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# 🗞️ Klickitat County BOCC Meeting Summary – July 8, 2025
- URL: https://skamania-dispatch.ghost.io/klickitat-county-bocc-meeting-summary-july-8-2025/
- Published: 2025-07-16T00:23:19.000Z
- Updated: 2025-07-16T00:23:19.000Z
- Description: Klickitat County Commissioners met July 8 to tackle wildfire readiness, land use backlogs, emergency radio failures, and a fee waiver debate over a broken sound system at the demolition derby. Plus: ADU permitting delays, new crisis responder contracts, and stormwater work at the airport.
- Author: Dispatch Squatch
- Tags: Klickitat County, Klickitat Board of County Commissioners

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](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/586587651?ref=skamania-dispatch.ghost.io)  
📞 Dial-in: 1 (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 586 587 651  
💬 Submit written public comment in advance to [bocc@klickitatcounty.org](mailto:bocc@klickitatcounty.org)

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