HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-24-minutes-prosecutor-process-discussion 01/24/2019 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON COMMISSIONER’S CONFERENCE ROOM SPECIAL MEETING THURSDAY 10:00 A.M. JANUARY 24, 2019
Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright & Commissioner Laura
Osiadacz. Excused: Vice-Chairman Brett Wachsmith.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Greg Zempel, Prosecutor;
Neil Caulkins, Deputy Prosecutor and 2 members of the public.
DISCUSSION PROSECUTOR PROCESS COMMISSIONERS
At 10:00 a.m. Chairman Wright opened a Special Meeting to review the
process and best way to interact and communicate effectively between the
Board of Commissioners and the Prosecutors office.
Commissioner Wright said he would like to minimize any potential
exposure for the County before making decisions. He indicated that he’d
like to make sure he has all of the information beforehand including any
potential holes. There was discussion on the representation that
Prosecutors office provides for the Community Development Services
Department and Public Works Department versus the Board of County
Commissioners. Mr. Caulkins said that should be better now that the
Board adopted the recent changes with the Hearing Examiner and their
role.
Mr. Zempel reviewed the Department’s assigned counsel and said it was
based upon historical work and the person’s expertise. He explained that
if there’s an emergency that needs to be addressed and their assigned
counsel is not available, the Department could contact him and he would
see what he could do to assist. He also provided an update on the
process and the work that’s done between the Departments and the
Prosecutors office before it comes before the Board. He shared that
their office does not have any agendas and there have been instances in
the past that the Board of County Commissioners have made decisions
different than what the Prosecutors office has advised them to do, and
that’s the way it goes. Mr. Zempel said if there were any issues or if
Departments were feeling frustrated he encouraged them to contact their
office to have a conversation instead of letting things get worse.
Commissioner Osiadacz suggested the Prosecutors office look into the the
Departments who are their own enterprise funds possibly fund a position
01/24/2019 MINUTES 2
in the Prosecutors office to help elevate some of the heavy workloads
and Staffing. Mr. Zempel recommended that the Auditor’s office be
included in any future conversations.
DEED 503 NORTH NANEUM STREET COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Commissioners received a letter from Attorney Paul McBride
who is representing Merit Resource Services, formerly ADDS who is a non-
profit corporation that provides drug and alcohol abuse counseling and
recovery services. In 2009 the Board sold a lot at 503 N. Nanum Street
to ADDS for $55,000.00. The property was never developed as envisioned
and the property is no longer of use to Merit and they wish to sell it.
There is language in the Deed restricting the use of property to a non-
profit and they are requesting to have it removed so they can sell it.
Chairman Wright and Commissioner Osiadacz agreed they would rather not
have the property back, but believed by allowing Merit to sell the
property for profit, it would be considered gifting of public funds.
They both were in favor of not removing the language in the Deed.
Commissioner Osiadacz said she’d like to see if the property could be
put to better use to benefit the public by allowing an agency to create
more affordable housing. Mr. Zempel said it was up to the Board of
Commissioners on which direction they’d like to go. Staff was directed
to forward the documentation to the Prosecutors office and between Mr.
Caulkins and Ms. Hartung they could provide options and documentation
for the Boards consideration.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 a.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON Julie Kjorsvik Cory Wright, Chairman