Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Tekoa resident joins board
COLFAX – Thirty-year Tekoa resident Karl Webber was appointed as the new Port of Whitman County District No. 1 commissioner after he and three others interviewed for the seat in a socially distanced format.
Webber works in consulting/manufacturing in process improvement and organizational development.
"I go out and make friends and figure out how to help them," he said.
On the side, he runs a hobby business making custom fly rods.
He now joins commissioners Tom Kammerzell and Kristine Meyer for a position to go up for election to a six-year term next November. He takes over for retired Commissioner John Love of Garfield.
Questions
For the interview process last Thursday, each candidate waited in their vehicle outside before being summoned into the office.
Charles Petras was first. Employed by a Pullman electronics manufacturer, he lives in the area between Farmington and Garfield. Also a Fire District 10 volunteer firefighter, he was asked about the Snake River system.
"Saving the fish is a pollution issue, it isn't so much a dam issue," he said as part of an extended answer.
To another question, he noted that his work situation may soon change.
"At the end of the year, I am going to try to retire, then I'll have a lot more time to commit to stuff like this," he said.
More questions came from commissioners Kammerzell and Meyer.
Petras talked about attracting business to Whitman County, as opposed to Spokane.
"...And the negative lifestyle of the unfortunate homeless people that seem to be running amok," he said.
To a question about Port business he said he is "an engineer, so I like the technical stuff a little better than the touchy-feely stuff."
The interview concluded and word came in to the boardroom about the next.
"Mr. Webber is in the lounge," said Debbie Snell, Port properties and development manager.
Webber walked in next to answer questions.
He said the most under-addressed feature to business start-ups is "providing face-to-face discussions (more than brochures, etc.). To help coach them through on a very strategic level for their business."
Meyer asked Webber about the Snake River and the Columbia River system. What about when an issue is contentious?
"First, would be listening... then consensus at this level, and communicated as one," he said.
He was asked about his attributes for the job.
"This may sound strange but one is because I don't know a whole lot about what's going on," Webber said. "I always say in my consulting work...(it can be an advantage) when someone is new to the equation... They don't know what can't be done."
Next to interview was James Babb of Rosalia.
"Mr. Babb is on his way in," came word from Snell.
"Thank you, Debbie," said Kammerzell.
Babb told commissioners he has lived in Whitman County all his life, originally from Oakesdale, later working as a farmer, and at cement plants, he served on the city council in Rosalia and was a volunteer firefighter/EMT for 30 years. He now works part-time for a construction management company in Spokane.
Kammerzell noted that the federal Snake River EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) has been in the press lately and asked him what he thought.
"I am not familiar with it, this is a whole new thing for me... I'm willing to sit and learn," Babb said.
He talked about reading about how Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories recently bought 150 acres of land outside Moscow. He talked about an electric car company building a manufacturing facility in Airway Heights.
Meyer asked why he was interested in being a Port Commissioner.
"I'm interested in Whitman County, first," he said, beginning his answer.
Kammerzell asked him of his ability/time to participate in Port business.
"I can take time off whenever I want. That's just a given," Babb said. "I don't have to have that job. I can quit tomorrow... I do it to be active and have something to do."
He talked about Ziply Fiber, the recent deal made by the Port for further expansion of fiber internet lines around the county.
"That's not a luxury, that's a necessity nowadays," he said.
Meyer asked him about economic development and the Port's work.
"I don't fully understand exactly what you folks do," he said, as part of his answer.
He talked about, say, if you brought the electric car business that went to Airway Heights, instead to a town in Whitman County.
"Who's going to be there to work?" he said.
It was time for the final applicant.
A clamoring came on the Zoom call.
"Absolutely!" said Nathan Weller as he entered the commissioners boardroom, directed by Snell.
Asked about his background, Weller told of his time on the Pullman City council, that he was born and raised in Pullman, went to college at WSU, furthered his education at University of Idaho, and listed some boards he has served on.
"I wrote something else," he said, and began to read, saying how he discovered what he wanted to do with his life as a middle-schooler after volunteering at a sports camp. What he wanted to do was volunteer, while his father said you will first need a job.
"Despite the different cities, we are all one community," Weller said.
He talked about people who move away from the county.
"People often don't know how good it is until they move," he said, naming an area to look at for the Port. "The Port can be a hot spot for trade skill training."
In further comments, Weller said, "More outreach for all of your hard work must be done... The idea of clustering; I don't think the Port is doing enough on this... (People say) 'businesses won't come here from Seattle.' I wholly disagree."
Kammerzell asked him whether he would step down from his seat on the Pullman City Council, if elected to the Port.
"I have some notes, if I may," he said. "No, I would not."
He began to read, citing examples of people who have served around the state in more than one elected office at once.
"I will support whatever the commissioners decide," Weller said. He would not be up for re-election next year on the Pullman council as he would if appointed Port commissioner.
He was asked how to handle contentious issues.
"I see them as challenges," Weller said, talking about listening to others. "... I was told one time the best negotiation is where no one is happy."
Meyer asked him what area is he needing work as a public servant?
"All areas," he said. "... I believe in constant growth. If anything, I get so into the weeds, so into researching a topic that I need to pull back to see the forest from the trees."
The interview concluded, Kammerzell suggested a five-minute executive session for he and Meyer to choose the new commissioner.
"Just five minutes to decide?" Meyer said, before they changed to a 10-minute session.
Hold music ensued on the Zoom phone line as the candidates waited in their vehicles outside.
A few minutes later, Snell called Webber to tell him the news.
"Welcome, commissioner-elect," Kammerzell said as Webber stepped back into the boardroom to be sworn-in.
The Port of Whitman is a taxing authority formed in 1958 with the purpose to help diversify Whitman County's agricultural economy. The Port owns Boyer Park, the Colfax airport as well as property at Central Ferry, Almota, Port of Wilma and business park land in Pullman.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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