Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

DAYTON–The Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC) authorized the option to use American Rescue Pan Act (ARPA) and the 2022 Indigent defense contracts for District and Superior Court, approved a letter of support for HB1928; and passed Resolution 2022–05.

The BOCC approved the use of previously awarded American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allowance of $700,000 COVID recovery funds and the 2022 Indigent defense contracts for District and Superior Courts to Attorneys Rachel Cortez and Angela Garratt.

They approved a letter in support of HB1928 to reallocate tax money collected for equine-based goods and services from the general fund to the communities to grow the horse racing industry.

The letter states, “This bill makes sense for many reasons. It is not a tax increase; it simply redirects monies already collected from sales of specified equine-related goods and services out of the general fund and back into local economies for the purpose of revitalizing the horse racing industry and related activities.”

Loyal Baker, Dayton Days, Inc. Board vice-president, stated that if it passes, it would take effect in July of 2022 and it would level the “playing fields” between Oregon and Washington for purse offerings.

The Commissioners passed Resolution 2022-05 which read “on January 6, the U.S. Department of the Treasury adopted the final rule implementing the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) and providing substantial flexibility for jurisdictions to meet local needs within eligible categories.” The option was provided to claim the full amount of previously authorized COVID relief funds (ARPA) of $700,000 or a calculated amount reflecting revenue loss. This amount would be lower for Columbia County so the first option was authorized. The flexibility for spending for governmental services would cover the courthouse HVAC project according to Auditor Anne Higgins as well most any other expenditures including the already approved $90,000 for matching funds for the Port of Columbia broadband project.

Building Official Clint Atteberry from County Building and Planning provided a review of 2021, reflecting a significant growth in Columbia County. He said large projects such as the Vernon Bridge contribute to the $1.5 million increase in property values and a $10,000 increase in permitting fees. This was also seen in the City of Dayton with value increases of over $2 million and $13,000 in permits.

Inspections for surrounding communities saw an increase of $1.9 million in Garfield County and $330,000 for the City of Waitsburg. The total value increase for 2021 was just under $6 million with permitting over $30,000. Also noted was the total billed to the City for the County’s planning service since July of last year of $10,898.

Continuing and upcoming projects for 2022 include the City wastewater treatment facility, the regional shoreline master program update which has been authorized, multiple land use development inquiries, the Dayton pond intake weir repair, the pursuit of a county-wide wet flood proofing exemption for FEMA which will require an ordinance and the completion of the assisted living facility inspections.

Atteberry also notified the Commissioners that Jay Ball is stepping down as a planning commissioner for District 1 and so that position will be advertised to be filled.

In other business; The Board of Health Interim Directors Delphine Bailey will receive pay for shared position while Chelsey Eaton is on maternity leave and/or until a permanent director is hired. Job postings for Public Health Director, program coordinator and nurse will be submitted and released by the BOCC.

Bailey reported about the increase in reported COVID cases in the community stating that many more are going unreported with the increase of home testing. A vaccination clinic is scheduled for January 19 for children ages 5-11 at the Youth Building at the Fairgrounds with 13 signed up.

Bailey also reported flooding had occurred in the basement of the Public Health office building over the holiday weekend and said most things that were damaged were very old records and some storage items. Deputy Tim Quigg, former Maintenance Manager David Finney and her spouse, David Bailey, helped to remediate the immediate problems.

Public Health employee Jan Strohbehn reported about her work with the COVID-19 Care Connect program funded by the State Department of Health. This service provides care kits, grocery and medication pick-up and delivery, and up until recently, some financial support for people who are quarantined due to COVID. She is also training to assume the financial duties of the department.

The Commissioners decided to move work sessions back to Mondays beginning in February as it had been scheduled previously. All meetings held by the BOCC will be held on Mondays unless they fall on a holiday.