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02/07/2018 MINUTES 1 <br />COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES <br />KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON <br />KITTITAS VALLEY EVENT CENTER - ARMORY HALL <br />901 EAST 7TH AVENUE <br />ELLENSBURG, WA <br />SPECIAL MEETING <br /> <br />WEDNESDAY 6:00 P.M. FEBRUARY 7, 2018 <br /> <br />Board members present: Chairman Laura Osiadacz; Vice-Chairman Obie <br />O’Brien; and Commissioner Paul Jewell. <br /> <br />Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Neil Caulkins, Deputy <br />Prosecutor; Jerry Pettit, Auditor and approximately 25 members of <br />the public. <br /> <br />SPECIAL MEETING CREATION OF PORT DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS <br /> <br />At 6:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN OSIADACZ opened a Public Hearing to consider a <br />Petition for the creation of a less than Countywide Port District, <br />to include all areas defined by the boundaries of Kittitas County <br />with the exception of that area encompassed by the Naches School <br />District, and placement on an April 24, 2018 ballot. <br /> <br />JERRY PETTIT, AUDITOR provided a report on a Petition they received <br />to create a less than Countywide Port District. <br /> <br />JIM ARMSTRONG, KITTITAS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ANN ANDERSON <br />REPRESENTING THE PORT DISTRICT COALITION provided information on and <br />the benefits of Port Districts and urged the Board to authorize the <br />creation of a less than Countywide Port District in Kittitas County <br />and requested that the Board allow it to be placed on a ballot for <br />consideration by the voters in April 2018. <br /> <br />THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: JOY POTTER, PRESIDENT OF THE KITTITAS <br />COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE expressed their support of a Port <br />District and encouraged the Board to place the issue on a ballot. <br />RON CRIDLEBAUGH said he supported establishing a Port District in <br />Kittitas County. LINDA SCHANTZ said she supported a Port District <br />and felt it would be a way to allow for more of a diverse array of <br />jobs for young people. RORY TURNER said he’s a Project Manager of <br />the Elks building in Ellensburg and is a Port Commissioner in <br />Chelan. He provided benefits and the strengths of Port Districts. <br />DAVID DOUGLAS said he teaches at Central Washington University and <br />although there are a lot of students who don’t want to stay in <br />Ellensburg after they graduate, there are those who want to but <br />realize there are no job opportunities. He felt a Port District <br />would help bring many living wage jobs into the area. LACI HARRISON <br />said she has an IT degree from CWU and there are not many job