorse Grant received for the Drone Project and that the deadline for allocation of the funds has been extended by nearly one year. The Commissioners approved the purchase of several drone kits and needed accessories of about $20,500.

Several of the horse boarders at the fairgrounds came and asked to be heard regarding the Fairground Board's and Commissioner's decision to have them vacate for the weeks around the County Fair. They expressed concern about the timing because the horse clubs are holding a horse show as a pre-fair event two weekends before the fair. Without access, practices are limited which can impact the competition and the safety of the kids who compete. The Commissioners answered the deferred maintenance scheduled in those weeks around the Columbia County Fair time is a high priority and that boarders have had to historically move out during events. One of the boarders suggested that in the future they perform any maintenance after the fair so as not impede the preparation for the horse competition.

Interim County Engineer Walter Morgan met to talk about the plan going forward of working for Columbia and Garfield Counties. He proposed the chairmen of two county commissions meet to talk through a proposed agreement to be submitted to the county attorneys for review. He also suggested they consider hiring on an assistant public works director for support of the interim and to provide continuity when a permanent director is hired.