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01/23/23 09 AM: Vessel Emergency Declared, Contracts Authorized, Priorities Set

Vessel Emergency Declared, Contracts Authorized, Priorities Set

Jefferson County Commissioners approved retroactive emergency declaration and sole-source contract for derelict vessel removal; shifted quarterly workshops to monthly coordination meetings on legislative priorities; signed letters supporting coastal restoration funding; deferred COVID policy rescission; listed board vacancies.

Derelict Vessel Removal: Emergency Declaration and Sole Source Contract

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:02:22.539–00:18:36.905 (PART 1); resolution adoption 02:16:52.891–02:18:32.591 (PART 1)
  • Categories: contracts, operations, public safety, infrastructure

Summary

Commissioner Eisenhower described a 27-foot Catalina sailboat (WN7877 NE) beached under the Indian Island Bridge that posed navigation, structural, and debris risks after shifting during a king tide. She coordinated rapid removal via Vessel Assist (Roger Slade) and Star Marine following DNR Derelict Vessel Removal Program guidance, with paperwork including right-of-entry and emergency possession posting under RCW 79.100.040(3). The Board declared an emergency retroactive to January 14, authorized a sole source contract with TowBoat US/Marine Assist of Port Hadlock, Inc., ratifying prior expenses, and later adopted Resolution 01-23 formalizing the declaration.

Key Discussion Points

  • Commissioner Eisenhower detailed subcommittee identification, risks (potential bridge damage, debris, navigation hazard in Portage Canal), logistics (private landowner entry, DNR steps), and salvage success despite cold/windy conditions with 6-8 personnel.
  • County Administrator McCauley requested Board approval for emergency declaration enabling sole source contract and retroactive ratification; noted prior similar emergency (critter control).
  • Chief Civil Deputy Hunsucker confirmed Board authority to declare emergency for spending, with follow-up written declaration if needed for reimbursement.
  • Commissioner Dean questioned bridge risk; Eisenhower explained potential debris raft damaging supports.
  • Discussion on formalizing derelict vessel processes/funding given increasing tides/storms; Eisenhower suggested MRC derelict subcommittee.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

No supporting materials referenced in discussion; DNR emergency possession document posted January 14 referenced but not provided.

Financials

  • Estimated salvage cost: around $30k reimbursed by DNR Derelict Vessel Removal Program (budget neutral).
  • First invoice already submitted for payment.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: "Move the Jefferson County [to] declare the vessel WN7877 NE an emergency... effective January fourteenth" (retroactive; verbatim motion by Eisenhower, seconded). Later Resolution 01-23 adopted.
  • Vote: Unanimous (Ayes by all three Commissioners).
  • Decision: "Authorize the county administrator to prepare and sign or sign and execute a sole source contract with TowBoat US Marine Assist[.]"
  • Vote: Unanimous (Ayes by all three Commissioners).
  • Next Steps: Execute contract; submit for DNR reimbursement; paper trail for future (Eisenhower to email declaration).

Quarterly Elected Officials and Directors Workshop: Legislative Priorities and Coordination Changes

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:38:42.816–01:17:37.813 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning, personnel, other

Summary

Elected officials and directors introduced themselves and discussed legislative priorities including sheriff priorities (Blake tidy-up HB1492, pursuits SB5352/HB1363, recruitment SB5361, juvenile justice HB1432), assessor WASCO requests, senior exemption HB1355, sales tax for law/justice SB5361, levy cap removal SB1022, competency evaluations SB5440, and others (HB1241 election harassment, HB1272 voter pamphlets, HB1419 warrants). The group agreed to replace quarterly workshops with full Board participation in monthly coordination meetings (12 total/year: 8 Fridays + 4 Mondays in Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct at 11:30, no prior Friday meeting those weeks).

Key Discussion Points

  • Sheriff Nole: Priorities to tweak prior reforms (Blake drugs, pursuits limits, recruitment/retention state funding, juvenile interviews with parental consent).
  • Assessor Chapman: WASCO bills for operations; HB1355 senior exemptions.
  • Treasurer Stacy: HB1419 warrants modernization.
  • Deputy Director Shaw: SB1022 levy cap removal concerns (increases tax burden, fixed levies impact housing).
  • Prosecutor Kennedy: Competency evals SB5440 backlog; 18-20yo juvenile reclassification.
  • Clerk Hamilton: HB1241 harassment, HB1272 pamphlets.
  • Administrator McCauley: Proposed 8 Friday + 4 Monday coordination meetings to avoid redundancy.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

WASCO priority bills list; sheriff priorities (HB1492, SB5352/HB1363, SB5361, HB1432); issue papers (SB1022 levies, SB5440 competency).

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Coordination: Fridays incompatible; prefer 12 Mondays (1 Commissioner Fridays otherwise).
  • Levies: Pull DD/veterans from cap vs. all three.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Shift to 12 coordination meetings/year (8 regular Fridays + 4 full-Board Mondays Jan/Apr/Jul/Oct at 11:30; skip prior Friday).
  • Vote: Consensus (nodding heads, no objections).
  • Next Steps: Implement schedule; ongoing bill tracking/lobbying.

Letters of Support: Washington Coast Restoration and Resiliency Initiative Funding

Metadata

  • Time Range: 02:18:56.895–02:23:24.803 (PART 1)
  • Categories: budgeting, planning

Summary

Tammy Porny presented two letters supporting $17.6M capital funding for WCRRI (13 ranked projects, 5 in Jefferson County including county application), originated by Wildfish Conservancy/review committee. Letters highlight job creation (467+ since 2015, 103 projected), habitat restoration (10k+ acres), and leveraging ($10.6M). Board unanimously approved signing on.

Key Discussion Points

  • Porny: RCO program; 17.6M request vs. 12M prior; supports rural jobs/resiliency.
  • Eisenhower: Other jurisdictions/tribes signing.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Two identical letters to Senate Ways/Means Chair Rolfes, House Capital Chair Tharinger.

Financials

  • $17.6M requested (2023-25 biennium); leverages $10.6M prior.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: "Sign on to 2 letters of support for the Washington Coast restoration and Resiliency initiative."
  • Vote: Unanimous (Ayes by all three Commissioners).
  • Next Steps: No next steps specified.

Potential Rescission of 13th Temporary COVID Policy (Resolution 49-22)

Metadata

  • Time Range: 02:26:28.159–02:38:40.611 (PART 1)
  • Categories: personnel, public safety

Summary

HR Director Melancon outlined 13th policy (hygiene, masking recommendation, 40h COVID leave x2 for non-remote), asking if to extend amid low cases. Health Dir Martine noted decline (1 case/month), questioned ongoing emergency perception/leave need. Board deferred decision pending Feb 6 Public Health Officer input, to incorporate into personnel manual (pandemic section deferring to health rules).

Key Discussion Points

  • Melancon: Policy for hygiene/masking/COVID leave; draft manual pandemic section follows health rules (no handwashing specifics).
  • Martine: Low infections; employees unaware of emergency.
  • Dean: State endemic phase; FDA annual vax; ensure no unintendeds.
  • Eisenhower: Reference pandemics seriously in manual.

Public Comments

  • Steven (unaffiliated): Normalize; end exceptionalism, return to rule of law post-emergency.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Draft personnel manual (pandemic section).

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

No action taken; item was informational or deferred. - Next Steps: Discuss Feb 6 with Health Officer Barry; sync with manual updates (draft to depts week/2 review, finalize post-Feb 6).

Boards and Committees Vacancies

Metadata

  • Time Range: 02:23:24.803–02:26:21.902 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning, personnel

Summary

Chair Dean listed vacancies: Parks/Rec Advisory (2: Dist1/3), Conservation Futures (Dist2), Housing Fund (2 at-large, prior Dist1/3), Noxious Weed (3: Dist3/4/5), Solid Waste Advisory (2 recent), Ferry Advisory (commerce/economic reliant business). Recent fills: Parks young applicant.

Key Discussion Points

  • Dean: Challenging fills; Housing recent (2 at-large, seek geographic spread).

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Vacancy list.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

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

Background Materials

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