December 20, 2007

Commissioners deny weed control board’s request for increase

The county commissioners met in regular session Monday afternoon to discuss the Adams County Noxious Weed Control Board’s request to increase assessments after receiving public comment in Ritzville and Othello the prior week during public hearings.

Once discussion finished, the commissioners had three alternatives: accept, modify or refer the proposal back to the weed control board.

The commissioners unanimously agreed to not accept the proposal and refer the request back to the weed control board.

According to information Commissioner Rudy Plager garnered from 2005 figures for weed assessments across the state figured per capita, Adams County’s gross total was third highest. Columbia County was the highest, followed by Lincoln County.

Adams County’s total dollar amount is higher than the other two counties, Plager said, but it is larger and has a larger percentage of agriculture.

According to Plager’s figures, the assessments figured out to $13.50 per resident in Adams County, $17.17 per resident in Lincoln County and $44.54 per resident in Columbia County.

The proposed assessment increase was an 11.6 percent increase above what is currently assessed.

“How much is too much,” Plager said.

“I guess one would have to answer that based on a level of service,” Commissioner Jeff Stevens replied. “So, I guess how much is enough. That’s a tough one.”

Plager explained that while the proposal would increase revenues for the weed control board, he doesn’t think it will help.

“I guess the bottom line is, again, we’re a distressed county economically,” he said. “It still puts us into a higher level. I’m not in favor of increasing the assessments.”

“At this time, I know cost of service has gone up, but we have to be more flexible with hours,” board Chair Roger Hartwig said.

“One area I’m still concerned in, although we’re not managing the weed board, we’re still charged with the financial responsibility, is we still need to improve the budget just as we do other budgets,” Stevens said.

“I guess that I’m troubled that the board hasn’t taken action really on any of Hunt’s suggestions so they can run a more efficient operation,” he continued, referring to a study performed by Gary Hunt of Human Resources almost a year ago.

“It’s been completely ignored,” Plager added.

According to a PowerPoint presentation at the Dec. 10 meeting, the weed control board has made changes at the end of 2006 and 2007: reduce staff hours from 40 to 35; freeze salaries allowing no overtime; close storage unit; sell surplus equipment; reduce seasonal staff from seven months to six; take vehicles off insurance while in storage; raise enforcement fees; and not fill vacant field inspector position.

One area Stevens said needs to be addressed is employee salaries. The weed control board has two employees working 35 hours per week all year.

Last week during the public hearing in Ritzville, weed control board member Roy Clinesmith told the board that he thought the board needed to look at employees and salaries more.

“I think we need to take a whole new look at this,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve quite looked at it hard enough… What’s bearing us down is full-time employees and full-time benefits. I’d like to see one full-time coordinator with benefits and the rest part-time.”

According to board Chair Herman Harder at that meeting, the board has discussed switching the coordinator and office manager positions to salaried positions as well as trying to rotate the number of hours the two positions work in the winter or only having the office staff work six months.

Hartwig said that instead of working 35 hours per week, period, salaried employees could work less in the off-season and longer during the weed and irrigation season.

“I’d hate to think we only work 35 hours because that’s what we’re supposed to work,” he said. “I guess my point is there are different times of year, not just 35 hours. Period.”

“I guess I have to agree with (Roy). I don’t think that the board has gone far enough to streamline their operations,” Stevens said.