PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners will consider today a five-month contract extension with an Oregon firm to provide legal representation in collective bargaining and other employment-related matters.

Clallam County had a long-standing contract with Akin Blitz of Portland-based Bullard Law that expired Aug. 1.

“We need to get the new one going,” County Administrator Jim Jones advised commissioners Monday.

A short-term extension would bide time for county officials to re-examine the model for human resources legal services.

Bullard Law has represented the county in collective bargaining since 1988.

Commissioner Mark Ozias has suggested an examination of several alternatives before the board signs a contract for 2017 and beyond.

Clallam County employees are represented by eight bargaining units.

A provision in the proposed contract extension with Bullard Law would allow Blitz to be designated as a special prosecuting attorney, Jones said.

There are no other changes in the contract, he added.

Blitz’s billing rate is $375 per hour.

No commissioner objected to the proposed extension in their work session.

In other board discussion, commissioners were briefed on a proposed change order for structural improvements to the floral barn at the Clallam County Fairgrounds.

The $7,839 change order with Aldergrove Construction of Port Angeles would raise the total cost to $162,497.

Oldest building

Built in 1922, the floral barn is the oldest building at the county fairgrounds in west Port Angeles, county Parks, Fair and Facilities Director Joel Winborn said.

“Initially, we did estimates on what it would cost to raze the building and reconstruct it new as opposed to making structural upgrades,” Winborn told commissioners.

“We determined that making the structural upgrades would be significantly less costly, which actually has proven to be.

“That said, just like with any remodel, things come up, especially when we’re working on a building like this.”

Commissioners are expected to approve the change order next Tuesday.

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.