By Owen Sexton
owen@chronline.com
Along with hiring new Municipal Court Judge Allen Unzelman last week, the City of Chehalis welcomed two new employees during last Monday’s city council meeting: Interim Planning and Building Manager Ron Buckholt and Water Superintendent Riley Bunnell.
Chehalis City Manager Jill Anderson introduced them both during the meeting. She noted Tammy Baraconi, the previous planning and building manager, is resigning for other work.
“(Buckholt has) been here a couple of months now,” Anderson said, later adding, “With Tammy’s departure, he’s gonna have an opportunity to expand his horizons quite quickly, and we’re really excited to have him on board and to help fill the big shoes being left by Tammy.”
Buckholt currently lives in Lacey and told the council he’s spent the last three-and-a-half years working for Thurston County. He will now lead the city’s community development department.
“I’m excited to be here,” Buckholt said.
In an email to The Chronicle, Baraconi said she was leaving the job with the city to start her own consulting firm.
“There seems to be a shortage of consultant planners,” Baraconi said.
Bunnell filled a position that had been vacant for 18 months, Anderson said.
“I’m originally from Castle Rock. I just moved up from the city of Woodland water treatment facility, for their drinking water,” Bunnell said. “I’m very excited for this new position and to get to know the city of Chehalis and see what I can do for the city for the water department.”
For more information on the Chehalis community development department, visit https://www.ci.chehalis.wa.us/building. For more information on the city’s water division, visit https://www.ci.chehalis.wa.us/publicworks/water-division.
