2023-12-20-minutes-bureau-of-land-management-update

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2023-12-20 MINUTES 1 COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON CONFERENCE ROOM SPECIAL MEETING WEDNESDAY 2:30 P.M. DECEMBER 20, 2023 Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright; Vice-Chairman Brett Wachsmith; and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz. Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Mark Cook, Public Works/CDS Director; Arden Thomas, Water Resource Program Manager; Clay Myers, Sheriff; and 3 members of the public. SPECIAL MEETING BLM UPDATE COMMISSIONERS At 2:30 p.m. Curtis Bryan and John Minor, Bureau of Land Management, provided an update to the Board of County Commissioners including property acquisition of lands in the Yakima River Canyon; recent fire activity; and BLM restoration efforts. The BLM held public meetings in the Ellensburg and Yakima areas to obtain opinions on what they’d like to see at the sites they’re acquiring this next spring. This past summer there were approximately 6 times the BLM assisted with responding to fire activity. Restoration efforts are ongoing at Ringer Road, on the west side of the Yakima River, including vegetation maintenance, planting, etc. and so far, it’s been very successful. Chairman Wright asked if the BLM would mind if they assigned a PLAC member to attend their meetings, and report back to the County. The BLM said they would welcome a member of PLAC to attend their meetings. Arden Thomas, Water Resource Program Manager, said the RV park which was recently purchased by the County closed on October 4th, but is still open to the public with some restrictions. She said there will be no camping as they cannot manage it. The reason it was purchased was due to the flood risks. The Board thanked everyone for their update. The request for Board signature on a letter to the Sheriff was pulled and no action was taken. Meeting concluded at 3:00 p.m. KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON