Okanogan County Commissioners close land deal with WDFW

Editor’s note: The following meeting summary of the Board of Commissioners of Okanogan County (BOCC) for the second week of June is taken from notes provided by County Watch (countywatch.org).

OKANOGAN – The county received nearly $400,000 from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for some county land adjacent to the new gravel pit.

The Town of Twisp has a plan in the works to develop property on the site of the former Wagner Lumber Mill just across the Methow River east of town.

In other BOCC business:

Monday, June 12, all day

• Pete Palmer, Director of Planning,
  • Discussed a good conversation she had with the members of the Mazama Subarea A group,
  • She will negotiate a contract with consultants at Van Ness Feldman, to work on Planned Developments.
  • The Town of Twisp is proposing to annex 3-4 acres of county land next to the town for a planned development called Mill Town
• Fairgrounds Manager, Naomie Peasley would like to increase the damage deposit for renting Fairgrounds sites. She would also like the Sheriff’s Office to increase its fee for allowing music between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
• Chairman Chris Branch signed documents finalizing the sale of county land adjacent to the new gravel pit. After fees and other deduction, the county received $399,544.49.
• Emergency Management Director, Maurice Goodall and Commissioner Branch discussed signage on the South Summit Road and the road’s potential as an escape route in case of fire.
• Commissioners spoke with members of the Methow Valley EMS District Board. Their 10-year contract is up for renewal in December. The discussion included hypothetical catastrophic situations in which the EMS district ceased to exist.
• BLM Field Director Kurtis Bryan of the Wenatchee Field Office updated the commissioners on the BLM’s activities over the last few years. He will continue to deliver annual updates. 
  Tuesday, June 13, morning

•             Director of Weed Office and WSU extension are working together to lease a new printer/copier.

•             Shelley Keitzman of Human Resources reported on a possible matching grant program to help with added security costs. The county's share would be 15 percent. She also reported about a grant program for the jail that ended June 30, and needed to be renewed.

•             There are three applicants for a position on the Board of Health.

•             James DeSalvo of the Methow Trails presented a request for repair of the Lower Goat Creek trail bridge. He is working with WDFW on permitting and timeline. The estimate for the cost of the bridge project is $84,490 all-inclusive with the non-profit group doing the building. Some of the funds are expected to go back to the county.

•             County engineer public works update: Cost over-run for contractor in protest; still working on the Barnholt Loop speed limit change to 25 mph, one more speed study to be completed. Paving on the Old Hwy 97 road project was expected to begin June 22. Seal Creek complete. Halfway completed on Twisp River overlay project.

•             The Prosecuting Attorney requested another position in its office that could handle appeals and other duties.

Tuesday, June 13, Board of Health meeting

•             Okanogan and Chelan-Douglas counties will share a qualified epidemiologist.

•             Financial future rosy until at least 2029 thanks to federal funds; they will cover the Environmental Health Director’s post.

•             Four Board members reported on the state-wide public health meeting: toxic algae, struggling obstetric (OB) services, opioid overdoses are the biggest shared concerns. Okanogan Public Health District is a model for other districts.

•             A survey will assess the past six years (disaster preparedness, Covid trauma…)

•             Three candidates are applying for the city Board of Health post.