🚧 County Updates: BESS Moratorium, Bluebird Haul & $3.6M for Roads - Klickitat BOCC meetings 9/2 - 9/16

---

📅 September 2, 2025 – Regular Meeting & Budget Workshop

• Roads & Public Works
  • Public hearing on road vacations (Old Mountain Rd., Courtney Rd., Old Hwy 8, Sundale Rd.).
  • Approved contracts for Snow Road overlay, Sleepy Hollow Road Phase 1 design, and bridge repairs.
  • Approved a road haul agreement with Bluebird Solar, debated for impacts; passed 2–1 (Andrews opposed).
  • Commissioners extended the moratorium on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) through March 2026 after safety concerns were raised.
• Community Facilities: Courthouse lawn hosted Overdose Awareness Day displays, a medieval reenactment, and a memorial tree planting.
• Staffing: Authorized advertising for a new East District Court administrator position after retirement.
• Budget Workshop Highlights
  • Auditor presented the preliminary 2026 budget binder, noting landfill revenues at ~$8.4M and insurance allocations expected to rise 20–30%.
  • Discussion on how to prioritize department requests and manage rising insurance costs without unsustainable commitments.

---

🔫 Ammo Budgets Under Review: Training or Stockpiling?

At the September 2 budget workshop, Klickitat Commissioners questioned a Sheriff’s Office request for $8,647 in additional funds, part of which was earmarked for ammunition. Staff said the number was based on state-mandated qualifications plus 15-25% extra for training, especially with deputies qualifying on a new weapons system this year.

But national reviews suggest law enforcement ammo purchases aren’t always transparent. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study found federal agencies often bought more ammunition than they used, raising oversight concerns (GAO report). At the same time, rising prices and supply shortages have been reported in both private and law enforcement markets (NBC Washington).

In Washington, deputies only need to qualify twice a year, using far fewer rounds than most departments typically budget. Commissioners noted that underfunding training could expose the county to liability, but the request raised questions about whether these costs represent true training needs or quiet stockpiling at a time when county budgets are already strained by fire recovery and steep insurance hikes.

---

📅 September 4, 2025 – Budget Workshop

• Supplemental Requests
  • Emergency Management asked for $41,101 to cover wildfire overtime and start a recovery coordinator position (first candidate declined).
  • Other requests included corrections vehicles, a sheriff’s marine unit, and phone system upgrades.
• Treasurer’s Update: Reported on revenues, landfill balances, and the county’s new line of credit.
• Commissioner Concerns: Emphasized balancing urgent fire recovery needs with long-term fiscal sustainability, wary of committing to permanent staffing or programs prematurely.
• Editor's note: Though not discussed during this meeting, Klickitat Valley Health (the local hospital) is already preparing for the effects of federal Medicaid cuts. The CEO reported concerns about how changes to coverage (like work requirement rules and retroactive enrollment periods) will reduce reimbursement.

---

📅 September 9, 2025 – Regular Meeting

• Department Reports
  • Public Works: Updates on Snowden Rd. Overlay, Sleepy Hollow Rd. Phase 1, paving in Centerville, and airport trenching.
  • Emergency Management: Fire recovery updates and resilience planning.
  • Adult Probation: Routine staffing and caseloads.
  • Prosecutor: Legal update on ongoing county issues.
• Consent Agenda: Approved phone trunks for 911, a behavioral health contract amendment, an onsite sewage loan program MOU, and an airport grant.
• Planning: Approved extensions for short plats (Schroder, Speelman, Cox) due to unmet requirements.
• Funding Win: Klickitat secured $3.6M in federal STP transportation funds, among the highest awards in Washington.

---

📅 September 16, 2025 – Regular Meeting

• Treasurer’s Report
  • Tax foreclosure caseload is declining (down to ~250 parcels, with ~12 heading to certificate of delinquency).
  • Banking fees reduced through new contracts, but postage and tax refund interest are rising.
• Lodging Tax Review
  • Revenue dropped after White Salmon, Bingen, and Goldendale began collecting their own lodging taxes.
  • Current county lodging tax balance: $127,000, with $91,000 received so far this year.
  • Commissioners emphasized requiring applicants (especially chambers and recurring events) to disclose all funding sources.
• Public Works
  • Crews completed Centerville street paving; road and bridge projects are still delayed by contractor strikes and approvals.
  • Discussed plans for a new access road and RV park area near the fairgrounds, pending archaeological review and grant funding.

---

🗓 Next Steps & Participation

💻 Join future meetings on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/586587651
📞 Dial-in: 1 (669) 900-6833 | Meeting ID: 586 587 651
📬 Submit written comments: bocc@klickitatcounty.org (due by noon the day before a meeting to be acknowledged)