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02/05/2020 MINUTES 1 <br />COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON COMMISSIONERS AUDITORIUM SPECIAL MEETING WEDNESDAY 10:30 A.M. FEBRUARY 5, 2020 <br />Board members present: Commissioner Brett Wachsmith; Commissioner <br />Laura Osiadacz; and Commissioner Cory Wright. <br /> <br />Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Candi Blackford, Chief <br />Administrator; Kasey Knutson, Special Programs Coordinator; Steve <br />Panattoni, Jail Superintendent; Ed Buntin, Corrections Lieutenant; <br />Katrina Mankus, Juvenile Court Administrator; Superior Court Judge <br />Scott Sparks, Mark Larson, Public Health Official; and approximately <br />40 members of the public. <br /> SPECIAL MEETING MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TAX PROPOSAL COMMISSIONERS <br />At 2:00 p.m. Chairman Wachsmith opened a Special Meeting to receive <br />a presentation regarding a Mental Health/Behavioral Health Tax <br />proposal. <br /> <br />Dr. Kevin Martin, Chief Medical Officer at Kittitas Valley Hospital <br />reviewed information for the need of an increase in Sales & Use Tax <br />for additional resources relating to Mental Health within Kittitas <br />County. He explained the benefits that would be seen in the <br />community if the tax was approved. <br /> <br />Dr. Mark Larson, Kittitas County Public Health Officer provided data <br />obtained from the Community Health Assessment and felt there was <br />good community support to increase the sales and use tax. Diana <br />Rossow, CPWI Coalition Coordinator spoke in favor of the proposal <br />and urged the Boards support. Superior Court Judge Scott Sparks felt <br />there was a significant need for programs and due to his experience <br />in dealing with a certain segment of the community and how he has <br />observed them work for those in need. <br /> <br />Andres Bowman, concerned citizen, spoke in favor of the tax. He <br />addressed how mental health issues have been on the rise and have <br />impacted many families in the community. David Douglas explained how <br />there are a lot of people who have substance use disorders and <br />mental health issues who need resources in our community that are <br />not currently available. Sue Gunn, a Counselor at Compressive <br />Health Care commented on the mental health and behavioral health <br />crisis that’s currently going on in schools and even with full time <br />clinicians, they are still not able to meet the needs of our <br />community. <br />