GOLDENDALE — Rebecca Sells, a prosecutor in the Klickitat prosecuting attorney’s (PA) office, was the only person to apply to fill the vacancy created when Prosecuting Attorney David Quesnel resigned on Nov. 26. She told county commissioners at their Dec. 23 meeting that she was worried about the time it would take someone new to get up to speed.
“My biggest concern is someone that doesn’t have the institutional knowledge walking in at this point,” she said. “There’s going to be a catch-up time where they are trying to learn what the cases are, what the issues are that are county-specific. So in putting forward my application, my consideration is that I would keep those civil cases moving and also work with the criminal attorneys.”
Following a short executive session, commissioners agreed to look at a formal appointment for next week.
Potential fee increases for planning department
Planning Director Scott Edelman presented a list of potential planning department fee increases, including new fees for some filings. Currently, he said, the department was charging no fees for exempt 80-acre land division by deed, boundary line adjustment by deed, and segregation by deed. He proposed adding a $132 fee for each of those filings.
And he asked about other opportunities: “We don’t charge for over-the-counter questions; we don’t charge for phone calls. Some of those take a lot of time. Is this something that we just do as a service? And I guess that’s why I want to bring it to your attention.”
While most fees would go up to try to capture actual costs incurred, one fee would be cut by two-thirds. That is the application fee for Accessory Dwelling Units, known as ADUs. Those are small additional buildings located on the same parcel as the main home and used as residences, sometimes called mother-in-law suites. Right now, applications for ADUs require conditional use permits, and the fee is $660. The proposal would change that to outright permitted uses, and in that case, the fee would drop to $198.
Any adjustments will be taken up early in 2026.
Police news
Undersheriff Carmen Knopes and Chief Civil Deputy Karen Elings reported on the sheriff’s department in place of Sheriff Bob Songer, who was out sick.
Knopes said during the recent storms that slammed the county, she made multiple trips through the county, checking on things and taking pictures.
“We fared pretty well, compared to other counties,” she said. “For that, I’m pretty grateful. There are a lot of downed trees in Trout Lake. I saw a very large shop that was being built that was destroyed by a very large pine tree. And there’s a number of residences whose yards are completely underwater.”
Other folks embraced the downpour.
“There are a number of kayakers who are taking advantage of the swift water,” she said. “They’re stoked. Their adrenaline is rushing. But there a lot of logs and debris in the water. The dangers are real, and there’s a risk of Search and Rescue being called out for a swift water rescue.”
She also said the office was checking the impound yard. “There are a number of items up there that can go to surplus,” she said. “We’re getting all that together. Our goal is to have all the documentation in by the end of February, and submit it to the Treasurer’s Office for a spring sale.”
Under the consent agenda, commissioners approved:
• A second amendment to the Indian Hill Public safety radio site lease.
• Budget transfers to ensure that departments do not exceed their budget allocations and to accommodate changes in departmental need.
• A third amendment to Senior Transportation Services with the Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities of Southwest Washington (AAADSW).
• A third amendment to the disease prevention health promotion agreement with (AAADSW) for 2026.
• Renewal of the family caregiver support services contract with AAADSW for 2026.
• Amendment no. 1 to the agreement for MTD: MAC/TSOA with AAADSW for 2026.
• Amendment no. 7 to the senior nutrition services with AAADSW for 2026.
• Vacation carryover for a Senior Services employee.
• Purchase of ProForce equipment for the Sheriff’s Office 2025-1223.
• Purchase of RMA Armament for the Sheriff’s Office.
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