PORT ANGELES — Clallam County will expand the services it offers to at-risk and drug-addicted youths thanks to a three-year grant funneled through the state.
The three county commissioners approved the $251,000-per-year agreement, with the state Department of Social and Health Services Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery providing grant funds from a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration project.
The agreement will enable the Clallam County Juvenile and Family Services Department to hire a treatment counselor/chemical-dependency professional and care-management coordinator.
Department Director Pete Peterson described the grant as “a great opportunity for our agency.”
County Administrator Jim Jones said he, Peterson and human resources staff members need to restructure the organizational chart at the Juvenile and Family Services Department for the grant-funded hires.
“At the same time, we needed to bring back the thing that you really need to approve, and that is the grant itself,” Jones told commissioners.
“We need to get going. We have people that we want to offer contracts to.”
Board Chairman Mike Chapman directed staff to follow county policy for restructuring the department.
In other board action, commissioners approved a $333,000 agreement with the Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau to promote tourism in Clallam County.
Jones said the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee-recommended amount was included in the 2013 budget.
Parks board members
Meanwhile, commissioners recognized four retiring parks board members who served a combined 107 years on the volunteer board.
Jane Hughes was the longest-serving member among them at 37 years. The county parks system has grown from six parks to 20 during Hughes’ term.
Lloyd Pearson served for 33 years, Gary Colley logged in 23 years, and Rick Cahill served for 14 years on the board.
“Unfortunately for us, they’ve all decided to step down in order to pursue other interests,” said Clallam County Parks, Fair and Facilities Manager Joel Winborn.
“I guess the best way for me to look at it is to say that our loss is going to be someone else’s gain.”
Winborn said the foursome was “instrumental in making our park system the gem that it is today and has been for many, many years.”
“You should feel very honored to know you were a major part in the development of many well-used public parks,” he told them.
“You will leave a legacy that will not be forgotten.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.