Top Stories of 2017: Whitman County parks/fair/facilities consolidation

Whitman County commissioners in June approved reorganization of the county Parks and Recreation Department and Developmental Disabilities Department to combine them with Emergency Management/Emergency Communications. Bill Tensfeld, emergency management director, took on some additional responsibilities, including reporting to the commissioners on the departments.

There will be no change in department services.

“We looked at a variety of scenarios,” said Janel Goebel, who served as interim director since the retirement of Parks and Recreation Director/Development Services County Coordinator Tim Myers.

Goebel and Tensfeld looked at the logistics and costs associated with different options for the departments and combining with emergency management was not only the best fit, but showed cost savings to the county from what has been budgeted for this year.

“Our expectation is that this scenario will continue the level of service and care that we’ve provided in the previous years,” Goebel said.

The departments already share office space in the Public Service Building. As part of the change, Goebel will become the county coordinator for developmental disabilities services. Previously, she also worked in the parks department as a program coordinator. Myers’ duties, which were 50 percent parks and 50 percent developmental services, will be split with Goebel taking the D.S. side with a parks superintendent to be hired to fill the other half. Goebel noted the new superintendent will be able to spend more time in the field helping the county’s two park rangers manage the county’s six park sites.

By combining, the departments will have the potential to share resources and personnel, whether it be Goebel doing stints with parks programs or rangers assisting emergency management, should the need arise.

In October, Tensfeld became the lead administrator for the Palouse Empire Fair.

The commissioners outlined the plan in a special workshop session at the end of September with fair board members, barn supervisors and other fair supporters present in the commissioners’ room.

Fair administration had been considered for a new slot in county administration after the retirement of Bob Reynolds and the subsequent resignation of two fair staff members. Reynolds had served as administrator since 2000.

The new plan will put the fair, emergency services, parks, facilities and developmental services all in the same office. Janel Goebel, a long-time staffer in the parks office, will be appointed supervisor of the fair.

Dave Mahan, a long-time park ranger, was named last month as superintendent of the county parks department.

In addition to serving as fair manager, Reynolds also headed the county’s facilities office which is charged with upkeep of county buildings.