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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03.16.2026 Mon AM BOCC
Meeting Highlights:
The commissioners have a heated discussion about the public perception that Commissioners Hover and Neal want to close the fairgrounds. Commissioner Timm thinks that with only one employee at the fairgrounds, it would quickly deteriorate, making it impossible to hold the fair in just a few years. He also feels that the fairgrounds are essential in some county emergencies. Commissioners Hover and Neal reiterate that while they don’t want to close the fairgrounds, it may become necessary to do so to balance the 2027 budget. They believe that with one employee working there, the grounds wouldn’t deteriorate.
The commissioners hear the second half of the cannabis report by Evergreen Economics. Per capita GDP (adjusted for inflation) has risen in the county, and the crime rate has fallen since legalization, but Kirsten Shelton, Principal Consultant, Evergreen Economics, emphasizes that correlation doesn’t prove causation. The commissioners wish that the study had included more about electrical power use by greenhouse cannabis growers. They’ll talk to the Okanogan PUD next week about this issue.
Meeting adjourned at 11:45.