GOLDENDALE — The Klickitat Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to approve 11 motions during the Oct. 31 meeting. The motions involved Klickitat County cybersecurity, a public meeting regarding the prohibition of large-scale solar development, road reconstruction, behavioral health service agreements, and contracts relating to prosecuting attorneys.
Commissioners also approved a pay estimate of $435,375 from Olympic Roofing for the Klickitat County Jail Re-Roofing Project. They additionally discussed public defender contracts following limited public defender staffing — which has created difficulties in the legal system.
A motion was approved for Critical Insight’s scope of work to perform an assessment of the county’s cyber infrastructure. This is the second step of a multi-year process to review and update cybersecurity.
A public meeting was held Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. (after press deadline) to consider amendments to the zoning ordinance prohibiting large-scale solar development (more than one acre). The amendments would affect areas in Goldendale and Centerville valleys.
Settlement agreements were approved between Klickitat and White Ranch Inc. for right of ways that will allow reconstruction on sections of Sundale Road and Old Highway 8.
Service agreements were approved between Klickitat County and Carelon Behavioral Health, Inc. for co-responder pairs consisting of first responders and behavioral health professionals to respond to behavioral health calls for service.
Negotiations about public defender contracts also continue as the county has had difficulty in attracting additional public defenders, resulting in individuals who lack access to legal representation.
“They’re getting ready to release a criminal because there is no attorney for him,” Attorney Lori Hoctor said.
Even if the new contracts are approved, they will go into effect next year and may not resolve the current shortages in representation in time, according to commissioners.
Similar to previous attorney contract discussions, Chairman Dan Christopher brought up the possibility that Klickitat’s public defender pay rate is too low.
“This board has chosen to find out ... that it underpays its attorneys — hence it raised the pay in the prosecutor’s office, just not other offices,” Christopher said.
Hoctor said that when she started, there were 10-15 attorneys who worked and facilitated needed onboarding and training. Now, however, she and Christopher Lanz are the only remaining attorneys.
Hoctor further explained that although the county doesn’t offer the same vacation and benefits as other employers might, Klickitat does offer a suitable working environment.
“You can use our office knowing you have an ally and people you can work with — not just a hostile, aggressive environment,” Hoctor said, compared to a hypothetical office with a more aggressive environment.
Commissioners planned on continuing discussions to work towards a resolution.
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