Health department will add clinical services director

Whitman County commissioners approved a request for a new position within the health department.

Troy Henderson, health department director, said the position would be the Director of Clinical Services who will oversee nursing and medical functions within the department.

Henderson said since he was hired as director in the summer of 2013, he has consolidated several positions and now has management staffing down to three.

“This will provide a better layer of supervisor of nurses specifically,” he told commissioners.

“We’re saving money by being leaner and more efficient,” he added.

He also said the position would do director of nursing services as a backup and also fill in as Henderson’s replacement when he is on vacation.

“This will be a working supervisor position,” Henderson said.

The salary range for the position is $3,696 to $4,781 per month.

New grader bid awarded

County Commission-ers awarded a bid for a new all-wheel-drive grader to Western States of Lewiston. Their $183,710 price was for a Caterpillar.

Rowand Machinery of Spokane bid $203,000.

Base bid was $240,710 and trade-in of a 1999 John Deere grader was $57,000. With sales tax, total price is $198,039.