HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-27-minutes-special-meeting-with-deborah-robinson03/27/2018 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE ROOM
SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 11:00 A.M. MARCH 27, 2018
Board members present: Chairman Laura Osiadacz; Vice-Chairman Obie
O’Brien and Commissioner Paul Jewell.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Lisa Young, HR Director;
Greg Zempel, Prosecutor; Judy Pless, Budget & Finance Manager; Nick
Henderson, Coroner; Clay Myers, Undersheriff; and Deborah Robinson,
Infant Death Investigation Specialist.
SPECIAL MEETING CORONER’S OFFICE COMMISSIONERS
At 11:00 a.m. Chairman Osiadacz opened a Special Meeting to meet
with Deborah Robinson, Infant Death Investigation Specialist.
Ms. Deborah Robinson said she is a resident in the Upper County as
well as an Infant Death Investigation Specialist. She explained she
has an interest in serving on a Board which could help provide
guidance and oversight to the Coroner’s office. She expressed
concerns relating to the chain of evidence, body recovery, body
storage, mandatory autopsies, bereavement services and lack of
support Staff for the Coroner. She felt Mr. Henderson is doing a
great job, but the Coroner’s office cannot continue as a one person
office. Ms. Robinson offered to assist in trying to find State and
Federal Grant funding opportunities for the Coroner’s office which
could help bring it into compliance. She suggested having the
Washington State Association of Coroner’s & Medical Examiners audit
the office to show the County what needs to be done to maintain the
essential service of the Coroner. Clay Myers, Undersheriff, provided
information on the joint efforts between Law Enforcement and
Coroner’s office when dealing with death investigations, etc.
The Board explained to Ms. Robinson that it would be up to the
Coroner to create an advisory committee if he felt it was warranted
to oversee his office. There was discussion on the initial
recommendations from the committee who helped create the Coroner’s
office once the population of Kittitas County hit the 40,000
threshold and became a requirement to have the elected office.
If the Coroner decides to form an advisory committee it will be up
to him and the Commissioner’s office could assist in the process to
set it up. The Board expressed their appreciation to Ms. Robinson
for her interest in the Coroner’s office.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
03/27/2018 MINUTES 2
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Laura Osiadacz, Chairman