Group seeks county government switch

Committee looking toward council-manager at courthouse

GRANT COUNTY — Saying it will bring streamlined decision making, broader representation and a hired chief executive, a group of residents is seeking a change from the county commission government currently in operation in Grant County.

The citizen committee is spearheading a measure on November's ballot which would launch a process they hope will end with a council-manager form of government in Grant County, consisting of an appointed chief executive and five to seven nonpartisan elected council members from various locations in Grant County.

But members of the current county commission still have questions about the proposals, and voters would first have to approve the formation of a committee to analyze the current government and determine if the council-manager change would be a move in the right direction.

Moses Lake real estate agent Ralph Kincaid and Moses Lake attorney Brian Dano are among the supporters and organizers of the proposed plan. Kincaid said their proposal is not about any grief toward one elected official, but a belief the system can be run more efficiently.

"We think frankly no one could do it better than the ones who are doing it, it is the system (that) doesn't work," Kincaid said.

The Voters for Council-Manager form of Grant County Government committee has drafted a position paper, and garnered the support of several dozen community leaders who would like to see the current system reviewed. The document lists the support of at least five former and current mayors of cities in Grant County, including current mayors Ron Covey of Moses Lake, Chris Jacobson of Ephrata and Wayne Hovde of Soap Lake. Also listed as a supporter is Ephrata City Councilman Mark Wanke, who recently declared his intentions to run for Grant County Commissioner.

The committee's position paper states the complicated and challenging responsibility of running the county government, with "its $103 million annual budget, 24 major departments

and approximately 500 employees," would be better operated by a professionally trained full-time manager. Under the proposal to change to council-manager, the county's day-to-day operations would be handled by the manager while the county council would be elected to set policy. The document also states commissioners have little say in the workings of some county departments under the current system.

Six counties in Washington have adopted a home rule charter needed to change county government, and five have made the switch to a council-executive form of government, according to the Municipal Research Services Center of Washington. However, only San Juan County has the appointed chief executive proposed by Kincaid's committee. The different counties also differ in whether their council members are nonpartisan or members of political parties.

King, Pierce, Snohomish and Whatcom counties each have an elected executive and council.

Previous groups have tried to get home rule measures on the ballot in Grant County, most recently in 1987. The latest effort began to take shape privately about three months ago, and committee members have since drafted a three-page position statement.

Under the committee's plan, most positions currently elected would be overseen by the chief executive. State law would require elections in certain positions, including prosecuting attorney and judges.

Kincaid said it doesn't make sense to hire a partisan elected officials for positions like coroner and clerk, and said if they hire a CEO-type manager, it is likely that person will retain those formerly elected who are doing a good job.

He said has spoken to each of the three current commissioners individually about the proposal, and the committee is seeking a spot on their agenda to discuss the issue in the near future.

The current commission can put a measure on the ballot, or it can be done by preparing a petition of approximately 2,500 Grant County voters. It would begin with the election of "freeholders" who are "charged with the task of reviewing the current form of county government and, if change is desired, drafting a new county government charter," according to the position paper. That charter would then be presented to the voters of county voters for approval.

County Commission Chair Richard Stevens feels it's a little early to have an opinion on the process, and said he still has several questions. Stevens said he has no problem with citizens who want to change their form of government. He is unsure however, whether to put the issue on the ballot or have supporters collect signatures. He said he has no problem putting the measure on the ballot, but feels a representative of voters should sign petitions.

"I'm not against what they're going to do, but I'm not sure if I'm in favor of it either," Stevens said, adding he would like additional information.

Stevens questioned whether the appointment of department heads would cost or save the county money. He also said he doesn't think it gets easier with one administrator and 23 department heads. He argues a check and balance exists, and said he likes the fact he can't tell the sheriff what to do. When the positions are elected, Stevens said it gives the people a voice.

Commissioner LeRoy Allison said there are two key pieces of accountability and accessibility to the proposal, and he feels true access and accountability to the general public is better served by elected officials.

Allison said the current system has both plusses and minuses. He said the board will have to determine whether to put it to a vote or have the supporters collect signatures in order to do so.

"There are a lot of questions to be asked and answered in the process," Allison said. "I need to understand more about it."

Jim Whitaker's law firm represents eight of Grant County's 14 incorporated towns, and his name is one of more than 60 which appear on the committee position paper. When Whitaker was a deputy prosecutor 30 years ago, he said he saw the system as inefficient. Under a council-manager form of government, Whitaker charges the form creates top-down accountability.

He argues the debate takes citizens back to grassroots democracy, by picking their own government.

"I think it will be important to have this debate and have this discussion," Whitaker said. "It's important to have the debate."

If approved, freeholders would have up to two years to draft a charter and review whether there should be a change in county government. The freeholders could also decide to keep the current board of commissioner form of government. If freeholders recommended change, a charter would go before voters for approval.

The Voters for Council-Manager form of Grant County Government are expected to formally meet with the board of commissioners in the coming weeks.