PORT ANGELES — In response to a staff shortage in the halls of the county courthouse, Clallam County will close the customer service windows of its Prosecutor’s Office and District Court No. 1 between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. and from noon to 12:30 p.m.
The changes — approved by the three commissioners Tuesday — will take effect Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Except for the half-hour lunch closure, the public can speak to a real person between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The original request came with an hour closure between noon and 1 p.m. Court is not in session during the lunch hour.
“If we salvage half the noon hour for citizen access, to me, that’s important,” Commissioner Mike Doherty said in Monday’s work session.
Consistent change
The new customer service hours are consistent with a recent change in the Superior Court Clerk’s Office.
Commissioners have said they want all departments to have the same business hours beginning Saturday, Jan. 1.
Staff will perform mandated tasks and try to “keep up” with day-to-day work when the doors are closed to the public, District Court No. 1 Administrator Keith Wills said.
Short-staffed
“All of the county offices are short-staffed, whether it’s more cases coming in or less people to do what we have to do,” said Wills, who is losing one of six clerks.
Each department had to cut its budget by 3 percent to help balance a $3.1 million deficit in the general fund.
The gap is now $1.5 million, and the county will draw from its $9.5 million reserve pool to balance the budget when it is adopted Tuesday, Dec. 14.
Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly has said she will lose one attorney next year and fill one open secretary position to help offset the loss.
Judge Rick Porter’s District Court No. 1 takes most misdemeanor cases in Clallam County, with a territory that spans from the eastern county line to Lake Crescent and includes the cities of Port Angeles and Sequim.
The West End has its own court: Forks-based Clallam County District Court No. 2.
Later in Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners approved an updated six-year transportation plan.
The 2011-2016 Transportation Improvement Program reflects a loss in federal funds that will scale back road maintenance from a preferred 70 miles per year to about 30 miles per year.
Clallam County has about 500 miles of road in its system.
Grant-dependent
Transportation Program Manager Rich James has said new construction projects will depend on grants the county receives.
The largest of 16 funded projects next year is the $6.5 million underpass near Deer Park cinemas east of Port Angeles.
Clallam County will build a road that goes under U.S. Highway 101 and loops from the movie theater to Buchanan Drive into an acceleration lane on the westbound side of the highway.
No public testimony was taken on the transportation plan.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
