The Courthouse Journal A Joint Publication of the Washington State Association of Counties & Washington Association of County Officials September 1, 2000 Number 20 SHB 2392 JOINT TASK FORCE MEETS The Joint Task Force's first meeting was a mix of procedure and substance. On the procedure front, Senator Jim Horn and Representative Mark Doumit were elected co-chairs of the Task Force. Members agreed to try to meet at least once a month until the Legislative Session, with the next meeting set for September 28, at Sea-Tac (exact location to be determined). The agenda at the next meeting is intended to build understanding of three issues: 1) mandates from all sources on cities and counties, 2) city and county revenue structures, including unused local tax options, 3) the constraints imposed on the state by 601. On the substance front, the discussion was wide ranging. City and county representatives remained united in support of the three issues they agreed to pursue (funding in the 2001 session, long range financial support for local government, and reliable funding of mandates). Legislators expressed a variety of views. Some felt that local governments needed to exercise their local option taxes before asking for state help. Others felt the voters had sent local governments a message not to increase local taxes and fees. At least one local official pointed out that the Legislature sent Referendum 47 to the people to encourage local government to forego using their tax authority. There was a lengthy discussion of how to deal with mandates. Some legislators wanted the local governments to propose repeals of laws to cut costs. One local official pointed out that the public was unlikely to support repeal of major cost drivers such as DUI laws. This would be an example of a mandate that is good from a policy perspective, but is not free. There was general agreement that mandates came from many sources including court rulings, state and federal agency rulemaking and state legislation. A great variety of other issues were discussed, including annexations, transportation funding, transit tax votes, distribution of revenue between cities and counties, etc. In summary, the meeting was much like the initial meetings after the passage of I-695. Reactions to the local government story varied from selective support to vigorous skepticism. The local government representatives met before the task force meeting and after the meeting. They are committed to putting time into building the local government position and will meet on their own on September 14 in Olympia. TVW covered the meeting live. You may see it rebroadcast locally or access it at the TVW website at http://www.tvw.org/ the specific reference as of 8/31/00 is: http://www.tvw.org/media/recentevnt.cfm?CFID=219774&CFTOKEN=21074984 ************************************** GOOD THINGS ************************************** WIRELESS NETWORK LINKS YAKIMA VALLEY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES (Submitted by Lisa Freund, Yakima County) The Lower Valley Public Safety Network recently went live with a high-speed wireless data network linking Yakima County and lower valley law enforcement agencies for fast access to criminal records and other information. The wireless network provides lower valley communities with extensive links to state and federal agencies, including the Washington State Patrol, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The system allows law enforcement officials the ability to share information at speeds many times faster than previously available, and will eventually extend that access to officers on the street. In Sunnyside, officers already have that capability through laptops installed in city patrol cruisers. "Our police officers now have access to all of the information available to them from the office while in their cars," states Sunnyside Police Captain Phil Schenck. According to Schenck, officers have immediate access to crime data collected by other police departments throughout the valley as well as the Department of Licensing and the National Crime Information Center. That means officers can pull up mug shots, criminal records and other information when they make a traffic stop. Eventually, Schenck anticipates a digital link to Washington State Patrol computers that will allow near-instant identification of previously arrested individuals. Cost savings for participating communities is also significant. "We estimate the Sheriff's Office is already saving $350-$450 per month on data circuit charges," states Helton, while Schenck estimates current savings for the Sunnyside Police Department at $600-$700 per month. "Through the network, we can provide wireless connections at a fraction of the cost of traditional phone services," adds Helton. Funding for the lower valley network, which is the first phase in a three- phase effort to link the entire county, was provided by a $100,000 High- Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) grant. The next step is to connect the wireless network in the upper valley. Eventually, the county plans to activate a set of six fiber optic lines that will allow citizens to obtain permits, pay taxes and transact nearly all of their government business from home or a central computer kiosk in their city. "This is only the beginning of a network that will have enormous benefit to Yakima County citizens," comments Helton. ************************************** WSAC WESTERN DISTRICT MEETING ************************************** WESTERN DISTRICT MEETING: FOCUS ON CRITICAL TOPICS The fall 2000 meeting of the Western District, WSAC, takes place October 12 and 13 in Pacific County. Workshops take place at the Super 8 Hotel, Long Beach. This meeting is also the occasion for the Annual and Renowned WSAC Crab Feed the evening of October 12. The meeting anticipates election of officers for the Western District for the coming year. If you are interested in running for Secretary-Treasurer of the Western District or for the at-large position being vacated by Thurston County Commissioner Judy Wilson, please notify Paul Parker of WSAC, who will pass the information along to the Nominating Committee. Workshop topics include: an overview of the initiatives that will appear on the fall ballot, many of which will affect counties directly or indirectly; a briefing and discussion of the Federal agencies "All H" salmon strategy and what it means to save the dams; a briefing and discussion with Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons on the Department's Shorelines Guidelines; the coming E-911 crisis. Registration forms have been sent to all Western District Commissioners, Councilmembers and County Executives and also are attached at the back of this Courthouse Journal. ************************************** ENVIRONMENT, LAND USE & RESOURCES ************************************** SKAMANIA COUNTY AGAIN OPTS OUT OF GMA Skamania County Commissioners voted in August to opt out of full GMA planning. The vote has become an annual ritual in the county with an estimated 9,900 population - a populace that has grown by over 20 percent since 1990. Counties with a population under 50,000 but with a 10-year growth rate exceeding 20 percent are brought into the purview of full GMA planning. But unlike larger counties, those under 50,000 have an opportunity to opt-out of planning under the Act by acting within 60 days. Skamania and Okanogan Counties are the only counties which have taken this action. Both counties still must comply with the Act's requirements to designate and protect critical areas and to designate natural resource lands. Much of Skamania County is already governed by the land use rules adopted by the Columbia River Gorge Commission that covers parts of six counties in Washington and Oregon. These National Scenic Area requirements often exceed the requirements of GMA. "The GMA seems to take a lot of control away from local jurisdictions and place it in the hands of regional appeals boards. A large amount of money is spent defending and litigating local decisions," commented Ed McLarney, Chair of the Skamania County Board of Commissioners, in the Vancouver Columbian. "We don't see any benefit." ************************************** TRANSPORTATION ************************************** BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION COMING TO THURSTON COUNTY The Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation (BRCT) will host a Thurston County roundtable discussion of the transportation options developed by the commission. Join Governor Gary Locke and BRCT members September 11, 5:30 p.m., at the Thurston County Courthouse, 2000 Lakeridge Drive, Building One, Room 152 in Olympia. This meeting was recently added to the BRCT's schedule of public hearings and meetings in order to hear from as many people as possible regarding the proposed options. The agenda will include comments from Governor Locke and a short presentation on the BRCT's work. The balance of the time will be devoted to public comment. Other opportunities to comment on the BRCT options include public hearings Thursday, September 7, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Bellevue Regional Library and Thursday, September 14, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Yakima County Courthouse. Several BRCT members also will attend and listen to county concerns at the WSAC Eastern District meeting September 28 in Pullman. WSAC is preparing formal written comments on the options and will be sending these to the BRCT following the WSAC Legislative Steering Committee meeting September 8. A draft version of the comments and a one-page overview of "talking points" regarding the options are available from WSAC staff Jackie White at jwhite@wacounties.org or 360-753-1886. The BRCT, composed of representatives from public and private sectors, has been developing recommendations for increasing efficiency, identifying transportation priorities, and stabilizing transportation funding in Washington state. The commission will present final recommendations to the Legislature and Governor Locke in December 2000. ************************************** LAW & JUSTICE ************************************** COUNTIES, CITIES CONVENE DISCUSSION OF JAIL FUNDING STRATEGY FOR 2001 LEGISLATIVE SESSION Last week the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC), the Washington Association of County Officials (WACO), and the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) hosted the first of what will be several discussions to identify strategies for the 2001 legislative session to increase funding for county and city jails. Thurston County Commissioner Diane Oberquell and staff Sophia Byrd represented WSAC. WACO Deputy Director Debbie Wilke attended on behalf of that organization. Other involved interest groups include prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, sheriffs, Washington State Department of Corrections, Jail Industries Board, and the Washington Council on Crime and Delinquency. This first meeting focused on information gathering and ways to begin educating legislators about jail issues when they come to town in September for Legislative Weekend. A follow-up meeting is tentatively scheduled for early October. No fewer than seven other task forces, study groups, and ad hoc committees are working on specialized areas related to criminal justice issues. Most, however, are not due to recommend any action until after the 2001 legislative session is over. Thus the jails strategy group is working to identify specific areas not in conflict with these other studies where legislation could be pursued for the 2001 session. One example might be a bill similar to HB 2913 from last session that would require the state to pay its share of costs for felons and state-agency misdemeanants housed in county jails. It is certainly no news to local officials that counties are devoting increasingly substantial amounts of their budgets to funding law and justice needs - even as revenues decrease with the passage of Initiative 695 and the resulting loss of millions in MVET funds. (See attached newspaper article from the Everett Herald regarding Snohomish County.) Some counties are now spending 70 percent of current expense budgets to pay for police protection, court services and jail facilities. Of those three very valuable and legally mandated services, jails currently present some of the most critical needs for capital and operations funding. A recent jail capacity study by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs shows significant overcrowding, infrastructure deficiencies, booking restrictions and increased impacts from special populations at many county and city jails. ************************************** HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES ************************************** PHASE TWO OF SEATTLE/KING COUNTY'S ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE THE DOWNTOWN IMAGE Phase one of the cleanup of downtown Seattle and its population of chronic public inebriates involved imposing voluntary restrictions on the type and hours of sale of alcoholic beverages in community groceries. Phase two is putting together plans to enliven and stimulate alternative markets for the small grocery and convenience stores impacted by the limitations on beverage sales. During the last week in August, the King County-funded task force, the Chronic Public Inebriate System Solutions Committee, will issue a marketing plan aimed at bringing new types of business to stores and taverns that have agreed to stop selling the most potent beers and wines and now promise to stop selling any alcoholic beverages from midnight to 9 AM. Ideas as creative as selling muffins by the hundreds to neighborhood offices or wine and munchies for gallery openings have been mentioned. Other ideas include gift certificates and tokens redeemable for cash. Neighborhood newsletters soon will include messages urging residents and businesses to shop at stores that have given up sure-fire sales to Pioneer Square's niche market: substance abusers. Business is still cynical about the potential for the new business plan making up the losses from curtailing beer and wine sales, but most are willing to make the sacrifice. The efforts to change the plight of chronic inebriates isn't just all about good- will for the consumer, it is also about business. New apartments, condominiums and dot-com offices are remaking the place into an area less tolerant of public drunkenness. Over the last two years, many stores and taverns in the downtown area have reduced the sales of high percentage alcohol. At the same time treatment options have increased, as have attempts to enroll people in those programs. ************************************** STATE ANNOUNCES THE HELP FOR WORKING FAMILIES PROGRAM Starting August 28, low and moderate-income families in Washington can call a toll-free number to find out if they quality for state help with food, childcare, or health care. The hotline is part of a state program established "to let working families know there are benefits available to them," said Roxanne Lowe, program manager for Help for Working Families. (Yes, this is our own former big spender at the scholarship auction, Gary Lowe's wife, Roxanne.) "These are families that are struggling month to month," she said. "One crisis might cause them to slip back into poverty. We're looking at this as a launching pad so that families can move up." For some benefits such as help with paying for licensed childcare or signing up for medical care, eligibility can be established over the phone. For food stamps, the process can be started over the phone, but federal law requires an office visit to complete the process. The toll-free number is 877-980-9131. It will be staffed Monday - Thursday 8 - 6:30, Friday 8 - 4:30, and Saturday 8 - 11:30. Online information is also available at www.wa.gov/workfirst/workingfamilies. The maximum monthly income to quality for assistance varies by program. For food assistance (formerly known as food stamps, the monthly income for a family of three cannot exceed $1,533. To get help with childcare costs; monthly income cannot exceed $2,653. And for medical assistance, income for a three-person family cannot exceed $2,948. There are no income limitations for getting assistance from the state in collecting required child support payments. The funds to pay for the anticipated increases in program costs will come from the savings generated in welfare reform. "We've saved $250 million a year in welfare payouts, " Lowe said. "The governor has redirected those savings to help working families." Initially, 32 state employees will be answering the calls but more will be added in September. State officials estimate that thousands of families may qualify for some of the assistance statewide. In child care alone, some 20,000 additional working families might qualify once they learn they might be eligible, said Ken Miller, the Governor's policy adviser on welfare reform. Even with assistance, childcare costs remain quite high. The client would still pay as much as 20 percent of their income even though that is only 40 percent of the total cost with the state picking up the balance. In the medical assistance area, as many as 90,000 children in Washington from low-and moderate-income families are eligible for health care, but not now enrolled in either the state's Healthy Options or Basic Health Plan. The Children's Alliance, a family and children's advocacy organization, is quoted as being quite enthusiastic about the possibilities of getting more of these children into care through the new phone system. ************************************** LONG-TERM CARE ALLIANCE COMING TOGETHER TO PUSH FOR HIGHER WAGES FOR CAREGIVERS A group of advocacy, consumer, and provider organizations involved with long-term care has been meeting over the past summer to begin publicizing a campaign to raise caregivers' wages. Those who care for the most disabled, the most senior and the youngest are frequently paid only slightly more than fast food workers and about the same as retail sales clerks. Statistics from the state Employment Security Department show that median salaries for child care workers, nursing assistants, orderlies, attendants, home health aides are $15,200 to a high of $17,400 per year as of 1998. These workers provide the front-line services that deliver care every day, around the clock. This care is critical to the safety and well being of those who need help and affects virtually every individual and family in our state either personally or indirectly through a family member or employee. But what has been recognized as a national model of long-term care is becoming threatened by a growing lack of an adequate workforce. State payments for long-term care determine the wages paid to these workers. The largest number of long-term care recipients are state clients - for instance, nearly 70 percent of those in skilled nursing facilities and 30 percent of those in assisted living facilities. While the rallying cry is fundamentally about money, it is also about the value we place on those who care for the most vulnerable of any age among us. The groups who have come together to work on this issue include the AARP, the Alzheimer's Association, Catholic Community Services, Citizens for the Improvement of Nursing Homes and Long-term Care, Home Care of Washington, Resident Councils of Washington, Washington Adult Day Services Association, the Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging, the Washington Association of Public Housing Authorities, the Washington Association of Housing and Services for the Aging, the Washington Health Care Association, the Washington Residential Care Conference, the Washington State Hospice Organization, the Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, the Washington State Senior Citizen's Lobby and to a lesser extent, the Washington State Association of Counties. The Alliance is currently engaged in determining both incumbents' and candidates' positions on increased caregiver wages. While WSAC has never engaged in working with candidates or election activities for specific state legislators, we do have overall policy statements supporting adequate funding of long-term care services that counties administer including those for the mentally ill, the aging, those with developmental disabilities and others. It is expected that we will take a more active role during the upcoming legislative session in supporting increased wages for caregivers. The issue has hit home for us counties as well as we are particularly experiencing shortages in finding qualified workers throughout the state in mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities both in direct caregivers and treatment professionals. If anyone has any questions about the work of the Long-Term Care Alliance, please contact WSAC staff, Jean Wessman, 360-753-1886, jwessman@wacounties.org. ************************************** COUNTY NEWS ************************************** 2000 SALARY AND BENEFIT SURVEY The Washington City and County Salary and Benefit Survey for 2000 has been published and distributed. This survey is published annually by the Local Government Personnel Institute, a division of the Association of Washington Cities. The survey includes salary and benefit data from 258 of Washington's 279 cities and towns, as well as all 39 counties in the state. For further information, please contact the WACO office. ************************************** COUNTY PROJECTS SELECTED FOR PUBLIC WORKS BOARD LOANS The state Public Works Board (PWB) last week announced its recommended 2001 funding list of local projects that applied for Public Works Trust Fund construction loans. The board recommended loans for 66 local projects, primarily water and sewer projects. Twenty-nine of the projects will require additional funding authorization from the Legislature. The funding list includes six county projects, four of which will require additional funding authorization from the Legislature. Within the existing funds a Klickitat County sewer project is recommended for a $10 million loan, the maximum amount, and a Yakima County road project is recommended for a $3 million loan. Recommended projects that will require additional legislative authorization are a Cowlitz County sewer project ($3 million), King County sewer project ($10 million), Kitsap County sewer project ($2.6 million) and a Kitsap County bridge project ($897,812). The Board received 115 loan applications and ranked the applications based on points awarded for both need and local effort. The scores ranged from a high of 94 points of a possible 100 to a low of 35. Projects scoring 67 points or more were considered for loans. County applications constituted only nine percent of the total, with city applications making up 54 percent and the remainder from water and sewer districts. Since 1986, the Trust Fund has provided more than $1 billion in loans for local bridge, road, water, sewer, stormwater, and solid waste projects. ************************************** NO BULL, COMMISSIONER LOSES FINGER AT COUNTY FAIR Douglas County Commissioner Dane Keane lost the tip of his ring finger while helping with the rodeo at the county fair (North Central Washington District Fair). Commissioner Keane was the coordinator of the rodeo and he was in the arena when a bull hit him in the stomach and he was flipped over a fence. The horn of the bull smashed his finger into the gate. Keane is quoted in the Wenatchee Daily World as saying, "It wasn't the bull's fault. I just misjudged." He was recovering at home earlier this week with a neck and ankle brace. And who said a county commissioner's job was a piece of cake? ************************************** GRAYS HARBOR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO LEAVE AFTER 22 YEARS Mike Daniels, Grays Harbor Public Works Director, has decided to leave the county after more than 22 years. Daniels has been active in the Washington Association of County Engineers serving as president for a term. Sandi Daniels, Mike's wife, has served as clerk of the board of commissioners for many years. He had also served a term as Mayor of Montesano. When the Aberdeen Daily World asked him about his experience as an elected official he said, "One of the things I learned is that I'm better suited to serving politicians than being one." Daniels will be opening an Olympia office for Pacific International Engineering, a private engineering firm. ************************************** JONI EARL TO LEAVE SNOHOMISH COUNTY FOR SOUND TRANSIT Snohomish County Deputy Executive, Joni Earl will be leaving the county to become the new Chief Operating Officer of Sound Transit, the regional transit authority for King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Earl has been deputy county executive since 1992. She has a 25-year career in public administration that includes stints as city manager of Mill Creek and director of internal management for Kitsap County. She also worked for Mason County. Joni has spent many years in county government and will be missed by her friends and colleagues. We all wish her well in her new job. ************************************** ADA-REQUIRED SIGNS AVAILABLE FROM ICMA Does your county building have at least one employee or public entrance that is not wheelchair accessible? If you answer, "yes," current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations require that you mount ADA signs at every employee and public entrance, whether accessible or not. In response to these requirements, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) now offers a City/County Entrance Sign Kit to help counties cost- effectively comply with current ADA entrance sign rules. Each sign kit includes the number of 10 x 12-inch blue and white reflective aluminum signs you need to mark your county facility entrances, as well as specific mounting materials and instructions and ADA City/County Sign Guidelines. All kit text materials have been reviewed by the federally mandated ADA Technical Assistance Center - Region V. To obtain the accessible entrance sign kit from the ICMA, count the number of accessible and inaccessible entrances to your county facilities (which are not currently marked with ADA signs) so that ICMA will know how many of each type of sign to include with your kit. Then, call the ICMA ADA sign staff, toll-free, at (877) 232-5487, or fax/send a purchase order to ADA KIT-ICMA Sign Project, 56 Salem Lane, Evanston, IL 60203, fax (847) 568- 9485. The kit cost is $20 per sign ordered plus $9.50 shipping and handling. Please note: inaccessible entrance signs have right/left arrows on each sign to direct people to the nearest accessible entrance as required by law. Additional custom signs for entrances as well as interior Braille department/office signs are also available. ************************************** NEWS FROM MRSC ************************************** THE RATE OF INFLATION OR "LIMIT FACTOR" FOR 2001 PROPERTY TAX INCREASES IS 2.61 PERCENT The rate of inflation as measured by the implicit price deflator for personal consumption expenditures (IPD) from July 1999 to July 2000 is 2.61%. This is also the "limit factor" under Referendum 47 (RCW 84.55.010). The limit factor represents the property tax levy increase available to local governments with more than 10,000 population without a supermajority vote of the governing body. Last year, the allowable increase was 1.42% in addition to amounts added due to new construction and changes in state assessed values. Local governments with a population of less than 10,000 can still increase their property tax levies up to 6% with a simple majority vote. All this could change if I-695 is found to be constitutional by the State Supreme Court and/or if I-722 is approved by the voters and it passes constitutional muster. The Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce recently released the July 2000 index number for the implicit price deflator for personal consumption expenditures as 107.59. This represents a 2.61 percent increase over the revised July 1999 index number of 104.85. The Department of Revenue assumes that this number is not official until it is confirmed in Table B.2 of the September 2000 issue of the Bureau of Economic Analysis's Survey of Current Business (http://www.bea.doc.gov/bea/pubs.htm). Notification letters confirming the limit factor are sent by the Department of Revenue to the County Assessors. ************************************** COMING EVENTS ************************************** September 8 WSAC Legislative Steering Committee, Ellensburg 10-13 International Association of Assessing Officers' (IAAO) Annual Conference, Edmonton, Canada 13-15 Washington Finance Officers' Association (WFOA) Meeting, Shilo Inn, Ocean Shores 28 WSAC Eastern District Meeting, Pullman, WA October 2-6 WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY OFFICIALS' ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WESTCOAST TRI-CITIES, KENNEWICK 11 WSAC Western District Meeting, Long Beach 11 WSAC Legislative Steering Committee, Long Beach 27 WSAC Legislative Steering Committee, Yakima ************************************** MEETINGS/WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES ************************************** INTENSIVE SALMON TRAINING OFFERED A 4-day salmonid recovery workshop is being offered by the Northwest Environmental Training Center from October 24-27 at the Mountaineers Conference Center in Seattle. Presenters include federal, state and county staff in the thick of salmon recovery issues. The fourth day offers case studies in the field in Seattle and King County. The registration fee is $540 for all four days, $135 a day for two or more days, and $150 for one day. For more information, including a registration form, go to: http://www.nwetc.org/FILES/salmgen.pdf. ************************************** ECOLOGY OFFERS WETLANDS TRAINING The Department of Ecology is offering one-day workshops in understanding the state's new wetland functional assessment methods. The workshops will address: - the origin and development of the methods and how they assess wetland functions; - how to interpret the results and use them to make management decisions about wetlands; - potential misuses and common misunderstandings These workshops will not train participants to apply the methods for use in the field. A five-day technical training is planned for next spring. Workshops are offered on October 11 in Olympia, October 24 in Vancouver and November 2 in Everett. Cost is $50. To register call Mary Lynum at 360-407- 6908. ************************************** TIMBER COUNTIES TO MEET SEPTEMBER 21 The Timber Counties will be meeting on September 21 to discuss and possibly act upon several important topics. Jefferson County Commissioner Glen Huntingford, the county representative on the Board of Natural Resources will brief those attending on the process for revising the sustained yield calculation. Commissioner Huntingford and a DNR representative also will provide new information on the Green Certification issue. Clallam County Treasurer Ruth Gerdon will make a presentation on timber receipts. The meeting is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Olympia Best Western Aladdin Motor Inn, just across the street from the Washington Counties Building. ************************************** WIN AGAINST TERRORISM COURSE The Washington Military Department's Emergency Management Division is sponsoring a two-day "Win Against Terrorism" course on combating terrorism, September 20-21 at the National Guard Armory, in Moses Lake. The course for first responders and emergency managers is being conducted by Total Security Services International, Inc. (TSSI). TSSI specialized in counter- terrorism training and is recognized as one of the leaders in the field. Instructor qualifications include: Delta Force Officer, FBI Hostage Rescue Team and CIA Counter-Terrorism Center credentials. The emphasis is the prevention and response to terrorism and other acts of great violence such as we are seeing in schools and workplaces. Seats are limited to 45 and the initial allocation is one per jurisdiction, on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations must be in by September 15 to assure a seat. For further information, please contact Garrand Rosanne at (253) 512-7048 or Dave Hodgeboom at (253) 512-7051. ************************************** COURTHOUSE RAMBLINGS ************************************** Garfield County Commissioners have signed a contract with the City of Pomeroy, making Sheriff Larry Bowles the temporary police chief. Sheriff Bowles and his deputies have been providing law enforcement for Pomeroy since July 21. The city mayor had placed the three-person city force and two reserve officers on administrative leave at that time over the alleged mishandling of a child rape investigation. ****** Asotin County Commissioner Gordon Reed's wife Irene went into the hospital (St. Joseph's in Lewiston, ID) on August 8th for surgery on a hiatal hernia. Initially, surgery went well, then complications of pneumonia, kidney problems and heart problems arose. Currently Irene is doing better, however she will be in the hospital much longer then expected. This afternoon (8/31) Gordon informed us that Irene was being "frisky" as she had removed all of her tubes over night. We all send our best and wish Irene a speedy recovery. If you would like to extend wishes to the Reed's please send to the Asotin County Courthouse, 135 2nd Street, Asotin, WA 99402. ****** Yard Sale Serves Up a Slice Of Political History - In 1971, the King County Democratic Party Central Committee published a cookbook as a fund-raiser and sold it for $3.25 per copy. Nearly 30 years later, a West Olympia rummage sale re-sold one copy of that cookbook, in mint condition, for $2. OK, so "Democratic Cookery" wouldn't take any prizes on "Antiques Roadshow." But it sure takes the cake for kitsch. And it's probably a pretty good measure of cuisine for that era, featuring half a dozen Jell-O salads and no fewer than nine variations on chicken casserole laden with canned mushroom soup. Content-wise "Democratic Cookery" is a veritable turkey tetrazzini timewarp, and equally notable for what it doesn't include: No tofu. No microwave directions. No listing of fat content. Not to mention that flipping through the red-white-and-blue loose-leaf stirs up thoughts of some memorable political figures: Seattle Mayor Wes Uhlman (Laila's beans), state Representative Dave Ceccarelli (cheese delight), Washington Congressman Brock Adams (angel cake dessert), Washington Senator Warren Magnuson (baked stuffed yams with peanuts), Lyndon Johnson (dilled okra pickles), among others. Then there are stark reminders of the cultural protocol of the day, stiff as overbeaten meringue. Boston cream pie is not listed as Rose Kennedy's recipe; rather it is submitted by "Mrs. Joseph Kennedy." Ditto for harvest cake from Mrs. John L. O'Brien. But as was happening in larger society at that time, some dared to break with tradition. Among other political wives, Barbara Shinpoch, wife of state Representative Bud Shinpoch, signed her own name to goof-proof fudge. Several male contributors took responsibility for their own recipes - Senator Henry M. Jackson (Swedish meatballs) was one. And a number of women contributors were themselves both officeholders and cooks. We've come a long way. Certainly "Democratic Cookery" isn't a historical treatise to be taken too seriously. It's just an entertaining snapshot briefly brought out of the attic to remind us that times change and tastes change -- but Jell-O lives through the ages. Counties Building staffers enjoyed perusing this little picnic on memory lane, and we thought you would too. ************************************** JOBS ************************************** PLANNING TECHNICIAN - Salary $2286-$2355 - Per Month Duties: Review And Approve Or Deny Building Permit Applications, Checking Compliance With Legal Requirements, Including Compliance With Zoning And Setback Requirements For A Variety Of Locations Throughout Okanogan County. Provide technical and professional planning expertise on land use issues to the public, boards, government agencies, and staff. Includes answering a variety of questions regarding land use/land division options to a wide range of individuals by telephone and in person. Receive complaints from citizens or government agencies concerning violations of county regulations and ordinances. May require physical inspection of the site to determine the extent and severity of the alleged violation. Frequently involves researching county documents and state laws for directives to assist in formulation of a plan to bring compliance and writing of correspondence to the violator and/or other concerned parties. Manage the processing and approval of a variety of land use actions, including Variances, Conditional Use Permits, and working with the applicant from the initial stages of application, through completion and approval or denial of the project. Process often involves compliance with legal noticing requirements, perpetration of staff reports, and presentation to the Regional Planning Commission or County Board of Adjustment. Often includes fieldwork associated with site analysis, and review of project with regard to shoreline, wildlife, and other related issues. Provide environmental review for a wide range of proposed developments through analysis of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Checklists, and related documents (such as Environmental Impact Statements). Minimum Requirements: 2 year Associate degree in Planning, Geography or related field with two years of similar experience in a government agency. GIS experience preferred. Any combination of education and experience may be considered. Degree Of Responsibility: Planning Technician reports to the Director. Planning staff work is closely supervised to assure adherence to policy. All written work is reviewed prior to distribution. Level of responsibility and freedom to act increase with experience and familiarity with office policy and County regulations. Send resume with three references to: Administrative Secretary, Okanogan County Planning, PO Box 1009, Okanogan, WA 98840 by 5:00 September 8, 2000. Okanogan County is an equal opportunity employer. ****** WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY - WATER QUALITY PROGRAM SECTION MANAGER in their Southwest Regional Office in Lacey, WA. Typical salary range is $60,000 to $64,000. This position manages a multidisciplinary staff of 40 and a biennial budget of more than $5.5 million directed toward water quality protection and restoration work throughout southwest Washington. The position directs a professional staff responsible for making regulatory decisions through permits and enforcement actions, delivery or educational programs and providing technical assistance to businesses, local governments, and others. An application packet can be obtained from: Department of Ecology, Julie Ruster, (360) 407-6448 (email @ jrus461@ecy.wa.gov). Application packets must be postmarked or received by 5:00 p.m., September 22, 2000. Ecology is an equal opportunity agency. For special needs, call Department of Ecology at (360) 407-6186 or tdd (360) 407-6206. ****** JUVENILE COURT ADMINISTRATOR - YAKIMA COUNTY - Salary Range: $49,042 - $83,460 annually. Hiring Range: DOQ. Requirements (Education and/or Experience): Equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree in a related field and seven years progressively responsible experience including two years in a supervisory and managerial capacity in a juvenile court services environment. Duties: The Juvenile Court Administrator is responsible for the overall administration and operation of Juvenile Court Services in Yakima County including the Juvenile Court, Juvenile Detention, Juvenile Probation and volunteer advocacy programs. Performs critical administrative work in planning, organizing, directing and supervising staff and activities to provide juvenile court, detention, custody and visitation, and domestic services for offender and non-offender juveniles. Apply at: Yakima County Human Resources Department, 128 N. 2nd Street, Room 412, Yakima, WA 98901, (509) 574-2220, Internet: www.pan.co.yakima.wa.us or email: human.resources@co.yakima.wa.us. Yakima County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ****** STAFF VACANCIES FOR REGION 2 AND 6 ADMINISTRATORS AT THE DIVISION OF ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. Applications are due to DASA by the close of business on September 14, 2000. The positions are Washington Management Service Band 2 with a salary range of $48,945 to $60,100 per year. Health, dental, life and retirement benefits are excellent. Region 2: Negotiate, administer, develop, manage and monitor contracts within nine counties and one tribe in the DSHS region. Region 6: Negotiate, administer, develop, manage and monitor contracts within 11 counties and 11 tribes in the DSHS region. These positions represent the Division in all matters involving county commissions, boards, county administrators, tribal governments and with other department and service providers within the region. These positions also provide technical assistance and monitoring. The jobs require the knowledge and understanding of complex laws and regulations governing the chemical dependency programs within the State of Washington across all departments of state government including but not limited to the Department of Social and Health Services, Health, Corrections, Employment Security, Licensing, Traffic Safety, Washington State Patrol, local and state public education institutions. For further information or to apply to either position please contact Keri Patzer, Division of Alcohol and Substance, Office of Program Services, P.O. Box 45330, Olympia, WA 98504- 5330. **** END ****