Moses Lake may rearrange staff

MOSES LAKE - Port of Moses Lake commissioners are considering some staffing changes at the port.

Some possibilities include splitting the finance/administration manager's position into two jobs, adding an airport manager, or hiring a new employee to lead the port, said Kent Jones, the port commission's president, on Tuesday.

The commission hasn't made any decisions about staff additions or reassignments.

"It's still early. We don't know what it will look like," Jones said. "The employees understand and we understand it is going to be different."

He said he has spoken with Craig Baldwin, the port's executive manager, about the possibility of bringing someone else in. The change would not be to replace Baldwin, Jones said.

"His work ethic and his dedication have never been in question," Jones said.

Jones said it is possible Baldwin could be the airport manager.

As the board looks at restructuring, it is looking at "everybody and everything," Jones said.

"For example, we may have an airport manager in charge of the airport itself and we've never had that," Jones said. "We've had so much activity, it's getting to the point where it is necessary. That's been his expertise and where he is the most helpful."

Another option previously discussed by the commission was bringing in consultant Patrick Jones to work with Baldwin and help get daily work flowing, Kent Jones said.

The port is currently understaffed.

The position of economic development manager is vacant because it wasn't filled after the last manager's death in 2010. The finance/administration manager's position hasn't been permanently filled.

He looked at Patrick Jones because of the amount of activity going on and he wouldn't have to be trained. Some other local names were also mentioned during a recent port study session.

The port would not be able to hire Patrick Jones today, Kent Jones said.

Kent Jones said he sees "tremendous opportunities" being presented to the port.

"If we don't move quickly, those opportunities will go away," Kent Jones said.

One example is "Project Pegasus," a push by Gov. Chris Gregoire to keep future Boeing production in Washington state. Her advisor for the project visited Moses Lake earlier this month and met with community leaders about the project.

Boeing currently does some of its flight testing in Moses Lake.

Kent Jones said Project Pegasus is going to take some staff time.

With the help of consultant David Bailey, the port should be able to handle the work in house.

But there "is a ton of stuff to do, a lot more than when I was on the commission four years ago," Kent Jones said.

In the next month or two, the commission should have a better idea of a new staffing structure and a future director, he said.

Baldwin said he didn't know the board was considering making him the airport manager but he is aware the board is looking at options, he said.

He said he doesn't plan on leaving the port.

Patrick Jones' consulting services included looking at the port's job descriptions to see if it had the right number of bodies and to lead the port into its strategic plan.

"We've run lean with four managers," Baldwin said. "They're (the board) looking at whether or not it's the most feasible way to operate and how it should operate."

Commissioner Brian McGowan said commissioners know the port is understaffed.

"We're looking at ways and positions we need to look at in hiring," McGowan said. "We want to make sure we're on the competitive edge of the financial side of that as well. If we look for an economic development manager, like the prior two we had, are we competitive and paying enough, to draw someone into that position?"

Commissioner Mike Conley said commissioners have grappled with ideas.

"We desperately need someone to help us market our facility," he said. "We need someone to help us in that area."

Concerning changes to Baldwin's position, Conley said he has an open mind at this point.

"Craig has a job at the port," Conley said. "He's not going anywhere, as far as I'm concerned."