Written by Central Washington Home Builder’s Association

Published: 28 March 2020

Yakima, WA— March 27, 2020 — This week has proven to be a most challenging of time for the country, state, and now -- the building industry.

On Wednesday evening, Gov. Jay Inslee issued clarification on construction in which he significantly narrowed the original order which allowed for “housing construction.” His new order does allow for continued construction, under limited circumstances:
a) Construction related to essential activities as described in the order;
b) To further a public purpose related to a public entity or governmental function or facility, including but not limited to publicly financed low-income housing; or
c) To prevent spoliation and avoid damage or unsafe conditions, and address emergency repairs at both non-essential businesses and residential structures.

To that end, it is permissible for workers who are building, construction superintendents, tradesmen, or tradeswomen, or other trades including, but not limited to, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, laborers, sheet metal, iron workers, masonry, pipe trades, fabricators, heavy equipment and crane operators, finishers, exterminators, pesticide applicators, cleaning and janitorial staff for commercial and governmental properties, security staff, operating engineers, HVAC technicians, painting, moving and relocation services, forestry and arborists, and other service providers to provide services consistent with this guidance. All construction activity must meet social distancing and appropriate health and worker protection measures before proceeding.

(Gov. Inslee’s March 25, 2020 Memo: Construction Guidance – Stay Home, Stay Healthy Proclamation (20-25)

Contractors are required by local 2 jurisdictions to have strict safety plans, various licenses and certifications that ensure safety not only for their crews, but for the safety and well-being of homeowners.

Residents and community members may continue to see construction still occurring, but must understand that CWHBA is not providing direct or legal interpretation of the order, enforcing or enquiring regarding specific job sites, and trusts that builders are moving in a direction that is safe and in compliance with the order.

Visit CWHBA.org for more information to stay informed.

Written by Carlye Baity, Clerk of the Board/Public Records Coordinator, Chelan County Commissioners

Published: 26 March 2020

Chelan County is pleased to announce the appointment of James (Jim) Brown as our new Community Development Director.

Jim comes to Chelan County after serving 28 years with Washington State Fish and Wildlife the last 7 of which he has served as the Director for the North Central Region.

He has extensive leadership experience that will serve the County well. In his tenure with WDFW, he has overseen the implementation of agency policy initiatives and programs, providing policy direction to the approximately 150 staff in the region.

The Commissioners chose Jim Brown to succeed former Director David Kuhl who left the County at the end of February. We selected Jim due to his ability to work with a wide variety of interests and to resolve difficult issues in a professional and objective way.

The Commissioners are pleased to welcome Jim Brown to the Chelan County team. He will start on April 23^rd.

Written by Chief Rick Johnson, CCSO

Published: 26 March 2020

Sheriff Brian Burnett reports on March 24th, 2020 at approximately 0720 hours an employee from Selland Construction reported batteries from their heavy equipment had been stolen overnight. At the time of the theft the equipment was parked on Raven Wing Ranch Property, 5814 Colockum Rd, Malaga WA. A week prior to this theft, five heavy equipment batteries had been stolen from this same location.

The first theft was not reported to CCSO and the batteries were replaced by the victim.

When the employee arrived on March 24th, they discovered nine heavy equipment batteries had been stolen overnight. The approximate value of all the batteries stolen in the past week is $2,720. The combined weight of all the stolen batteries is approximately 1,034 pounds.

On the evening of March 24th, one of our Deputies located a classified advertisement on the Wenatchee “Buy/Sell/Trade” Facebook page. A Facebook user had posted an advertisement on March 24th for two heavy equipment batteries. The advertised batteries were the same type and model as the stolen batteries. They were described as “Very nice batteries. In great shape. Will test as if new. Great deal on some practically new batteries.”

An Undercover Detective responded to the advertisement via Facebook Messenger. The suspect responded and advised the Detective he actually had four batteries available for sale. The suspect sent our Detective additional photographs of the batteries. In the photographs distinguishing markings matching the stolen batteries could be observed. The suspect agreed to meet with the Undercover Detective in Wenatchee to sell him four batteries.

On March 24th at approximately 2230 hours, the suspect met up with Undercover Detectives from the Columbia River Drug Task Force. The suspect sold the Detectives the four heavy equipment batteries for $200, and advised them he had 3 more heavy equipment batteries to sell them the following day. The suspect, a 28 year old male from the Malaga area, was arrested without incident. The suspect was identified as Wade Hawkins. Search warrants were obtained for the vehicle he was driving and his residence.

On March 25th at approximately 0120 hours a search warrant was served on Hawkins’ residence. Two batteries matching the description of the stolen batteries were located at the residence. A third battery matching the description of the stolen batteries was located in the trunk of Hawkins’ vehicle when it was searched.

In all, Selland Construction had fourteen heavy equipment batteries stolen. Seven of the batteries were recovered. Evidence showing three of the batteries were likely sold as scrap was recovered. Four of the stolen batteries remain unaccounted for at this time. Hawkins was arrested for trafficking stolen property 1st degree, possessing stolen property 2nd degree, vehicle prowl 2nd degree, and criminal trespass 2nd degree.

This was a coordinated effort from your Chelan County Sheriff’s Office among numerous deputies on three different patrol squads, and the Chelan County Regional Drug Task Force. The reality is those committing theft and other serious crimes are not taking any time off during this crisis, but your deputies will continue to work to keep our valley safe and secure.

Written by Sheriff Brian Burnett, CCSO

Published: 25 March 2020

Yesterday, Governor Jay Inslee issued a statewide Executive “Stay at Home Order”.

This order was put in place to protect the “whole community” of our State from the very contagious COVID-19 virus.

Anyone employed in essential services involving operation of critical infrastructure sectors and continuity of operations is allowed to continue to work.

Those persons who are not part of the essential services groups defined below should stay at home and only travel to grocery stores, doctor appointments, pharmacies and other locations offering essential services until the order is lifted.

People should continue to refrain from participating in any public gatherings and maintain social distancing of six feet or more throughout the duration of the order.

Law enforcement's primary role is to help educate people about how to comply with orders to stay at home. We are not being asked to detain, arrest, ticket or establish checkpoints for compliance. Rumors of strict law enforcement or "martial law" are not true.

Here are communication messages that may help you answer questions from your communities:

• We view our role more as one of education. Educating residents on how to keep themselves safe, how to keep their families safe and most importantly, to keep the rest of the community safe, especially our vulnerable populations.

• We understand some people need to carry out essential services such as:

 1. Safety and security

 2. Food, water, shelter

 3. Health and medical

 4. Energy (power and fuel)

 5. Communications

 6. Transportation

For information on the definition of essential critical infrastructure workers please, go to:https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6817901-FINAL-WA-Essential-Critical-Infrastructure.html

• Our communities have shown they understand the severity of the situation and are doing all they can already to keep themselves, their families and neighbors safe and healthy.

• When officers and deputies encounter people not complying with an order, we will remind them, as appropriate, of the recommendation and restrictions.

• No law enforcement agencies have any desire to make any arrests or take anybody to jail for violations.

• Rumors of individuals or businesses needing "passes" or "licenses" to conduct essential services are not true.

Rest assured we will continue to serve you every minute of every day and we will always enforce the laws that keep people safe.

Written by Bob Plumb, Fire Marshal, Chelan County

Published: 25 March 2020

Open Burning

The Fire Districts are very busy.

Please do not add to the work they are doing. If you need to burn natural debris on your property, remember that last year’s grass is very flammable.

Please burn responsibly.

Here are some simple guidelines to follow:

No burning if the wind speeds exceed 10 mph. (Less is better)

Attended recreational campfires are allowed at private residences and hosted campgrounds in approved campfire rings or pits and at dispersed camping sites. The campfire area must be clear of combustible material 36 inches in diameter around the campfire. Have a shovel and water readily available on site to suppress the fire.

Outside of UGA: Debris burning of natural vegetation is allowed on your property. No garbage or building debris. Maximum pile size is 4X4-feet in diameter. A 10-foot diameter area clear of flammable material around the pile is required. Water and a shovel must be readily available on site to suppress the fire.

Debris burning restrictions within the Urban Growth Area (UGA) are still applicable. Burning of yard waste in Urban Growth Areas is prohibited.

No Household trash or garbage shall be burned outdoors at residences at any time. If your property is not in an Urban Growth Area only natural vegetation can be burned.

Burn barrels are illegal and are not permitted.

Always have at least one person attending the burn pile and provide them with a means to control the fire or put out spot fires. (Hand tools and water.)

If you have an orchard. Agricultural Operations Do Not need a permit from Ecology to burn their prunings or fire-blight if they are just limbs and a few whole trees. If the orchard is tearing out whole blocks or acreage then they need an agricultural pile burn permit from Ecology.

It is advised to have outdoor burning complete before the end of May.

Burn regulations will engage June 1st.

Written by Chief Jason Reinfeld, CCSO

Published: 24 March 2020

Previous article from March 18, 2020: Human remains found in ravine near Horselake Road

On March 23rd, 2020 a medical examination was completed on the human remains found near Horselake Road last week. The body, discovered on March 17th, 2020 has now been positively identified as 18 year old Hannia “Paulina” Mosqueda Rodriguez of Waterville. She was originally reported missing to Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in October of 2019.

The circumstances surrounding the death of Ms. Mosqueda Rodriguez are suspicious in nature and are being investigated by Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and Wenatchee Police Department.

If you have any information regarding this incident please call the CCSO Detective Tip-Line at 509-667-6845.

Written by Veronica Farias, Chelan-Douglas Health District - Andrew Canning, Confluence Health

Published: 24 March 2020

East Wenatchee, WA – CDHD was notified on March 24, 2020, by Confluence Health of the first death of a Health District resident as a result of COVID-19, and two (2) additional lab-confirmed positive test results.

The Health District’s total number of lab-confirmed positive cases is now twelve (12), ten (10) of whom are Chelan County residents and two (2) Douglas County residents

The Central Washington Hospital patient who passed away was a 91-year-old patient with multiple pre-existing health conditions. It is important to note that everyone is at risk for COVID-19 – not just the elderly.

Please continue practice all the possible measures in order to avoid infection or spread of this disease.COVID-19.

Written by Carlye Baity, Clerk of the Board/Public Records Coordinator, Chelan County Commissioners

Published: 21 March 2020

Due to many of the offices limiting in-person contact the County will now go to a single point entry for both the Law and Justice Building as well as the Courthouse. Public Restrooms in County buildings will have rotating closures due to increased sanitizing efforts.

Both the Treasurer’s Office and the Noxious Weed Department will go to close to in-person interaction as of Monday, March 23rd. Please check our website www.co.chelan.wa.us to get up-to-date contact information for our offices.

Current face-to-face closures include:

Sheriff’s Office

Human Resources

Public Works

District Court Probation

Auditor’s Office

Starting Monday March 23rd

Chelan County Assessor

Chelan County Community Development

Noxious Weed

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

Published: 21 March 2020

The Special Meeting scheduled for 03-23-2020 starting at 9:00 a.m. has been cancelled.

The regular meeting scheduled for 03-23-2020 starting at 1:00 p.m. is still in effect.

Agenda 03-23-2020 Regular Meeting at 1:00 p.m.

Due to the COVID19 restrictions set upon all social distancing the board is conducting the meeting via phone conference. 

The public will have access to listen in.

Access codes are as follows:

Conference Call Dial-in: 1-623-600-3762

Conference Code:  284213

Call to Order at 1:00 p.m.:   Commissioner Moller, Chair

New Business:

• Resolution 2020-05 Continuation of Government in the event of a disaster 

Adjournment: