BOCC update for Feb. 16, 2026, Agenda for week of Feb. 23, 2026

[emily_sisson]

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The weekly update contains links to the complete notes for each meeting we cover.

Monday, Feb. 16, 2026
BOCC did not meet in observance of President’s Day.

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 AM
• The commissioners discuss their concern with the sheriff’s bill now being considered by the state legislature. It would allow the Criminal Justice Training Commission to remove an elected sheriff from office and possibly also disallow a sheriff from performing law enforcement duties in municipalities. Since several towns in the county contract with the Sheriff’s Department for LEO services, this would impact the county negatively.
• The commissioners hear a presentation for a new phone system. The company that handles the county's current system has declared bankruptcy. The commissioners are impressed with the presentation. RingCentral services could cost $12,000 more per year than the old service, but the commissioners feel they’ll be getting uninterrupted service using VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) with Starlink as a backup.
• Evergreen Economics, a consulting firm, reports to the commissioners about the study they’ve done on the economic and other impacts of the cannabis industry in Okanogan County.
• Meeting adjourned at 12:07

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, PM
County Watch was unable to take notes for this meeting. You can read the agenda and watch the AV Capture recording of the meeting. Click on Live Stream Meetings on the county's homepage: OkanoganCounty.gov . Use the clock on the far wall of the Commissioners’ meeting room to help find the particular agenda item that interests you. The afternoon session begins at 1:29. You may have to expand the video to full screen to be able to read the clock.

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026
The BOCC called a meeting of all the elected officials and department heads to discuss the 2027 budget. To balance the budget, they must either cut $3,000,000 from the 2026 budget, find an additional $3,000,000 in revenue or use a combination of cuts and revenue increases. The commissioners want to make sure that county employees along with county residents understand the situation.

Remedies being considered include:
• Attrition (not replacing employees who leave their jobs)
• Lay-offs
• Forgoing raises for some employees but requiring only a 36-hour work week
• A sales tax increase to be used for public safety, including the Sheriff’s Office, the courts and the Public Defenders’ Office. This would require voter approval.
• A levy lid lift. This would also require voter approval.*

The commissioners asked the attendees to brainstorm with staff to try to come up with additional ideas. They should report back to the commissioners within 30 days.

You can watch the meeting here. The budget discussion begins at 9:32, about 35 minutes into the video. (You may have to expand the video to full screen to be able to read the clock on the far side of the meeting room.)

*At 9:58, County Assessor Larry Gilman explains levy lid lifts and the relationship between the assessed value of a parcel and the taxes assessed on it.

AGENDA for the week of Feb. 23, 2026
Monday, February 23, 2026
Join Microsoft TEAMS Video Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 266 945 779 797 96 Passcode: vB7E8j5u
Dial in by phone +1 469 998 7466 Phone ID: 762 003 408#
9:00 AM Review Commissioners Agenda and Consent Agenda
9:05 AM Discuss Individual Weekly Meetings & Schedules
9:15 AM Public Comment Period
9:30 AM Commissioners' Staff Meeting
10:30 AM Discussion Oroville Rural EMS District Contract Payments-Life Line
11:00 AM Discussion Authorization for Jail Re-Entry Biller-Chief Barcus
11:30 AM Discussion-Jail Camera upgrades, Jail Transport Van Replacement, Elevator Repair, Jail Radio Replacement, Interior Paint - Undersheriff Yarnell

Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Join Microsoft TEAMS Video Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 266 945 779 797 96 Passcode: vB7E8j5u
Dial in by phone +1 469 998 7466 Phone ID: 762 003 408#
9:00 AM Review Commissioners Minutes
9:05 AM Briefing Amongst Commissioners
9:15 AM Public Comment Period
9:30 AM Update - Assessor - Larry Gilman
10:00 AM Rescheduled Finance Committee Meeting-Treasurer Johnson, Auditor Hall
11:00 AM Update Public Works-Engineer Josh Thomson
11:45 AM Executive Session RCW 42.30.110 (1)(i)(ii)
12:00 PM Approve Commissioner Proceedings February 17 & 18, 2026
12:05 PM Approve Consent Agenda
1. Change Order #14 – Morgue-Sheriff Storage Cost Increase of $1,183– Halme Builders Inc.

2. Local Agency Agreement and Prospectus – City of Tonasket Western Ave Chipseal - WSDOT
3. Re-Appointment – Fair Advisory Committee – Michael Blake
4. Supplemental Agreement – CRP No 9480-10 Chesaw Drainage Survey – Erlandsen & Assoc. Inc
12:10 PM Commissioners to set Wednesday’s Agenda

Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Join Microsoft TEAMS Video Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 266 945 779 797 96 Passcode: vB7E8j5u
Dial in by phone +1 469 998 7466 Phone ID: 762 003 408#
9:30 AM Discussion 2027 Preliminary Budget Reductions-Elected Officials/Dept Heads

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 23, 2026
6:00 PM Planning Commission Meeting – CMRs Hearing Rm

Wednesday, February 25, 2026
11:00 AM Economic Alliance Meeting – TBD
4:00 PM Noxious Weed Board Meeting - PW Building - 1234 2nd Ave S, Okanogan
5:30 PM Community Action Council Meeting - 424 2nd Ave S, Okanogan

Thursday, February 26, 2026
8:00 AM Management Training – Vicky – CMRS Hearing Room

Friday, February 27, 2026
8:00 AM Management Training – Vicky – CMRS Hearing Room
9:00 AM 1st Lodging Tax Advisory Committee Meeting-LTAC – CMRS Conference Room
Microsoft Teams meeting: https://teams.microsoft.com Meeting ID: 269 970 926 045 5 Passcode: AC77ss2A
Dial in by phone +1 469-998-7466, Phone conference ID: 603702420#

UPCOMING MEETINGS
Mar 02 Discussion Budget Supplemental Request-WSU Kayla Wells-Yoakum
Mar 02 Discussion Preventative Care Management Programs-Teg Wellness
Mar 02 Discussion Public Safety Tax & Ballot Question Packet/Resolution-CMRS, Prosecutor's Office
Mar 02 Snow Grooming Advisory Board - Public Works Conference Rm - 1234 A 2nd Ave S, Okanogan
Mar 03 Public Hearing Budget Supplemental Appropriation-Homeless Housing
Mar 03 Quarterly Update-Tonasket Forest Ranger District -District Ranger Matt Marsh
Mar 03 FAC Meeting - Commissioners' Hearing Room - 1st Tuesday of each Month
Mar 04 Safety Committee Monthly Meeting – CMRS Hearing Room
Mar 04 Okanogan County Water Conservancy Board Meeting – VIA Zoom
Mar 04 Hearing Examiner Meeting – CMRS Hearing Room
Mar 05 Reserved Juvenile Family Therapeutic Courts - Commissioners Hearing Room
Mar 05 Reserved Superior Court Hope Grab Bag Event-Susan Speiker Et al....

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 a 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 the Citizen Comment Period shall be limited only to issues not otherwise on the agenda or scheduled discussion topics.