Commissioners address cannabis issues

DAYTON– Due to the Martin Luther King holiday, the Columbia County Commissioners met for a lengthy regular session on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.

Columbia County Associate Planner Dena Martin reported that in the “you don’t know what you don’t know” department, she and Columbia County Building Official Clint Atteberry viewed a training video on code development and enforcement for cannabis facilities to include conditional use permits. The video made the point that there are potential hazards from processing Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, which comes from the cannabis sativa (marijuana) plant.

Currently Blue Mountain Station has a CBD processor; and Dena Martin happily reported that they were fully aware of the CBD requirements. The Commissioners are interested in viewing the training video to be fully informed of the potential hazards of code enforcement for cannabis facilities. It is hoped this can be scheduled in a future Commissioner session. Additionally, this reporter found a presentation document titled Marijuana Facilities and the Building Code, published by Colorado Code Consulting. The issues mentioned include: electrical, chemical, mold, and carbon dioxide.

Martin also reported that the City of Starbuck has decided not to opt in to the Affordable and Supportive Housing Bill (Substitute House Bill 1406, signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee on May 9, 2019) sales tax credit. This credit would have allowed Starbuck to use some of the sales tax revenue towards affordable and supportive housing. The total amount of the credit, which is good for 20 years, is limited to the amount of sales tax collected in 2019. The City of Starbuck decided that the amount of sales tax revenue collected in Starbuck was not significant enough to warrant an opt in. The Columbia County portion of the credit can be used to benefit Starbuck, but this would be a decision from the County.

Martha Lanman, Administrator for Columbia County Public Health, reported two public education programs coming to Dayton. Both of these exciting programs are “don’t miss!”

Eastern Washington Health Education Center from Eastern Washington University will present Mental Health First Aid on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Just as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) helps an individual with a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis. Specific time and location will be determined later.

“Hidden in Plain Sight,” a drug awareness program, will be coming to Dayton on April 1, 2020. This program will teach parents and teachers how to search rooms for drug paraphernalia. This program will be shown in a trailer where there is a room, and visitors will be taught how to search and where to look. It is rumored that visitors will have five minutes to find 127 pieces of drug paraphernalia. Schools and organizations will attend in the morning, followed by a late afternoon public session.

Lee Ann Literal and Wayne Bell made an initial request for use of the Fairgrounds outdoor arena for Dayton Days Rodeo. This is currently scheduled for the weekend of May 23, 2020.

Actions taken:

-Accepted Anndria Anderson’s resignation from the Civil Service Board

-Appointed Steve Tapio to replace Anndria Anderson on the Civil Service Board

-Approved re-appointment of Commissioner Michael Talbot to the Walla Walla Watershed Management Partnership Board

-Appointed Commissioner Charles Amerein as Alternate to the Walla Walla Watershed Management Partnership Board

-Appointed Commissioner Ryan Rundell to the Columbia County Canvassing Board

-Approved a lease for 311 Main (County Commissioner location) through 2025

-Approved an Agreement between Columbia County Planning and Washington Department of Ecology for Solid Waste Investigations

-Passed Resolution 2020-04 to authorize lease of a Motor Grader

-Passed Resolution 2020-05 to dispose of surplus equipment via public auction

-Passed Resolution 2020-06 to acquire a new vehicle for the County Road Department, cost is just under $128,000

-Approved the new Public Works Organization chart, which incorporates the administration of Parks & Recreation under the Public Works Director

In the evening Community Concerns session held on January 21, 2020 at 6:30 p.m., local resident Howard Carey volunteered to make promotional posters for Dayton. The Commissioners were enthusiastic.