HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-06-minutes-emergency (2)01/06/2022 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON WEBEX EMERGENCY SPECIAL MEETING
THURSDAY 7:30 A.M. JANUARY 6, 2022
Board members present via Webex: Chairman Laura Osiadacz; Vice-
Chairman Cory Wright; and Commissioner Brett Wachsmith.
Others via Webex: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Taylor Crouch,
Administrative Assistant; Candie Leader, Administrative Supervisor;
Tristen Lamb, Public Health Administrator; Darren Higashiyama, Chief
Deputy; Chris Whitsett, Inspector; Elisha Harvill, Chief
Administrator; Sarah Keith, Superior Court Administrator; Carly
Brettmann, Communications Director; Greg Zempel, Prosecutor;
Jerimiah Crombie, Staff Planner; Val Barschaw, Clerk; Katrina
Mankus, Juvenile Court Administrator; and 1 member of the public.
EMERGENCY SPECIAL OFFICE CLOSURES–INCLEMENT WEATHER COMMISSIONERS
At 7:35 a.m. Chairman Osiadacz opened an Emergency Special Meeting
to discuss concerns relating to the inclement weather and whether
County offices should close. She said she received information from
Patti Stacey, Solid Waste Director/Interim Maintenance
Director/Project Manager, requesting a 2-hour delay in opening
County facilities/offices to allow for the Maintenance Department to
try and get parking lots and sidewalks cleared from the overnight
heavy snowfall.
Sarah Keith, Superior Court Administrator, said Judge Sparks had
closed Superior Court for the day and they have already notified all
parties, including the jurors who are part of a trial. She noted
Judge Ellis had made the same decision for Upper District Court, and
was waiting to hear from Lower District Court. Chris Whitsett,
Inspector, said he would support closing the County facilities due
to the immediate risks associated with the inclement weather.
Following a discussion by the Board of County Commissioners and the
concerns expressed from the inclement weather, it was determined to
close all offices for the entire day in the Upper and Lower County.
Vice-Chairman Wright felt the concerns were not only for plowing,
but for the ability to mobilize the significant snowfall being able
to put it somewhere. The Board agreed for County employees to be
compensated at their regular pay for the closure and not having to
use leave from their leave banks. Greg Zempel, Prosecutor, said
either way the Board decided to go, it would be legally justified.
01/06/2022 MINUTES 2
The Communications Director was directed to prepare an email along
with Chairman Osiadacz to all County employees; prepare a Press
Release notifying the public of the closures; notification to
Everbridge; as well as Facebook posts.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:46 a.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON Julie Kjorsvik Laura Osiadacz, Chairman