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COMMISSIONERS’ MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
SPECIAL MEETING
UPPER COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
700 E. 1ST STREET
CLE ELUM, WA
WEDNESDAY 6:00 P.M. JULY 6, 2016
Those members present: Chairman Obie O’Brien; Vice-Chairman Paul
Jewell; and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Jerry Pettit, Auditor;
and approximately 25 members of the public.
PUBLIC HEARING UPPER COUNTY PORT DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
At approximately 6:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN O’BRIEN opened a Public Hearing
to consider a Petition for the creation of an Upper Kittitas County
Port District (all areas defined by the boundaries of the Upper
Kittitas County District Court) and placement on the November 8,
2016 ballot.
JERRY PETTIT, AUDITOR provided information on the Petition for the
creation of a Port District. He indicated the Auditor’s office has
issued a Certification of Sufficiency claiming that the Petition
contained sufficient signatures of registered voters as required by
RCW 53.04.023.
THOSE PRESENT & TESTIFYING: KELLY CONNOR thought everyone agreed
that people in the Upper County were in favor of a Port District for
their area. She encouraged the County to approve language to be
placed on the General Ballot in November. BETH MARKER explained the
benefits of creating a Port District for the Upper County. She said
she hoped for the Board to take action, as it would be an efficient
use of tax money. GARY HAMMOND indicated he had organized the
Petition and how the majority of the citizens of Upper County seem
to be willing to move forward with the ballot measure. He
appreciated everyone’s support and comments in relation to a
proposed Port District. KEN RATLIFF expressed his support of
creating a Port District and said there was a long list of
possibilities and benefits for the community and their rural areas.
DOUG WEIS expressed his opposition for creating a Port District. He
said he was not in favor of taxes other than for schools, fire
departments, etc. He did not understand how jobs would be created
from a Port District and questioned what type they would be. ART
COLTS described various economic benefits of having a Port District
and encouraged the Board to move forward with the ballot measure.
HELGA JOHNSON explained how there weren’t many jobs in the area for
graduates and a Port District would assist in creating them in the
future. LINDSEY OZBOLT, KITTITAS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE said
they were in favor of creating a Port District in the Upper County.
RESOLUTION 2016-088 UPPER COUNTY PORT DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ moved to approve Resolution No. 2016-088,
Regarding the Creation of a Port District in the Upper Kittitas
County, and that a ballot title be submitted to the County Auditor
for inclusion on the next General election. COMMISSIONER JEWELL
seconded.
COMMISSIONER OSIADACZ thanked the citizens who worked on the
Petition. COMMISSIONER JEWELL also thanked everyone and said the
Board’s action is to provide an opportunity for the voters to make
the decision on what’s best for their community. CHAIRMAN O’BRIEN
spoke in favor of allowing the ballot measure to be on the November
ballot. Motion carried 3-0
Meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Obie O’Brien, Chairman