HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-07-10-minutes-discuss-possible-county-administrator07/10/2023 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
AUDITORIUM
SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY 10:00 A.M. JULY 10, 2023
Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright; Vice-Chairman Brett
Wachsmith and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Todd Davis, Noxious
Weed Coordinator; Patti Stacey, Solid Waste/Interim Maintenance
Director/Project Manager; David Ohl, Airport Director; Jeanne
Killgore, Human Resource Director; Doug Fessler, IT Director; Eileen
Murphy, Office of Public Defense Director; Bryan Elliott, Auditor;
Mark Cook, Public Works/CDS Director; Brian Carlson, Auditor; and 2
members of the public.
SPECIAL MEETING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR COMMISSIONERS
Chairman Wright opened a Special Meeting to discuss a County
Administrator position. He provided some history on the subject
including the committee who worked over the past 7-8 months which
had been facilitated by Eric Johnson, WSAC Executive Director. At
the conclusion of their study, it resulted in an overwhelming 8-1
vote in favor of creating the position. The Management Team also had
a presentation by Mr. Johnson and then discussed it at a later
meeting. They also voted in favor of the recommendation and to
forward it to the Board of Commissioners. At this time the Board
would like to hear from their Department Heads. Chairman Wright said
they received a cost estimate from the Auditor’s office in the
amount of $312,000.00, including an Administrative Assistant.
Chairman Wright said Chelsey Loeffers, Public Health Administrator,
was unable to attend the meeting, but had provided an email in
support of the position.
Patti Stacey, Solid Waste Director/Interim Maintenance
Director/Project Manager, said she had a few questions and would
like to know how the Board sees their interactions with an
Administrator. She questioned how communications would be between
the Department Heads and the Commissioners. Commissioner Wachsmith
said he didn’t see a lot of Board involvement in the day-to-day
decisions. Commissioner Osiadacz questioned what the interactions
were like in other Counties with Solid Waste Directors for example,
as she’d heard there were challenges, and they liked having the
ability to have a relationship with their County Commissioners.
Chairman Wright said the model presented was made for an opportunity
for our County to build upon and best practices. He said it was
important to have a sense of trust within the process. Mark Cook,
07/10/2023 MINUTES 2
Public Works/CDS Director didn’t see an issue of having a disconnect
with Department Heads not having access to the County Commissioners.
Eileen Murphy, Office of Public Defense Director, explained how
she’s heard several comments (not from the County Commissioners)
about her new department and it’s taking away funds. She felt it
could be difficult to justify the position with the community.
Brian Carlson, Budget & Finance Director, felt the question was
whether a restructure could create better efficiencies with a large
budget. He said the benefits of restructuring may take a couple of
years to see.
Commissioner Osiadacz felt it could be a challenge with a lot of
people in the community.
Mark Cook, Public Works/CDS Director was in support of getting a
transition plan in place, noting it could possibly take up to a
year.
Doug Fessler, IT Director, said he was fairly neutral on the
subject, but was concerned what it would look like if the wrong
person was put into place who could ultimately have a lot of power.
Kady Porterfield, Event Center Director, said she was in support of
a transition team moving forward. She would like to see the big
picture of how it would be structured, including what people would
be reporting to the Administrator and a communication strategy.
Patti Stacey, Solid Waste Director/Interim Maintenance
Director/Project Manager, said she would be in support of creating a
transition team to see how it would work. She said she saw what
happened with the Communications Director and the frustration they
had of having to report to 3 individuals. Ms. Stacey said she’d also
like to see the organizational chart and more specifics on the
communications piece, as well as an outline of the tasks a County
Administrator would have.
Jeanne Killgore, Human Resources Director, said she would be in
support of a transition team and creating a draft plan. She said she
has limited experience, and it would appeal to her having another
person to learn from and support.
Eileen said she was in support of a transition team and to answer
questions including where budget & finance would fit in.
Todd Davis, Noxious Weed Coordinator, said he supported a transition
team with potential benefits.
David Ohl, Airport Director, said coming from the military and
07/10/2023 MINUTES 3
having it resemble their structure, he felt it was easy and
adaptable, but would support the Board’s decision.
Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board, said she had questions relating
to the organizational structure and who their Staff would report to.
Roberta Soltz, Representative of District #1 on the Executive
Management Advisory Committee, explained how their group was
committed and had deep discussions while exploring all the benefits
and drawbacks of a position. They proposed a best practices model
and encouraged the Board to support their recommendations.
Vice-Chairman Wachsmith felt there was still a lot of unknowns and
would take time to eventually get something like an Administrator
position set up right. Commissioner Osiadacz felt a transition team
should be created of Department Heads. It was recommended to have
the Washington State Association of Counties assist with the next
phase as well.
The Board said they could take formal action later by forming a
committee, along with direction and a timeline, with expected
product. If there’s a Department Head interested in serving on the
group to let the Board know.
The meeting was concluded at 10:47 a.m.
CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Cory Wright, Chairman