Klickitat County: Public comment period on potential sales tax extended to Oct. 10

“That sales tax is a shared revenue stream,” he said. “The county would get a portion of that, and then it would be split amongst the incorporated cities within the county, based on population. The numbers I have provided were an estimate of $325,000 of new revenue. In my sheet, the county was about $250,000; Bingen was about $10,000; Goldendale was about $45,000; and White Salmon was around $30,000.”

While the individual fiscal impact would be small — just a dollar on a $1,000 purchase — several people spoke fervently on principle against the concept of more taxes. They expressed frustration at the county going to citizens for more revenue, rather than wind and solar energy companies.

But the larger population seemed more concerned with adequately funding law enforcement. Some 34 of the state’s 39 counties have already enacted the tax, and Bingen Mayor Catherine Kiewit told commissioners voters in that city approved it for the city by 83%.

Building permit, inspection fees to increase

There was a heads up for Klickitat County residents who plan to build in the near future. Building Department Director Lynn Ward said building permit and inspection fees are going up Jan. 1, less than 90 days away.

“The proposed increase is 10% for residential, which will include accessory structures related to residential projects,” she said. “For non-residential commercial-type projects, we’re using the International Code Council’s building valuation from February of the previous year, which averaged out at approximately 38%.”

She also reported that the county’s SmartGov program had been updated to allow unlimited users. It’s a cloud-based all-in-one government permitting and licensing platform that manages permitting, licensing, code enforcement, and inspections, and said it would be available to any department that thought it would be helpful to have access.

Commissioners immediately saw the potential for a direct-to-customer convenient online one stop shop that would speed the process, and hoped to be able to answer all the security concerns and open it to public access soon.

Airport hangar hang-up

Interim Economic Development Director Richard Foster mentioned a hang-up on construction of the hangar that will be used for aircraft mechanic training by Columbia Gorge Community College.

“We need to go for bid for the hangar,” he said. “The design work and everything? We’ve been guaranteed that it will be done by Friday. But we’ve got a bit of a hiccup. There’s a federal government shutdown. So we’ve tried to reach out to our project engineer. and he is being non-responsive, and so Rick was able to speak with Toby, our previous project engineer, and basically they’re all on standby and they’re not allowed to work.”

In the consent agenda, commissioners approved:

• A behavioral health professional services agreement with Tracy Cramer.

• Advertising to fill maintenance technician positions in Bickleton and White Salmon, in the Public Works department.

• A public meeting for boundary line adjustment BLA 2024-09, Smith.

• A public meeting for for short plat SPL 2023-08, Cox.

• A courthouse lawn agreement with the Coalition Preventing Abuse in Klickitat

County (CPAKC) afor the use of the courthouse lawn from October 1 through October 15 for domestic violence awareness, that waives fees if the group does their own setup and teardown.

• Concurrence to award a bid for curve warning signs and guidepost, CRP 381, to Construction Ahead Inc., dba: Pavement Surface Control.

• Health department professional services agreements with Caven & Cramer.

• A letter of support to Snohomish County regarding Republic Services Group.