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.
02.06.23 AM - BOCC
Meeting Highlights:
Seven commenters tell the BOCC they are extremely unhappy with the Tunk Valley re-zone decision which establishes 160 acre lots. They feel they weren’t properly notified about the Planning Commission meeting that recommended the change. They said there should have been notification posted on the road entering the area and sent letters and phone calls notifying nearby property owners in addition to the legal notice in the newspaper. They also feel the change from 5 acre lots to minimum 160 acre lots robs them of the value of their land.
Naomie Peasley, Fairgrounds Manager tells the BOCC that the recent improvements at the Annex have turned the venue into a professional meeting area. She also describes the planned upgrades to the electrical connections at the arena.
Pete Palmer, Director of Planning assures the BOCC that the Planning Department met all notice requirements under the law for changes that will affect many property owners instead of just a few.
BOCC discusses budgets for the Oroville EMS District, Tonasket EMS District and the Methow Valley EMS District.
Shelley Keitzman updates the BOCC about the possibility of hiring security guards for the Court House. BOCC tells her to move forward in hiring two unarmed guards from Pacific Security at a total of $104,000 per year.