[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6103643,"mediaKeyId","2794067-e8d3cec4247e15753577416022ce5eea","parentId",2794067,"title","Residents urge Thurston County to impose fireworks ban amid wildfire, safety and noise concerns","audioSeconds",300,"startMs",616000,"endMs",916000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2794067-e8d3cec4247e15753577416022ce5eea&start=616&end=916","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2794067-e8d3cec4247e15753577416022ce5eea/thumbnail_616000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6103643/Thurston-County/Washington/Residents-urge-Thurston-County-to-impose-fireworks-ban-amid-wildfire-safety-and-noise-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103643-61cebb4febe0465c5843ca9dd0b614b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771020006&Signature=OYfaoYyulBBEm0WRu0ljIn4FTd5~eyY453Lh~w9SANI~AJV2fpVhzOAmKNr-y~lNxSXceoPUCkJaLU2h7YAjZWLGp~w7P8umqXe0sfx5vDcikzTIhTVp8MQyQI7oSCGG-SGloUDSCd4R5LScnV~YKoQrxQKZHOlgw1vZagVk2Gz3muaJWzSiTajXNrrCBSl9iz4F5uAe0zckVy4q5AadybKdcU7eWPXt427VSQFe0iHQ2-SxB2bl4CkHJ-abEP8d3wQbTEaTYh61n4k8ITqmeE4JktvKNAhXyEPoYSYOGqU5w~fsYMC3mBdl8cew8wFCviUHCTg00Ewb5amBx20l4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Thurston County, Washington","date","2025-03-26T09:41:46Z","article","Speakers at the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners meeting on March 25 urged commissioners to adopt an unincorporated‑countywide ban on fireworks, citing wildfire risk, noise, litter and harm to pets and veterans with post‑traumatic stress disorder.

Michelle Blanchard, a Little Rock resident, said 56 people submitted testimony either by email or in person asking for a fireworks ban in unincorporated Thurston County and described local conditions she said make fireworks more hazardous now than in past decades. \"I do ask, please consider an all countywide fireworks ban,\" Blanchard said.

Blanchard and others pointed to nearby jurisdictions that imposed fireworks bans last year — Pierce County, King County and the cities of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater — and asked Thurston County to follow suit for public‑safety reasons and to reduce noise and litter.

Dennis Plank, who described himself as an engineer and the husband of Blanchard, cited state climate‑office data that he said show a long‑term drying trend. \"The total change since 1890 in precipitation for [June] has decreased by roughly 25 percent,\" Plank said, adding that \"the average temperature in June is increased by 2.73 degrees Fahrenheit.\" He said those trends contribute to a longer dry season and greater fire risk.

The chair asked clarifying questions about the source of the public input; county staff indicated the comments included submissions through a public comments portal and email. Commissioners did not announce an immediate policy change; the comments were made during the public comment period, and no board directive to develop an ordinance was recorded at the March 25 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 25, 2025 Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Meeting.","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters told commissioners that unregulated fireworks pose increasing wildfire and noise risks and asked the board to adopt a countywide ban after surrounding jurisdictions imposed restrictions.","taxTitle","taxId",4614,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6103649,"Property owners tell Thurston County commissioners enforcement and reclassification practices are harming owners",183,374000,557000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2794067-e8d3cec4247e15753577416022ce5eea&start=374&end=557","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2794067-e8d3cec4247e15753577416022ce5eea/thumbnail_374000.jpg","/articles/6103649/Thurston-County/Washington/Property-owners-tell-Thurston-County-commissioners-enforcement-and-reclassification-practices-are-harming-owners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103649-12c394a04961f682684c0398ca6eeff1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771020006&Signature=lYK4VIRlYa8BhOcb2paSDvjK-KzcHYzIE72KKnOxQTfegsjgYZEASECWxzDDPjWVIljvvhAFjwvgs2peRT1FsS2LwcomrJffDHV3sHhMmA~FR3NTXIEYMFbVQkV4bIcQ7zyNuGczJMBE4K81KeT9AAsO8IjKvirRwJVLWcVTKrT-HJJ7yArKJB2gWUdlbQRpvuRWCrUj4HfbNgSZmWg-nD7HCdwQR1J-Z23U21AwIzgZGE3WX1NCEccccU2eqtYQjiH3532INhdp7OjH8VYfEObMFLIxfurhqVi1HzRbE5PI4UyMLI772Z3SWdZIDUbHd~DHuPzyvSYFDreyyvLjQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Property owners and residents told the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners on March 25 that county planning and compliance processes have left them facing repeated enforcement actions, property reclassification and expensive extra studies.

Shelly Dilworth, who identified herself as the owner of property off 101st in Delphi, said she bought the site in February 2017 as commercial‑industrial property and later learned the county had deemed it residential without what she described as due process. \"It is not okay that because of this determination, we will lose money on our property when selling it going from commercial industrial to residential,\" Dilworth said.

Dilworth described ongoing disputes with county planning and compliance staff, saying she has worked with named employees — \"Josh, Brett, Sandy, Arthur, Greg, and others within the planning and compliance departments\" — but that the same compliance letter and enforcement issues have recurred over an eight‑year period. She said the site was formerly a rock quarry and later an unmanned fire station and that repeated compliance actions have prevented her from using the property as she expected when she purchased it.

John Pettit, a Rich Road resident, questioned what he described as an extra environmental review process within the county's Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) department tied to an internal biologist. Pettit said Thurston County averages \"17 to 18\" reasonable‑use exceptions per year over the last four years versus about four per year in Kitsap County and argued that the extra process imposes additional costs on property owners. \"You charge for this extra process ... $231 an hour for CPED employees. An employee costs about $60 an hour. So it's profit to you,\" Pettit said.

Speakers urged the board to convene additional public meetings to hear affected landowners, to review departmental procedures and to consider paying for wetland studies rather than requiring property owners to pay repeatedly for studies they say are rewritten by staff. The comments occurred during the public comment period; no formal enforcement changes or staff directives were recorded during the meeting.

Commissioners did not announce any immediate policy changes at the March 25 meeting. The public comment period does not produce formal action unless the board places an item on a future agenda for staff response or policy change.","Several residents told commissioners that county planning and compliance practices have repeatedly reclassified land and imposed costly supplemental environmental requirements, leaving property owners facing expense and uncertainty.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6103655,"Thurston County approves $5.33 million amendment to state public‑health contract",68,1411000,1479000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2794067-e8d3cec4247e15753577416022ce5eea&start=1411&end=1479","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2794067-e8d3cec4247e15753577416022ce5eea/thumbnail_1411000.jpg","/articles/6103655/Thurston-County/Washington/Thurston-County-approves-533-million-amendment-to-state-publichealth-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103655-aaf210962f7436591cd0a41be69557ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771020006&Signature=FvW1-2fjebGB1Kjer119JRqt-pz9hZ63TCi7LMr45w4DCuc2fDDGPqdubOzqHAMFKur6MANLAaZZFBdAI4Wwa-Z8x9x2U2BneM51-GRmP3jiTDLEXqe9c8PEcVA~2CY4vPAC2~8iUgsjXi3PuFu1TimPfMxr30vQT45IuYPFnQ1X4YAgAaz~TXYymFZ7u7GwPXQYCOPw7XfsHno9lt74QQS8qa0-5yTYYC3ZN09bnVmF3gEyNYJtz2E3nSJLeJ3ai8JDtPHWIySl7PqnwPcqqrxk999cdOYru5VXYZUvmTHoOQUg3zHc-wZWNGLPtJ3EQdw2Hc88FyijpFJLXEgnzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners voted March 25 to approve Amendment No. 1 to a Washington State Department of Health consolidated contract, authorizing a maximum of $5,329,160 for Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027.

Dr. Jim Freiheit, director of Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, told commissioners the amendment adds statements of work to seven grants and activities within the consolidated contract. \"This first amendment adds statements of work to seven various grants and activities within the consolidated contracts,\" Dr. Freiheit said.

The board made and seconded a motion to approve the amendment and authorized the public‑health director or designee to sign. Chair Ty Mentzer called the vote; commissioners voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.

Votes at a glance
- Agenda approval (amended to cancel a 3:30 p.m. public hearing): approved unanimously.
- Consent agenda (items 4a–4j, including a proclamation for National Library Week): approved unanimously.
- Amendment No. 1 to the Washington State Department of Health consolidated contract (CLH 3207): approved unanimously; maximum consideration $5,329,160; contract term 01/01/2025–12/31/2027.

The amendment was described as adding statements of work to existing grants covered under the consolidated contract the board initially approved on Jan. 7, 2025. No member of the public spoke for or against the amendment during the motion and vote. The board did not attach additional conditions when it approved the amendment.

Commissioners did not take additional action on the item beyond the approval vote; staff from Public Health and Social Services will complete required signatures and administrative steps for execution and implementation.","The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved Amendment No. 1 to a Washington State Department of Health consolidated contract, adding statements of work across seven grants and authorizing up to $5,329,160 for Jan. 1, 2025–Dec. 31, 2027.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge Thurston County to impose fireworks ban amid wildfire, safety and noise concerns

Property owners tell Thurston County commissioners enforcement and reclassification practices are harming owners

Thurston County approves $5.33 million amendment to state public‑health contract