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12/02/2025 MINUTES 2 <br />going back as an adult to help others. She encouraged the Board to <br />remove the sunset clause and continue the tax for the programs <br />offered to those in our community. DR. MARK LARSON, PUBLIC HEALTH <br />OFFICER, said he sees many mental health issues on a regular basis <br />and the importance of being able to address the problems as early on <br />as possible. He encouraged the Board to remove the sunset clause <br />and continue the tax to allow continued help for various services. <br /> <br />THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: TROY TORNOW, ELLENSBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT <br />SUPERINTENDENT, thanked the Board for the funding they’ve received <br />and how it’s made a difference. He pledged to continue to meet the <br />intent of the funding and the importance of how it allows them to <br />assist students. LORI NEVIN, SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR, provided <br />examples of how the tax dollars have been an extreme value to the <br />Upper County Senior Center and urged the Board to continue the sales <br />tax. KEN WADE, ELLENSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF, shared the <br />successes their department has seen due to the funding they’ve <br />received and described the various programs they’ve been able to <br />implement. DOUG FESSLER, 1/10TH BOARD MEMBER, felt the sunset clause <br />should be removed and their Board has adequate safeguards for <br />spending the funds. LAREE BERN, COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH , <br />explained how their Crisis Case Managers are extremely important to <br />the hospital and encouraged the Board to remove the sunset clause as <br />it’s vital to those serving our community. CHARLIE McKINNEY, <br />REPRESENTING KITTITAS COUNTY NAMI, spoke in favor of continuing the <br />tax to how it’s been a significant support of various needs <br />throughout our community. ANN LEICHLEITER, BOYS & GIRLS CLUB spoke <br />in support of the sales tax and highlighted what’s at stake due if <br />the funding was not continued. She said the results are clear in how <br />it’s assisted our community. SUSAN GRINDLE, CEO HOPESOURCE, said <br />they were thankful for the grant funding received for the Behavioral <br />Health Impact program and how many people it’s helped throughout the <br />County. DEBBIE BOGART spoke in favor of the programs due to the <br />funding and asked the Board to continue the tax. RON GINGLAN talked <br />about the importance of the funding to allow the community to bring <br />in resources for everyone. He said it’s allowed for greater <br />education and has reduced the stigma. HEIDI PEREZ, CWU PSHYCOLOGY <br />DEPARTMENT explained how the funding has allowed for the clinic to <br />be launched and expanded services, provided a Behavioral Health <br />Undergraduate degree, a Mental Health Counseling Graduate program, <br />and they look forward to expanding their services. LIZ RITZENTHOLAR <br />explained how her teen’s benefited from programs and how they’ve had <br />a direct link with Mental Health issues. She urged the Board to <br />remove the sunset clause and to allow the funding to continue <br />supporting those throughout the community. KITTITAS VALLEY FIRE & <br />RESCUE CHIEF GOLDSMITH explained the impacts due to Mental Health <br />issues they see in their day-to-day business. He said since the <br />County’s implementation of the sales tax and success, their model is <br />being used in other counties. He recognized how taxes are not a <br />popular thing with the public, the benefits to the community have