East Washingtonian - Your Hometown News Source

POMEROY–The Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) signed two letters, one resignation and the other to the Washington State Health Care Authority; and received a letter from Ron and Paula Kessler at their meeting on October 11. They signed a contract with the BMAC, and approved a change to the Garfield County Public Health District's charter at their meeting on October 17.

The letters signed at the October 11 meeting were a letter to resigning County Engineer Grant Morgan, acknowledging his resignation, October 31 final exit date, and authorizing payout for leave time accrued. The second letter was sent to the Washington State Health Care Authority, Medicaid Director, and Governor Jay Inslee, endorsing a Greater Columbia Health Care Authority letter requesting a reevaluation of a Medicaid rate decrease based on the fact that the numbers evaluated were taken from a time adversely affected by Covid-19 and not indicative of normal Medicaid activity in the area.

A letter was received from Ron and Paula Kessler, landowners at Grouse Flat, thanking the county road crew for their excellent work replacing a culvert and fixing road in the Grouse Flat area. The project was done earlier this year.

Further business handled at the October 11 meeting was authorization to put funds to purchase a color printer in the 2023 budget for the Garfield County WSU Extension office.

At the October 17 meeting, the BOCC met with Elizabeth Guerra, Cate Daniels, and Karen Gleason, all representatives from the Blue Mountain Action Council to discuss homeless services provided by the council, including program that houses homeless youth-defined as younger than 25. The representatives expressed their appreciation for Rachel Anderson, administrator for Pomeroy Assist and Garfield County Transportation Authority, for her hard work and dedication. Following the meeting, the commissioners signed an Aging and Long Term Care contract with BMAC that provides Garfield County with $84,000 for 2023.

The commissioners also approved a change to the Garfield County Public Health District's charter, creating a seat on the board for a member to be assigned by the American Indian Health Commission, per new Washington State legislation. As of yet, there has been no response from the AIHC as to filling the seat. Should a member be appointed, the charter change allows for a second seat to be created to preserve the 1:1 elected officials to non-elected member ratio. The board currently stands at six members: the three county commissioners as elected officials and three members of the community.