These notes were taken by an Okanogan County Watch volunteer. Every attempt is made to be accurate. Notes are verbatim when possible, and otherwise summarized or paraphrased.
Note takers comments or clarifications are in italics. These notes are not the official county record of the meeting. For officially approved minutes, which are normally published at a later time, CLICK HERE.
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The time stamps refer to the times on the AV Capture archive of the meeting on this date at the County livestream archive. To locate items in real time, the clock on the wall in the AV Capture screen can be helpful.
01.21.2025 Tues AM BOCC
Meeting Highlights:
*Meeting minutes: Explanation as to how responses to incoming e-mails to Commissioners are dealt with.
*Public comment: Requesting update on public online access to Chronicle's legal notices - more follow-up needed from Commissioners.
*Legislative updates: Legislature has just begun. Ferguson is straight-forward and will explain his reasons. HB 188 (Wind and solar siting) including impact upon counties and their roads; HB 1237 (Environment and energy); one-page guide for legislators being designed to delineate impacts of laws upon rural counties, since the majority of legislators come from urban areas. Hover also concerned about constant erosion of 2nd Amendment rights.
*Sheriff Paul Burrow request: Okanogan County to join other counties in request to add expenses of search and rescue to Discover Pass fees, considering the fact that most of the county's search and rescues involve individuals who are not residents of the county. Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison heading up this effort.
*Treasurer/Auditor report: Detailed, unclear conversation regarding budgetary issues. Changes being made by state. Treasurer claims "They want us to manipulate things that shouldn't be manipulated." There will be a "finding" from the State regarding ARPA funds. Listening to AV Capture is recommended for additional details. The "EDEN" sunsets at the end of this year. County will work out problems with the state. More budget problems expected for next year.
*County engineering in good shape.Temperatures/tank problems, bill tracking, legislative bills, road tax Solid Waste: Lengthy discussion of "Extended Product Responsibility," in which the producer who does the packaging pays for its recycling.