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OKANOGAN COUNTY WATCH

Okanogan County Watch
Helping Citizens Stay Informed

Photo Credit: Justin Haug

The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meets every Monday and Tuesday at the Commissioner's hearing room at the Virginia Grainger building in Okanogan. Volunteer citizens take notes at most BOCC meetings and post them here. The volunteer notes are a paraphrasing of what they observe and hear and are not considered part of any official records. For officially approved minutes of Board of Commissioner meetings, normally published at a later date, see www.okanogancounty.org.

For information on various County boards and commissions, click on the County Boards tab above.

We have started doing live video on You Tube for occasional presentations and hearings. They will be saved on our You Tube channel indefinitely and can be viewed any time. Due to the limited number of people available for this task, we are video taping a limited number of meetings. The videos may be of regular meetings, presentations and public hearings at BOCC or Advisory Committee meetings such as Planning Commission, Watershed Councils, etc. If anyone has a request for us to video specific County-related subjects that are addressed in public meetings or hearings, please contact us and we will make an effort to do so.

For links to the most current agendas for the BOCC meeting and the Planning Study Sessions, scroll to the end of the BOCC notes section.

We need video volunteers! It's easy- all you need is a smart phone or other device that can connect to a WiFi signal. We'll show you how. Click on the button below to let us know when you are available and we will contact you.

I want to be a video volunteer!

Link to video and notes for County-related Boards and Commissions - CLICK HERE.

BOCC Notes

Recent BOCC meeting notes are posted below, along with a short summary of what was discussed. For older notes, click on Archived Notes tab above. Click here for a list of acronyms and County Personnel.

January 18th, 2019: DEADLINE OF NOTE: Public comment on the scoping of the Comprehensive plan is due Friday, January 18 by 5 pm. This is an opportunity to let the Commissioners know what things you want them to consider in their planning for the future. Comments should be submitted by e-mail to rrobbins@co.okanogan.wa.us, or dropped off at the Planning office at the Virginia Granger building in Okanogan (see map on the bottom right sidebar of this website).

bocc_notes_1-15-2019.pdf
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AH: MSRC policy for purchases, JD: Multiple accesses to a state highway, Civil Attorney: Property in Nespelem in a tax seizure, justification for bail bondsmen, process of sealing records, Pest Board - large orchard holding and abatement due to Codling moth, legal costs if found innocent by self-defense, Planning & Admin: FEMA mapping, Fair Events: Fair Advisory Board meeting, Fee Schedule & Cleaning deposit, Washington Friends inquiry, Admin & Fair Bldgs Maintenance: Jail & admin drains scoped, Walkway & entry to the Courthouse, Finance Committee + Juvenile: Discussion of 160 fund potential, Public Comment: AH to Tonasket, TV District/KSPS meeting, Building Dept: Quarterly Report, WDFW: Elk & Wolf update, Possible land acquisition, Misc. Admin

bocc_notes_01-14-19.pdf
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Comprehensive Plan (roads); Mapping Project; WRIA 49 Watershed Plan; Tunk Watershed Water Availability Study Area (unscheduled discussion); Airport Safety Zones – Tonasket; Champerty Shores Sewer Extension

bocc_notes_1-08-2019.pdf
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Civil Attorney: Land use special deputy, Code Enforcement; Juvenile & Admin Bldg Security: Juvenile carpet replacement & Leakages, emergency repairs, Capital projects facilities Plan list, Large purchase reviewed by Treasurer & Auditor, RFQ for professional services; Admin & Fair Grounds Maintenance: request for maintenance; Fair Events: Billboard & Annex floor; Planning & Admin: property annexation – Omak; HR & Risk Management: Update on claims, Friday Civil Service oral boards, leave policy; Tonasket PD contract with County for Sheriff’s coverage; Veterans Affairs: Partial Stand Down, Increased outreach, Native American program, additional office personnel; Public Works: Engineer: Maintenance & Roads, WATV, Similkameen Trail inspection, Equipment purchases for 2019, CRC pit use agreement, Sinlahekin culvert, Enloe Dam; Public Health: Vacant Public Health Board position filled, 35 reported Pertussis cases in County.

BOCC meeting 1/7/19. Available for viewing on our YouTube channel.

The audio for this session is best heard through headphones on your device. The topics discussed are outlines below, with the time stamp for each topic. Click on the time listed to go directly to that point in the video.
Public Hearing on Okanogan County Code (OCC) 17A.400.130 Water Availability Study Areas: Upper Tunk, Lower Tunk, Tamarack Springs
04:00 - 21:30 - Planning Director Perry Huston reviews OCC 17A.400.130. (copies of maps and handouts are on our website) 21:30 - 54:30 - public testimony on OCC 17A.400.130
54:30 - 1:32:00 - Commissioners discuss the testimony and the proposed ordinance amending OCC 17A.400.130
1:32:00 - 1:32:30 - OCC 17A.290 Cannabis Operations, District Use Chart, End of SEPA comment period
1:32:30 - 1:39:15 - Nightly Rentals Licensing Several minutes were lost during the videoing, including the first part of this discussion. During part of this, PH said he’d had the commissioners sign letters to a group of people, but realized later that the letter was not appropriate for some of them and so he didn’t send those. Later, during the WRIA 49 Watershed Plan Update, LJ references those letters.
1:39:15 - 1:44:40 Commissioner Hover discuses a meeting he'll be attending this afternoon to discuss the Tonasket Police Department contracting with the Sheriff's Office to perform some of its duties.
1:44:40 - 1:47:00 - Comprehensive Plan, Update--Scoping period extended, Index of comments. (Planning Director did not have information on how many comments had been received to date). 1:47:00 - 1:55:15 - WRIA 49 Watershed Plan Update
1:55:15 - 1:57:45 - Airport Safety Zones, Tonasket Update
1:57:45 - 1:59:30 - WRIA48. Closed Tributaries Update
1:59:30 - 2:02:20 - Champerty Shores Sewer Extension
2:02:20 - 2:02:40 - WATV District 1 Update
2:02:40 - end Wolf Incident Tracking System Update

bocc_notes_1-7-19_draft_ordinance_occ_17a.400.130.pdf
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Draft Ordinance for Water Availability Study area for Upper and lower Tunk and Tamarack Springs. This document was discussed at the BOCC meeting on 1/7/19.

bocc_notes_1-7-19_background_info_on_occ_17a.400.130.pdf
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Background information on the Water Availability Study area for Upper and lower Tunk and Tamarack Springs. Document includes maps. This document was discussed at the BOCC meeting on 1/7/19.

BOCC meeting 12/31/18. Available for viewing on our YouTube channel. There are two videos: Part 1, and Part 2.

This video is best heard through headphones on your device. Topics are outlined below, with the time stamp of where the topic begins. To go directly to the topic you are interested in, click on the time stamp. (Note- the first 6 minutes or so are casual chit chat before the actual meeting begins).
00:00 - 06:20 - casual conversation waiting for BOCC to take their seats.
06:20 - 17:30 - reviewing maps of Lower Methow basins. (maps are laying flat on the table and cannot be seen).
17:30 - 53:30 - Comprehensive plan scoping. One comment received to date, some discussion about that comment.
53:00- 55:40 - More looking at maps and discussion of HUC and closed basins.
55:40 - 1:10:30 - WRIA 49 appointments, grant application, operating procedures. Short discussion towards the end of this segment about whether the committee will use majority vote or consensus.
1:10:30 - 1:17:50 - Tonasket Airport protection overlay 1:17:50 - end - Code enforcement. Two specific properties are discussed. BOCC need to decide how to approach enforcement in situations where individuals build without a permit and refuse to correct the violations despite repeated warnings. Discussion considers civil vs criminal charges, which county officials are responsible for contacting the individuals, and whether the county can absorb the cost of correcting the violations themselves. Note:You Tube crashed part way through the code enforcement discussion. The video ends abruptly, but we were able to re-start it, and the rest of the meeting is continued on the Part 2 video for this date. Only about 1 minute of discussion was lost.
Video, Part 2
00:00 - 31:50 - code enforcement discussion. One structure in the Methow Valley area that was built without a permit despite numerous attempts by the county to get property owner to comply. the second property is in the Okanogan area, and involves a former scrap metal collection business. 31:50 - 41:00 - Oroville EMS levy discussion. When to place it on the ballot, public outreach, etc.
41:00 - end - Short discussion about WRIA 48 closed basin and how they align with adjudicated water rights. Comm. Hover suggests that it would be good to know how much of those water rights are actually being used. Comm. DeTro mentions discussion with PUD about the Enloe Dam and possibilities of leaving it in place and converting the water rights for using elsewhere in the county.

bocc_notes_12-24-18.pdf
File Size:	127 kb
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Lake Management Dist. formed, to be managed by Noxious Weed Board; Wenatchee Valley College denied fee waiver for fairground roller skating; WRIA 49: 3 possible candidates for facilitator showed interest, grant timing awkward with timing for hiring facilitator, committee members not yet finalized; Champerty Shores: Infrastructure discussed (lift stations, sewer & water), city expansion area; WATV’s: SEPA Threshold Determination comment period extended for Dist 1&2, objections to proceeding with Dists 1&2 when ATV signage for Dist 3 remains undecided.

bocc_notes_12-18-2018.pdf
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Civil Attorney, Fair Events: WVC students, Admin & Courthouse & Fair Maintenance: Facility Software, Planning & Admin: Broadband Development, Developments in Dispatch, Auditor: Budget numbers good, Okanogan Homeless Shelter Open House, Public Comment.: Update on Okanogan TV District, Public Works: Admin: Open Positions, New Position, SWAC Appointments, SWAC Expenses, Apple Maggot, Leachate ponds, SW Conditional Use Permit, SAO rental, Engineering: Maintenance & Road: Other items covered, Cattle Guard renewal letters, Similkameen Trail, History of old Park & Recreation Committee & Fund, Resolutions & Approvals, Discussion on Youth Homelessness

BOCC meeting, 12/17/18. Video Only. Available for viewing on our You Tube Channel.

Planning department study session, with Perry Huston. The time stamps of the topics are listed below. Click on the time to go directly to that section. The audio may be best heard through headphones on your device.
4:00 - Public hearing: Lake Management District #1
55:58 - WRIA 49 Watershed Plan update
56:55 - WRIA 49 Permit Exempt wells
1:38:31 - Code Enforcement update
1:42:06 - Oroville EMS
1:42:55 - Regional Fire Protection Service Authorities

bocc_notes_12-11-18.pdf
File Size:	143 kb
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Civil Attorney:New jail ordinance, Central Services, Reimbursement for SWAC members, Issues at Public Health, Issues at Public Health, Fair Events:Sent projected revenue, Fair budget, NCW Business Week,Planning & Administration:Champerty Shores (Lake Osoyoos), BOCC Clerk:Dept Head meeting, Facility Software training,Risk Management & Human Relations: Exempt Employee Leave policy, Union votes on the 2019 contracts, Evaluations, Civil Service testing Saturday for Corrections, Dispatch & Records, Crunch time, Consent agenda approved, Public Works: Admin & SW:Open positions, New Position, SWAC update, Conditional Use permit, Computer Network – Fiber Connection, Admin Building door & windows, Minimum rental fees on Admin Bldg, Engineering:Maintenance & Roads, Edelweiss Sewer System, Road Log, Culverts, WSDOT coordination, WSDOT coordination, Hwy 97 WSDOT traffic study, Public Health:Public Health– Pertussis,Environment: Up to eyeballs in enforcement, Discussion of admin building condition, Change in Prosecutor’s Office

bocc_notes_12-10-18.pdf
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Vault toilet project  apparently approved.
Broad Band in local rural areas: Colvillle Tribe plans to provide ½ of matching funds for grant, spearheaded by Ferry County.
VSP: Payment to Conservation District proceeding for work on VSP.
WRIA 49: RFQs for facilitatorhave been sent,  Will be sent again. WDOE progress on grant stalled for now. Membership appointment letters to be sent in time for January meeting.  Latest membership list included in notes.
Tunk Valley overlay: Public hearing January 7, 2019.
WATV’s: Dist 1 & parts of  Dist 2, maps, etc: Public notice to be sent out Wednesday for SEPA review and comment.
Lake Management, District 1: Public hearing next week in re assessments.
Compliance Update: Compliance on nightly rentals good. Problems with salvage operation discussed.
Oroville EMS: PH to attend Oroville hearing. Public vs Private fire protection, ambulance service delivery,  payment structure discussed.
Transfer of County Propertiesto "Tabor:" Not on agenda; forms signed by BOCC.

bocc_notes_11-27-2018.pdf
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TV District #1; Maintenance & Fair Grounds: tractor repair, Agriplex upgrades; Fair Events: Estimated revenue, Community Xmas Basket; Admin & Fair Grounds Maintenance: Training opportunity, Supplementary boiler heating system; Planning and Admin: Fair Well, Oroville EMS levy, Well Continuity discussion, Current SW CUP, Ferry Co., Okanogan SW landfill; BOCC & Admin Clerk: FAC position; New Assessor: Current business; Public Works: Admin & SW: Open Positions, Budget Update, Rental fees, SW meeting Wed., Nov. 28, CCT Waste Disposal & potential CUP amendment, SWAC update, New Snow Groomer, Engineering: Maintenance & Road, Statler Bridge replacement, Snow & Ice plowing policy; Current Expense Levy; Public Hearing on County Budget 2019, Re-allocation within SW Fund 123, Road Levy increase by amount authorized by law, Methow EMS levy increase, County Budget Hearing – Review of Revenue, swearing in of new County Prosecutor, Scheduling, Approve MOU between Okanogan County & USFS.

BOCC meeting, 11/26/18. Video Only. Available for viewing on our You Tube Channel.

Regular meeting of BOCC. The time stamp for each topic is noted below - click on the time to go directly to that portion of the video.
05:20 - brief discussion with Auditor Elect regarding need to order ballot envelopes for next Special Election
07:00 - Oroville EMS - Discussion of options for handling another attempt at funding the Oroville EMS.
32:20 - Nightly rentals. Report on licensing of nightly rentals.
43:30 - VSP - Discussion of technicality regarding the signing of documents.
44:20 - WRIA 49. Discussion about planning unit and how the groiup will be organized and who will be in charge.
55:00 - Water Availability Study Area. Discussion of map that the DOE has showing all recorded water rights, and how it will be used to determine how much water is available in WRIA 49. Link to State website showing these water rights: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/waterreso...
59:10 - Code Enforcement. Perry reports on visits he made to properties that had code violation complaints.
1:05:25 - Tabor quit claims
1:13:00 - Fairgrounds well
1:17:20 - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with USFS regarding parking arrangement.

bocc_notes_11-20-2018.pdf
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Discussing meaning of “public water”, Civil Attorney: Email, Risk Pool, Exec. Session – potential litigation, Code enforcement possibility, Public Records request, Clerk’s office – HB 1783, Elmway levee, electronic signatures; Fair Events: Move next FAC meeting to Dec. 6, Agriplex tables, Rotary assistance, Chronicle reporter, budget; Admin & Fair Grounds Maintenance: Well decision, Portable propane auxiliary heater, Tables, Aging & Adult Care office space; BOCC & Admin Clerk: Oroville EMS voucher; Planning & Admin: Working on well, USFS MOU for using BOCC parking lot, Planning Commission - interim control on the 3 Tunk Valley sub-drainages, Cannabis; PUD decision on Enloe is final; Public Works: Engineering: Hwy 20 through holidays, Water/flooding issue on Hwy 153, Possible culvert replacement on Johnson Creek @ Greenacres, Statler Bridge, Buffalo Lake rd, Kartar Valley Rd, Sinlahekin Rd, Blue Lake culvert; Admin & SW: SW Tipping Fees, Adoption of final SWMP, SW from Ferry County, Apple Maggot Implementation; Public Comment: 1) I-1639 – asking for County “Gun Sanctuary” statute, 2) TV District #1 – possible dissolution and next steps; County EMS levies; Central Services: Fiber optic line, Own ISP?, Email server, Ongoing projects; Courthouse Complex Maintenance Budget Review, Vouchers.

bocc_notes_11-19-18.pdf
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Development: Lester PD 2017-1 Developmnt Agree't and Zone Code amendment approved. Champerty Shores -Sewage. Water: WRIA 48 - WDOE revisions to 1991 basin maps complete: Cow Ck, Gold Ck.. WDOE to e-mail, discuss. Possible mitigation for property loss? (Aquifer Storage & Recovery.) VSP - Implementation contract with Cons. Dist. WRIA 49 - sign-in sheet available. Consumptive use, WRIAs 48 - 49 - inconsistent? RFQ for facilitator. Sign-on letter to Zinke for Headwaters Campaign approved. Code: Overnight Rentals - Notices sent, licenses required. Enforce't: Compliance vs. prosecution as goal, methodology. Code Enforce't update: Recent enforce't efforts, esp in Methow Valley ( Complaint basis & otherwise)- Shorelines, floodplains, wetlands, waterways, soapy spots, autos on skyline, burning. Penalties disc. Land Use: Comp Plan: EIS Scoping notices sent, comment deadline 1/4/19, 5PM.. Info now posted on Planning website; Pub. Wks concern: lack of coordination bet. Comp Plan and 2014Transportation Plan/EIS. ATV’s - Thomson to set up Dist #2 ATV comment. TV District 1 finances, locations.

comp_plan_draft_10-12-18.docx
File Size:	156 kb
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Current draft of Comprehensive Plan. The County is accepting Public comments on the scoping of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) until 1/4/19. Relevant materials can be found on the OK County Planning dept website. Click here to get to the Planning Dept page, then click on the box at the top of the page that says "Comprehensive Plan Update".

bocc_notes_11-13-2018.pdf
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Planning & Admin: Timeline for Comp Plan, Draft EIS, Planning Commission, public hearing option, Taber land acquisition, Conservation District role in WRIA 49, and RFQ for Facilitator for WRIA 49 process; Fair Events: Fair Advisory Committee (FAC), FAC expenditure report, Janitorial & Porta-Potty pumping bill, budget, Well driller Report; USFS parking request; Executive Session: potential land purchase; Miscellaneous: Enloe Dam project, “Tribal hunting” of wolves off reservation; Treasurer: Taxes from 2018, Tax Sale is set for December, delinquent taxes; TV Dist 1: Dissolution of the district, George Thornton appointed to TV District 1 board; Public Hearing: Jail Improvement Fund 193, Confederate Flag in the Tonasket Veteran’s Day parade; Public Hearing: CTJA Fund 160, election results certification; Public Works: Admin & SW: Open Positions, Office Space Rental Fees, SW Budget, SW Disposal Fee Changes, Meeting with CCT Waste Disposal over CUP agreement, Transfer Station Holiday Closures, Apple Maggot; Engineering: Maintenance & Roads, Statler Bridge replacement project, Sinlahekin Rd, Blue Lake outlet culvert, Electronic Signature policy, BOCC certification of CRAB proposal; County Board of Health.: 2019 fee schedule, County Employees & Flu Shots, CDC Grant for Opioid & Overdose, Salary discussion, Community Health, Environmental Health; Supplemental for CJTA Fund, Risk & HR: County elected officials sworn in Dec. 26, 27; Prosecutor Nov. 27, Public Health Vouchers, Veteran’s Board budget session.

bocc_notes_11-6-2018.pdf
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TV District dissolution, Civil Attorney: Land forfeiture hearing, Elmway document with Corps of Engineers, Public records requests, Future Wise asking about Comp. Plan, Exec. Session at 2:00, Public records request, Fair Events: Fair advisory committee, Well driller, Long-term planning, Admin & Fair Grounds Maintenance: Burn piles at Fair, Scrap materials, Waiting for well driller, Planning & Admin: Admin. Assistant, Champerty Shores, Conservation District on implementing VSP, Conservation District over WRIA 49 process, CUP on Pickens Mtn, BOCC Admin Clerk: USFS using BOCC parking lot, Risk Management & HR:, Public Hearing on Homeless Housing Fund 142, Concern over “Rock Church” in Okanogan, Public Hearing for Supplemental Appropriation – Various Funds, Public Hearing – Dual use of Roads – Snowmobiles & Vehicles, Public Works: Engineering - Maintenance & Roads, Public Works reserve, Sinlahekin Rd., Blue Lake outlet culvert, Barkely & MVID Ditch project, Public Works admin building maintenance, Pits for road materials, WATV routes, Organization Chart, Admin & SW - Open Positions, SW Operator/ Mechanic request for temp employee, Finance Div. Assistance, SW Fee Schedule, Apple Maggot, Public Comment: Chris Fisher CF (CCT Fisheries) on Johnson Creek - Concern about how CCT efforts are being depicted. Discrepancy between hearsay and reality in public discussion. 2:02 Executive Session – Pending legal, Pickens Mtn property, Outstanding BOCC Business.

sw_fee_schedule_11-6-18.pdf
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Solid Waste tipping fee schedule approved by BOCC on 11/6/18. Fees were recommended by SWAC, and will go into effect 3/1/19.

bocc_notes11-05-18.pdf
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WRIA 49 Planning Grant; Tunk Watershed Water Availability Study; OCC 17A Nightly Rentals; Tabor quit claim; Comprehensive Plan review.

For previous minutes from 2018 go to the Archived Notes page.

Commissioners Agenda
To access the most current agenda for BOCC meetings, click here.

The BOCC meetings often include Planning Study Sessions conducted by the Director of Planning and Development and Administrative Officer, Perry Huston. For the most current updates on the Study Session topics, click here to go to the planning department website, then click on the "Study Session" tab at the top of the page.

Our County Commissioners

(Click here to view a map that shows the Okanogan County Districts.)

To view a list of Commissioner districts by voting precinct, click here. (This list is current as of 2011 - some precincts may have been consolidated since then, but it is the most accurate we have at this time.)

Jim DeTro, Chair
Represents District 3 (North Okanogan County)

Chris Branch, Vice-Chair
Represents District 1 (South Okanogan County)

Andy Hover
Represents District 2 (West Okanogan County)

The Commissioners hearing room is located at 123 5th Ave, Room 150, Okanogan, WA 98840