BOCC update for Feb. 3 & 4, 2025, Agenda for week of Feb. 10, 2025

[emily_sisson]

You can receive our weekly update via email by signing up at CountyWatch.org
The weekly update has links to the complete notes for each BOCC meeting.

Summaries of BOCC meetings:
Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 AM
• 3 Executive Sessions
• Commissioners asked in chat why they didn’t consider discussion of RMEF (Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation) and Mule Deer Foundation request for fee reductions at Agriplex.
• Nick Bates: Fairgrounds update
• Mike Worden, OK Sheriffs. Progress update on construction of Sheriffs Storage Building
• Pete Palmer, planning director update: water determinations; staff training; unlicensed nightly rentals
• Maintenance update: Cooling units in jail; courthouse windows, circulation pumps.
• Discussion regarding LTAC (Lodging Tax Advisory Committee) funds and applications coming in.
• Mike Worden, Sheriff’s Office. Update on Radio Improvement Project.
• Susan Speiker, courts clerk. Update on malfunctioning court computer system; converting to state E-filing system; now offering passport photos through her office; looking for other ways to create more revenue; requested/received grant money for new scanners for courts.
• Commissioner Timm would like to see more military flyovers and airshows in Omak.
• Discussion about forming committee for determining how to spend opioid abatement funds.
• Meeting adjourned for the day at 12:05.

Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 AM
• During public comments, Emily Sisson and Pat Leigh ask the commissioners for permission to record the meeting using Fathom, an AI program to help County Watch produce its weekly summaries of BOCC meetings. The commissioners agree to allow recording.
• Commissioners Neal and Timm discuss a heat pump installed at Oroville High School which has never worked correctly and doesn’t produce the savings the high school was expecting. This product is similar to what’s being considered by the county for use in the jail.
• Zak Kennedy, the county’s lobbyist, updates the commissioners about the beginning of the legislative session. He discusses proposed laws concerning firearms, growth in rural areas, methane emissions from livestock, transgender individuals in jail and increased state funding for indigent defense.
• Mike Worden, County Dispatch Center, updates the commissioners about the new mobile and portable radios that are needed in the county. He has money for some of the radios for Fire Districts, EMS Districts and city police departments. They’re also finalizing plans for the radio consoles and hope to have everything in place by May when fire season is expected to begin.
• Karen Beatty, Director of Central Services, tells the commissioners she’s signed up for a 30-day free trial of a new software program to manage the county’s computers. She hopes it will be more efficient than the three systems it would replace. However, the new system costs $9,600/year while the combined costs for the three systems is considerably less.
• Josh Thomson, Director/County Engineer—Public Works, gives his weekly update:
o He thinks there will be minimal effect on county roads from the proposed development behind Hank’s Market in Twisp.
o Public Works will conduct a speed study on Hwy 7 north of the Tonasket Bridge Rd.
o Public Works has plans to change the speed limit on Twin Lakes Rd. near the high school to 35 mph.
o Discusses how the proposed changes in the gas tax and a new road use tax will affect the Public Works’ road budget.
• Commissioners hold an executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)—potential litigation, inviting Esther Milner, Albert Lin and Teddy Chow, all of the Prosecutor’s Office. The original 15 minutes is extended another 10 minutes.
• Meeting adjourns for lunch at 12:00.

Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 PM
• Discussion over salary requested by Candidate for Office of Public Defense director.
• Transfer of federal rescue plan funds approved to allow Community Action to continue with housing development project.
• Unprecedented staff shortage at jail declared an emergency via Resolution 15-2025. Sheriff has “options”. No discussion.
• Resolution 14-2025 allocates$10,000 for GIS workstations in the planning office
• Opioid settlement money from Kroger inaccessible for the moment because of a technicality related to the Docusign software.
• Small talk about high salary costs, traffic near Olympia where JN has been going, heated car seats.
• Executive session with Planning under RCW 42.30.110-(1)(b) to consider selection of a site or acquisition of real estate when public knowledge would cause likelihood of increased price
• Public portion of meeting ended at 2:15

AGENDA for the week of Feb. 10, 2025
Monday, February 3, 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 Executive Session RCW 42.30.110 (1)(g)
9:15 AM Public Comment Period
9:30 AM Review Commissioners Agenda and Consent Agenda
9:35 AM Briefing Amongst Commissioners and Discuss Individual Weekly Meeting & Schedules
9:40 AM Commissioner’s Staff Meeting
10:30 AM Public Hearing Budget Supplemental Appropriation Fund 161
10:40 AM Update Superior Court Clerk – Susan Speiker
11:00 AM Executive Session RCW 42.30.110 (1)(iii)
11:30 AM Discussion Opioid Abate Request for Proposals-Mike Beaver

Tuesday, February 4, 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 January 27 and 28, 2025
9:15 AM Public Comment Period
9:30 AM Legislative Update-Zak Kennedy
10:00 AM Round Table Finance Discussion
11:00 AM Update Public Works – Engineer Josh Thomson
1:30 PM Update Human Resources/Risk Management – Shelley Keitzman
2:00 PM Update Communications/Dispatch – Mike Worden
2:30 PM Approve Consent Agenda
1. Re-Appointment Letter – Housing Authority of Okanogan County – Jimmy Relaford
2. Re-Appointment Letter – Housing Authority of Okanogan County – Anthony Gomez
3. Re-Appointment Letter – Housing Authority of Okanogan County – Rita Kessell
4. Contract – CRP No. 9155-21 Old 97, Plata to Ophir – Selland Construction Inc.
5. Employment Agreement – CORE Outreach – Diedrika Burrington
6. Employment Agreement – CORE Outreach – Katrina Cates
7. Interlocal Agreement – Building Inspection Services – City of Omak
8. Quote – Vaulted Restroom for Whistler Canyon Trailhead $55,409.87 – CXT Inc.
9. Bid Award – Vaulted Restroom for Whistler Canyon Trailhead – CXT Inc.
10. Supplement – 2025 County Guardrail – WSDOT
11. Prospectus – County Guardrail - WSDOT
12. Resolution 12-2025 – Trial Court Improvement Fund 195 Revenue
2:45 PM Approve Meeting Minutes for January 27 and 28, 2025
3:00 PM Commissioners to set Wednesday’s Agenda

Wednesday, February 5, 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, February 3, 2025
4:00 PM Solid Waste Advisory Committee - Public Works Conference Room – 1234A 2nd Ave S Okanogan

Wednesday, February 5, 2025
11:00 AM Safety Committee Monthly Meeting – Commissioners’ Hearing Room
2:00 PM Okanogan County Water Conservancy Board Meeting – Zoom Meeting

Thursday, February 6, 2025
8:30 AM Juvenile Family Therapeutic Courts – Yadi Godina, Belinda Brown Raub – CMRS Hearing Rm
10:00 AM LEOFF (Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Pension Plan) Board Meeting – Commissioners’ Conference Room
6:00 PM FAC (Fair Advisory Committee) Meeting – Commissioners’ Hearing Room

UPCOMING MEETINGS
Feb 10 OCOG/RTPO (Okanogan Council of Governments/Regional Transportation Planning Organization) Meeting – 303 2nd Ave S Okanogan
Feb 11 Bid Opening Liquid Asphalt-Public Works Shasta Stidman
Feb 11 Board of Health – 1234 S 2nd Ave, Okanogan
Feb 13 Juvenile Family Therapeutic Courts – Yadi Godina, Belinda Brown Raub – CMRS Hearing Rm
Feb 13 Alta Vista Irrigation Meeting – Commissioners’ Hearing Room
Feb 17 Closed in observance of Presidents Day
Feb 18 Bid Opening Soil Stabilizer-Public Works Shasta Stidman
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.