PORT ANGELES — The elected sheriff could gain oversight of Clallam County’s emergency management operations under a proposal discussed by two county commissioners Monday.
No action was taken.
“We will revisit it, hopefully, sooner than later,” Commissioner Mike Doherty said after a 30-minute discussion during a work session Monday.
Sheriff Bill Benedict requested transferring the Emergency Management Division from the Public Works Department to the Sheriff’s Department.
Public works director
Public Works Director Craig Jacobs said he supports the move.
“For us, I think the main concern was to make sure that the program itself stays viable,” Jacobs said.
“The sheriff has lent his full support for doing that. ¬. . . I don’t think were looking at this strictly from the standpoint of somebody gaining or somebody losing, except if the sheriff can do a better job we’re certainly open to that.”
Emergency Management is currently organized as a utilities division — a hybrid role inherited by the Public Works Department over the years.
“I’m not sure it would make good sense to keep that going,” Jacobs said.
“It would certainly be an advantage, I think, to Public Works to have more focus on the areas that we’re really the experts in, which would be the utilities side.”
Jacobs cited sewer-improvement projects in Carlsborg and Sekiu as reasons to make the transfer.
County Administrator Jim Jones said law and justice grants could become available if the transfer is made.
Streamline volunteers
Benedict said the switch would streamline the large number of volunteers in the Sheriff’s Office and allow the county to upgrade its facilities.
The Emergency Operations Center in the basement of the Clallam County Courthouse in Port Angeles is prone to earthquake damage, Benedict said.
Additionally, the move would free up a half-time equivalent in the county payroll.
Emergency Management Program Manager Bob Martin would remain in the Public Works Department.
Martin, who has extensive experience in the field, said he would assist Clallam County Undersheriff Ron Peregrin in the role of emergency manager.
Doherty, D-Port Angeles, said he would support the transfer if it were kept budget-neutral.
“I would like to see all of this in writing,” Commissioner Mike Chapman, independent from Port Angeles, said.
“If there is this cost savings, then my support would certainly be there.”
Commissioner Steve Tharinger was absent from Monday’s meeting.
“If it saves us a half-time position, if it saves us a few dollars, it’s a no-brainer,” Chapman said.
“If, on the other hand, that it looks like it’s going to cost us some money, I for one would want to slow way down and take a hard look. . . . I just want to see it on paper so we can have that for the public to know what we’re doing.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com
