The Okanogan County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on November 29, 2010, with Chairman, Commissioner Andrew Lampe, Mary Lou Peterson, Commissioner Don Hover and Brenda Crowell, Clerk of the Board present.

Update – Planning
Perry Huston, Char Schumacher

Perry reported that DOE has released funds on the Shoreline Master Program. In regard to the Oroville area water/sewer areas it may be possible to have lower densities when properties are served by a water/sewer system.

Perry and the Commissioners discussed the direction the board wishes to take with the WDFW meetings regarding land acquisitions. The board stated that they would like to do an Interlocal Government Agreement with a default for a SEPA process should F&W not provide the needed information under the agreement.

Perry asked the commissioners how they would like to be involved in the BLM Management Plan.

Perry is still going through an analysis of the recent DOE rules relating to exempt wells. Commissioner Hover stated that he discussed this with Senator Parlette and expressed concern that there would be no legislative oversight should this go into affect.

Char explained the impacts of the governor’s order that suspended non-critical rule development and adoption activities until the end of 2011. Some rules may still be adopted if the rule is required by federal or state law, required by a court order, or critically necessary to manage budget shortfalls and rules that are necessary for public health, safety and welfare.

A meeting has been scheduled in Oroville to discuss Champerty Shores’ sewer connections.

Perry stated that a meeting was held with the landowner for the CUP application on the shooting range and confirmed that the land owner has withdrawn his consent for the project. Therefore the appeal hearing scheduled for December 7, 2010 will not be held nor will a hearing take place in front of the Board of Adjustment.

Les Kinny, Boyd Kenny, Ben Whitley

Les Kinny explained that at the last cattleman’s meeting a weed employee came and presented a request for support of a weed assessment. He said there were only a few cattlemen who were in favor of increasing the assessment unless they can show better results. Every landowner has issues with the lack of weed spraying. They were complaining about the county right-of-ways lack of spraying. The weed board doesn’t have enforcement powers over the county.

Commissioner Hover stated that he had told the Weed Board that if they could get letters of support from the Farm Bureau, coalition for property rights and the cattlemen’s association the board would consider increasing the assessment; otherwise, he would not be in favor of the increase. He noted that since that time a letter was received from the Farm Bureau stating they are not in favor of the increase.

Les noted that Summer Road runs through his property and he doesn’t see the county spraying on that right-of-way.

Bill Nearents, Public Works, stated that the Noxious Weed office coordinates with the Public Works weed shop and they are sprayed within a couple days. The crews are to spray all weeds. Commissioner Peterson stated that you couldn’t use the same weed spray on all weeds. She noted that she believes that Bill is very responsive when people call.

Ben Whitley said that because of there being two separate entities people do not know who to call. There needs to be more coordination between the two departments.

Commissioner Peterson stated that based on conversations with Bill and Anna they are always in contact and discussing weed problems. There is a MOU between the two departments for coordination.

Commissioner Peterson asked Bill how many roads are sprayed. Bill stated that the weed shop sprays approximately 700 miles and private contractors spray about the same distance on dirt roads.

Commissioner Peterson stated she would like to see the roads sprayed to the fence line. Commissioner Hover pointed out that there is a liability problem with doing that.

Anna stated that they have been working hard with the Railroads to get them to spray their weeds. The finally, had a sit down meeting in this last month with them and she is hopeful that they will spray.

Commissioner Peterson pointed out that the County Weed Board county establishes their own weed list and can require that they be eradicated. They also have the authority by state law to enforce on Class A weeds.

The Noxious Weed Board is updating their current ordinance and it was suggested that they identify problem weeds in the ordinance along with enforcements.