Commissioners agree to create grant-funded full-time noxious-weeds position to use unspent contract money

Clallam County commissioners agreed in a work session to create a full-time, grant-funded position in the county noxious weeds department to expand the county's capacity to treat invasive weeds and execute at-cost contracts for partners.

Noxious weeds program manager Christina told commissioners the department had left some grant money unspent last year because it lacked trained staff to complete the work. She said the new position will be primarily field-focused, treating weeds for grant- and contract-funded projects, and that the county currently has enough grant funding to hire the position for the year.

Christina explained that many of the county's seasonal employees were applying for positions and that recent layoffs in federal natural-resources work had increased the pool of qualified applicants. On seasonality she said, “we can usually find work year round” and described treatment windows that cover winter through summer depending on species.

Commissioners asked about fiscal risk if grants lapse. County staff said the position description would state explicitly that the role is contingent on grant funding and may be reduced or eliminated if grant sources disappear. The noxious-weeds board reviews the budget each July and will reassess funding annually.

Commissioners also asked whether the department charges fully burdened rates for at-cost work; Christina said rates include benefits and overhead and the county has used that cost model for years.

The board did not take a formal vote in the work session but agreed to place the item on the regular meeting agenda for formal creation/approval one week later. Staff will provide the position description and documentation that the job is contingent on grant funding.