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08/10/2026 MINUTES 1 <br />COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON CONFERENCE ROOM SPECIAL MEETING <br />MONDAY 10:00 AM AUGUST 10, 2026 <br />Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith; and Vice-Chair Laura <br />Osiadacz. <br />Others: Jodi Larsen, Office Administrator; Eileen Murphy, Director <br />of Public Defense; Sue Higginbotham Chief Admin Auditor. <br /> <br /> CITIZEN COMMENTS: NONE SPECIAL MEETING PUBLIC DEFENSE DIRECTOR UPDATE COMMISSIONERS <br />At 10:00 a.m. Chairman Wachsmith opened a Special Meeting with the <br />Director of Public Defense, Eileen Murphy and the Auditor’s Chief <br />Administrator, Sue Higginbotham. Ms. Higginbotham requested <br />approval on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Kittitas <br />County and Local 792CH (Courthouse) to recognize and classify an <br />Elections Manager. Vice-Chair Osiadacz moved to approve the MOU <br />Between Kittitas County and Local 792CH. Chairman Wachsmith <br />seconded. Motion Passed 2-0. <br />Ms. Higginbotham then left the meeting. <br />Director of Public Defense Eileen Murphy provided a quarterly <br />update on the Office of Public Defense. The Public Defense team is <br />responsible for managing cases in the County, as well as all City <br />municipalities. Ms. Murphy reviewed the caseloads that she and her <br />team are currently working on, as well as staffing, grant <br />applications, approvals and funding. <br />Ms. Murphy reported that, as of the end of June, the Countywide <br />felony caseload totaled 120 cases. Lower District Court <br />misdemeanor and lesser-charge cases totaled approximately 300, and <br />Upper District Court accounted for approximately 200 cases, for a <br />total of more than 600 cases throughout the County. <br />Ms. Murphy reviewed her grant application efforts and incoming <br />funds. She stated that the Office of Public Defense received a <br />$99,000 Washington State legislative grant and is currently on <br />track to receive more than $500,000 in legislatively allocated <br />grant funds. <br /> <br /> <br />Ms. Murphy also explained that the County has signed a $200,000 <br />contract with the City of Ellensburg for Public Defenses services.