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.
04.22.2025 Tues AM BOCC
Meeting Highlights:
Commissioners hold two executive sessions for a total of 15 minutes under RCW 42.30.110(1)(c) to evaluate the purchase of real estate.
Dave Yarnell, Undersheriff, requests that $12,926 of their $24,187 carryover be used to fund a boating safety education program. Commissioners pass Resolution 50-2025 doing so.
The Prosecutor’s Office tells the commissioners that storage of large files they’re required to keep will cost approximately $23,000/year, beginning next year. Before body cameras and other cameras, the county had much less data to store.
Bob Weidner, Federal Lobbyist, explains to the commissioners why their SRS (Secure Rural Schools) money from the USFS has been cut. Weidner says that the Republican Speaker of the House won’t bring the SRS re-allocation bill up for a vote in the House even though 80% of the money will go to Republican Congressional Districts. He encourages the county to send a commissioner to Washington DC for lobbying during the week of May 12.
Commissioners discuss issues with the Okanogan County Transportation & Nutrition (OCTN) organization. JN has heard several complaints about them.
Kent Kovalenko, Solid Waste Management gives the commissioners an update about several laws that impact Solid Waste currently being considered by the state legislature.
Josh Thomson, County Engineer, updates the commissioners about the county roads. JT has heard of the issues with SRS. Some of the money goes to roads and Public Works usually gets about $750,000 annually, which is about half of its plowing budget.
Meeting adjourned for lunch at 11:30.