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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

County Takes Away The Keys 13 Of 95 Employees Lose Vehicle Privileges, More Cuts May Follow

Thirteen of the 95 Spokane County employees who have cars and trucks provided by taxpayers recently lost them because their bosses couldn’t justify the expense.

More employees could lose around-the-clock use of county rigs under a review ordered by county commissioners.

The employees use the cars for commuting to and from work as well as for county business. The county pays all expenses, including insurance, gas and maintenance.

The former fairgrounds manager drove his county station wagon about 50 miles round-trip to and from his home on a gravel road near Elk. An assistant golf course supervisor commutes less than a mile each way in a county pickup.

The golf course worker lost his truck, and the new fairgrounds manager, when hired, won’t get a car, said Fran Boxer, assistant chief administrative officer.

The savings to taxpayers haven’t been tallied. Some of the cars will be sold while others will be added to the county’s motor pool.

The Building and Planning Division alone will save $30,000 a year by cutting two cars, one truck and one van, said Jim Lindow, county chief administrative officer.

Most employees can use county-owned vehicles during work hours. Others are paid 31.5 cents per mile when they use their own cars on county business.

A few employees who do a lot of driving with their own vehicles, such as Lindow, receive a monthly allowance of $295 in lieu of per-mile payment.

Some employees in the assessor’s office receive a smaller monthly allowance and reimbursement for miles driven.

County commissioners get a choice of options.

Commissioner Phil Harris takes the monthly allowance, while Commissioner John Roskelley uses a county station wagon. Commissioner Kate McCaslin takes the mileage allowance when using her car for county business but not while commuting to the courthouse.

Most employees who have around-the-clock use of cars take care of county business on their way to or from work, said Lindow. That includes building inspectors, whose work often is done shortly after daylight.

Having county cars means the inspectors can work about an hour longer than if they had to start or end their days at the courthouse, Jim Manson, building and planning director, wrote in a report to commissioners.

Other employees, such as animal control officers, use county cars because they’re sometimes called to work in the middle of the night.

“For the majority of the cars, it appears to be an appropriate use,” said Lindow, adding that it lends an air of authority when an officer or inspector shows up in a car marked with the county logo.

But in meetings with five county department heads, Lindow determined that five of the 55 employees with full-time use of cars didn’t use them enough to justify the cost. Lindow hasn’t met yet with eight other departments whose employees take home 40 cars.

Bill Benish said he was told early this month he was losing his 1992 Ford Ranger four-wheel-drive pickup.

Benish, who investigates allegations that builders aren’t complying with county codes, said he tries to arrange his day so it ends in the field. Now, it will have to end at the courthouse.

Gerry Gemmill, administrative manager for public works, voluntarily gave up his county car.

Gemmill attends evening classes downtown twice a week and watches his daughter run track other nights. Since he can’t use a county car for those trips, he was driving his own car most of the time and leaving the county’s Ford sedan parked at his Chattaroy home, Gemmill said.

But Curt Chandler, superintendent for MeadowWood and Liberty Lake golf courses, is keeping the full-sized Ford pickup the county provides him. He figures he’s called back to the courses at least once a week to deal with vandalism, theft or equipment failures.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WHO HAS CARS The following is a list of Spokane County employees who have 24-hour use of county cars. Not included are cars assigned to more than one employee on a rotating basis, or those assigned to positions that are not currently filled. Some employees lost their county cars after a recent review, but a complete list of their names was not available Thursday.

Commissioners Office John Roskelley, commissioner, ‘93 Ford Taurus Wagon.

Corrections/Social Services Julie Driscoll, Geiger Correction Center, ‘95 Ford Taurus.

Juvenile Court Todd Bircher, probation officer, ‘97 Ford Taurus. Stevie Stephens, probation officer, ‘97 Ford Taurus. Tori Peterson, probation officer, ‘97 Ford Taurus.

Public Defender’s Office Rich Fasy, ‘91 Dodge Spirit.

Small Animal Control Sheri Kent, animal control officer, Ford Ranger pickup. Bob Smoldt, animal control officer, Chevy S-10 pickup. Carl Boyd, animal control officer, Ford Ranger pickup. Jennifer Kline, animal control officer, Ford Ranger pickup. Becky Nelson, animal control officer, Chevy S-10 pickup. Bob Franzen, animal control officer, Ford Ranger pickup. Nancy Sattin, director, Dodge Ram pickup.

Parks, Recreation and Fair Randy Johnson, recreation specialist, ‘91 Chevy S-10 pickup. Robert Hughes, maintenance manager, ‘95 Ford F-150 pickup.

Golf Course Division Curt Chandler, superintendent for MeadowWood and Liberty Lake, ‘94 Ford F150 pickup. Don Woodruff, assistant superintendent for Liberty Lake, ‘92 Ford Ranger. Todd Harper, assistant superintendent for MeadowWood, ‘86 Dodge Ram. Mike Barber, superintendent for Hangman Valley, ‘93 Ford Ranger.

Sheriff’s Department Chuck Chisholm, communications shop, ‘85 Chevy Blazer. Undersheriff Burel Schulz, ‘89 Ford Crown Victoria. Lt. Greg Conner, ‘89 Ford Crown Victoria. Sgt. Bruce Mathews, ‘91 Ford Crown Victoria. Deputy Phil Shatzer, training office, ‘76 Chevy pickup. Sgt. Gary Smith, training office, ‘94 Ford Crown Victoria.

Civil Division and Public Information Officer Deputy Douglas Fleming, ‘93 Ford Crown Victoria. Deputy Curt Quashnick, ‘94 Ford Crown Victoria. Deputy Brian Miller, ‘93 Ford Crown Victoria. Deputy Mark Renz, ‘94 Ford Crown Victoria. Deputy Dave Reagan, public information officer, ‘87 Ford Crown Victoria. Lt. Dave Wiyrick, ‘95 Ford Crown Victoria.

Jail Division Capt. Jim Hill, ‘89 Ford Crown Victoria. Lt. Steve Jackson, ‘92 Chevy Capri. Lt. Edee Hunt, ‘92 Chevy Capri.

Emergency Management Division Dave Byrnes, Ford Crown Victoria. Tom Mattern, Ford pickup 4 X 4. Carol Morrison, Ford Crown Victoria. Bill Hanson, GMC Jimmy.

Public Works Department Utilities Division Sewer Planning and Design Section Louis York, sewer inspector, ‘95 Ford Ranger pickup.

Wastewater Operations Vern Jarvis, wastewater supervisor, ‘93 Chevy S-10 pickup. Vic Boyle, wastewater foreman, ‘93 Ford 1/2-ton 4X4. Terry Way, wastewater operator, ‘95 GMC 3/4-ton 4X4. Terry Beck, wastewater operator, ‘95 Ford 1/2-ton 4X4. Joe Close, wastewater operator, ‘93 Chevy 3500 4X4.

County Road Division Phil Barto, operations engineer, ‘92 Ford Taurus. Wayne Storey, maintenance engineer, ‘95 Ford Taurus. Chad Coles, construction engineer, Chevy Lumina. Vern Scoggin, materials resource manager, ‘96 Ford pickup. Gerry Gemmill, administrative manager, ‘92 Ford. Dee Ann Weiler, district supervisor, ‘95 Ford pickup. Glen Wainwright, district supervisor, ‘93 Chevy pickup. John Seaver, district supervisor, ‘94 Ford pickup. Jerry Hester, district supervisor, ‘96 Ford pickup. Ernie Nolan, district foreman, ‘94 Ford pickup. Wes Evans, district foreman, ‘94 Ford pickup. Larry Dishneau, district foreman, ‘96 Ford pickup. Bob Wilske, bridge supervisor, ‘96 Ford pickup. Louie Martin, asphalt training foreman, ‘96 Ford Taurus.

Fleet maintenance Tom Rowse, fleet manager, ‘92 Taurus. Bryan Hopp, shop foreman, ‘89 Celebrity. Steve Becker, shop foreman, ‘86 El Camino.

Building and Planning Division Chip Allen, ‘95 Ford Ranger 4x4. Ken Allread, ‘92 Ford Ranger 4x4. Morrie Aman, ‘94 Ford Ranger 4x4. Dick Bedow, ‘95 Ford Ranger 4x4. Bill Benish, ‘92 Ford Ranger 4x4. Frank Calasopa, ‘94 Ford Ranger 4x4. Tom Davis, ‘96 Chevy Lumina. Bill Dixon, ‘95 Ford Ranger 4x4. Art Erickson, ‘95 Ford Explorer. Leonard Fluno, ‘92 Ford Ranger 4x4. Barry Husfloen, ‘95 Ford Ranger 4x4. George Krienke, ‘94 Ford Ranger 4x4. Tim McCoy, ‘92 Chevy S-10 4x4. Kevin Myre, ‘92 Ford Ranger 4x4. Reed Ockey, ‘96 Ford Ranger 4x4. Frank Paladichuk, ‘94 Ford Ranger 4x4. Dan Runkle, ‘94 Ford Ranger 4x4. Marc Straub, ‘94 Ford Ranger 4x4. Tim Utley, ‘95 Ford Ranger 4x4. Randy Vissia, ‘92 Ford Ranger 4x4. Mark Walker, ‘95 Ford Ranger 4x4. Bill Zehm, ‘93 Chevy S-10 4x4.

In addition, the following employees receive $295 monthly allowances for using their own cars for county business: James Manson, director of building and planning. Francine Boxer, assistant chief administrative officer. Marshall Farnell, director of administrative services. Phil Harris, commissioner. Jim Lindow, chief administrative officer. Dexter Amend, coroner. Tom Davis, juvenile court administrator. Gary Oberg, corrections director. Jim Sweetser, prosecutor. Donald Westerman, public defender. Dennis Scott, public works director. Bruce Rawls, utilities director.

This sidebar appeared with the story: WHO HAS CARS The following is a list of Spokane County employees who have 24-hour use of county cars. Not included are cars assigned to more than one employee on a rotating basis, or those assigned to positions that are not currently filled. Some employees lost their county cars after a recent review, but a complete list of their names was not available Thursday.

Commissioners Office John Roskelley, commissioner, ‘93 Ford Taurus Wagon.

Corrections/Social Services Julie Driscoll, Geiger Correction Center, ‘95 Ford Taurus.

Juvenile Court Todd Bircher, probation officer, ‘97 Ford Taurus. Stevie Stephens, probation officer, ‘97 Ford Taurus. Tori Peterson, probation officer, ‘97 Ford Taurus.

Public Defender’s Office Rich Fasy, ‘91 Dodge Spirit.

Small Animal Control Sheri Kent, animal control officer, Ford Ranger pickup. Bob Smoldt, animal control officer, Chevy S-10 pickup. Carl Boyd, animal control officer, Ford Ranger pickup. Jennifer Kline, animal control officer, Ford Ranger pickup. Becky Nelson, animal control officer, Chevy S-10 pickup. Bob Franzen, animal control officer, Ford Ranger pickup. Nancy Sattin, director, Dodge Ram pickup.

Parks, Recreation and Fair Randy Johnson, recreation specialist, ‘91 Chevy S-10 pickup. Robert Hughes, maintenance manager, ‘95 Ford F-150 pickup.

Golf Course Division Curt Chandler, superintendent for MeadowWood and Liberty Lake, ‘94 Ford F150 pickup. Don Woodruff, assistant superintendent for Liberty Lake, ‘92 Ford Ranger. Todd Harper, assistant superintendent for MeadowWood, ‘86 Dodge Ram. Mike Barber, superintendent for Hangman Valley, ‘93 Ford Ranger.

Sheriff’s Department Chuck Chisholm, communications shop, ‘85 Chevy Blazer. Undersheriff Burel Schulz, ‘89 Ford Crown Victoria. Lt. Greg Conner, ‘89 Ford Crown Victoria. Sgt. Bruce Mathews, ‘91 Ford Crown Victoria. Deputy Phil Shatzer, training office, ‘76 Chevy pickup. Sgt. Gary Smith, training office, ‘94 Ford Crown Victoria.

Civil Division and Public Information Officer Deputy Douglas Fleming, ‘93 Ford Crown Victoria. Deputy Curt Quashnick, ‘94 Ford Crown Victoria. Deputy Brian Miller, ‘93 Ford Crown Victoria. Deputy Mark Renz, ‘94 Ford Crown Victoria. Deputy Dave Reagan, public information officer, ‘87 Ford Crown Victoria. Lt. Dave Wiyrick, ‘95 Ford Crown Victoria.

Jail Division Capt. Jim Hill, ‘89 Ford Crown Victoria. Lt. Steve Jackson, ‘92 Chevy Capri. Lt. Edee Hunt, ‘92 Chevy Capri.

Emergency Management Division Dave Byrnes, Ford Crown Victoria. Tom Mattern, Ford pickup 4 X 4. Carol Morrison, Ford Crown Victoria. Bill Hanson, GMC Jimmy.

Public Works Department Utilities Division Sewer Planning and Design Section Louis York, sewer inspector, ‘95 Ford Ranger pickup.

Wastewater Operations Vern Jarvis, wastewater supervisor, ‘93 Chevy S-10 pickup. Vic Boyle, wastewater foreman, ‘93 Ford 1/2-ton 4X4. Terry Way, wastewater operator, ‘95 GMC 3/4-ton 4X4. Terry Beck, wastewater operator, ‘95 Ford 1/2-ton 4X4. Joe Close, wastewater operator, ‘93 Chevy 3500 4X4.

County Road Division Phil Barto, operations engineer, ‘92 Ford Taurus. Wayne Storey, maintenance engineer, ‘95 Ford Taurus. Chad Coles, construction engineer, Chevy Lumina. Vern Scoggin, materials resource manager, ‘96 Ford pickup. Gerry Gemmill, administrative manager, ‘92 Ford. Dee Ann Weiler, district supervisor, ‘95 Ford pickup. Glen Wainwright, district supervisor, ‘93 Chevy pickup. John Seaver, district supervisor, ‘94 Ford pickup. Jerry Hester, district supervisor, ‘96 Ford pickup. Ernie Nolan, district foreman, ‘94 Ford pickup. Wes Evans, district foreman, ‘94 Ford pickup. Larry Dishneau, district foreman, ‘96 Ford pickup. Bob Wilske, bridge supervisor, ‘96 Ford pickup. Louie Martin, asphalt training foreman, ‘96 Ford Taurus.

Fleet maintenance Tom Rowse, fleet manager, ‘92 Taurus. Bryan Hopp, shop foreman, ‘89 Celebrity. Steve Becker, shop foreman, ‘86 El Camino.

Building and Planning Division Chip Allen, ‘95 Ford Ranger 4x4. Ken Allread, ‘92 Ford Ranger 4x4. Morrie Aman, ‘94 Ford Ranger 4x4. Dick Bedow, ‘95 Ford Ranger 4x4. Bill Benish, ‘92 Ford Ranger 4x4. Frank Calasopa, ‘94 Ford Ranger 4x4. Tom Davis, ‘96 Chevy Lumina. Bill Dixon, ‘95 Ford Ranger 4x4. Art Erickson, ‘95 Ford Explorer. Leonard Fluno, ‘92 Ford Ranger 4x4. Barry Husfloen, ‘95 Ford Ranger 4x4. George Krienke, ‘94 Ford Ranger 4x4. Tim McCoy, ‘92 Chevy S-10 4x4. Kevin Myre, ‘92 Ford Ranger 4x4. Reed Ockey, ‘96 Ford Ranger 4x4. Frank Paladichuk, ‘94 Ford Ranger 4x4. Dan Runkle, ‘94 Ford Ranger 4x4. Marc Straub, ‘94 Ford Ranger 4x4. Tim Utley, ‘95 Ford Ranger 4x4. Randy Vissia, ‘92 Ford Ranger 4x4. Mark Walker, ‘95 Ford Ranger 4x4. Bill Zehm, ‘93 Chevy S-10 4x4.

In addition, the following employees receive $295 monthly allowances for using their own cars for county business: James Manson, director of building and planning. Francine Boxer, assistant chief administrative officer. Marshall Farnell, director of administrative services. Phil Harris, commissioner. Jim Lindow, chief administrative officer. Dexter Amend, coroner. Tom Davis, juvenile court administrator. Gary Oberg, corrections director. Jim Sweetser, prosecutor. Donald Westerman, public defender. Dennis Scott, public works director. Bruce Rawls, utilities director.