Written by Robin Pittman

Published: 11 June 2019

Regular Board Meeting
142 Pedoi Street, Bumgarner Building, June 13, 2019, 4:10pm

I. Call to Order
II. Flag Salute
III. Agenda Additions and Deletions
IV. Public Comment
V. Approval of Minutes
a. May 9, 2019 regular meeting minutes
VI. Financial Review
a. Review Monthly Financial Report
b. Review and Approve Monthly Voucher
VII. Old Business
a. Leffler Field
b. Director’s Report
VIII. New Business
a. LCCH & EMS Life jacket loaner board
b. Maintenance vehicle purchase
IX. Adjournment

Next Regular Meeting: July 11, 2019 at 4:10pm, 142 Pedoi Street, Manson, WA 98831

Written by Jef Lucero, WSDOT communications

Published: 07 June 2019

OMAK – The Apple Line – an intercity bus line connecting Omak and Ellensburg – is having a party for its 10th anniversary, and the public is invited. The big difference between this and other anniversary parties: the Apple Line will be the one giving away the presents.

Launched just over 10 years ago as the second route of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Travel Washington intercity bus system, the Apple Line has connected approximately 62,000 riders between Omak and Ellensburg since its first day of service. To celebrate its 10-year anniversary, WSDOT, Greyhound, Northwest Trailways and other community partners will host a reception and luncheon at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 12, at the Civic League Park Bandshell in Omak.

The first 100 attendees will receive a coupon for a $10 one-way or round-trip fare, a savings of about $10 to $30 on a future Apple Line ride. Lunch will also be provided on a limited basis courtesy of Northwest Trailways, the transportation provider that operates the Apple Line, and other prizes and giveaways will be available to attendees.

“The Travel Washington program provides vital links between smaller, rural communities and urban parts of our state,” said WSDOT Public Transportation Division Director Brian Lagerberg. “I’m thrilled that the Apple Line helps connect people in the Omak area with the rest of our great state.”

“We’re honored to help support WSDOT’s commitment to connecting the citizens of Washington along the Apple Line over the past 10 years,” said Greyhound Regional Manager Ed van Heel. “The Apple Line is a shining example of a community investment in transportation, and we are excited to continue our support for years to come.”

Apple Line 10-year anniversary celebration

When:                   11 a.m. Wednesday, June 12.

Where:                 Civic League Park Bandshell, 20 S. Ash St., Omak.

Schedule:             11 – 11:45 a.m.     Presentations from local officials and agency executives. 

Noon                     Luncheon (provided on a limited basis).

Logistics:              This will be an outdoor event, rain or shine. Please plan ahead and dress for the elements.

WSDOT’s Travel Washington intercity bus system connects rural communities in Washington with regional transportation hubs and urban centers. These buses make scheduled connections with other transportation services to make traveling accessible, reliable and convenient. The program fills gaps in the statewide transit system by bringing connections to rural communities and other parts of the state.

Written by WSDOT Communications

Published: 07 June 2019

The March 31, 2019, edition of WSDOT’s quarterly performance report (Gray Notebook 73) continues to follow the agency’s progress with its strategic plan by focusing on inclusion, practical solutions and workforce development. Gray Notebook 73:

• Demonstrates how the agency uses social media and its smartphone applications to engage communities throughout Washington
• Analyzes how WSDOT is using a data-driven approach in efforts to reduce the potential for bicyclist and pedestrian traffic crashes, and
• Illustrates how the agency works with partners to create career pathways through the Sustainability in Prisons Project and to remove barriers for individuals participating in WSDOT’s Wetlands Ecology and Monitoring Techniques Internship.

The edition is available online at https://wsdot.wa.gov/publications/fulltext/graynotebook/gray-notebook-Mar19.pdf and while performance measures are reported throughout the Gray Notebook, highlights from this issue include:

• About 22% of those who died in traffic collisions during 2018 in Washington were pedestrians and bicyclists
• The number of WSDOT’s Facebook page followers increased 24.6% from 79,343 in April 2018 to 98,878 in March 2019
• WSDOT responded to 17,010 incidents during the quarter, providing about $26.6 million in economic benefit
• WSF completed 38,348 (99.2%) of its 38,641 regularly scheduled trips in the third quarter of FY2019
• Amtrak Cascades revenue increased by 5.7%, from $29.6 million in 2017 to $31.3 million in 2018
• WSDOT added nine new wetland and stream mitigation sites on 17 acres in 2018, bringing the total to 300 sites on 1,623 acres
• WSDOT's Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks helped the trucking industry avoid 168,000 travel hours and $20.1 million in operating costs in 2018
• The annual average price of gasoline in Washington state rose by 10% from 2017 to 2018, going from $2.92 per gallon to $3.21 per gallon
• WSDOT completed one Connecting Washington project in the seventh quarter of the 2017-2019 biennium

The Gray Notebook and the Gray Notebook Lite (a summary of selected performance topics covered in this quarter’s publication), can be viewed and printed from the WSDOT accountability website (www.wsdot.wa.gov/accountability).

Written by Herb Sargo

Published: 02 June 2019

Find out more at http://bucknerhomestead.org

Written by Chief Criminal Deputy Steve Groseclose Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Published: 31 May 2019

On 05/29/19 a 14’ green Alumacraft boat, vessel registration number WN4147SJ, with a Honda outboard motor, owned by 81 year old Charles Baker was seen drifting unoccupied, 5 miles above Chief Joe Dam, on the Columbia River.  

A 1990 blue Dodge Pickup and boat trailer owned by Charles Baker, was found at the Army Corp of Engineers boat launch above Chief Joe Dam.    

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office/Search and Rescue, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and Colville Tribal Police searched the river for Charles Baker.    

Charles Baker was last seen on 05/27/19.  No foul play is suspected in his disappearance.   

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office  is requesting information from anyone who saw Charles Baker launching, or operating his boat on the Columbia River on 05/27/19. Please call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office during business hours (509) 884-0941, or RiverCom at (509) 884-1535 after business hours with any information. 

Written by Janice Stewart

Published: 31 May 2019

The state track and field championships were held at EWU in Cheney last Thursday through Saturday.

Manson took 11 athletes competing in 16 different events.

The first 2 days of competition were mainly preliminary heats and finals being held on Saturday.

There are 16 athletes qualified for each event and the top 8 finishers in prelims will be moving onto the finals.

The Trojans had a roller coaster of results, with some great finishes and some heart breaking ones mixed in as well. The highlights include 4 podium finishes and 2 school records. 

Connor Torgesen placed 4th in the 800m, breaking the school record in the prelims, and then coming back to better that mark in the finals. He also placed 5th in the 400m, narrowly missing the school record in that event as well. 

Jose Pascasio smashed the school record in the javelin by 12 feet to place 4th overall.

Kendall Petre set a new personal best in the 400m to place 8th and earn a medal in that event for the 2nd straight year.

Cole Beazley was the hard luck participant of the meet, as he placed 9th in both the 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles, missing out on a place in the finals by less than .1 of a second in both events.

Another 9th place finisher was Braden Getzin in the triple jump, missing out of a podium finish by a few inches. 

Other results include-
Cara Hutton- 16th in the 1600
Bailey Cameron- 12th in the 1600 and 13th in the 3200
Grant Torgesen- 11th in the 3200
JoJo Morales- 16th in the shot put
Kendall Petre- 10th in the high jump and 16th in the 200m
Boys 4x100 had a bad exchange and were disqualified in their prelim. 
Boys 4x400 narrowly missed the finals by 1.5 seconds and finished 10th 

Written by Paul Wolf, State Airports Manager

Published: 31 May 2019

$9.4 million in grant funding awarded

OLYMPIA – Work to rejuvenate state airports is getting a much-needed lift, thanks to a recent supplemental appropriation provided to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Three Washington airports will receive a share of $9.4 million from the Airport Improvement Program, which helps fund projects that strengthen aviation infrastructure.

Davenport Municipal Airport outside of Spokane, will use $3.5 million for rehabilitation work and to extend the runway. $4.8 million will go to Jefferson County International Airport to improve the runway. Arlington Municipal Airport will see $1.1 million for taxiway rehabilitation with work already underway.

“The timing of this is perfect and fits well into our planned improvements,” said Dave Ryan, Arlington Municipal Airport Manager. “This will also allow us to move forward with the taxiway lighting project at the same time.”

This is the second round of funding from the U.S. Transportation budget – the first round in September 2018 provided Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport $7 million to assist with an ongoing runway construction project.

AIP grants are under the additional supplementary funding authorized by congress for airport infrastructure. Since this addition to the FAA program is 100% funded, it may allow for additional federal discretionary funds and state funding from WSDOT Aviation to go toward other airport infrastructure projects. Airport sponsors should watch for additional supplemental funds as congress makes them available in the future.

Written by Jim Kuntz, Executive Director, Port of Chelan County

Published: 23 May 2019

The Board of Commissioners of the Port of Chelan County will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, May 29th, 2019 beginning at 5:30 pm at Confluence Technology Center, located at 285 Technology Center Way, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

The purpose of the meeting is to hear public comment on the potential functional consolidation of the Port of Chelan County and the Port of Douglas County into a single, regional Port Authority.

A Tri-Commissioner meeting will be held earlier in the day to discuss this and other issues:

The Board of Commissioners of the Port of Chelan County will attend the Tri Commission Meeting on Wednesday, May 29th, 2019 beginning at 1:00 pm at Confluence Technology Center, located at 285 Technology Center Way, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

AGENDA

Chelan County Tri-Commission Meeting
May 29, 2019
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Confluence Technology Center
285 Technology Center Way
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Agenda
1) Call to Order, Flag Salute, Introductions
2) Issue Discussion (lead)
a. Functional Consolidation of Port Districts (Port)
b. Strategic Planning (PUD)
i. Rock Island Relicensing and Early-Action Investments
c. Surplus Land for Substations (County)
3) Updates (lead)
a. Cashmere Mill District (Port)
b. Annual Growth Planning Meeting (PUD)
c. Columbia River Treaty (PUD)
d. Pangborn Commercial Air Service (Port)
e. Microsoft Agreement (PUD)
i. PUD Fiber Expansion and use of Broadband Programs
f. Facilities Planning and Headquarters Redevelopment (PUD)
4) Updates from the Mayors
a. Mayor Kuntz (Wenatchee)
b. Mayor Cooney (Chelan)
c. Mayor Farivar (Leavenworth)
d. Mayor Fletcher (Cashmere)
e. Mayor Alt (Entiat)
5) Commissioner Comments
6) Adjourn

Written by Carol A. Kibler, Administrative Office Manager, Chelan Fire and Rescue

Published: 22 May 2019

Chelan County Fire Protection District 8 and Chelan Fire and Rescue responded to a report of an orchard burn that got out of containment around 11:58 hours today (05/22/2019).

Battalion 7 was the first unit to arrive in the area and report a working brush fire. Units from Chelan County Fire Protection District 8 and Chelan Fire and Rescue, United States Forrest Service, Department of Natural Resources and Bureau of Land Management joined the effort to quickly help contain the fire.

The fire was located up the Chelan Butte Road off Stayman Flats Road. Much of the fire was contained between two orchards, but the north end was open to traveling up the Chelan Butte.

Resources rapidly knocked down the main body of fire and stopped fire spread on the north end followed by full containment. Units on scene are now mopping up hot stops.

The leaders of the involved fire agencies had just completed a meeting at Station 81 in Entiat and were still in the area make resources more available.

At 13:16 hours fire was knocked down and crews were working to finish containment. Fire was about three acres.