By Tracy Thompson
The Times 

Walla Walla County Commissioners held an open house at the Waitsburg Lions Club to give residents a forum to address county issues.

The wide-ranging discussion covered topics as diverse as property assessment, roundabouts and availability of AEDs and naloxone

 

October 10, 2019



Attending the meeting were Walla Walla County Commissioners Todd Kimball and Greg Tompkins, Walla Walla County Director of Public Works Tony Garcia and Director of the Walla Walla County Emergency Management System Liz Jeffries

WAITSBURG—A small group of community members gathered at the Lion’s Building in Waitsburg on Monday, September 30 for a Walla Walla County Commissioner’s Open House Meeting.

City Councilman Terry Jacoy asked about his recent home assessment value going up and wanted to know if this new valuation would increase his taxes. Commissioner Kimball explained that the County is only able to raise the tax rate 1% a year, and that the Commissioners only control 11% of the property tax dollars. Further, Kimball explained, the County is able to ‘bank’ the 1% increase year to year and currently has a 6% increase banked.

Kimball also commented that based on the size of the City of Walla Walla, College Place, the Sheriff’s Office Walla Walla County should technically have 70 more police officers. But he wondered where that money would come from. Kimball stated that a Sheriff’s deputy costs the county $165,000 a year.

City Councilman K.C. Kuykendall asked the commissioner how new industry can be attracted to the City of Waitsburg. Commissioner Tompkins replied that the City needs to work with the Port of Walla Walla to encourage industry in this area and the Port property in Waitsburg.

Waitsburg Commercial Club President Joy Smith remarked that Waitsburg is unable to provide the traffic needed at the Port property in Waitsburg. “It is not suitable for walk through traffic.” she said.

Councilor Kuykendall recommended that people “rattle the chains of Washington State Representative Skyler Rude” to figure out how to bring low-income money into the county and city to pay for infrastructure. He mentioned the $5 billion in excess revenue the State has recently spent and urged the Commissioners to get the Trust Fund back as the County and City could benefit from that.

Kimball then discussed voter turnout in the region as one of the issues that prevents the County from benefiting from State dollars, “we’ve got to get people in Eastern Washington to the ballot box.” He said.

Street maintenance and repairs were then discussed, as Kuykendall wondered if Tony Garcia had ever looked into intergovernmental maintenance agreements as a way to cut costs. Hernandez stated that he has been working with City Clerk Randy Hinchliffe over the years to partner with City contractors on chip seal and fog seal work. The cost and availability of contractors to work in Walla Walla County was also discussed, with many projects ending up with a ‘no bid’ due to other more economically viable opportunities elsewhere.

Joy Smith suggested that the City of Walla Walla, the County and Waitsburg could jurisdictionally combine the three pools to encourage bidding and that every effort should be made to locate other sources of funding such as USDA community block grants or Federal dollars for projects.

City Councilman Jim Romine asked about the county’s options for the Clinton and Wilbur Street exits on Highway 12. Remarking that he would prefer an interchange over a roundabout as he heard they are safer. Tony Hernandez stated that “like it or not, from an engineer’s perspective, roundabouts work.”

Waitsburg resident Randy Charles addressed issues concerning Emergency Medical Services in town. He asked what the solution is for Waitburg when it relies on its volunteer fire department which currently does not have the capability to transfer a patient to a medical facility. “We’re 20 minutes from Walla Walla, what we have now is unsatisfactory. As an aging community he felt we are at risk. “What can you guys do to help us, is it funding? Is it because we don’t have a big enough pool of volunteers?” Charles asked.

Todd Kimball responded “It is all related to volunteers in Waitsburg. They don’t have a big enough base to serve your community. Most of the County is dependent on volunteers. Fire District #4 has an ambulance and Emergency Medical Technicians, everyone else is reliant on volunteers.”

“There’s really two options, stated Kimball. “Number one, is more volunteers, option number two is paid staff, that’s going to be a tax on the citizens of Waitsburg. The EMS levy only provides $50,000 a year. It’s going to be a Waitsburg tax of some sort, or more volunteers.” Kimball continues.

Charles then stated that he learned that County Sheriff’s vehicles no longer have AED devices in their vehicles, but do currently carry Narcan. Charles asked if deputies would administer it to the public, or if it was for use by deputies only, as he stated he had been informed by Sheriff Mark Crider.

Kimball stated that he had “talked with deputies myself and they don’t want to give Narcan because it puts them in danger, that’s what they have told me directly.” Other attendees commented on the need for training to administer the antagonist, while Charles asserted that with the drug in a nasal spray form, it can be administered by practically anyone.

Commissioner Kimball suggested that he would talk to Sheriff Crider about the issue.

After this discussion the meeting came to a close.

 

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