RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS

OKANOGAN COUNTY

JANUARY 6, 2020

The Okanogan County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 123 5th Avenue North, Okanogan, Washington on January 6, 2020, with Chairman, Commissioner Jim DeTro; Vice Chairman, Commissioner Chris Branch; Member, Commissioner Andy Hover and Laleña Johns, Clerk of the Board, present.

Pledge of Allegiance
The pledge was recited.

Organize the Board – Select Chair and Vice Chair
Commissioner Branch nominated Commissioner Hover as Chairman of the board for 2020. The commissioners discussed their reasons why should be chairman this year. Commissioner Branch thought because Commissioner Hover likes to orchestrate meetings that he would make a good chairman. Commissioner DeTro thought also because Commissioner Hover is involved with Union Negotiations and in the office more often because of that. Commissioner Hover said employees and budget are both very important and these go hand in hand. The Union has not appreciated in the past the county hiring an attorney to negotiate the union contracts.

Commissioner Hover appreciated the way Commissioner DeTro runs the meetings and has the experience and knows the process for the various meetings held. Commissioner Branch also appreciated Commissioner DeTro’s way of running the hearings.

Motion Organize the Board-Chairman
Commissioner Hover moved to nominate Jim DeTro to be chairman of the board for 2020. Motion was seconded, all were in favor, motion carried.

Motion Organize the Board-Vice-Chairman
Commissioner Hover moved to nominate Chris Branch to be the vice chairman of the board for 2020. Motion was seconded, all were in favor, motion carried.

Review Commissioners’ Agenda and Consent Agenda
Commissioners reviewed their agenda and consent agenda.

Briefing Among Commissioners - Discuss Individual Weekly Meetings & Schedules
Commissioners discussed a draft letter from Ferry County regarding land acquisitions they are asking NEWC to sign onto. Okanogan County Commissioners believe each property being considered for purchase by agencies like DFW, should be considered individually upon the property’s own merits, history, uses, and special aspects of that particular property to the citizens. Commissioner Branch offered that he had already been working on a reply letter that addresses the problem with one size fits all concept. If it is an emergency then…….

Commissioner Hover explained he previously met with Okanogan County Republican Party Committee vice-chairman Kit Arbuckle about the commissioners’ view and status of several land purchases in Okanogan County in the works. He explained to Mr. Arbuckle about the Golden Doe which provided a public access point to public lands that otherwise did not have public access, and that another public agency land purchase benefits the rancher.

Angela Hubbard provided the draft public hearing notice for the January 27 hearing that will be held at the Winthrop Barn. Commissioners directed that the public hearing notice be published twice in the county’s legal newspaper. They also directed the information be provided to Emergency Management so they can text/broadcast the meeting notice within the WRIA 48 boundaries as it was noted by folks in the area that they do not get the newspaper, radio notifications, nor does everyone have access to the internet in order to know about the meeting.

No updates from Angela Hubbard for today. She will contact the Okanogan Watch group so they do not come over when there is no update of the Interim Planning Director.

Commissioners discussed BOCC in-county travel to learn the basis for it. RCW 42.24.090 allows compensation. Resolution 7-2016 was the last document adopted and resolution 3-1993 was the first found authorizing the stipend. Commissioners believe the stipend is warranted.

Commissioner Hover said Public Works Engineer and area supervisor trucks mileage are based on 20,000 miles per year so rental cost would be about $1300 per month. If the commissioners wished to use a county vehicle from ER&R for in county travel it would cost $1300 per month. The BOCC discussed whether their stipend should be increased to compensate for commissioners in county travel.

Fairgrounds Coordinator Interview
Motion RCW 42.30.110(1)(g)Fairgrounds Coordinator Interviews
Commissioner Branch moved to go into executive session at 11:00 a.m. for 1 hour to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment inviting Tanya Craig to the interview as well as the applicant. Motion was seconded all were in favor, motion carried.

Executive session ended at 12:00 noon, no decisions were made.

Update – Planning Department – Interim Director Angie Hubbard
Interim Director Hubbard did not have an update to provide to the board, instead she will be working on the comprehensive plan update.

Fairgrounds Coordinator Interview
Motion RCW 42.30.110(1)(g)Fairgrounds Coordinator Interviews
Commissioner Hover moved to go into executive session at 2:00 p.m. for 30 minutes to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment inviting Tanya Craig to the interview as well as the applicant. Motion was seconded all were in favor, motion carried.

Commissioners extended executive session at 2:30 p.m. for another 10 minutes.
Executive session ended at 2:40 p.m. No decisions were made.

Commissioners discussed a response letter of the Northeaster Counties of Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens about WDFW land acquisitions because the group asked Okanogan County to join them in their efforts to curb public entities purchases of private land.

Commissioners continued their discussions about the travel stipend.

Fairgrounds Coordinator Interview
Motion RCW 42.30.110(1)(g)Fairgrounds Coordinator Interviews
Commissioner Hover moved to go into executive session at 3:00 p.m. for 30 minutes to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment inviting Tanya Craig to the interview as well as the applicant. Motion was seconded all were in favor, motion carried.

Motion - Voucher Approval - Commissioners
Vouchers certified and audited by the Auditing Officer as required by RCW 42.24.080 and those expense reimbursement claims certified as required by RCW 42.24.090 have been recorded on a list, and made available to the Board. As of this date, the Board did vote, by unanimous vote, to approve the regular vouchers in the amount of $249,484.11. Warrant numbers as cited on the attached blanket voucher list. Motion seconded and carried.

Motion Public Health Voucher
Commissioner Hover moved to approve the Public Health Vouchers including regular vouchers in the amount of $18,178.27. Warrant numbers as cited on the attached blanket voucher list. Motion was seconded, all were in favor, motion carried.

Review Meeting Minutes
Commissioners reviewed their meeting minutes.

The board adjourned at 5:00 p.m.