Solar and Battery Energy Solar System committee updates at Klickitat Co. Board of Commissioners meeting

“They want to require all industrial solar projects to have a conditional use permit,” she said, “and clarify that the Battery Energy Storage System is not an accessory use, but will also require a conditional use permit.”

The committee will meet for a sixth time on June 4 to complete review of the draft ordinance, and hopes to have the final recommendation by June 18.

The planning commission itself will have a special workshop on June 2 (after press deadline) to review the comments about the community meetings about the comprehensive plan update. Public comment will be saved for a meeting on June 16 for a public hearing on the Solar and BESS committee recommendations.

During the public comment period in the afternoon regular session, commissioners were asked if they had come up with an answer to the Washington State legislature defunding the grant they had paid the county to hire a person just to process land use applications for the portion of the National Scenic Area in Klickitat County.

Their response was that they had met the previous Thursday in a workshop with representatives of Wasco and Skamania counties. They said there were “three or four options” to come out of that meeting that they were discussing with their planner.

Commissioners also concluded a rate hearing on sewer rates in Dallesport. Planning Department Director Jeff Hunter outlined the changes.

“This year, we’ve agreed to raise the rates by 6%,” he said. “We’re recommending raising the connection fees 28%. The current connection fee is $4,602.68. If we raise it 28%, brings it to the new proposed connection fee of $5,891.43.”

He said the large jump in connection fees was necessary because the annual 3% increase they had been adding for years was not keeping up with rising costs. He added that the application fee had been $25 since the wastewater treatment plant was first built more than 20 years ago, and that it would be raised to $100.

Best dialog of the meeting: Commission Chair Ron Ihrig was asked how he had done after going fishing over the weekend, to which he responded, “Crazy wind. The only thing I caught was a cold.”

Under the consent agenda, commissioners approved:

• A Geosyntec service agreement for Switzler Reservoir project.

• Amendment No.1 to the WSDOT Capital Grant Agreement PTD0674-01.

• Purchase order for ADA minivan for Klickitat County Senior Services from NW Bus Sales.

• Reappointment of Valerie Fowler to the Columbia River Gorge Commission representing Klickitat County.

• To sole source one new detention door and components from the 2025 Klickitat County Jail improvement project list.

• A consultant agreement with AKS Engineering & Forestry, LLC for on-call surveying services.

• Klickitat County Water Conservancy Board appointment.

• Consideration of approval for boundary line adjustment BLA 2024-18, Struck/McCrutcheon.

• Purchase order for ADA minivan for Klickitat County Senior Services from Model 1 Commercial Vehicles.

• Grant agreement amendment with Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation for time extension of the County Superior Courtroom rehabilitation project.

• Radio System Use and 9-1-1/dispatch services agreements with Fire Districts 13 and 14.

• Resolution update thing rates and fees with the county Dallesport wastewater system.

• Opioid Abatement Council.

• Estoppel Certificate and Agreement/Security Agreement/Leasehold Deed of Trust and Security Agreement.

• Resolution adopting an amended lease policy.