PORT ANGELES -– A staffing shortage at the Clallam County Jail is impacting the county’s chain gang program, prompting the sheriff’s office to request a reduction in state funding for litter cleanup efforts.
The county’s contract with the Washington State Department of Ecology has been amended, cutting funding from $168,000 to about $93,000.
Corrections Chief Deputy Don Wenzl told county commissioners that limited staffing has prevented the chain gang from operating at full capacity, reducing the number of cleanup missions and, in turn, the state reimbursement funds the county can receive.
“Due to our chronic staffing levels, we haven’t been able to support operating our crews and receiving reimbursement through Ecology. So, we had to submit an amount we felt was acceptable to de-obligate for Ecology, allowing them to use it for other programs. It’s just and amended agreement,” said Wenzl”
Under the revised agreement, work hours will drop to 500, with expectations to clean 10 miles of road, clear 10 illegal dumps, and collect 500 pounds of litter—far below the original program goals.
However, Wenzl remains optimistic, noting that a recent KING 5 News story on the issue has led to an increase in interest and calls to the sheriff’s office.
“After our KING 5 segments, in just two days, I’ve had over a dozen interested applicants—some have signed up for testing, while others have reached out by email or phone. It definitely generated interest, and I’m excited about the potential to rebuild our staffing levels and support our departments out there.”