GOLDENDALE — Klickitat County Commissioners held an abbreviated morning-only session at their July 9 meeting. Sheriff Bob Songer was scheduled to appear, but Undersheriff Carmen Knopes and Chief Civil Deputy Karen Eings ended up representing the department.
Knopes read a statement from Songer that repeated his suggestion that the commission put the future of the county jail on the ballot in November. That drew a response later in the meeting from Human Resources Director Robb Van Cleave.
“I keep hearing and reading that potentially there is some confusion about whether you’ve made a decision to assume supervision of the jail,” Van Cleave told commissioners. “It’s my understanding through two resolutions, that question has been answered. The only remaining question is when, not if.”
Those resolutions were passed at the June 25 meeting.
Van Cleave received approval at this meeting to begin advertising for a permanent jail administrator, and to engage the services of an agency for $7,500 to help find suitable candidates. The vote was unanimous, with commissioners saying that was a small price to pay to find a great administrator instead of just a good one to run a $2 million-per-year department.
In other news from the Sheriff’s Office, Knopes said no incidents were reported at the Bickleton, Alder Creek or Glenwood rodeos, nor at the demolition derby. She also praised Reserve Deputy Ken Clinton, who donated hours of work to restore the department’s marine patrol boat, the Osprey, to service following an encounter with a submerged log.
Commissioners responded to several remarks made during public comment. One person argued there was a lack of resources for youth in the county. Commissioner Dan Christopher agreed.
“That is why a couple years ago I pushed for a park fund, which was $50,000 per commissioner district, to be used on parks, because I believe that the parks in our county, well, frankly, suck," he said. "No money’s been invested. They have a lot of work to do. They don’t facilitate ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act]. They don’t facilitate a lot.”
He explained that the park fund was only approved for one year, and that he was outvoted two to one when he proposed continuing the program this fiscal year.
Commissioner Jacob Anderson had a different interpretation: “I grew up in this county. We live in paradise. There are an abundant amount of things for children to do here. We live in an outdoor mecca, especially on the west end of the county where the summer programs that the schools put on, that the nonprofit organizations put on, kids have an abundant amount of things to do, and I would much rather raise my child here than in any city.”
Two people expressed concern about disposal of old wind turbine blades, thinking they were toxic.
“Wind turbines can be recycled,” replied Anderson, “and they have been recycled elsewhere in the United States. Many of them are being turned into cement, reducing the overall environmental impact of cement plants ....They are primarily made of fiberglass, which is not considered a toxic material.”
He added that any time turbine blades were taken to the landfill it would reduce taxes in the county, since the company’s tipping fees would go to the county.
Another person was concerned about the landfill and heard that toxins from the landfill were getting into nearby wells.
All three commissioners took turns explaining there are no water wells nearby. The only “wells” of a sort at the landfill are pipes that collect the methane from decomposition, filter it and inject it into the natural gas supply system.
It is also a secure landfill, sitting on bedrock high above the aquifer. Commissioners pointed out that while landfills are required to seal the bottom with a minimum of 15 feet of clay, the site had a natural deposit on the order of 80 feet of clay already in place. That situation would have meant there was no requirement for a liner on top of the clay, but the company installed one just the same. “Not just a lining,” said Commissioner Christopher, “but the best lining money can buy. And even if the lining wasn’t there, nothing would never make it through to the water table.”
One caller noted that some wind farm turbines are having the power nacelles replaced and thought that meant the old turbine had to be torn down and the company had to get a demolition permit and apply for new permit to rebuild.
Commissioners said the company wouldn’t have to get permits to replace the power plant any more than you would have to get a new registration for your car if you replaced the engine.
Christopher reported the dunk tank at Community Days last weekend raised nearly $1,000. He had been one of the volunteers and noted darkly that a number of people present at yesterday’s meeting had taken the opportunity to dunk him or give money to others to do so.
In the consent agenda, commissioners approved:
• An agreement between Behavioral Health and Chris DeVilleneuve for Designated Crisis Responder services.
• A petition to annex property into Klickitat County Fire Protection District No. 3.
• A letter endorsing a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) grant application for property acquisition.
• A Washington State Allocation Agreement III between Kroger and Klickitat County for the 4th opioid settlement.
• A public meeting to be held in the Board of County Commissioners meeting room Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 1 p.m. to consider approval of a Short Plat requested by Fred and Juanita Olson in the Husum vicinity.
• A public meeting to be held at the same time as above to consider approval of a boundary line adjustment requested by Cascade Investments and Patti Newson Estate in the Wishram vicinity.
• A contract amendment between Public Health and Department of Health (DOH) adding statements of work for several programs.
• A five-year agreement with Lyle Fire Department District No. 4 to purchase fuel from the county road shop due to the local gas station closure.
• A two-year service contract with Apollo Mechanical Contractors for maintenance of Klickitat County HVAC systems at $76,538.80 per year.
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