County may promote work for apprentices

By Keri Brenner | The Olympian • Published May 12, 2008

Helping to widen Mullen Road in front of Timberline High School is the best job Josh Kloempken says he's ever had.

"There's this sense of gratification that I'm creating something," said Kloempken, 27, who drives heavy-equipment trucks as an apprentice operating engineer with Rognlins Inc. construction company of Aberdeen. "After this is done, I'll be able to come back and say, 'This is a road I helped build.' "

Kloempken, a former Army National Guard soldier who lives in Central Park in Grays Harbor County, is one of hundreds of South Sound apprentices who could be recruited for Thurston County construction jobs if a new law is adopted by county commissioners this month.

The commissioners will conduct a public hearing tonight on a plan to require that 10 percent of labor for any county contract of more than $1 million be done by apprentices.

If adopted, the county would add the requirement to its May 22 bid announcement for the $35 million county jail in Tumwater. The 320-bed Accountability and Restitution Center is targeted to open in 2010, although officials say they are considering a longer build-out to add more beds.

Commissioner Bob Macleod is pushing the apprenticeship effort, saying it will offer more job opportunities for youths and young adults. Commissioners Diane Oberquell and Cathy Wolfe said they are considering it, but have asked for documentation on other counties that have run successful apprenticeship efforts.

Sue Bogni, Macleod's aide, said public apprenticeship programs are operating in King and Snohomish counties and in Olympia.

The Thurston County apprenticeship program would parallel a statewide effort overseen by the state Department of Licenses and Inspections. Construction trade unions statewide administer their own apprenticeship programs under Department of Labor and Industries certification guidelines.

"The apprenticeships allow more young people to enter the work force and work toward journeyman certification, while keeping the costs down for consumers," said Phil Dines, business manager for the Lacey-based United Association Local 26 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union.