BOCC update for March 16, 2025, Agenda for week of March 24, 2025

[emily_sisson]

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Weekly summaries--
Monday, March 16, 2025 AM
• BOCC agrees to represent former employee in lawsuit.
• Public comment – correction to BOCC statement from last week about ownership of the Methow Valley News.
• Fairgrounds manager update – fee waivers, grooming of barrel racing area
• Planning Dept update:
o Planning Commission working on recommendations to FEMA proposed changes;
o training planned for how to run an effective meeting;
o channel migration grant may be impacted by the lack of an updated Critical Area Ordinance;
o discussion of several major Planned Developments that are in the works.
• Update on new morgue and Sheriff storage building. Work is moving along.
• Emergency Management update- snow pack is about 86% of normal; discussion about getting a thermal drone for SAR (Search and Rescue).
• Maintenance Update – looking into getting LED lighting; problems with geothermal system in jail; installation of new door at Treasurers office.
• HR update – discussion about Friendship Diversion (group that provides home monitoring) and other services they provide.
• Finance Committee meeting:
o discussion about county finances and transferring funds;
o review of State Audit recommendations from last year and how the county is complying;
o discussion about cyber security and plans for how to handle county operations following a disaster;
o discussion about using Starlink as a backup internet service if main service provider is unavailable (including running an election);
o discussion about changes to how the money collected and distributed during county fair is handled;
o discussion about administrative challenges due to outdated personnel manual (last updated in 1995).

Monday, March 16, 2025 PM
• Q&A Opioid Abatement Funding Proposals-Applicants. Mike Beaver, Director of Juvenile Services. Discussion about funding priorities, licensing requirements, individuals served and serving must be Okanogan Co residents, scoring applicants, how are homeless qualified for treatment, therapeutic court, health checks for juveniles no longer done by Public Health, part time position for PA, where does funding come from, diversion program for juveniles
• Superior Court judge Robert Grimm voices some concerns about Opioid issue/funding.
• Discussion about Cannabis Operations. Pete Palmer, Director of Planning and Development. 59 producers and processors in the county. 25 out of compliance. 4 years of help from the county with permitting, building inspections, meetings with growers-a lot of hand holding. Some are dragging their feet. What to do? Send letter, if they don’t shape up, revoke permit, grower must clean up property. Not a significant amount of tax revenue from cannabis ops to justify. Andy wants to consider a moratorium on new grows in the county.
• Bills, commissioners approve consent agenda, approve minutes of March 3 meeting with one hold out.

The County Commissioners did not meet on Tuesday, March 17.

AGENDA for the week of March 24, 2025
Monday, March 24, 2025
Join Zoom Audio and Video https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85243019263 Meeting ID: 852 4301 9263
Join by phone Audio Only• +1 253 215 8782 Meeting ID: 852 4301 9263
9:00 AM Review Commissioners Agenda, and Consent Agenda
9:05 AM Briefing Amongst Commissioners and Discuss Individual Weekly Meeting & Schedules
9:15 AM Public Comment Period
9:30 AM Commissioner’s Staff Meeting
10:30 AM Bid Award Legal Newspaper of Record 2025/2026-Commissioners
11:00 AM Discussion-Methow Emergency Preparedness Committee Update-Raven Aae

Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Join Zoom Audio & Video https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88591469116 Meeting ID: 885 9146 9116 Or
Join Audio Only: +1 253 205 0468 Meeting ID: 885 9146 9116
9:00 AM Review Minutes for March 10, 11, 14 & 17, 2025
9:15 AM Public Comment Period
11:00 AM Update Public Works – Engineer Josh Thomson
2:00 PM Department Head Quarterly Meeting
3:30 PM Approve Consent Agenda
1. LTAC (Lodging Tax Advisory Committee) 25-025 – Capital Improvements – Winthrop Chamber of Commerce
2. Cattleguard Franchise Renewals: CGF# 69-73; CGF# 5-78; CGF# 16-74; CGF# 17-74; CGF# 25-74; CGF# 83-73; CGF# 5-76; CGF# 02-05; CGF# 02-10; CGF# 3-90; CGF# N-226; CGF# N-227; CGF# N-68; CGF# 2-95; CGF# 2-90; CGF# 10-13; CGF# 97-73; CGF# 44-74; CGF# N-206; CGF# N-205; CGF# N-123
3. Contract Soil Stabilizer-New GMCO LLC
4. ARPA Req #17 Tunk Mtn Fire Hardening $2,480.25
5. Contract Communication Officer & SSgts Labor -Teamsters Local 760
6. Resolution 29-2025Juvenile Detention Medical Services Officer
7. Resolution 31-2025 CORE Outreach Program

3:35 PM Approve Meeting Minutes for March 10, 11, 14 & 17, 2025
3:40 PM Commissioners to set Wednesday’s Agenda

Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Join Zoom Audio & Video https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87854826531Meeting ID: 878 5482 6531 Or
Join Audio Only: +1 253 215 8782 Meeting ID: 878 5482 6531
Commissioners to decide on Tuesday whether or not they meet Wednesday.

State, Community and Other Meetings or Notices
(Meetings in this section may not be opened to the public, however a Commissioner may attend one or all of these meetings. Meetings that more than one Commissioner attend will be noted above. Location of meeting will follow meeting name.)

Monday, March 24, 2025
6:00 PM Planning Commission Meeting – Commissioners’ Hearing Room

Wednesday, March 26, 2025
11:00 AM Reserved for Quarterly Economic Alliance Meeting-In Person Meeting – CMRS Hearing Room
4:00 PM Noxious Weed Board Meeting - Public Works Building - 1234 Second Ave S. Okanogan
5:15 PM Community Action Council Meeting - 424 2nd Ave S Okanogan

Thursday, March 27, 2025
8:30 AM Juvenile Family Therapeutic Courts – Yadi Godina, Belinda Brown Raub – CMRS Hearing Rm


Friday, March 28, 2025
9:30 AM LTAC (Lodging Tax Advisory Committee) First Meeting OCTC (Okanogan County Tourism Council) Data Update then LTAC Policy bylaws – CMRS Hearing Room
11:00 AM COG (Council of Governments) Meeting - Lincoln County Courthouse - Davenport, WA


UPCOMING MEETINGS

Mar 31 Update -Veterans Relief Board- Thomas Even
Mar 31 Public Hearing (4) Open Open Space
Apr 01 Legislative Update-Zak Kennedy
Apr 01 Bid Opening 2025 County Wide Guardrail Safety Project - Tuesday, April 1, 2025 @ 11:00am
Apr 02 Safety Committee Monthly Meeting – CMRS Hearing Room
Apr 02 Okanogan County Water Conservancy Board Meeting
Apr 02 Hearing Examiner Meeting – CMRS Hearing Room
Apr 03 Juvenile Family Therapeutic Courts – Yadi Godina, Belinda Brown Raub – CMRS Hearing Rm
Apr 03 LEOFF (Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Pension Plan) Board Quarterly Meeting – CMRS Conference Room
Apr 03 FAC (Fair Advisory Committee) Meeting - Commissioners' Hearing Room - 1st Thursday of each Month

Note: All times are estimates to assist in scheduling and may be changed subject to the business of the day at the board’s discretion. The board may add and/or delete and take any action on any item not included in the above agenda. The board may act upon any subject placed on the agenda regardless of how the matter is stated. All matters listed within the consent agenda have been distributed to each member of the board to read and study. The items are considered routine and will be enacted on by one motion by the commissioners with no separate discussion. If separate discussion is desired, then that item may be removed from the consent agenda and placed on the regular agenda by request. Items discussed during Citizen Comment Period shall be limited only for issues not otherwise on the Agenda or scheduled discussion topics.