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.
06.02.2025 Mon AM BOCC
Meeting Highlights:
· Discussion about installing an ice rink at the Fairgrounds. Pros and cons, costs, etc.
· Public Comment: No public comments.
· Fairgrounds update: Discussion about how to handle the increasing number of fee waiver requests; report on new well (producing lots of water) and decommissioning old well.
· FAC update: Discussion about responsibilities of the Fair Queen, how much of her costume should be funded by the county (eg. Should the county pay for fringes on her chaps and how much should a purse cost?); should her special project be limited; should she be required to own and ride a horse; discussion about eliminating the rodeo event from the County Fair.
· Planning Dept update: Permitting presentation in Winthrop went well – 67 attendees, good feedback; Planning commission recommended proposed housekeeping changes to county code (changing chapter numbers to match new sections); Planning Dept declined request from Catholic Charities to manage the NEPA process for their housing project in Twisp.
· OCSO Update: Construction is on schedule for new morgue/sheriff storage building, but one item was inadvertently overlooked (generator) so budget is about $57K over projected; installation of new communications equipment planned for later this year – there is alternative funding available should the Federal grant be cancelled. Discussion about the status of Okanogan County as a sanctuary county (BOCC was unaware).
· Emergency Management update: burning restrictions, bears in Oroville.
· Review of Library Board applicants: BOCC would like to interview the three candidates; AH concerned that there are inappropriate books in libraries; discussion about the general role of libraries and how to get materials to the more rural areas of the county.
· OBHC quarterly update: Discussion about expanding the role of the Shove House; new staff coming in; potential challenges with funding cuts.
· Sheriff and Jail Manager report: SB discusses the sanctuary county issue in more detail; discussion about the impact of Medicaid funding cuts for suboxone treatment of inmates; discussion about the cost of medical treatment for inmates in general.