HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution BOCC Staff Report KCPHD Drug Fund AccessKITTITAS COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
AGENDA DATE: December 17, 2018
ACTION REQUESTED: Consider approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Use of
the Cumulative Reserve Fund for Drug Enforcement
Activities.
BACKGROUND: The Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD)
responded to law enforcement’s request to impose a health
order on a property believed to be operating as a
clandestine drug lab, which invoked legal requirements
under Chapter 64.44 RCW. KCPHD complied with those
legal requirements including arranging for a sampling of
the property by a Washington State Department of Health
certified agency, ACCUMETH. ACCUMETH determined
that the drug residue contaminating the property does not
surpass the threshold amount requiring decontamination
under the law. As a result, KCPHD has rescinded the
health order. Although, the financial responsibility for
testing the property through a proper sampling and the
health order enforcements costs are the financial
responsibility of the property owner, KCPHD has been
unsuccessful at compelling the owner to pay; she is
currently incarcerated in California.
KCPHD incurred costs in the amount $6270.00 as a result
of their compliance with Chapter 64.44 RCW and they
hereby seek approval from the Board of County
Commissioners to access the cumulative reserve drug fund
for enforcement activities to pay for those costs.
This amount has been forwarded on to the criminal division
of the Kittitas County Prosecutor’s Office to include in the
order of restitution should there be a criminal conviction in
this matter. Any restitution successfully collected will
reimburse the drug fund accordingly.
INTERACTION: The Prosecutor’s office was directed to draft the attached
resolution.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the resolution as attached.
ATTACHMENT: Resolution Authorizing the Use of the Cumulative Reserve
Fund for Drug Enforcement Activities.
LEAD STAFF: Stephanie Hartung, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney