County Commissioners approve interlocal agreement with City

DAYTON–The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Dayton, contracting out County planning services at an hourly rate for a period of six months unless terminated with a one-month notice. This is a stop-gap measure while the city attempts to fill the planning position left after the mayor terminated last month the Director of Planning and Community Development along with the Administrator and Public Works Manager.

The BOCC heard a presentation from Executive Director of the Port of Columbia, Jennie Dickinson, appealing to them for a $100,000 portion of the expected American Recovery Act (ARPA) funds coming to the County to help meet the match of the $2 million Community and Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) grant that was awarded to the Port for rural broadband that would cover the cost of the project. With these funds, the Port would contract to construct the network in and around Dayton provided they meet the match requirements. CERB issues these grants to rural communities because private industries are not currently motivated to bring in broadband to small towns.

Dickinson brought with her Port Commissioner Shawn Brown, County Planning Director Dena Martin, Columbia County Health System Manager of Clinical Services Kim Emery and Chief Information Officer Erin Trump, the new library director Todd Vandenbark, a representative from the office of Cathy McMorris-Rogers who advocates for broadband expansion, and representatives from three local internet providers who have signed a preliminary agreement with the Port for leasing the use of the network to offer to customers.

Each offered their various viewpoints of the benefits asserting that COVID brought out the need for reliable internet as demand increased and individuals and business were pushed to rely on it.

Dickinson said the ARPA funds can be used towards broadband which would be budget neutral for the County. She also expressed her hope the City will contribute $330,000 of their ARPA funds towards the match requirements as discussed with former employees. When questioned what she will do if the County and City choose not to contribute, she said she will seek funding from the Innovia Foundation and other companies in the private sector.

The Ports of Whitman and Garfield Counties have had success with their broadband project. Pomeroy has 50% usage in six months since it was completed and local internet providers are charging $70 for connections of one gigabyte. A portion of that charge covers the companies leases to their ports. In turn, the ports use those lease fees to contract with another company for maintenance. Pomeroy is using Petracare for their maintenance service.

Dickinson said they currently have in hand match money from Sherwood Trust, The Warren Foundation, Dayton Columbia County Fund and money set aside from the Port totaling $68,500. She said pending securing the rest of the grant match, construction could begin as early as February and be ready for servicing the area by the end of 2022.

Charles Eaton, Director of Columbia County Public Works reminded the commissioners the County is "$1.8 million in the hole as far as related to expenditures on our side and we were planning on using some of that ARPA money for that, if possible."

Dickinson suggested the BOCC consider the small investment for the benefit to the community and that they speak with the Garfield County Commissioners.

The Board of Public Health also met and Director Martha Lanman reported six active COVID cases, all in the unvaccinated. Because of this, testing and contact tracing have increased. Below 40% of County residents have been fully vaccinated despite continued attempts at offering regular clinics and reaching out to those that may not be free to come out for the shots including the homebound and those in jail.

Lanman will be meeting with the office of the Washington Secretary of Health about the low numbers and some discrepancies in the numbers. She acknowledged, "It's everyone's personal choice...I try to be respectful." Commissioner Charles Amerein assured her, "I think you are doing everything you can within the bounds you have."

Sheriff Joe Helm reported plans to hold National Night Out on the usual first Tuesday of August. He also shared of his participation in signing an affirmation of Constitutional Rights, particularly the Second Amendment Rights with other Sheriffs around the State.