HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-20-minutes-planning-and-update-covid-1905/20/2020 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON COMMISSIONERS AUDITORIUM SPECIAL MEETING WEDNESDAY 10:00 A.M. MAY 20, 2020
Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith, Vice-Chairman Laura
Osiadacz (via WebEx), and Commissioner Cory Wright (via WebEx).
Others: Taylor Crouch, Deputy Clerk of the Board I; Mandy Buchholz,
Deputy Clerk of the Board (via WebEx); Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the
Board (via WebEx); and 1 member of the public (via WebEx).
SPECIAL MEETING PLANNING UPDATE/COVID-19 COMMISSIONERS
At 10:00 a.m. Chairman Wachsmith opened a Special Meeting for the
Board to provide planning updates relating to COVID-19.
LETTER VARIENCE OP ED COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner Wright updated the Board on the edit he had made to the
latter. Commissioner Wachsmith also reviewed edits. It is suggested
this publication be between 700-800 words and currently the letter
sat above 800 words. Commissioner Osiadacz asked if the Board could
work with the newspaper to publish the whole story instead of
cutting sections out. Commissioner Wachsmith moved to approve the
Variance Op-Ed and for Commissioner Wright to work with the
newspaper on the finalization of the letter to get it to form.
Commissioner Osiadacz seconded. During discussion Commissioner
Osiadacz thanked the Board for the work done on this important piece
of communication. Commissioner Wright stated his frustrations with
the current scenario and that letter writing is the most useful tool
at their disposal right now, he asks to keep working with the
Prosecutor’s Office to find new tools. Motion carried 3-0.
SPECIAL MEETING PLANNING UPDATE/COVID-19 COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner Osiadacz updated the Board on a letter from Anytime
Fitness to the State of Washington. She asked the Board to support
this letter. Commissioner Wachsmith agreed. Commissioner Osiadacz
will work with Anytime Fitness and will draft a letter for Board
consideration on another meeting agenda.
Commissioner Wright updated the Board on Forest Services opening in
Upper County. Commissioner Osiadacz asked to set up a meeting with
the Board and the Incident Management Team (IMT) to discuss the
potential overall effects of opening Forest Services for camping
purposes, not just day use. Commissioner Osiadacz will also be
reaching out to businesses in the Upper County that could be
05/20/2020 MINUTES 2
affected by the re-open. Commissioner Wright states that the local
businesses in the County are the focus in this stage. All three
Commissioners agreed.
Commissioner Wright asks that Commissioners as well as DH/EO’s to
use their camera functions for online meetings moving forward.
Larger meetings will be experimental as camera use slows down the
bandwidth for meetings with a large group of participants.
Commissioner Wachsmith agreed.
Commissioner Wachsmith updated the Board on the Economic Recovery
Committee and the social support systems in place in the Community.
Comprehensive Mental Health is in a hiring freeze, they were already
short on Mental Health providers for the County. The Ellensburg
Public School District has delivered 50,000 meals since the schools
have closed. A CWU collaboration has raised $1,500 through
gofundme.com to purchase gift cards from local businesses, and then
they distribute those gift cards back to members in the Community
through the Distribution Committee. Commissioner Osiadacz stated the
Distribution Committee has also raised $2,000 to this cause. On the
Tuesday Business call yesterday, Representative Alex Ybarra gave an
update that by the first part of June, there will be a total
statewide shortfall figure resulting from COVID-19. There may be a
Special Session depending on the severity of the shortfall.
Commissioner Wachsmith updated the Board that the Economic Recovery
Committee is still providing technical assistance to businesses to
prepare for re-opening. The Committee along with the Chamber of
Commerce will have a booth at the Farmer’s Market for people to ask
questions and get information.
Commissioner Wright updated the Board that the grant application for
the CARES funding came.
Other Business:
Commissioner Wachsmith stated the Prosecutor’s Civil team is
discussing the Mental Health Tax Public Hearing this morning, there
will be an update coming soon.
Meeting adjourned at 10:28 a.m. KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DEPUTY CLERK OF THE BOARD I KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON Taylor Crouch Brett Wachsmith, Chairman