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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />SHERIFF'S STUDY SESSION MINUTES <br />COMMISSIONERS' AUDITORIUM, 205 WEST 5TH ROOM 109 - ELLENSBURG <br />Regular Meeting <br />WEDNESDAY 1 8:00 AM I Angus 5, 2026 <br />Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz. <br />Others: Sheriff Clay Myers, Chief Deputy Ben Kokjer, Auditor Byran Elliott, Budget & Finance <br />Director Zach Dehaven, Inspector Chris Whitsett, Public Works Director Josh Fredrickson, Chief <br />Deputy Darren Higashiyama, and Chief Admin Deputy Nancy Shaff. <br />Citizen Comments: None. <br />Discussion on Capital Facilities: <br />1-EOC-SAR Building <br />• Dedicating General Fund, funds to complete the EOC <br />• Completing the facility will allow for more opportunities to apply for Grants <br />• We could run the risk of losing future federal funds if we don't finish the facility <br />• The funds needed were $4M <br />• By keeping the grant rolling, if we can finish, it will cost less <br />• There is a Radio Control room, which Kittcom will have a contribution to the building. <br />This room will house radio equipment that the EOC will need to function. <br />• Fiber cost was estimated at $600K <br />• Laura mentioned that the Kittitas Fire District #1 Fire Levy passed. <br />• Laura suggested we help make the public aware of the building and its purpose. Sheriff <br />agreed we could accomplish that. He talked a bit about how that could be accomplished <br />but also it was out of sight out of mind and that it would be used as a secure storage for <br />equipment. Maybe we could have a SAR open house and a ribbon cutting. <br />• It was asked if there are more inside/outside partners that could help contribute to the cost <br />of building, that would benefit from its use. <br />• Need to present to the Capital Facility group. <br />2-Potenial purchase of the storage units behind the Sheriff's Office. <br />• We currently have 4 units <br />• There are others within the County that need storage <br />• Cost savings as well as revenue generating <br />o We met with Jack and talked about a price of $1.4M <br />o Chris provided a draft of the cost savings and additional revenue. <br />0 <br />We discussed the $22M General Fund balance and the policy that establishes what the Restricted <br />Fund Reserve must be. Zack sent the policy to Chris. The Restricted Fund Reserve needs to be <br />$11 M/$12M following the policy. Zack stated the trend for General Fund is negative, but it is <br />getting better. <br />2026-08-05 MINUTES <br />