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Benton County Commissioners say they might dissolve some department partnerships with Franklin County [Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.)](Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, WA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sept. 17--Benton County commissioners say it might be time to dissolve their partnership with Franklin County on some joint departments. Benton County should begin by going solo with the human services department, Commissioner Shon Small said at Tuesday's commission meeting. "Start there and see what other types of things we can do without Franklin County," he said when discussing his commissioner priorities. Commissioner Jerome Delvin agreed. "You see the growth of Franklin County; some of those things could stand alone," he said. The counties jointly pay for departments ranging from a horticultural pest and disease board to the public defender's office and Superior Court. The human services department provides direct services, including through the bicounty Crisis Response Unit and the Coordinated Entry System that's a one-stop intake for housing programs, as well as coordinating other services in the area. Franklin County's recent moratorium on bicounty meetings held in Benton County has made the process more difficult, particularly in making decisions on human services, Small said. "We pretty much take care of the IT department," Small said of human services. "It's something we just maybe could take to the next level and separate our bicounty relationship." Franklin County is awaiting an opinion from the state Attorney General's office on whether its commissioners can legally meet and vote in Benton County. Franklin Commission Chairman Bob Koch said Tuesday afternoon that he had not heard of Benton County's discussions to end the human services agreement. "If it were to dissolve, then they'd have to contract with us (for those services) or we'd have to contract with them," he said. "I don't know what the implications would be." The Benton and Franklin commissions recently clashed on finding a new home for human services' crisis response and homeless housing units. Franklin Commissioner Brad Peck wants to look into getting a permanent facility while Benton County wanted to lease a building on Morain Street in Kennewick. Other disagreements came in funding for a seventh superior court judge, which Franklin County approved money for in its 2014 budget and Benton County did not. Benton County plans to fund the seventh judge using money from the recently passed three-tenths of a percent criminal justice sales tax. Tuesday, the board formally agreed to collect the three-tenths of a percent sales tax that was approved by Benton County voters in August. It is expected to collect about $9 million annually for increased public safety and mental health services. The counties still must work together in some areas such as consolidating 911 dispatch operations, Small said. "Without a doubt, Benton and Franklin law enforcement officers do need to be communicating on the same line of traffic," he said. Commissioners also received a cost estimate Tuesday on renovations to the bicounty juvenile justice center from Darryl Banks, the facility's administrator. He said the renovations would cost $5.7 million to $8.3 million. Benton and Franklin counties jointly pay for the juvenile center. Small said that whether or not it continues to be a bicounty department, the improvements are still needed. "We need to get it fixed, period. We need to upgrade," he said. Delvin plans to talk with state Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, about getting the Legislature to provide money for the juvenile center. He would like $3 million to $4 million from the state. Benton commissioners showed support for moving forward with hiring an architect for the juvenile center. Banks is scheduled to appear today before Franklin County commissioners. Benton commissioners wanted to see Franklin County pay more than the 30 percent it pays based on population. "That continues to be something that is quite contentious," Delvin said. "Partners are supposed to be 50-50." -- Geoff Folsom: 509-582-1543; [email protected]; Twitter: @GeoffFolsom ___ (c)2014 Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.) Visit Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.) at www.tri-cityherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |