Friday, April 19, 2024
WENATCHEE (via Zoom) – Commissioners from three government entities in two counties as well as several guest speakers, met virtually Tuesday, Nov. 24 to discuss regional issues pertinent to both Chelan and Douglas counties.
The newly combined Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority, Chelan County Commissioners, and the Chelan County Public Utility District (PUD) spoke to each other via Zoom about:
Chelan County Commissioner Bob Bugert spoke about wildfires, decline in snowpack, water supply and other impacts caused by climate change. He expressed hope that future partnerships with other government and NGO’s would result in mitigating all of the above.
Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay said the county was working with the Chelan-Douglas Health District and received $8 million for various COVID-19 relief efforts aimed at businesses and organizations. Overbay also said the county has distributed $500,000 to non-profits around the county as well as $250,000 to several fire/ems functions.
He mentioned COVID-19 vaccines could be ready by mid-December. Medical workers, especially longterm care facility workers and patients, would be given priority.
Jim Kuntz, executive director of the Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority, said his entity bought 72.5 acres in Malaga at 5375 Malaga-Alcoa Highway for slightly less than $1.4 million, which averages to around $19,000 per care.
He said the land was a much needed addition to low land inventories currently carried by the Port. Kuntz stated that a water hookup was about one mile away. He also said another parcel was located in Douglas County that was equally valuable to add so that Chelan-Douglas with remain competitive with Grant County as far as attracting new business ventures.
Kuntz also said Pangborn Airport was at negative 66.7 percent of passenger traffic, but that was actually better than many other airports around the state. The average is negative 79 percent.
He also expressed satisfaction that Pangborn flights remained at two per day, on par with all of the larger airports, even though Wenatchee is a much smaller market.
Talks are still ongoing with United Airlines, Skywest, Boutique Air and Alaska Airlines for other direct flights, but for some reason, Denver and Phoenix are the locations being mentioned the most.
As of this meeting, 880 checks totaling $4.2 million has been distributed to businesses in the bi-county region. The future bodes bright, according to meeting attendees, that the incoming Biden Administration will introduce a huge stimulus package, keeping the stock market and economy buzzing along at record high rates.
The Chelan County Commissioners decided not to raise the property tax rate by the 1 percent allowable by statute due to the dire straits of many small businesses and families.
Guest speakers State Senator Brad Hawkins and State Representative Mike Steele said they have spoken to Congressman Kim Schrier regarding getting more funding for fiber connections from federal coffers.
Hawkins offered to draft a letter to Schrier and said he thought it would show great solidarity and one-mindedness if all local elected officials in the area join in signing the letter.
It was suggested that Senator Maria Cantwell be contacted as she is a key link on U.S. Senate committees handling energy policies, especially if Democrats win the two runoff elections for U.S. Senate in Georgia, giving them a Senate majority and thus more power to that party to head these important committees.
Chelan PUD Executive Director Steve Wright stated that the utility was in the process of replacing wooden telephone poles with metal ones to aid in wildfire mitigation efforts, but that this program was costly and also will take a while to complete.
Wright stated it was a $5 million effort and was especially important to the Leavenworth area, which is listed by the state as a major hazardous area, highest risk in the state, pertaining to wildfires.
Wright said the PUD is hiring a consultant to identify best practices in regards to wildfire risk assessment. Wright said recent talks were encouraging with Washington State Director of Natural Resources Director Hillary Franz , which allows for less stringent rules for taking down “danger trees.”
Several of the meeting participants wished retiring Chelan County Commissioner Doug England a happy retirement and thanked him for his many years of service to the county.
For more information on various aspects of this meeting, go to the Chelan PUD, County and Port websites.
Gary Bégin can be contacted via email: Gary@ncwmedia.net.
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