County Commissioners Meet

DAYTON-The Columbia County department heads met and updated the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on June 21. Janet Schmidt from Washington State University Extension told the Commissioners that in talking with the director of Extension, it is strongly being considered continuing with someone in a dedicated position in the County as it had been since the agreement originated in 1986. The Commissioners previously expressed concern over the Extension's plan to regionalize the area, Extension agents specifically with Walla Walla County, because the agronomics are very different. She will update them again in the near future.

Public Works Engineer Charles Eaton and representatives from the Corps of Engineers met with the Commissioners about the permitting issue for continuing the debris removal in the Touchet River. According to Eaton, to move forward, a biological assessment would be needed to approve and fund the work. Because of the seasonal restraints, the County is considering moving forward with the work in hopes it would be approved by FEMA once the assessment is done later and be reimbursed. The cost of doing the critical work would not be exorbitant, according to Eaton, and would only take about a week.

Another option is to file the emergency under category B, which is a lesser emergency status for FEMA but they would need to be provided with a five-year history, including debris levels.

The discussion will continue at the next meeting on July 6 which is before the work window beginning July 20 with a decision expected on how to move forward.

The BOCC passed Ordinance 2021-04 for Regulation of Emergency Services. Emergency Management Manager Ashley Strickland presented Ordinance 2021-04 for Regulation of Emergency Services to the Commissioners in a public hearing. This ordinance is intended to enforce compliance for proper use of the 911 services and deter repetitive false alarms. This has been an issue in the County where in some instances improper detectors were used and going off without cause.

The BOCC approved the application of Jeanne Walter to serve on the Accessible Community Advisory Committee. This is a State Initiative to promote community inclusiveness and provide equal access to opportunities for all with disabilities.

The Commissioners convened for regular monthly Board of Health meeting with Public Health Administrator Martha Lanman. She reported two active COVID cases. This is down from five last week. She said the testing has also dropped off. She commented on the recent events of Dayton Days and All Wheels Weekend, saying they ran smoothly.

Lanman told the Commissioners that half of her time continues to be spent on COVID-related work. The Public Health office is now giving vaccinations, of which 25 were given last week. Lanman said next week they will be offering all three vaccinations: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. They continue to reach out to the homebound for vaccinations and also those being jailed. She said the State is almost 68% vaccinated and officials are discussing what opening up looks like, based on Governor Inslee's plan to open the State at 70%.

Columbia County has given 3,154 doses. Very few of the Johnson & Johnson single dose shots have been given so Lanman said you can almost divide that number in half for the fully vaccinated which brings the County to about 38%. She added that almost 45% of people over 65 and 34.5% ages 50-64 have been vaccinated.

Public Health will be offering education for the summer program at The Club and by having a booth at National Night Out on August 3.

Chelsey Eaton reported for her work with the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative and the Town Hall event in May on the topic of youth substance use and mental health with five panelists: middle and high school principal Kristina Brown, County prosecutor Dale Slack, Sheriff Joe Helm, and respiratory therapist Tom Anderson and CEO Shane McGuire from Columbia County Health System. She said there were over 30 participants. Last week a follow-up workshop was held for the Coalition for Youth and Families and was well attended with some new recruits from the Town Hall. Lanman thanked Eaton for building partnerships within the community.