The Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved two hiring-freeze exception requests for positions in the Department of Community Health: a homeless housing data analyst and an environmental health senior office assistant.

Commissioners voted 3-0 to allow recruitment to proceed after brief discussion about existing data collection and funding. Commissioner Clayton said the new data analyst role “will enhance our collection [and] analysis” of homelessness-related services and budgets, and noted county staff already do an annual count. A county staff member added the department performs a yearly count “in conjunction with an event for service providers” and that the new position should strengthen ongoing work.

The environmental health senior office assistant position was described to commissioners as fully grant-funded; the board approved the hiring exception on a 3-0 vote. No changes to base pay or classification were discussed at the meeting.

The actions authorize county staff to proceed with posting and hiring under the county’s personnel process; the board noted a separate hiring freeze–exception form and any required personnel paperwork will follow the approvals made on the record.