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12/12/22 09 AM: Board OKs Budget, Agenda; Virus Surge; Farm Win; DNR Letter

Board OKs Budget, Agenda; Virus Surge; Farm Win; DNR Letter

Jefferson County Commissioners approved consent agenda after WSU clarification, praised Glendale Farm cleanup progress, received health update on respiratory virus surge with masking recommendations, adopted balanced mid-biennium budget modifications including NOLA/NODC funding, and approved letter to DNR supporting carbon project with requests for details on inventory, finances, and opt-outs.

Consent Agenda Approval

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:04:01.079–00:09:23.593 (PART 1)
  • Categories: budgeting, personnel, contracts, operations

Summary

The Board reviewed and approved the consent agenda unanimously without pulling most items for separate discussion, though Commissioner Dean questioned item 4 (CDL training reimbursement agreement with Karl Springer for up to $10,000, requiring 4-year commitment) and item 7 (WSU Extension salary support MOA for $158,428 in base salaries). Item 7 was pulled due to concerns over Jefferson County's full funding of the $48,610 Small Farms Coordinator position serving Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap Counties; Bridget Gregg later clarified WSU's multi-county collaboration with shared specialists and no formal cost-sharing agreement. Item 11 clarified Chair Eisenhour's MRC term.

Key Discussion Points

  • Commissioner Dean (on CDL training): Asked if it sets precedent; supported as addressing Public Works CDL shortage, analogous to hiring bonuses; noted 4-year commitment enforceability concerns.
  • County Administrator McCauley (on CDL): Confirmed difficulty finding CDL applicants; supports as retention tool.
  • Chair Eisenhour (on WSU Extension): Questioned if Jefferson County shoulders full $48,000 salary for multi-county role; suggested checking allocation fairness.
  • County Administrator McCauley: Noted reciprocal arrangements; pulled item for later clarification.
  • Bridget Gregg (WSU Extension Interim Director, 01:16:24.630–01:19:21.779): Explained regional program with Clallam providing 2 specialists, Kitsap full-time admin; no formal agreement as all WSU Extension; approved post-clarification.
  • Limited discussion on other items; item 11 noted by Chair Eisenhour as clarifying her MRC term gap.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • Consent agenda items included Public Defense funding ($32,375), CDL agreement ($10,000 est.), WSU MOA ($158,428 base salaries), ZOOM renewal ($6,838), etc.; approved as presented except WSU pulled/resolved.

Financials

  • CDL training: Up to $10,000.
  • WSU Extension: $158,428 county contribution (non-federal); Small Farms $48,610 questioned but approved.
  • No other financials discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: "Motion to approve and adopt consent agenda" by Chair Eisenhour; seconded; "passes unanimously."
  • Vote: Unanimous (Ayes: Eisenhour, Dean, Brotherton).
  • Next Steps: WSU item resolved via staff clarification; implement approvals.

Glendale Farm Code Compliance Update

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:09:23.593–00:15:39.064 (PART 1)
  • Categories: land use, operations, public safety

Summary

Public commenter Roger Short praised progress on Glendale Farm cleanup after 40 years of compliance efforts, noting positive community momentum. Commissioners attributed success to family leadership, county staff hours, code compliance officers, and their involvement; emphasized fair enforcement encourages cooperation.

Key Discussion Points

  • Roger Short: Cleanup momentum at Glendale Farm creates positive community feeling; personally motivated to address his property compliance.
  • Commissioner Brotherton: Credited land trust team, Kirk family conservation easement, county team, family cleanup leadership.
  • County Administrator McCauley: Staff invested hundreds of hours; family progress impressive on intractable problem.
  • Chair Eisenhour: Reinforced code compliance importance; fair application avoids social contagion; praised two skilled compliance officers and commissioner involvement; noted kids' cleanup efforts.

Public Comments

  • Roger Short: Praised 4-decade cleanup progress, momentum for other sites; personal compliance spurred.

Supporting Materials Referenced

No supporting materials referenced.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

No action taken; item was informational. - Next Steps: No next steps specified.

Health Officer Update on Respiratory Virus Surge

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:45:01.641–00:59:24.995 (PART 1)
  • Categories: public safety, services, health

Summary

Dr. Barry provided a 15-minute update on surging COVID-19, flu, and RSV overwhelming regional pediatric care, including Jefferson Healthcare treating critically ill children unusually; reported an RSV infant death in Clallam due to transfer unavailability. Recommendations: mask indoors through January, stay home if sick, update vaccines (noting bivalent booster efficacy); urged adult modeling in schools amid low masking.

Key Discussion Points

  • Dr. Barry: Tri-virus surge; centralized WA pediatric system strained (Seattle Children's 3x peak); local nurses lack pediatric critical care skills; prevention via masking, isolation, vaccines; regional health officers' joint statement.
  • Chair Eisenhour: Noted low attendee list, no school leaders; confirmed school communications.
  • Commissioner Brotherton: Proposed first/third Mondays at 9:45 for updates; questioned teacher masking modeling, regional mandates.
  • Dr. Barry (responses): Regular school meetings; peer pressure key, adults model; bivalent booster reduces symptoms/severe disease (45% local uptake highest in state); holiday gatherings: mask or small/well.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

KPTZ questions referenced but deferred to next week.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

No action taken; item was informational. - Next Steps: Dr. Barry confirmed first/third Mondays at 9:45; full KPTZ Q&A next week (Dec 19).

2022-23 Mid-Biennium Budget Review and Modification

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:59:56.062–01:13:52.827 (PART 1)
  • Categories: budgeting, contracts, personnel

Summary

Staff briefed the final balanced mid-biennium modification (identical to prior week's public hearing version), projecting robust 5-year outlook despite recession risks; Board adopted unanimously after questions on reductions and separate motions directing first-quarter appropriations for NOLA ($12,000), NODC ($25,000 increase), and Blake-funded 0.5 FTE for Ruth Gordon (half-time 6 months).

Key Discussion Points

  • County Administrator McCauley: Balanced budget; 1.5% non-personnel cuts; robust reserves; thanked Finance Manager Shepherd.
  • Chair Eisenhour (questions): Noted DEM ($308k) and Community Center reductions.
  • Finance Manager Shepherd: 1.5% reduction per Board guidance from original 3% increase.
  • Commissioner Dean: Directed non-dept'l funding for NOLA ($12k takeover from EDC), NODC ($25k match).

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Budget message attached; totals corrected from prior chart error; includes Road/CIP programs, Central Services allocation (18.24% indirect rate).

Financials

  • General Fund: Revenues $24.3M, Expenditures $25.7M (incl. transfers), Ending Balance $6.1M.
  • All Funds: $85.8M.
  • Blake: Revenue for FTE (0.5 for 2023, full-time 6 months).
  • NOLA: $12k; NODC: $25k.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: "Adopt the 2022-23 Mid-biennium Review and Modification..." unanimous; separate motions for Blake FTE, NOLA/NODC passed.
  • Vote: Unanimous (multiple motions).
  • Next Steps: First-quarter appropriation for Blake/NOLA/NODC; title search term added informally.

Letter to DNR on Carbon Project

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:15:10.376–01:19:47.394, 02:31:22.848–03:02:04.835 (PART 1)
  • Categories: land use, planning, budgeting

Summary

Board discussed/edited/sent letter supporting Carbon Project spirit (decoupling school funding from timber) but needing financial/stand inventory details, parcel input, opt-out clarity; emphasized collaboration on reconveyance/transfers/community forests/alternative management (e.g., longer rotations); approved revised version after two public comment periods.

Key Discussion Points

  • Chair Eisenhour: Draft supports intent; seeks financials for 3,900 acres; complexity (tribes, recreation); pursue DNR seat.
  • Commissioner Dean: Strengthen statewide importance, parcel input; triple bottom line (poor tree growth north of 104, recreation).
  • Commissioner Brotherton: Add stand inventory; local carbon strategies.
  • Public: Support recreation/older forests (C. Broth); request inventory/stop older harvests (P. Jones); credits scam (T. Tears); data needed (M. Kelvin); visionary legacy (G. Balk).

Public Comments

  • Cindy Broth: Supports recreation in populated areas.
  • Patricia Jones (Olympic Forest Coalition): Request stand inventory by district/age; stop older forest sales.
  • Tom Tears: Carbon credits often scams/greenwashing.
  • Marcia Kelvin: Thanks for data request; timber-dependent south county.
  • Gene Balk: Fund schools via population control; support Peter Bales update; legacy thinking.
  • Afternoon: Jones praised inventory request.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Draft letter attached; Chickadee Forestry report (Jan) referenced.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

Alternatives: Longer rotations/variable thinning; local additionality; parcel-specific (e.g., north 104/east 101 recreation, Devil's Lake).

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Approved revised letter as amended (e.g., inventory phrasing, firefighting districts).
  • Vote: Unanimous.
  • Next Steps: Send to DNR Board (cc legislators); no further specified.

Background Materials

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