POMEROY–The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) received updates on ongoing projects and heard new project proposals at their meeting on January 31. County Engineer Grant Morgan reported that the designing phase for the new sprinkler system for the Garfield County Fairgrounds the commissioners discussed last summer is nearing completion. The project will soon be ready to go out for bid.

Engineer Morgan also reported that an ordinance to regulate the building of tiny homes has been referred the Washington State Department of Ecology for a 60 day review by the county’s planning department. If approved by the state, it will come before the commissioners for their approval. The ordinance would then be entered into the Garfield County zoning ordinances.

Sheriff Drew Hyer and Tina Meier addressed the board regarding a project to replace the radio repeaters the Sheriff’s Department uses. There are four repeaters, one on Pomeroy Hill, one at Zumwalt, one at Dodge Junction, and one on the Alpowa. They are outdated and in poor condition. An estimate from Valence, the company contracted for the repeaters’ maintenance, places the cost for replacing all four at $84,000. Due to the amount of money required for the project, it will need to go out to bid.

Hyer and Meier also brought a possible sales tax to the commissioners’ attention. The proposed tax would either be .1% or .2%, and would be used to accumulate funding for emergency communication equipment. Action will not be taken on this matter until more research has been done into the expected expenses.

Meier also discussed a project to replace the 911 phone system. It is going on eight years with no upgrade, and the usual life span of the system is five years. The total cost for replacing the system is $128,695.79. Washington State will fund 60% of the cost and Meier will be able to offset the cost further through Emergency Management funds. The amount she requested from the BOCC is $28,000.

Sheriff Hyer asked the commissioners to contact Representatives Mary Dye and Joe Schmick and State Senator Mark Shoesler in support of three bills that are currently on the State agenda. Senate Bill 5919 pertains to use of force, vehicle pursuit, and reasonable suspicion-based detention by law enforcement. Senate Bill 5841 is a city and county tax relocation to get law enforcement officer staffing up to the national average. House Bill 1787 sets aside 100,000,000 for law enforcement recruitment and retention. The BOCC agreed to support the bills.