Written by Robin Pittman

Published: 12 April 2022

Next Regular Meeting: May 12, 2022 at 4:10pm, 142 Pedoi Street, Manson, WA 98831, unless otherwise posted.
Regular Board Meeting
April 14, 2022, 4:10pm
Bumgarner Meeting Room, 142 Pedoi Street, Manson WA 98831
I. Call to Order
II. Flag Salute
III. Agenda Additions and Deletions
IV. Public Comment
V. Approval of Minutes
a. March 10, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes
VI. Financial Review
a. Review Monthly Financial Report
b. Review and Approve Monthly Voucher
VII. Old Business
a. Updates:
i. Marina Policy Committee
ii. Old Swim Hole development
iii. Manson Bay Marina planning
iv. Leffler Field soil remediation planning
b. Director’s Report
VIII. New Business
a. Resolution 2022-01 (Approving RCO grant application for Leffler Field funding)
b. REMINDER: File your F-1 PDC annual financial reports!
IX. Adjournment

Written by Robin Pittman

Published: 12 April 2022

Written by Eric Johnson, construction & grants program manager, WSDOT

Published: 11 April 2022

It’s time for airports to submit their applications for the second round of 2021-2023 Airport Aid Program grants. The Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation Division anticipates awarding between $1.1 and $1.3 million in funding.

Airports can only apply for projects previously submitted through the Statewide Capital Improvement Program, also known as SCIP. The SCIP is an unconstrained prioritized list of projects entered by Washington’s 132 public-use airports that captures project requirements for airports to address individual airport needs.

To apply, airports can fill out the online application and airport aid application checklist. WSDOT requires airport aid grant assurances be submitted with the application package.

Applications are due Friday, May 15, no later than 5 p.m. Qualifying projects should be targeted for completion by June 30, 2023. Eligible projects may include work beginning after June 1, 2022.

WSDOT will prioritize applications based on the SCIP project scores.

Guidance and information regarding scoring is provided online in the WSDOT Airport Aid Grant Procedures Manual.

WSDOT will announce grant award decisions after June 1, 2022.

The next grant cycle begins July 2023.

Airport Transformation Grant Program

Starting this year there is also an Airport Transformation Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to support the transformation of Washington's public use airports to become more environmentally sustainable.

In October 2021, WSDOT Aviation announced that with its 2022 Airport Aid grant program, 10% of the annual program funds available will be dedicated to this program.

Sustainable aviation projects may include, but are not limited to, sustainable aviation fuel storage, electrification of ground support equipment, electric aircraft charging infrastructure, airport clean power production or electric vehicle charging stations whose infrastructure also supports ground support equipment and electric aircraft charging.

Projects will be evaluated on their ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the modification of airport infrastructure to adopt clean forms of transportation, adoption of airport clean power generation, and/or modification of existing infrastructure resulting in less dependence on fossil fuels.

Projects not selected for funding for Airport Transformation Grants will automatically be considered for funding under a new sustainable aviation grant program that WSDOT Aviation will establish in 2022.

Information on how to apply for an Airport Transformation Grant can be found on WSDOT’s Aviation website.

Written by Kevin Morris, Sheriff, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Published: 05 April 2022

On April 4^th 2022 at about 11:36 am, deputies were dispatched to a report of a semi on its top on McNeil Canyon Road around mile post 2.

The report also advised the semi’s brakes were on fire.

Deputies learned the semi had been driven downhill on McNeil Canyon road and entered a corner traveling at a speed too high to successfully negotiate the turn.  The vehicle flipped over and came to a rest on its top.

The driver, identified as Daniel F. Heberer, a 57 year old man out of Spokane, who was the sole occupant, was deceased. 

The semi was hauling a non-hazardous material. 

\The semi was removed to a location for further equipment inspection by WSP to determine if equipment failure was a contributing factor. 

Written by Brandon Asher, CCFD

Published: 02 April 2022

Chelan Fire and Rescue is pleased to announce the hiring of Shawn Sherman as its new Assistant Fire Chief. 

Shawn holds the position that was formerly held by now Fire Chief Brandon Asher.  

Shawn is a lifelong resident and has a long history of service to the Lake Chelan Valley.  Shawn started as a Volunteer Firefighter for Chelan Fire and Rescue in 1995 and is entering his twenty-first year as a Firefighter. 

In 2011 Shawn was hired as a Career Firefighter and quickly obtained the rank of Captain. 

Shawn has an extensive background in wildland firefighting.  Shawn has been heavily involved with many of the devastating fires that have occurred in the Chelan Valley and surrounding areas.   In his early years, he was a Helitack Firefighter and even spent some time training in Australia and with the Bermagui Fire Brigade. 

Shawn is the leader of Chelan Fire and Rescues marine and rescue swimmer programs.  Shawn’s father, Del Sherman, also retired as a Volunteer Firefighter with Chelan Fire and Rescue.  Shawn takes great pride in serving the community that raised him and understands the many challenges that the community faces.  Both in new positions, Chief Asher and Assistant Chief Sherman are motivated and ready to lead Chelan Fire and Rescue well into the future.  

Written by Janice Stewart

Published: 01 April 2022

Come join us for an informal meet and greet with the Manson School Board of Directors!

Written by EM Specialist Rich Magnussen, CCSO

Published: 01 April 2022

Sheriff Brian Burnett reports a 66-year-old Mukilteo, WA resident – Richard Thurmer – was killed in a climbing accident on Dragontail Peak approximately 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth.

On March 28, 2022 RIVERCOM Dispatch Center received a 911 call from Thurmer’s wife (Alma), she advised that her husband was solo climbing in the Enchantments and she was concerned because she hadn’t heard from him for 24 hours. Alma advised that he was not due back until Tuesday but he normally contacts her everyday via his InReach device. She said that her husband was well equipped, in good health and a very experienced climber.

A deputy located Thurmer’s vehicle parked near the Bridge Creek Campground and a note was left to call the Sheriff’s Office when he returns.

On Tuesday evening Alma called RIVERCOM and advised that her husband had not returned home as planned and she still hadn’t heard from him. Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue coordinators were notified and a search was planned for the morning.

On Wednesday morning a Chelan County Sheriff’s Office helicopter and a two-person ground team from Chelan County Mountain Rescue (CCMR) responded to the Dragontail Peak area. At approximately 11:15am, the helicopter crew observed a motionless person laying in the snow at the base of the “Triple Couloir” on the north aspect of Dragontail Peak. The helicopter was unable to land due to very high winds in the area and was forced to return to Wenatchee.

The CCMR ground team arrived at the location at approximately 2:30pm and confirmed the victim was Thurmer. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Responders reported that it appeared he had fallen several hundred feet. The high winds prevented the helicopter from returning to the scene on Wednesday.

This morning the Sheriff’s Office helicopter returned to the scene and with the assistance of CCMR was able to hoist the victim from the area and transport him to the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery.

Also assisting in the rescue were members of Chelan County Volunteer Search and Rescue.

Written by Jordyn Giulio, Douglas County Risk Manager

Published: 01 April 2022

The Douglas County Public Defender Selection Committee, in conjunction with the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, is pleased to announce that Jesse Collins has been selected as the first Douglas County Office of Public Defense Administrator.  The Office of Public Defense was established in February, 2022 and created an internal department to handle indigent defense for Douglas County Superior Court.

Mr. Collins obtained his Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University of Law and has been practicing indigent defense for over ten years.  He has previously served at both the Skagit and Chelan County public defender’s offices, as well as at private practice and nonprofit organizations.  His wealth of experience, including adult, juvenile, misdemeanor, and felony cases, coupled with his passion for indigent defense, will undoubtedly be an invaluable asset to Douglas County and the Wenatchee Valley.

In his capacity as the Douglas County Office of Public Defense Administrator, Mr. Collins will have responsibility for the oversight, management of staff, and budget of the office in addition to handling a small caseload.  Two additional attorneys and two support staff, hired in the coming weeks under Mr. Collins’ direction, will complete the office.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners believe that both defendants and taxpayers will be served more effectively by providing these services directly as the County continues to experience growth. Douglas County takes seriously its duty to provide representation to every citizen, without regard to ability to pay, and believes that Mr. Collins is the best candidate to fulfil this important commitment.

Written by Herb Sargo

Published: 30 March 2022

• better growth,
• air circulation, which reduces the potential for disease,
• the desired shape,  thus reducing foliage and allowing both sunlight and sprayed materials to enter the center of the tree, 
• removal of dead and broken branches,