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.
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.
01.27.2026 Tues AM BOCC
Meeting Highlights:
· The commissioners discuss bills introduced in the legislature. They worry about the state being unfriendly to business and about a proposed millionaires’ income tax that they fear will morph into an income tax for all levels of income.
· Lanie Johns, Clerk of the Board, attending remotely, and Emily Sisson remark on how the sound quality on TEAMS is terrible, and that it’s nearly impossible to hear what is being said. Sound quality has been an issue for at least three or four weeks. Central Services will look into the issue.
· The Finance Committee, including Pam Johnson, County Treasurer, Lisa Schreckengost, Finance Manager and Cari Hall, County Auditor, discuss the new accounting system that began this month. They support monthly round table discussions with all the elected officials and department heads attending to discuss the necessary budget cuts in the 2027 budget.
· The commissioners discuss holding a round table discussion with Public Health, Okanogan Behavioral Health Care, Juvenile Services, and the Okanogan County Community Action Council to try to come up with a solution to homelessness/drug dependency funded by the county’s opioid fund.
· Kent Kovalenko, Solid Waste Management and Josh Thomson, Count Engineer, update the commissions on their departments.
· Meeting adjourned at 11:36.