County Worried About City Shakeup Long-Range Planning Could Be Affected By Lack Of Experience At City Hall

Upheaval at Spokane City Hall is causing worries at the Spokane County Courthouse.

The recent exodus of high-ranking city bureaucrats has left many county officials concerned about working relations between the two governments.

“I’m having a hard time thinking of whom I know over there anymore,” said Francine Boxer, county administrator.

What’s more, no one in county government is sure who will replace the departed city officials, how much experience they will have or what their motivation will be.

The uncertainty could affect city and county taxpayers alike, as regional projects such as the future of the wastewater treatment plant get delayed in the interim.

Joint long-range planning issues and park projects also could be affected, county officials said.

“Any time they lose somebody with a lot of history and background and knowledge and replace them with someone who needs to be brought up to speed, it costs us a lot of time and money and effort,” said Gary Oberg, director of the county Public Works Department. “We’re obviously looking for some stability. Otherwise, we waste our time doing this.”

County officials say the biggest loss may be that of Gale Olrich, assistant city manager for operations. Olrich, a 23-year city employee, announced last week that he plans to retire by the end of the month.

Olrich served as the city’s director of wastewater management for 15 years and is well-respected by his counterparts in the county.

County utilities director Bruce Rawls said Olrich’s departure is a severe blow to city-county negotiations over sewage issues and use of the regional wastewater treatment plant.

Officials from the two governments are trying to decide whether to expand the existing plant, split the cost of a new one or whether each should build its own to meet growing demand.

The outcome could cost taxpayers in both jurisdictions “millions and millions of dollars,” Rawls said.

Representatives of the two governments opened talks on those issues earlier this month. It was the first time such a meeting has taken place in more than a year, Rawls said, adding that Olrich was a key figure.

“Gale Olrich has a lot of history. I think he understands the relationship with Spokane County,” Rawls said. “I think Gale has a real good regional vision. The city needs to get a stable approach to solve this dilemma. They’ll have a hard time finding someone to step in who can keep this process moving.”

Olrich agreed that the talks are vitally important.

“I’m going to trust the elected officials and the city manager to create a structure that makes this work,” he said. “If there’s a way that I can help through this transition, I’m open to it.”

It will be up to Spokane’s new city manager, Henry Miggins, to replace departing employees such as Olrich and retiring Parks Director Ange Taylor.

County officials hope Miggins has the foresight to appoint experienced people.

“I figure what they’re doing over there is their business,” County Commissioner Kate McCaslin said. “Of course, it would be disappointing if that didn’t happen and we had to abandon any of those joint projects.”