Commissioners discuss coroner space, vehicle

RITZVILLE — The Board of Adams County Commissioners met Jan. 7 to discuss adding a full-time coroner position to the county staff.

Commissioner Jay Weise began the discussion with available office space that could be used by the new coroner, Tiffany Cutworth, who was appointed to the post.

“There’s an office in the Cedar Street building (in Othello) that we want to give to the coroner,” Weise said. “It currently has stuff stored in it and it’s not the office closest to Building or Planning, It’s the middle office that’s painted purple. I think it’s been a catch-all but we want to put the coroner in that office, so we need to get that cleared out.

“And it might need a painting, maybe some blinds... I’m sure somebody’s going to say that purple is pretty ugly.”

Commissioner Dan Blankenship asked about providing a vehicle.

Blankenship said he had discussed the issue with county engineer Scott Yaeger and Public Works Director Todd O’Brien.

“I don’t know if we have a solution yet,” he said.

Weise suggested talking to another county’s coroner to get a better idea of expectations.

“We need to have that discussion about what their expectations are, what our expectations are and qualify what we really do,” Weise said.

“I don’t think it does any good to talk to a coroner that’s elected in a county of 450,000 people,” Blankenship said.

County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Flyckt said he had received an inquiry about having a deputy coroner.

“I don’t think right now you have anything in the budget for the coroner other than the coroner’s salary and incidentals,” Flyckt said.