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.
12.12.2023 BOH
Meeting Highlights:
In public comment, Blue Sky Minds lauded for serving students in need
Leadership training in Wenatchee with other NCW counties strengthening management teams
Resolution 2023-16 on procurement policy approved to comply with RCW, geared more to large public works projects than public health
Health Officer’s salary upped from $125 to $150/hour
Approval of $10,000 contract with Blue Sky Minds county hunger assessment tabled until group can present “deliverables” to board members
Health Officer’s report signals rising Covid and RSV rates, each totaling 4% of county hospitalizations; State reviewing what could have been done better in reaction to Covid, governor’s approach called “abrasive”
Brief discussion on tribal sovereignty; Cmm’r Branch says government not providing what they need
End of bookmobile in north a mental health worry
Long discussion on mental health crisis: decentralization, staff shortages, “ER becoming a mental health facility”; mental health nurse planned for jail