Story by Rodger Nichols for Gorge Country Media
Klickitat County Commissioners covered a lot of ground yesterday. New contracts have been signed with public works department employees, including a multi-part wage increase that would total 5.85% by the end of 2026, an increased boot and tool allowance, and a change in how the Consumer Price Index will be used to calculate future wages.
The county also agreed with a staff suggestion to add a fire and police software modules to the medical module in the current dispatch system. County Administrator Robb Van Cleave explained :04 08 26 Van Cleave :30 “It puts a script in the system, so that the dispatchers can follow the script and make sure we’re getting all the right information. So it’s good for training. It allows us to move people onto the console faster. It also benefits the experienced dispatchers, should we get into a pretty intense situation. And it also reduces liability by making sure we are consitently asking and giving the right information for law enforcement, EMS and for fire.”
Valerie Fowler, Klickitat County’s member of the Gorge Commission reported
the Gorge Commission had experienced a 27% budget cut, resulting in reduced staff hours and a shift from monthly to bi-monthly public meetings.
- Despite budget cuts, the Gorge Commission had launched a new, more user-friendly website that would allow for online land-use applications. And she added this evaluation:
04 08 26 Valerie : 20 “I’m delighted to say they seem to be able to be keeping up with the Klickitat County applications, including the ones from the Burdoin fire. Just this past week, Executive Director Krystyna Wolniakowski approved the sixth land use application to replace a dwelling that was destroyed in the fire.”
- She also cited a growing synergy between Klickitat, Skamania and Wasco County on the gorge commission, and a greater degree of what she called resident protection.
- During the formal afternoon session, the board issued a proclamation declaring April 12th-18th, as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week to honor 911 dispatch personnel.
- Jonna Wingert was appointed to the Klickitat- Skamania Development Disability Advisory Board, concurring with Skamania County’s recommendation.
- And commissioners identified two key legislative priorities: addressing the sales tax credit the county must give to green energy projects, which had cost the county nearly a million dollars previously, and rescinding a tax that uniquely affects the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport.
- A public hearing was held for Daniel and Michelle Spatz’s application to classify their 18.5-acre property under the “open space open space” land designation for tax assessment purposes. The applicants detailed their long-term conservation efforts on the property.
- The board voted to continue the public hearing for the Spatz property until April 21st, leaving the record open for written testimony until April 10th.