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.
03.025.2025 Tues PM BOCC
Meeting Highlights:
In department heads updates:
Fairgrounds - working on well projects, painting buildings
WSU Extension has six Master Gardener trainees
Three lakes scheduled for milfoil treatment, voluntary drone survey program to detect weeds, other property issues
IT handles incident with telephone; is installing audio-visual in courtrooms, testing Starlink as internet back-up
Public Works plans reconstruction on old Hwy 97, county-wide guardrail improvement, replacement of Sawtells Rd. bridge near Oroville
Dispatch reports RR Ave. building 15 to 20% finished, currently pouring concrete foundation, water-sewer installation
HR Director, Omak Police chief, ambassadors to regional behavioral health collaborative; endgame: building regional facility
Treasurer reports State announcement of end to program assisting payment of taxes and mortgages as of April 7th
In other discussion:
Commissioner Hover evokes tighter budget, public safety problems: fentanyl, homelessness
Estimate for new heat system in jail: $500,000, purchase of heat pumps for $19,216 approved, Commissioner Neal says two steps needed before decision on new system
Discussion of agriculture turning to specialty crops: hops and grapes
Discussion of slower-paced European lifestyle, better food, smaller farms
Commissioner Neal berates Olympia for being out of touch with rural WA on subjects like hunting big cats with dogs
Letters of interest for Planning Commission received from Lucas Knowles, Noah Brown and James Miller
Meeting ended informally at 3:26