Regional briefs for November 28

The Olympian, news services • Published November 27, 2008

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Grays Harbor

County plans layoffs to close budget gap

Struggling with a $1 million shortfall in revenue, Grays Harbor County commissioners said Wednesday that their plan is to lay off at least four county employees and not fill 17 other positions that are vacant, according to The Daily World of Aberdeen.

The vacant posts include the positions of a public health educator and sheriff's deputy. The four layoffs would include a deputy prosecutor.

"Everybody feels the pain today," Commissioner Al Carter said Wednesday. "That's for sure."

Commissioners haven't made any final decisions but did give their budget director the authorization to start crunching the numbers and gave her guidelines on where to make the cuts. Thirty-day layoff notices are expected to go out Monday.

The commissioners spent more than three hours Wednesday morning looking at every department, coming up with a list of ways to save money to keep the layoffs to a minimum.

The commissioners will take public comment on the budget during a hearing set for 2 p.m. Dec. 8. There is no meeting Tuesday.

Thurston County

Health care workers face punitive action

The state Department of Health has taken the following actions regarding health care workers in Thurston County:

In September, the Nursing Assistant Program denied the reinstatement application of David Herrera, who was convicted possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of hydrocodone.

Also in September, the Nursing Assistant Program charged Dedra Marie Miller with unprofessional conduct. She allegedly yelled at and insulted a patient and discussed a patient's medical condition in front of other patients without consent.

The Department of Health's Health Systems Quality Assurance Office works with boards, commissions and advisory committees to set licensing for health care professions in the state. For information about providers, click "Provider Credential Search" at www.doh.wa.gov.

Olympia

Heritage Park group to have meeting

The North Capitol Campus Heritage Park Development Association will meet from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Olympia City Hall executive conference room, 900 Plum St., Olympia.

The agenda includes a legislative subcommittee meetings report, next-steps discussion and park activity report.

For more information, go to www.trpc.org.

Legislature

Recount triggered in District 44 race

More than three weeks after the general election, one Snohomish County legislative race is still so close that the results have triggered an automatic hand recount of about 69,000 ballots.

Mike Hope, a Seattle police officer making his third bid for the Legislature, leads Rep. Liz Loomis, D-Snohomish, in the 44th District by 118 votes. Loomis appeared to be the victor on Election Day with a margin of 2,000 votes.

The Snohomish County Auditor certified the general election results Tuesday. But because the difference between the two candidates is less than 150 votes, a hand recount is required by state law.