Your Hometown News Source
Your Hometown News Source
POMEROY–The Board of Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) announced at their meeting on July 12 that the County Road crew and public works will be assisting with water hauling to the Asotin Creek Fire in the Umatilla National Forest. Commissioner Justin Dixon and County Engineer Grant Morgan attended a meeting to discuss the logistics directly following the Commissioners meeting.
The Garfield County Fairgrounds hay crop totaled 15.55 tons. The price was $90 a ton, equaling $1,399.50 for the entire crop. The proceeds are split between the fair and the Eastern Washington Agriculture Museum at a 40/60 ratio. The EWAM provides the seed and the labor for the crop.
The BOCC voted to proceed with construction work for placing a conduit for fiber internet at the fairgrounds as a Public Works expense. The Port of Garfield County will provide the fiber materials and the County is responsible for the conduit and labor. The commissioners decided to wait to work on the water systems until the fire season is over.
The commissioners signed a one year contract with the Washington State Department of Social Health Services to continue to provide developmental disabilities services in Garfield County. The contract provides the County with $16,322 for July 1 2021 to June 30 2022. This service is client based, meaning that the DSHS provides funds based on the number of clients serviced.
Garfield County Sheriff Drew Hyer reported that he has applied for reimbursement for the recent training of two deputies. The total cost of the Spokane Police Academy training was $44,631. Reimbursement percentages are not known at this time, but last year’s reimbursement was 90%.
Engineer Morgan announced that the County will be releasing game birds soon at places chosen for their habitat suitability, specifically for their water.
The BOCC appointed Tim Baden and Jack Peasley to the Board of Adjustment at the meeting on July 6. The Board of Adjustment is the hearing board that makes decisions on requests including variance and official use requests, based on policies and regulations set by Washington State and the BOCC.
Lewis-Clark Recyclers Inc., the company that Garfield County contracts with, has sold their business to Western Recyclers, Inc. The BOCC signed an agreement that transfers the current duties to Western Recyclers.
Adam Hodges of Obenland & Low, BOCC’s liaison with the Washington Rural Counties Insurance Program, met with the board to discuss particulars of the insurance sign-up including county events, policies about county vehicles and cash-handling, and cyber risk. Clarification is needed from the insurance company before further action will be taken.
The board signed a letter of support for the rural broadband project the Port of Garfield is facilitating.
