🗞️ Klickitat County BOCC Meeting Summary – July 8, 2025

At their July 8 meeting, Klickitat County Commissioners tackled infrastructure updates, land use applications, public safety concerns, and funding for local services. Here's what residents need to know:

🚧 Public Works & Roads

• Road maintenance updates included final touches on Sunnyside Road and Pickleton Highway overlays, annual striping in progress, and BST (bituminous surface treatment) prep on Centerville Highway and in White Salmon.
• A new stormwater system is underway at the airport to support future development, with a holding pond being built for current needs and scalable for future expansion.

🐎 Fairgrounds & Facilities

• Commissioners approved a fee waiver for the Goldendale Rodeo Bible Camp, a long-running youth event facilitated by the Christian Cowboys.
• A sound system failure during a demolition derby sparked debate over liability. Staff suspect the event organizers misused the amps and may seek reimbursement for replacement costs.
• Lighting upgrades, ADA improvements, and other fairground projects are ongoing ahead of the county fair.

🏘️ Planning & Development

• A detailed update revealed Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) applications are more numerous than they appear due to a lag in formal intake. Staff are working on streamlining the process to better reflect community demand.
• Commissioners heard about concerns with Resource Land Evaluations, a process that affects landowners but relies heavily on subjective staff judgment due to vague code. The Planning Department is seeking to clarify this process.
• The Planning Department is also working on the Comprehensive Plan update, with outreach underway to improve engagement with tribal and Hispanic communities.

🏥 Public Health & Safety

• Klickitat County expanded its family planning funding by $12,570 through a state contract amendment.
• A new Designated Crisis Responder contract was approved to ensure 24/7 mental health crisis coverage.
• Commissioners renewed an updated jail services agreement with the Washington DOC, increasing the per diem reimbursement rate for housing incarcerated individuals.

🔥 Emergency Management & Dispatch

• Fire crews responded quickly to a wildfire near Wishram known as the “JACO Fire”, which burned up a steep cliff face. Access challenges highlighted the value of improved coordination with BNSF and the sheriff’s office boat.
• The board commended the team behind a recent wildfire workshop, where community members and local agencies discussed risk mapping, insurance challenges, and the importance of locally informed fire hazard maps.
• 911 dispatch staff were recognized with a Life Saving Award after a jet ski accident emergency call saved a man’s life. Meanwhile, the dispatch center is transitioning to a new phone system and expanding peer support and mental health training for first responders.

📡 Radio System Interference

• Officials reported radio interference issues affecting emergency communications at multiple sites. Troubleshooting is ongoing, and potential upgrades may be needed if the problem can’t be resolved.

💧 Switzler Reservoir SEPA Review

• A revised contract was approved with Geosyntec Consultants to continue environmental studies and Draft EIS preparation for the Switzler Reservoir proposal, extending the project timeline to December 2026.

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🗓️ Next BOCC Meeting
Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Klickitat County Services Building, 115 W Court St, Room 201, Goldendale, WA
Remote Access: Join via Zoom
📞 Dial-in: 1 (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 586 587 651
💬 Submit written public comment in advance to bocc@klickitatcounty.org

Let us know what issues matter to you in your community.