🧯From Fire Recovery to Broadband - Klickitat BOCC Highlights for 8/5/25

📰 Klickitat County Board of County Commissioners Meeting Summary – August  5, 2025

🛣️ Transportation Program Amendments

At the 1:30 PM public hearing, the Board approved updates to the county’s Six‑Year Transportation Improvement Program (2025–2030). Key projects added:

• Snowden Road Overlay (~$3.6M)
• Schrantz Road Bridge replacement (~$200K)
• Sidewalk improvements on Fairgrounds Road

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🔋 Energy Overlay & Zoning Updates

Commissioners adopted amendments to the Energy Overlay Zone (EOZ) in Title 19 of county code:

• Large-scale solar projects (over 1 acre) are now prohibited in specific townships.
• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are explicitly excluded as accessory uses.
• A moratorium extension was approved to delay new BESS applications while permanent rules are developed.

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🧯 Wildfire Recovery & Hazardous Waste Planning

Klickitat County approved a $99,688 contract with Herrera Environmental Consultants to update the Solid & Hazardous Waste Management Plan and conduct a feasibility study on organics collection for Bingen and White Salmon. This includes exploring options like curbside composting, community drop-off, and small-scale processing systems.

🏞 Columbia River Gorge Commission – Wildfire Recovery Permitting

Commissioner Valerie Fowler, Klickitat County’s representative to the Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC), briefed the Board on the agency’s ongoing work to address rebuilding challenges for residents impacted by recent wildfires, including the Burdoin Fire.

Key points from her update:

• Scenic Area Permit Barriers
  • Fowler noted that current National Scenic Area (NSA) land use rules can delay or complicate rebuilding efforts for homes lost in fires.
  • The CRGC is exploring temporary and permanent policy adjustments, sometimes referred to as “hardship permits,” to streamline approval for like-for-like home replacements and essential infrastructure.
• Inter-County Coordination
  • The Gorge Commission has been presenting similar wildfire permitting updates to other Gorge counties, including Skamania and Wasco, to gather feedback and identify common priorities.
  • Klickitat’s input will help shape any formal amendments to NSA management plans or administrative rules.
• Community Engagement
  • The Commission plans to seek direct feedback from fire-affected residents before adopting new processes. This may include targeted outreach meetings, online comment opportunities, and coordination with county planning staff.
• Timeline & Next Steps
  • Fowler emphasized that any official rule change must be adopted through the CRGC’s public process, but interim guidance could be issued more quickly to avoid delaying recovery.
  • The Board expressed interest in ensuring that Klickitat’s planning department is closely involved, so that local permit processing aligns with any new CRGC recommendations.

Further Reading: Leaving Lyle: One evacuation story from the Burdoin fire

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🧾 Additional Updates & Appointments

• Eric Wilson was appointed to the Hood River–White Salmon Bridge Authority, replacing Marla Keethler, filling a term through January 1, 2028.
• New members joined the Water Conservancy Board.
• Emergency Management’s credit card limit was raised from $10,000 to $25,000 to facilitate fire recovery spending.
• Klickitat County Public Health and Corrections reported that Narcan is now stocked in county jails, staff are trained to use it, and kits are being distributed countywide through opioid outreach programs.

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🗓 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
Comments are due by noon the day before a meeting to be acknowledged.

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