HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-08-31-minutes-blake-decision-follow-up2021-08-31 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON AUDITOIRUM/ WEBEX SPECIAL MEETING TUESDAY 10:00 A.M. AUGUST 31, 2021
Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith & Vice-Chairman
Laura Osiadacz. Excused: Commissioner Cory Wright.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Taylor Crouch,
Administrative Assistant; Greg Zempel, Prosecutor; Val Barschaw,
Clerk; Barb Demory, Lower District Court Administrator; Judy Pless,
Budget & Finance Manager; Diana MacKenzie, Upper District Court
Administrator; and Amy Cziske, Treasurer.
SPECIAL MEETING BLAKE DECISION PROSECUTOR
At 10:00 a.m. Chairman Wachsmith opened a meeting to receive an update
on the Blake decision.
Greg Zempel, Prosecutor provide an update to the Commissioners on the
Blake decision. He said they’ve been working on setting up the
distribution plan with the Auditor’s office and Courts. There is
currently a group of defendants who are filing a class action lawsuit
against Counties for more than their refund, but also want interest on
the amount owed to them. Kittitas County has not been served as of this
date. He reviewed the AOC distribution plan; monies that have been
allocated for refunds to defendants; and monies allocated for costs of
implementation of the Court’s decision. He said they will work on the
contract with the AOC as he doesn’t believe the one proposed is
acceptable. It was noted the current money allocated for refunding
defendants will not cover everything and Mr. Zempel felt it was the
State’s obligation to cover it all.
Val Barschaw, Clerk, agreed with Prosecutor Zempel and that the proposed
AOC contract is unacceptable. She felt it’s another burden to their
office who is not in the profession of accounting or legal. Barb Demory,
Lower County District Court Administrator said their Courts are
different from Superior Court and they use a collection system, so she
is unsure how they will obtain money back from them.
Meeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Brett Wachsmith, Chairman