Commissioners hear housing aid, apple maggot quarantine, noxious weed issues

Editor’s note: The following meeting summary of the Board of Commissioners of Okanogan County (BOCC) for Monday, June 6, is taken from notes provided by County Watch (countywatch.org).

OKANOGAN – The Board of Okanogan County Commissioners heard an agenda of weighty issues from behavioral health care to help for homeless housing at its bi-monthly meeting during the first week of June. Agencies from Okanogan Behavioral Health Care to the Okanogan County Community Action Council brought financial concerns to the table.

The Tri-County Pest Board and the Noxious Weed Control Board reported on projects to address apple maggots and water weed growth.

Monday, June 6

•             Copperstone development

•             Will Carpenter, of the Tri-County Pest Board, discussed his work with apple growers and packers to create a proposed apple maggot quarantine area in the north part of the county.

•             Josh Thomas, Director of Public Works, and Kent Kovalenko, of Solid Waste Management, are concerned because they were not included in this group even though they are stakeholders in the quarantine. Carpenter assured them that while his work included only people involved in agriculture, all stakeholders would be involved later in the process. The Washington Department of Agriculture will determine the boundaries of the quarantine area.

•             Craig Nelson, Executive Director of the Okanogan Conservation District, and his staff discussed onerous reporting requirements of the Voluntary Stewardship Program and the district’s proposed water bank. He also told the commissioners the district will probably request an increase in its rates and charges in the near future.

• Larry Hudson, Coordinator of the Noxious Weed Control Board, told the commissioners that he is having trouble hiring seasonal help and asked that he be allowed to hire full-time help and fewer seasonal workers. The commissioners agreed. He also said that he can begin treating Lake Osoyoos with procellacor because it has recently been approved for use by Canada. (ProcellaCOR provides long-term control for hydrilla, milfoil, Crested floating heart, and other tough-to-control aquatic weeds).

• The Board was asked to cover $11,000 in Okanogan Behavioral Health Care (OBHC) bills.

Additional grant money was requested from the State Health Care Authority. OBHC has requested additional funds from the Criminal Justice and Treatment grant. They have bills for treatment and services that fall under their contract, but they will not be reimbursed unless they receive this money. The county made the request through HCA (Health Care Authority) for $11,000 but mention was made for $30,000. Commissioner Hover recommended getting a budget supplemental for $41,000 cleared with the auditor.

• Public Works’ $32,124 HVAC replacement request opened the opportunity to discuss which fund to use for big capital expenditures. Commissioner Branch will contact PW for clarification to determine if the HVAC bill should come under bond expenditures or the capital improvements fund. Commissioner Hover wondered about a budget line to use bond interest for capital expenditures. He is concerned about the capital improvements rate being tied to the real estate excise tax. The county has a bond payment that comes out of that fund.

• The Public Health Board Position No.7 has generated two letters of interest.

• The Okanogan County Community Action Council (OCCAC) must scale down housing aid if its bid for a $3.4 million Community Homeless Grant over two years is not approved. Executive Director, Rena Shawver wants to update the BOCC about the Community Homeless Grant discussed the previous week. That grant is for rental assistance and eviction prevention. The latter is going away as part of the expiring COVID programs. OCCAC’s allocation for the next two years did not include staff and administration. The requested another $3.4 million is the amount required to cover the community’s needs. If OCCAC does not get it, some people will not be housed.

• Commissioner Neal attended the dedication of Highway 20 as “Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway”.