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.
03.24.2025 Mon AM BOCC
Meeting Highlights:
· Fairgrounds update: change of plans for drilling new well; ventilation fans will be funded by foundation; new policy and procedures manual with provision for removing FAC members who miss too many meetings; implementing plan to do background checks on barn supervisors who work with children; plans for documenting funding of premium points; discussion about deal with Rotary Club to pay for new speaker system in exchange for free use of Agriplex
· Planning Dept update: Planning director is working with MVCC to hold informational meetings in the Methow Valley to educate public about permitting, enforcement, nightly rental rules, and determination of water availability; discussion about potential moratorium on new cannabis growing operations and the problems that have been encountered regarding enforcement of current operations
· Update on new morgue and Sheriff storage building. Work is moving along within budget. Coroner is present to discuss details of equipment needed to establish a certified autopsy facility in the county
· Drug Task Force Update: discussion about serious fentanyl use in the county – deaths are going down due to increased Narcan availability (although there were two more deaths this past weekend) but drug use is still high; need to fund more task force personnel; cartels are present in the county; fear that children are being targeted with drugs made to look like candy.
· Bid award for newspaper of record: joint award to Methow Valley News and Okanogan Gazette-Tribune. Will start June 1.
· Methow Emergency Preparedness update: Raven Buckingham gives update on her efforts to improve law enforcement response to domestic violence and stalking; discussion about recent incident at a school in the Methow Valley and the poor response; discussion about gun safety; discussion about possible funding for gun safety and training programs that is available to the county; discussion about relationship between school district and law enforcement