DAYTON--One of the topics discussed at last week’s BOCC meeting is what impact the state legislature’s budget will have on individual departments in the county.

With the exception of the Public Works Department, and Planning and Building Department, most agreed the effects will be either positive, or negligible.

While the state has passed transportation and operating budgets, it has not adopted the capital budget for the current biennium, because of a dispute over a measure relating to water rights, said Public Works Director Andrew Woods.

As a result, the county will not be reimbursed by the state for processing household hazardous waste and recycling, he said.

Woods said the county will continue to collect household hazardous waste until the storage capacity at the transfer station becomes full, at which time the county will stop collecting and will close the recycle bins, he said.

However, in a follow-up press release, the Columbia County Public Works Department announced that recycling and yard waste collection programs have now been suspended until a capital budget is adopted. The legislature’s failure to support statewide recycling leaves Columbia County’s solid waste efforts with a $50,000 annual budget shortfall, according to the release.

Until a new capital budget is adopted, all recycling containers will be removed from current locations and yard waste brought to the transfer station will be charged as garbage. Residents may put their yard waste in curbside bins but may not burn it as a burn ban is in effect.

Household hazard waste will be collected free of charge unless the storage area is full before the capital budget is adopted. Residents are requested to hold hazardous waste if possible, until after the adoption of the budget.

Planning and Building Director Kim Lyonnaise said while the Voluntary Stewardship Partnership has been fully funded, but there has been no money set aside, in the biennium, for the 2018 Comprehensive Plan.

Lyonnaise addressed the Supreme Court ruling, which is at the root of the capital budget dispute, and its potential impact on development in Columbia County.

The Hirst ruling requires counties to comply with the Growth Management Act and make an independent determination about whether enough water is available, before approving a building permit for projects that will need a new well.

Action items

An amendment was made to the county Parks and Recreation Fee Schedule, in particular, the Equine Fee Schedule.

The horse stall rental amount will increase from $70 per month, to $160 per month, beginning on Oct. 1.

The commissioners are taking a hard look at non-essential services, to see if they accurately reflect costs to the county, Commissioner Passmore said.

“We have to run hard numbers, and make hard decisions,” he said.

The BOCC also approved the purchase of a tractor to replace the one that is in a state of disrepair, and has been used at the fairgrounds.

“We spent $6,000 to $7,000 on repair bills, and it still doesn’t work,” said Commissioner Talbott about problems with the existing tractor.

At a cost of roughly $24,000, the Mahindra 2500 Series tractor is backed by a seven-year warranty. Money for the tractor will come from the county’s reserve funds.

The BOCC approved an amount of $12,000 to contract with Perteet, Inc. for work on forming a Flood Control Zone District. The city will pay an equal amount, according to Commissioner Merle Jackson.

Work has begun on Tucannon Road and the county engineer said to expect delays between Turner Road and Hartsock Road.