Kammerzell takes oath for seat on panel

Colfax farmer Tom Kammerzell, 51, was sworn in by port attorney Bruce Ensley as the 13th commissioner of the Port of Whitman County last Thursday, Dec. 15.

“I’m really looking forward to this challenge,” he said. “This is going to be a very interesting adventure.”

Voters selected Kammerzell over Al Sorensen of Pullman in November’s general election.

Kammerzell takes the seat currently held by Don Cox of Colfax, who was appointed last year to fill the post after the death of Bob Gronholz. Gronholz was elected to a six-year term in 2009. Kammerzell will serve out the final four years of that term.

“Tom, you’re really going to enjoy this,” Cox said Thursday.

Cox pointed to overseeing the installation of 157 miles of high-speed fiber optic cable from Spokane to Clarkston as his top trophy from his short stint as port commissioner. He said the line will help bring the business capacity of Whitman County up to par with the I-5 corridor.

“Now we can truly be a place that can provide infrastructure for business,” said Cox. “Rather than just saying it’s a nice place to live.”

Kammerzell agreed.

Ensley also swore in Commissioner Dan Boone to his fourth term on the port board last week. Boone took the oath on the telephone from Pullman Regional Hospital where he was receiving blood pressure treatment.

Kammerzell is a farmer and rancher and a retired custodian with the Colfax School District.