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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />PUBLIC WORKS STUDY SESSION MINUTES <br />COMMISSIONERS' AUDITORIUM, 205 WEST 5TH ROOM 109 <br />Special Meeting <br />FRIDAY 8:00 AM June 28, 2024 <br />Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith, Vice Chairman Laura <br />Osiadacz, and Commissioner Cory Wright. <br />Others: Mark Cook, Josh Fredrickson, Reid Burbank, Rebecca Cruse, <br />Public Works; Mandy Buchholz, Commissioners Office; Stephanie <br />Hartung, Prosecuting Attorney's Office; Zack DeHaven, Auditors <br />Office; 4 members of the public. <br />At 8:03 AM Chairman Brett Wachsmith opened the Public Works Study <br />Session. <br />CITIZEN COMMENTS <br />Pat Kelleher provided exhibits and commented on Bureau of Land <br />Management land acquisition in Yakima Canyon and had recommendations <br />for interagency cooperation to manage the land. <br />ROAD FUND LEVY UPDATE <br />Josh Fredrickson briefed the Board of County Commissioners on current <br />Road Fund status and the potential impacts as the fund is becoming <br />exhausted due to increase material cost and inflation. Josh <br />Fredrickson introduced Clark Worth of Consor, and Devin Bales of DHM <br />Research. Clark Worth stated Kittitas County was larger than King <br />County in area and had more bridges, but significantly lower <br />population and therefore the results of the focus groups and survey <br />were important to understand what was important to Kittitas County <br />voters. Devin Bales explained the methodology of the focus group and <br />surveys and shared concerns and priorities stated the overall <br />viewpoint amongst participants was that county roads are well <br />maintained. Josh Fredrickson stated to maintain current service <br />levels funding must increase or the alternative to funding is <br />divesting from infrastructure. Josh Fredrickson shared three <br />financial scenarios and included that majority of roads and bridge <br />projects in our county have been fueled by grant funding, without a <br />budget to match grants even those will be out of reach. Discussion <br />pursued on the importance of educating voters and effectively <br />communicating with voters in the public outreach efforts. The Board <br />of County Commissioners directed staff to bring forward enabling <br />documents for consideration at the next Agenda. <br />Meeting concluded at 9:00 AM <br />2024-06-28 MINUTES <br />