The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON – They say that only a planner understands what goes on in the planning office. Columbia County Planning Director Kim Lyonnais has managed planning and building departments most of his life.

But this month he’s really learning the ins and outs of daily management of his department. He’s had to – he’s been running the office on his own.

“I’ve really been enjoying it actually,” he said in an interview with The Times last week. “I like getting in and doing the work, being hands on. I’m really getting a feel for what we need as far as staffing at this point. It’s r...