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2016-12-09 MINUTES 1 <br />COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES <br />KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON <br />COMMISSIONER’S CONFERENCE ROOM <br />SPECIAL MEETING <br /> <br />FRIDAY 11:00 A.M. DECEMBER 9, 2016 <br /> <br />Board members present: Chairman Obie O’Brien; Vice-Chairman, Paul <br />Jewell & Commissioner Laura Osiadacz. <br /> <br />Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Brett Wachsmith, <br />Treasurer; Judy Pless, Budget & Finance Manager; Jerry Pettit, <br />Auditor; 5 members of the Rodeo Board and 2 members of the public. <br /> <br />SPECIAL MEETING RODEO ARENA SEATING PROJECT COMMISSIONERS <br /> <br />At 11:00 a.m. Chairman O’Brien opened a Special Meeting to consider <br />a letter supporting a partnership for the Rodeo Arena project. <br /> <br />Carl Jensvold, Ellensburg Rodeo Board member said their group was <br />100% committed to the Rodeo Arena seating project. He said they had <br />met with Representative Matt Manweller and he suggested obtaining <br />letters of support by January so they are ready to go with the next <br />session for potential funding assistance from the State. The Rodeo <br />Board wants to be proactive so they had directed him to reach out to <br />the City of Ellensburg to discuss the issue of partnering in the <br />project. The City Manager said he would like to know what is <br />expected of them as far as how much funding they will be requesting <br />and the expectations. The estimated cost of the Rodeo Arena seating <br />project is $10.2 million dollars. The Rodeo Arena Grandstand <br />Committee will be meeting next week and at that time they will be <br />obtaining the cost of the project. <br /> <br />Chairman O’Brien felt obtaining letters of support for the project <br />from various stakeholders would be very beneficial including the <br />Yakama Nation, Department of Fish & Wildlife, etc. as they would <br />most likely carry more weight in Olympia. Commissioner Jewell asked <br />how much the barn improvement project was going to cost and <br />questioned what plan B was if the legislature does not fund the $6 <br />million dollars. The approximate cost of combining the two projects <br />would be approximately $12.2 million dollars, and they will be <br />requesting the State to pay $6 million dollars of it. Chairman <br />O’Brien provided ideas on funding for the County’s portion including <br />.09 funds, Lodging Tax, and General Obligation Bonds. Commissioner <br />Osiadacz explained how there were a lot of other projects in the <br />County that would like funding assistance from the Lodging Tax Funds <br />such as the Washington State Horse Park and she did not want to use <br />all of the funds for one project. Commissioner Jewell said that <br />amount would wipe out the Lodging Tax Funds for the next 20 years