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County Boards and Committees

www.okanogancounty.org/departments/boards,_councils,___committees/index.php
Photo Credit: Justin Haug

Link to County Website current listing:

www.okanogancounty.org/departments/boards,_councils,___committees/index.php
There are many advisory boards to assist the BOCC in making decisions. County Watch has started a list below of the ones we know about, along with who the members are and meeting times and locations, if we know them. Our goal is to list all boards that have members who are appointed by the BOCC, or who report to the BOCC, but the information is sometimes difficult to find. Our volunteers have submitted several Requests For Public Documents through official channels, and have received some information, but much of it is outdated or incomplete.  Please contact us if you know of any County boards or commissions that are missing from this list, or can help us fill in any of the missing information.

All meetings of advisory boards whose members are appointed by the BOCC are open to the public.
These boards, commissions and groups are listed in alphabetical order.
Airport Technical Advisory Group
​

website: www.okanogancounty.org/planning/  
​(click on "Airport/TAC" link at top of page)


The website for this group does not appear to have been updated since September 2012.  We have no information on who the group members are at this time.

Board of Adjustment

The duties of this board are now covered by the Hearing Examiner (see description below).  It is unclear whether the Board of Adjustment remains in existence as a legal, but inactive entity.

Board of Equalization​ - Updated 5-3-2021
(Listens to appeals of Property Assessments.)

website: www.okanogancounty.org/Assessor/boardof.htm  

Members

Vacant, Okanogan/Omak
Salley Bull, Oroville
Fred Noyes, Winthrop

Meetings
Board meetings are usually convened after July 15 and usually wrap up by October. Please call Lanie Johns at 509-422-7105 for more information.

Board of Health - Updated 5-3-2021
​

The mission of Okanogan County Public Health is to promote health, prevent conditions of disease and/or disability, and to protect the health of the residents of Okanogan County.
​

website: https://okanogancounty.org/ocph/

​Board:
Chris Branch, County Commissioner, District 1
Andy Hover, County Commissioner, District 2
Jim DeTro, County Commissioner, District 3
Mariann Williams, ARNP Board Member
James Wright, ​Board Member
​Patricia Stanton, City of Okanogan Representative
Kris Erlandsen, Board Member

Administrative Team:
Lauri Jones - Community Health Director
Dave Hilton - Environmental Health Director
James Wallace MD - Health Officer


​Meetings
When:  2nd Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm 
Where: Public Services Building, 1234 South 2nd Avenue, Okanogan

​Notes for the Public Health meetings are contained in the regular BOCC meeting notes for the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

Builders Advisory Board

The duties of this board are now covered by the Hearing Examiner (see description below).  It is unclear whether the Builders Advisory Board remains in existence as a legal, but inactive entity.


Civil Service Commission - Updated 5-3-2021

Civil Service is charged with the recruitment, testing, hiring, and promotion of all sheriff's office employees under 
Chapter 41.14 RCW

website: www.okanogancounty.org/civilservice/

Commissioners
Bertha Wandler - Chair
Celeste Pugsley - Vice Chair
Lee Pilkinton - Member

Meetings:
When: Third Thursday of each month at 11:00 AM 
Where: Okanogan County Commissioners small conference room.

Communication Districts
Okanogan TV District #1
(Maintains affordable television and radio on public airwaves in our community)
​
website:  www.tvdistrict1.org

​Chair - Victoria Velategui 
Member - George Thornton 
Member - Bill Black

Meetings
When: second Wednesday of each month at 4:00pm Where:  Omak Public Library, Pioneer Room.
Methow Communications District #2
Provides TV and radio communications throughout the Methow Valley.

Provides the power for emergency and cellphone services on McClure Mountain for the following:
  • Okanogan County Sheriff
  • Twisp Police Department
  • Winthrop Marshal
  • Aero Methow Rescue Service
  • Okanogan County Roads Department
  • USDA Forest Service
  • Verizon
  • Cellular One

website:  www.methowcommunications.org 
​

Board
​
Ken Westman (Upper Methow, Chair): 996-3189 
Dick Hamel (Winthrop): 
Dianna Tuinstra (Methow): 
Bill Tackman (Lower Methow): 996-3409 
Janet Varrelman (Pateros): 923-2884

Meetings

When: second Monday of each month at 1:00PM
Where: Twisp Town Hall conference room.

Fair Advisory Committee - Updated 5-3-2021
​

website: The Okanogan County Fairgrounds

Officers:

Chair - Mike Egerton 
Vice Chair - Wanda McFarland
Secretary - Carol Swak
Treasurer - Tracey Reagles

Committee Members:

Kris Sims
Kathleen Maltais
Charlayne Knapp
Sam Buchert
Kirsten Williams
Bruce Duncan

Meetings:
When: 2nd Monday of the month, 6 pm
​Where: Commissioners hearing room

Hearing Examiner
The Hearing Examiner position was created in 2013, to take effect starting January 2014.  From the Okanogan County Code: "The role of the examiner shall be to interpret, review and implement regulations as provided in this chapter." (OCC 2.65)

"Upon implementation of the office of hearing examiner the duties of the board of adjustment shall be substituted by those powers and duties as stated herein unless the hearing examiner or hearing examiner pro tempore are unable to perform their duties respectively. The jurisdiction of the Okanogan County planning commission shall be modified and amended by those powers and duties granted the examiner as stated herein."

website:  www.okanogancounty.org/planning/
(Click on the "Boards" tab at top of page.)

​Okanogan County Hearing Examiner: Dan Beardslee

It appears that the Hearing Examiner holds hearings as necessary.  We have not been able to find a regular published schedule of hearings.

Horticultural Pest Board
Controls efforts to fight pests and disease in the county horticultural industry.

website:  www.okanogancounty.org/Commissioners/pest.htm

​Okanogan County Pest Control Agent, Dan McCarthy

​No other information about this board is available at this time.

LEOFF Board (Law Enforcement Officers)
Hears requests for disability retirements for police and fire fighters.

website:  none known

​We found this board listed on a County website, but could find no information about who the members are or when they meet.  Their meetings appear on the BOCC agendas, and appear to be quarterly.

Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC)
Reviews applications for use of lodging tax funds for the purposes of promoting tourism in Okanogan County with the goal of increasing the number of overnight stays at lodging facilities. LTAC makes recommendations for funding to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), who approve or disapprove the recommendation. 

website: none

Board (as of Sept 2017):
Steve Devin – Collector
Don Linnertz
– Receiver
Arnie Marchand
– Collector
Peggy Nevsimal
– Receiver
Open Position –
Receiver
Alyson Barham
– Collector
Lanie Johns - Secretary

​We have no information about meetings of this committee at this time.


Marijuana Advisory Committee  (Also referred to as the Cannabis Advisory Committee)
This committee was authorized in June of 2017 by the BOCC, which directed the Planning Director and Administrative Officer to make the appointments without BOCC final approval.

website: www.okanogancounty.org/planning/
(Click on the Cannabis Committee tab at top of page.)

Members
Andi Ervin
Don Grey
George Zittle
Jeremy Moberg
Keith Kistler
Kelsey Taylor
Linda Pierce
Matt Frigone
Paul Neir
Brad Skelton

No official information on when and where meetings take place is posted, but from looking at the agenda, it appears that this committee meets Wednesdays at 2 pm in the Natural Resources room in the Virginia Grainger Building.

Marketing Board
​
Plans marketing of Okanogan County for generating tourism and economic development.

website: none 

We found this board listed on a County website, but could find no information about who the members are or if it still exists.

Mazama Advisory Committee
MAC was formed to help advise the County Commissioners and Planning Commission

website: https://mazamaadvisorycommittee.wordpress.com/about-mac/

Members
Claire Bunney 
Doug Devin  
Jim Gregg  
John Sunderland 
Karen Reneau  
Midge Cross  
Open position (Wolf Creek Area)

Meetings
We have no information available about meeting schedules at this time.

Noxious Weed Control Board
To protect all lands and waters in Okanogan County from the devastating influences of non-native noxious weeds.

website: www.okanogancounty.org/nw/ 

​Board
Area 1: Dave McClure
509-631-1060
Area 2: Mike Rayton
509-429-1422
Area 3: Steve Kieffer
509-429-9900
Area 4: Vicki Davis
509-486-2714
Area 5: Jan Asmussen
509-486-2138

Meetings
When: fourth Wednesday of the month at 4 pm
​Where: 123 5th Ave, Room 150, Okanogan, WA 98840

Okanogan Housing Authority
“Assisting residents of Okanogan County acquire and retain affordable housing while strengthening our communities by removing barriers; empowering dignity; and building trust.”
​
website:www.okanoganhousing.org/index.html 

Chair - Yvonne Bussler-White
Co-Chair - Ron Whiteside  
Secretary - Bonita Duncan
Laura Hernandez
Mike Azzano
Harry Best

​No information on time and place of meetings is available at this time.

Open Space Advisory Board
​
Advises the assessor on determination of open space agricultural land.

website: none known

​Board members
Dan McCarthy
Jerry Barnes
Rick Witt
Ken Kramer
David McClure

The Open Space Advisory Committee meets once per year, usually in mid to late March to set values for the following year.

Planning Commission
Makes recommendations to county commissioners on long range planning and zoning issues.  The jurisdiction of this Commission was amended when the Hearing Examiner position was created in 2013.  See OCC 2.65.180.

website: www.okanogancounty.org/planning/  
(click on "Boards" link at top of page)
​

Al Roberts (chair),  District 1
Verelene Hughs - District 1 
Dave Schulz, District 2
Gina McCoy - District 2

Salley Bull - District 3
Phil Dart - District 3
George Thornton - At-Large


Meetings
When: Fourth Monday of the month at 7 pm.
Where: Commissioners Hearing Room (123 5th Ave, Room 150, Okanogan, WA 98840)

Public Transportation Board
We believe that this board was replaced by the Transportation for Greater Okanogan (TranGO) system.

website: www.
okanogantransit.com/about/

Board Members
Cindy Gagne (Chair)
Carlene Anders(Co-chair, Mayor of Pateros)
Andy Hover (BOCC Dist 2)
 Jon Neal
Sally Ranzau (Mayor of  Winthrop)
Tim Rieb
Aaron Studen
Denise Varner
Dennis Brown (Mayor of Tonasket)

Meetings
When: Second Monday of the month, from 6:30 - 8 pm
Where: TranGO Office 303 2nd Ave S, Suite A, Okanogan, WA 98840

Shoreline Master Program Caucus
We have not been able to find an official description of this group.

Website: www.okanogancounty.org/planning/www.okanogancounty.org/planning/
(Click on the "Shoreline Master Program" on the left, and then scroll to the bottom of the page to see the list of board members.)

Agriculture- Jerry Barnes
Agriculture - Alternate  Sara Kretz

Environment  Lee Bernheisel
Environment - Alternate  Jason Paulson

Recreation/Business Raleigh Chinn
Recreation/Business - Alternate Angel Lund

Home Owners  John Umberger (deceased)
Home Owners - Alternate Open
​

Natural Resources  Jon Wyss
Natural Resources - Alternate Bonnie Lawrence

​We have no information at this time about when and where this group meets.


Snowmobile Advisory Board
​
Advises the commissioners and public works on managing snowmobile trails and parks.

website: None known.

Board Members
Scott Ripley - District 3B position, Expires 1/31/2020
Tom Windsor - Position 2, District 2, Expires 1/31/2020​

Meetings
​
We believe they meet on the first Monday of the month at 6 pm in the Public Works Department conference room at the Public Service Building in Okanogan, based on a calendar listing in the Quad City Herald dated 1/25/18. 

Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Advises the public works director on management of the county landfill.

website: https://www.okanogancounty.org/PW/solid_waste_recycling.htm

Darby McNeil -  Solid Waste Rep Position #1, Expires Nov 1, 2021
Travis Bessette – Tribal Rep, Position #2 Expires Nov. 1, 2021
Stephen Clark – Elected/Omak, Position #3, Elected, Expires Nov. 1, 2019

Wayne Turner - Elected/Okanogan, Position #4,  Expires Nov. 1, 2019
Betsy Cushman – Recycling - NEW, Position #5, Expires Nov. 1, 2020
George Brady – Elected/Pateros, Position #6, Expires Nov. 1, 2020

Stan Carter - At Large, Position #7, Expires  Nov 1, 2021
Leslie Michel - At large, Position #8, Expires Nov. 1, 2021
Sue Christopher – At Large, Position # 9, Expires Nov. 1, 2019

Kent Kovalenko – Okanogan County Solid Waste Manager
Stephanie Fulmer – Solid Waste (SWAC) Secretary

Meetings
When:  Meetings are the 2nd Monday of February, April, June, August, October & December at 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Where: Okanogan County Public Works Administrative Building, 1234 2
ND AVE S, Okanogan, WA  98840
​Add'l info: contact Kent Kovalenko at (509) 422-2602.

Tourism Advisory Board
Advise the county commissioners on how to distribute motel/hotel tax money for tourism promotion.
​
This board is listed on a County website, however, we believe that this may have been replaced by the LTAC board (see above listing).

Veterans Relief Board
Provides emergency financial assistance to qualified veterans.
​
Arnold Cleveland, Okanogan  - local veterans’ branch in the Colville Tribal reservation. No expiration date.

The above list of members was obtained from a public document request in 2017.

​We have no information about when or where this board meets.


Voluntary Stewardship Program Council
VSP has two primary objectives: protect critical areas and maintain and improve the long-term viability of agriculture

​website: www.okanogancounty.org/planning/​
Also www.okanogancd.org/voluntary-stewardship
​

No current board member list is available at this time.
​
Meetings
When: First Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm
Where:  123 5th Avenue North, Okanogan, in the Natural Resources Conference Room,

Water Conservancy Board - Updated 5-3-2021
Processes water right transfer applications.  To receive an Application for Change of Water Right, please contact Lisa de Vera 509-860-7466.

website: https://okanogancounty.org/Commissioners/Boards%20and%20Committees/Water%20Conservancy%20Board%20Page.html

Board Chair: John Hubbard
Board Members:  Rod Noel, Mark Miller, Anna Burica, Chuck Brushwood

Meetings
When: First Wednesday of the month
Where: Commissioners Hearing Room (123 5th Ave, Room 150, Okanogan, WA 98840)

Watershed Councils
Methow Watershed Council - Updated 5-3-2021
website: www.methowwatershed.com

Chair: Greg Knott, Position 1 (Upper Methow)
Vice-Chair: Mike Fort, Position 2 (At Large)
​Dick Ewing, Position 3 (Middle Methow)
Alyssa Jumars, Position 4 (At Large)
Bill Tackman, Position 5 (Lower Methow)
Ashley Thrasher, Position 6 (At Large) - Vice Chair
Jeff Sarvis, Position 7 (Town of Winthrop)
Soo Ing Moody, Position 8 (Town of Twisp) - Chair
Andy Hover, Position 9 (Okanogan County)
Sarah Lane - Administrator


Meetings
When: Third Thursday of each month at 5 pm.
Where:  Riverbank Building in Twisp - Presently on Zoom, check website for link.
Okanogan Watershed Council (WRIA 49 Planning Group)
This group originally existed as the Okanogan Watershed Council and met until funding ran out.  It was recently re-created as a result of State Legislation that requires Counties to manage their water usage.  They had their first meeting on October 4, 2018.  

Meetings
When: First Thursday of each month at 6 pm
Where: Commissioners Hearing Room (123 5th Ave, Room 150, Okanogan, WA 98840)
​

Membership
   Initiating Government Reps:
   Okanogan County- Chris Branch
   Oroville/Tonasket Irrigation District- Jay O'Brien
   City of Omak - Cindy Gagne (primary), Todd McDaniel (alternate)

   Water Rights Holders, Municipal
   City of Okanogan- Christopher Johnson (primary), Shawn Davisson (alternate)
   City of Tonasket - Christa Levine
   City of Oroville - Jon Neal (primary), Robert Fuchs (alternate)
   Town of Concunully - Mayor
   Town of Riverside - Sharma Dickinson (primary), Josh Crofoot/Jason Hubbard (alternates)
   City of Brewster - Lee Webster (primary), Kurt Danison (alternate)
   Okanogan PUD No. 1 - Scott Versa (primary), Jeri Timm (alternate)

   Water Rights Holders, Private
   North Area - Northco, LLC Nicole Kuchenbuch
   Central Area- Jim Soriano (primary), Nancy Soriano (alternate)
   South Area - Rod Haeberle

   Other Irrigation Districts
   Whitestone - Rob Enloe
   Aeneas - Roger Sawyer
   Pinecrest - vacant
   Crumbacher - vacant
   Westview - vacant
   Okanogan - Brad Armstrong
   Sun Crest- vacant
   Aston - vacant
   Alta Vista - vacant
   Helensdale - vacant
   Brewster Flat - Clay Gebbers

   Organizations
   Okanogan County Cattlemen's Assn - Jerry Barnes (primary), Rachel McClure (alternate)
   Well Drillers - Chester LaFountaine
   Okanogan County Horticulture Assn - Dick Lorz (primary), Dan McCarthy (alternate)
   Realtors - Rocky Devon
   Okanogan County Farm Bureau - Dick Ewing (primary), Ray Campbell (alternate)
   Economic Alliance - Roni Holder (primary), Ernie Rasmussen (alternate)
   Okanogan Land Trust - Anna Burica (primary), Jerry DeBacker (alternate)
   Okanogan Highlands Alliance - Jennifer Weddle (primary), George Thornton (alternate)
   Columbiana - Rick Gillespie (primary), Joseph Enzensperger (alternate)

   Interests (appointed by Initiating Govt's)
   Landowner-at-large, North - Mike Kelly (primary), Trinity Stucker (alternate)
   Landowner-at-large, Central - Jim Utt
   Landowner-at-large, South - Tory Wulf
   Private Timber Mgmt - Jon Wyss

   Technical Agency Advisors
   Colville Confederated Tribes - Charles Brushwood, Chris Fisher, Lois Trevino
   Washington State Dept of Ecology
   USDA Forest Service
   WA State Dept of Fish & Wildlife
   WA State Dept of Natural Resources
   USDA Bureau of Land Mgmt
   USDA Fish & Wildlife
   Army Corps of Engineers
   Water Conservancy Board
   Bureau of Reclamation
   WA Rivers Conservancy/Trout Unlimited - Jacquelyn Wallace, Lisa Pelly
   WA Water Trust - Kristina Ribellia, Susan Adams
   Homebuilders - Kirsten Vanderhalf, Mike Howe
   Council on Environmental Law & Policy - Trish Rolfe
   Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society (BC) - vacant
   Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board - Melody Kreimes (primary), Sarah Walker (alternate)

For more information on this group, including membership info and applications, and links to supporting documents, go to the Planning Department web site, and click on the WRIA Planning Unit Information link at the top of the page.

Zoning Committee
The Zoning Committee has not met since October of 2015, according to the County records that we could find.  It's work is reflected in the current zoning ordinance.  It is not known if another committee will be appointed for the upcoming zoning ordinance review.  

website: none known

Members in 2015:
Kris Erlandsen  (Douglas County)
Dan Beardslee (East Wenatchee)
John Sunderlund (Upper Methow, Sub Unit A)
Jason Paulson  (Upper Methow, Sub Unit A)
Casey Kuchenbuch (Conconully Area)
Nicole Kuchenbuch (Conconully Area)
Rod Haeberle  (Conconully Area)
Jon Wyss  (Douglas County)
Copyright © 2018
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