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.
03.26.2024 Tues PM BOCC
Meeting Highlights:
auto purchases over $50,000 subject to competitive bid
Corrections officer after first year reports shifting staff around, wants more interaction with inmates, less filling out forms, is consulting with Tribes on mental health
Sheriff’s office and Omak Police Dept. seek grant to employ mental health worker; sheriff urges collaboration between agencies to prepare for “a huge fire season”
Prosecutor presents new Bar Association guidelines for gradual reduction of average public defender caseloads from 150 to 47, anticipates need to prioritize offenses affecting public safety
Court Clerk reports 15-year record number of state filings
Green waste accepted at landfill free of charge thanks to air quality grant
Assessor hopeful state proposal to lower property tax passes next session
Coroner’s office faces certification hassle, prepares building swap
Planning director applauded, called “toughest-skinned person of the year” after taking heat for zone code revision, wants to get permit software running
Ag Dept.’s $17,500 grant to cover Fair program
Commissioners to draw up agreement for opioid settlement spending; fund administrator’s report forthcoming
ARPA dollars to pay for recruiting defense attorneys
Commissioners Hover and Branch conjecture on implications of indigent defense legislation proposals, Hover says there’s room for NAACP to get involved.