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Home My WebLink About2026-10-13-minutes-solid-waste-and-maintenanceKITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Solid Waste and Maintenance Regular Meeting Tuesday October 13, 2026 - 2:00 PM BOCC Conference Room 206 West 5th Room 108 - Ellensburg 1. Call to Order 2. Citizen Comments (1 min. time limit) 3. Discussion on Solid Waste Dept. Staffing 4. Solid Waste Updates 5. Request Board Approval and Chair's Signature on Amendment No. 6 with SCS Engineers 6. Jail Project Update 7. EOC Update 8. Discussion/Decision on SaniGlaze Color Selection 9. Update on IT Ceiling 10.Other Business - No Action to be taken 11. Concluded Kittitas County is committed to making its services, public meetings, programs, and activities readily accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request. To request an accommodation, please contact the Kittitas County ADA Coordinator as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for the County to make the necessary arrangements. A Request for Accommodation form is available at the Kittitas County Courthouse. You may also request a form or submit an accommodation request by contacting the Kittitas County ADA Coordinator at (509) 962-7082 or Created on 10/12/2026 9:04:50 AM KITTITAS COUNTY SOLID WASTE AND MAINTENANCE MINUTES BOCC CONFERENCE ROOM, 205 WEST 5TH ROOM 108 - ELLENSBURG Regular Meeting TUESDAY 1 2:00 PM October 13, 2026 Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith, Vice- Chairman, Laura Osiadacz and Commissioner Jeff Leichleiter Others: Jesse Cox, Cody Cupp, Jeanne Killgore and Lisa Lawrence. Call to Order at 2:02 p.m. Citizen Comments (1 min. time limit) None Request for Board Approval and Chair's signature on Amendment No. 6 with SCS Engineers: Discussion was held on Amendment No. 6 reducing the Contract by $106,108 for claims resolutions. Chairman Wachsmith moved to approve the amendment, Vice -Chairman Leichleiter seconded the motion, motion passed 3-0. Chairman Wachsmith excused at 2:04. Discussion on Solid Waste Dept. Staffing: Jesse informed the Board that Solid Waste is having staffing issues and is currently running on a skeleton crew. Jeanne informed the Board that this has been an ongoing issue in Solid Waste. Further discussion included triage scenarios while the Department is short-staffed in addition to bringing the temporary full-time position to permanent full-time. Jesse informed the Board that he would also be looking at hiring a replacement FTE in the spring in hopes of not having to cut services due to lack of staff. Jeanne out at 2:09. Solid Waste Updates: Jesse informed the Board that he is working with CDS to assist with creating a Short Plat at the new Transfer Station Property with intentions of leasing it out in the future. Jesse gave the Board an update on the status of land application at Ryegrass stating that he is meeting with the engineering company tomorrow to discuss it. Jesse informed the Board that he has an upcoming stakeholders meeting with septic haulers to discuss current challenges and future options for septage. Commissioner Leichleiter requested an invite to the meeting. Discussion was held on wind mitigation at the New Transfer Station including a wall being installed on the MRW Facility and drafting a similar fix on the Transfer Station building. Further discussion included minor traffic revisions at the upper County Transfer Station and signage upgrades consistent with Public Works. A brief discussion was held on the clean-up requirements at the old Transfer Station property. Jail Project Update: Cody informed the Board that the project has been extended into January 2027 due to the lack of availability of parts for the recreational yard coverings. 2026-10-13 MINUTES 1 EOC Project: Cody informed the Board that the concrete pour for sidewalks is scheduled for tomorrow and that asphalt is scheduled for October 22na Discussion/Decision on SaniGlaze Color Selection: Cody presented the Board with a color chart for the Courthouse bathrooms. Discussion was held on paint colors, the anti -bacterial glaze benefits and that one bathroom is scheduled and budgeted for this year and one for next year. Update on IT Ceiling: Cody gave the Board an update on the air quality concern in IT, stating that he is working on a contract with Clean Images to remedy the concerns. The cleanup is scheduled for Friday but may get pushed back since legal is still reviewing the contract language. OTHER BUSINESS — No Action to be taken None Meeting concluded at 2:28 p.m. 1 Lisa Lawrence KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON Brett Wachsmith, Chairman 2026-10-13 MINUTES 2 KITTITAS COUNTY Board of County Commissioners STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT DATE: October 13, 2026 ACTION REQUESTED: No action, Informational only BACKGROUND: Kittitas County Solid Waste's lean staffing model leaves limited capacity to cover illness, scheduled leave, FMLA, vacancies, or other absences. Historically, staffing shortages have required the administrative office to close approximately 20 times annually. Scale house coverage remains a priority for daily operations, customer transactions, waste tracking, and a significant portion of department revenue collection. Staffing gaps require employees, including the Assistant Director and Director, to cover duties outside their normal assignments. Recurring or extended coverage reduces management capacity for contracts, compliance, budgeting, capital projects, personnel, and long-term planning. The department intends to develop a more flexible workforce through a generalist staffing model and increased cross training. Training is underway as coverage allows, but current staffing limits dedicated training time. Staff will continue evaluating duties, coverage alternatives, and whether a fractional or full-time position is needed to maintain reliable operations and support this transition. INTERACTION: N/A RECOMMENDATION: No recommendation, HANDLING: N/A LEAD STAFF: Jesse Cox, Solid Waste Director KITTITAS COUNTY Board of County Commissioners STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT DATE: October 13, 2026 ACTION REQUESTED: Request to Approve Amendment No 6 BACKGROUND: SCS Engineers provides construction phase engineering support for the new lower valley transfer station under a time and materials Professional Service Agreement. Amendment No. 6 reduces the contract by $106,108 for claims resolution. The contract amount through Amendment No. 5 was $1,610,949 including $32,215 for the wind study and design upgrades and $88,320 for additional stormwater reporting and project closeout. The proposed reduction brings the total contract amount not to exceed to $1,504,841. SCS Engineers signed the amendment on October 5, 2026. The County signature remains pending. This study session provides an opportunity to review the adjustment before bringing the amendment forward for Board approval INTERACTION: SCS Engineers; Kittitas County Solid Waste RECOMMENDATION: Board Approval of Amendment No. 6, and authorize the Chair to sign the Amendment Acceptance Letter. HANDLING: Original- Clerk of Board LEAD STAFF: Jesse Cox, Solid Waste Director Kittitas County SoLid Waste Programs 925 Industrial Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926 Telephone: (509) 962-7542 October 2, 2026 SCS Engineers Attention: Tom Parker, PE, Project Director 2405 1401h Ave. NE Suite 107 Bellevue, WA 98005 RE: Amendment No. 5 to Professional Service Agreement This Amendment is for construction phase engineering support services for the new lower valley transfer station, to be billed at time and materials. Original Professional Service Agreement Amendments 1-3 Letter Dated August 27, 2026 Amendment 4R. For Wind study and design upgrades Letter Dated August 21, 2026 Amendment 5 Additional Stormwater reporting and project closeout Letter Dated October 1, 2026 Amendment 6 Claims resolution Total Adjust Service Contract Amount Not to Exceed Please sign and return a copy of the amendment. Approval Kittitas County Chair oar ommissioners BY;7;4 ` Name TITLE: "'L=SS,oVL.L� Lipp, DATE. / 0 % 3 Lu z& SCS Engineers BY: $1,490,414 $ 32,215 $ 88, 320 ($106,108) $1,504, 841 Name:_Mlchelle°Leonard-- TITLE,.—Senior Vice President— DATE:— 10/5/2026 Environmental Consultants & Contractors October 1, 2026 Project No. 01222292.00 Patti Stacey Kittitas County Solid Waste/Facility Maintenance Director 925 Industrial Way Ellensburg, WA 98926 SLIbject. Project - Kittitas County-- Lower Valley rransfer Station CO/Claims Resolution Dear' Patti: Thank you for meeting with our team to address resolution of the County's claims for additional costs associated with design development items identified during construction of the Lower County Transfer Station Project ("Project"), and as outlined in your February 4, 2025 and June 8, 2026 letters ("Letters"). This letter will bring to closure our various discussions and exchanges regarding the claims. As a result of good faith negotiations, the County and SCS have agreed that in full satisfaction of the County's claim for additional design -related costs associated with the Change Orders outlined in the Letters, and other issues relating to the design work, SCS will pay the County the total sum of $106,108 ("Settlement Arnount") in the form of a credit against final amounts due to SCS under the Professional Services ,Agreement. The Settlement Amount is intended to cover all outstanding claims, with the agreed allocation of $70,000 covering claims associated with the County's February 4, 2025 letter and $36,108 for ali claims associated with the County s June 8, 2026 letter. SCS will take ownership of the lights outlined in the June 8, 2026 letter. The County will issue for SCS's acceptance a Change Order reflecting the deduction and the credit to the County for the Settlement Amount. This agreed settlement is made without assignment of liability or responsibility to either party and in full settlement of all claims as of the date of the CO. The Parties specifically waive the benefits of the provisions of Civil Code section 1542, Please forward the deductive Change Order for SCS' acceptance and return at your earliest convenience.. We value our positive experience working with the County on this Project and welcome the opportunity to discuss your assessment of the Project and SCS' efforts in supporting the County. Thank you for working with us to reach the agreed resolution. Sincerely, Accepted and agreed, SCS Engineers Kittitas County Solid Waste Patti Stacey Michelle Leonard Solid Waste!Facility Maintenance Manager Senior Vice President