PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners have guaranteed two years of funding for mandated on-site septic system programs.
Commissioners on Monday agreed to support the environmental health division’s ongoing effort to address septic system regulations and water quality standards in shellfish protection areas through the end of 2018.
Grants to expire
Grants that have supported the programs for more than 15 years are set to expire June 30, 2017, Environmental Health Director Andy Brastad told commissioners.
Commissioners agreed to set aside $300,000 for the work and to have a larger conversation about funding mandatory programs.
Funding for on-site septic system programs was a “huge topic of discussion” at a recent county administrator’s conference, Clallam County Administrator Jim Jones said.
“Everybody’s in the same boat,” Jones said.
“Current funding is going to run out at the end of June 30 next year for any of the existing grants.”
Whatcom County
Whatcom County was the only county out of 21 represented at the conference to impose a fee to support on-site septic system programs.
Whatcom County charges $21 per system, Jones said.
Commissioners Mike Chapman and Bill Peach have said they would not support a fee for septic system owners.
“I would agree that looking at a septic fee or assessment is really a non-starter right now,” Commissioner Mark Ozias said.
“If earmarking a funding source would provide some advantage in terms of eligibility for grant funds, then I think it’s well worth looking into. But I would tend to just look at this as something that we’ll need to prioritize amongst all of our other priorities.”
Commercial shellfish beds in Dungeness Bay were downgraded by the state Department of Health in 2000.
Clallam County is required to address the pollution that caused the downgrade and created a shellfish protection district.
Commissioners said they would consider creating a new restricted reserve in the county’s general fund to be used for mandatory programs when grants are not renewed.
Chapman suggested that the board re-examine a long-standing policy that grant-funded positions be eliminated when the associated grant expires.
“My guess is just that change in policy would help the organization,” Chapman said.
Hearing examiners
In other discussion from the work session, commissioners agreed to interview all five candidates who have applied to be the next hearing examiner.
Commissioners have been searching for a primary hearing examiner since January.
Quasi-judicial hearing examiners adjudicate land-use matters, including appeals of Department of Community Development decisions and a variety of land-use permits.
Lauren Erickson and William Payne have been alternating hearings under contracts that expire at the end of May.
The five candidates for primary hearing examiner are Erickson, Payne, Michael McCarthy of Tacoma-based McCarthy & Causseaux, and Andrew Reeves and Ted Hunter of Seattle-based Sound Law Center.
Nine members of an ad-hoc screening committee reviewed the qualifications of the five candidates.
Contract extension?
Last week, commissioners discussed the possibility of extending contracts with Erickson and Payne through the end of this year.
“I guess I’ve been going back and forth because nobody jumped out and because opinions from our surveyors were pretty mixed,” Ozias said.
“Some people would consider it an advantage to have a local hearings examiner, and a number of people would consider that a disadvantage. I’m certainly not opposed to doing personal interviews more broadly to see what we might learn.”
The selected hearing examiner will operate under a three-year contract with the county.
Commissioners directed Jones to invite the candidates to be interviewed May 23.
“Some may not want to participate, but the board would like to interview everyone in an open session,” Chapman said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
