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<br />COMMISSIONERS’ MINUTES <br />KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON <br />SPECIAL MEETING <br />UPPER COUNTY DISTRICT COURT <br />700 E. 1ST STREET <br />CLE ELUM, WA <br /> <br />WEDNESDAY 6:00 P.M. JULY 6, 2016 <br /> <br />Those members present: Chairman Obie O’Brien; Vice-Chairman Paul <br />Jewell; and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz. <br /> <br />Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Jerry Pettit, Auditor; <br />and approximately 25 members of the public. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING UPPER COUNTY PORT DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS <br /> <br />At approximately 6:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN O’BRIEN opened a Public Hearing <br />to consider a Petition for the creation of an Upper Kittitas County <br />Port District (all areas defined by the boundaries of the Upper <br />Kittitas County District Court) and placement on the November 8, <br />2016 ballot. <br /> <br />JERRY PETTIT, AUDITOR provided information on the Petition for the <br />creation of a Port District. He indicated the Auditor’s office has <br />issued a Certification of Sufficiency claiming that the Petition <br />contained sufficient signatures of registered voters as required by <br />RCW 53.04.023. <br /> <br />THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: KELLY CONNOR thought everyone agreed <br />that people in the Upper County were in favor of a Port District for <br />their area. She encouraged the County to approve language to be <br />placed on the General Ballot in November. BETH MARKER explained the <br />benefits of creating a Port District for the Upper County. She said <br />she hoped for the Board to take action, as it would be an efficient <br />use of tax money. GARY HAMMOND indicated he had organized the <br />Petition and how the majority of the citizens of Upper County seem <br />to be willing to move forward with the ballot measure. He <br />appreciated everyone’s support and comments in relation to a <br />proposed Port District. KEN RATLIFF expressed his support of <br />creating a Port District and said there was a long list of <br />possibilities and benefits for the community and their rural areas. <br />DOUG WEIS expressed his opposition for creating a Port District. He <br />said he was not in favor of taxes other than for schools, fire <br />departments, etc. He did not understand how jobs would be created <br />from a Port District and questioned what type they would be. ART <br />COLTS described various economic benefits of having a Port District <br />and encouraged the Board to move forward with the ballot measure. <br />HELGA JOHNSON explained how there weren’t many jobs in the area for