[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6245581,"mediaKeyId","3224804-2055da4021eef3ce6db209a821300060","parentId",3224804,"title","Resident urges ban on out-of-county waste at closed Cape Landfill, raises groundwater concerns","audioSeconds",174,"startMs",82000,"endMs",256000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3224804-2055da4021eef3ce6db209a821300060&start=82&end=256","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3224804-2055da4021eef3ce6db209a821300060/thumbnail_82000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6245581/Yakima-County/Washington/Resident-urges-ban-on-out-of-county-waste-at-closed-Cape-Landfill-raises-groundwater-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245581-06914222e59b1da9c3822e96077d6aae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771118741&Signature=B2ADPMY4aX4r0BaYHexiIPjt28jqYur8a0B2fbG4EopYH-x0iNPlnEbUJBooUMiNz6HzLQ12wpUmfKnfkPkNptGIsYxfx7n2UqNJkBnMYqzVmjqC5OTNJovy16gMS~djBdqNQzMWUF1n5v-ZQcar5rS5I-WRrWX7cQPf7UQA-iK~3VklQHZOV3yG5D7q1JbqmHRADs~1qJMZbxbaKH26t3c2Zmang6XrhRBCkfc6CAvMq-rEM3T6Tk5I6uPAIQMyfRn0PQwyvLtUcAOU~7U7MvUlgCX0~s56UiarskxwgHrK5WKCIe7T0B2LboiJpbRihtTqsbE8TCgufyXJbGGCfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Yakima County, WA","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","Pam Wickersham addressed the Yakima County Board of Commissioners during public comment on April 22, 2025, urging the board to adopt a ban on out-of-county waste at the closed Cape Landfill and raising groundwater contamination concerns related to gypsum (sheetrock) in landfill material.

Wickersham said she had observed transfer trucks from McKinley Transport of Chilliwack, British Columbia, near Fortieth Avenue since 2019 and believes some Canadian waste may be arriving at local facilities. She referenced a 2010 Yakima waste-system letter and a Washington Refuse and Recycling Association letter she previously presented as warnings about potential issues with the Hayden Landfill and similar operations.

Wickersham also cited language she said was in the Pollution Control Board findings and a limited-purpose landfill agreement for the Jim and Charlotte Catons parcel, noting a passage about gypsum (sheetrock) producing gases or leachate during decomposition. She told the board she had attended a Department of Ecology meeting in which an official described a river flowing under the landfill area at a depth of 300 feet; she contrasted that with language in the landfill agreement that mentioned a possible 1,000-foot-deep well and with a personal family well drilled to 267 feet about a mile away. From those differences she said groundwater was “definitely a concern,” and she emphasized the landfill is unlined.

Wickersham closed her comment by urging the board to adopt a “no out-of-county waste” policy and said she had provided the commissioners with photos and letters previously. The transcript records no immediate staff response or board action during the meeting on the landfill concerns; the public-comment remarks were noted and the meeting moved on to the consent agenda.

Wickersham’s remarks were delivered during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no formal agenda item on the Cape Landfill appeared on the board’s regular agenda that day. The county did not read or attach technical studies or Department of Ecology reports into the record during the meeting. Materials Wickersham referenced — the 2010 letter, the Washington Refuse and Recycling Association letter, and photos — may be part of prior submissions to the board but are not included in the meeting transcript.

The board’s posted meeting materials and recording are the public record cited for follow-up.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Yakima County Commission 04-22-25","oneSentenceSummary","Pam Wickersham told the Yakima County commissioners April 22 that waste from out of county — including trucks from Canada — has been brought to the now-closed Cape Landfill and urged the board to adopt a prohibition; she also raised concerns about groundwater and gypsum decomposition at the site.","taxTitle","Yakima County, Washington","taxId",12680,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6245585,"Yakima County adopts consent agenda, approves four veterans vouchers with one abstention",192,290000,482000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3224804-2055da4021eef3ce6db209a821300060&start=290&end=482","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3224804-2055da4021eef3ce6db209a821300060/thumbnail_290000.jpg","/articles/6245585/Yakima-County/Washington/Yakima-County-adopts-consent-agenda-approves-four-veterans-vouchers-with-one-abstention","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245585-ddcfbeed33cd8fecbe4dcf0d5982f2cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771118741&Signature=Hxp3yLppj8kTQDXXqQFBh-HgSw7Alj4PcqL5Cci2Ru2dJdPNkMyYg6DqIjHFPHQ0BbnWaVcKpwiP26Ymp2EnSY~Q0m5QKAkl~ZCzKpynegWbmIzCFKUxzvi3oYsVk5XeEycAZSZzQnobHHHSEZ~KejFc6CLruUUjE54-qj6X-MMWqVJ1URfBzk81yRvWCCmhhLSZp2GT9~tBBz7U81WRUffO-PLJpS-J9eVQiPI55dTnwXrz2gnp7L~iL9tCa9n2GPnRAYIrm~3tEc475SS4iyOA7f4EBqmCzhJfaqxDps8YjQi04eCbsF2x4uzJgxBA40m6lmKW4TawbZUeEV12Rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Yakima County Board of Commissioners adopted its consent agenda and approved four agreements that provide vouchers to eligible veterans at its April 22, 2025 regular meeting. Commissioner Curtis announced a conflict of interest on the veterans agreements and abstained from that vote.

Clerk Julie Lawrence read the consent agenda into the record. Items listed included payroll warrant certification for March 16–31, 2025; minutes for April 8 and April 10, 2025; County Roads Resolution 91 20 25 authorizing advertisement of bids for asphalt emulsion for the county’s bituminous surface treatment program; amendments to agreements with Washington Equipment Manufacturing (WEMCO) and Mascot Equipment Company to extend contract end dates; a supplement to a local agency agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation for Harrah Road bridge replacement preliminary engineering; an agreement with Yakima Valley Tourism (dba Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau) for tourism promotion; and an agreement with the City of Yakima related to a minimum revenue guarantee for the Yakima Air Terminal.

After the clerk read the list, a commissioner moved and another seconded to adopt the consent agenda; the board voted by voice and the chair announced the consent agenda was adopted. No roll-call vote was recorded in the public transcript for the consent agenda.

Separately, the board considered four agreements described in the meeting as agreements 126, 1207, 1208 and 129 (recorded in the transcript as “agreement 1 26, 1 20 7, 1 20 8, and 1 29”) to provide vouchers to eligible veterans through the county’s veterans program. Commissioner Lindy moved approval, Commissioner McKinney seconded, and Commissioner Curtis abstained, citing a conflict of interest. The motion carried with two votes in favor and one abstention.

Agenda materials and recordings are posted on the Yakima County website; the meeting transcript does not include the text of the veterans agreements or dollar amounts for the vouchers.

Votes at a glance:
- Consent agenda: adopted (voice vote; mover and seconder recorded on the audio; no roll-call in transcript).
- Agreement 126 (veterans vouchers): approved; mover: Commissioner Lindy; second: Commissioner McKinney; vote: Lindy — yes; McKinney — yes; Curtis — abstain.
- Agreement 1207 (veterans vouchers): approved; same mover/second and vote as above.
- Agreement 1208 (veterans vouchers): approved; same mover/second and vote as above.
- Agreement 129 (veterans vouchers): approved; same mover/second and vote as above.

The transcript does not specify dollar amounts, eligibility criteria, or program administration details for the veterans vouchers; those materials may be in the posted agenda packet.","The Yakima County Board of Commissioners adopted its consent agenda and approved four veterans voucher agreements April 22, 2025; Commissioner Curtis abstained from the veterans vote because of a conflict of interest.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6245590,"Yakima County commissioners vote to terminate two employees after executive sessions",35,564000,599000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3224804-2055da4021eef3ce6db209a821300060&start=564&end=599","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3224804-2055da4021eef3ce6db209a821300060/thumbnail_564000.jpg","/articles/6245590/Yakima-County/Washington/Yakima-County-commissioners-vote-to-terminate-two-employees-after-executive-sessions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245590-0e206747891d9d7300b4557f29cc7136/orig.mp4?Expires=1771118741&Signature=edUzp8YhaYzgiVDDS2orrAEg6~Izhm3AelfF3N7~vOa~uAn5LQzZTX9MZ9lsLztJyGV0WgKw-N9Fb8~EzRFwCVRzi1V-eO05wEdGeMRxZNajdKoYqPWGAnb-2Pt~wVUD7G4PIXvnu1IsvoecQYLRN~k9bx7eRtme4HvVKfbeAbRgMETJIaA6UuHY5WMwBXI~T9HwaMANbSWIN9gzMrjsyZprFnPVHdOmr1m4bX4kIdGEQfkA6idS-IJkqejqVfp9DcdkMkWfy-mSyn4wqnovNT95CV77YdSXk9HpcKmGtuGEC~TPU6h0c48OwHVocPoX1OQK5hNsuVw7T4dbfhdulg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Yakima County Board of Commissioners voted April 22, 2025, to terminate the employment of county employees Brian Griff and Keely Rice, citing alleged violations of the county’s conflict-of-interest policy and the policy on personal use of county resources.

The action followed two executive sessions, described on the record as totaling 50 minutes and held under the state open-meetings statute RCW 42.30.110(1)(g), which allows the board to discuss the performance of public employees. The board reconvened at about 11:10 a.m. and took the termination vote immediately afterward.

A motion to terminate was made and seconded; the board then took a voice vote. The minutes record the board saying “aye,” and the chair announced the motion carried. The meeting transcript contains no other recorded discussion, and no dissent or roll-call breakdown of opposing votes was provided on the public record.

The county referenced the specific policies at issue only as “Yakima County’s conflict of interest policy” and “the personal use of county resources policy.” The transcript does not include language from those policies, disciplinary histories, or additional factual findings supporting the terminations.

The board met the same morning for a consent agenda and other regular-business items prior to the executive sessions. County corporate counsel Stephanie Wiegand and Clerk of the Board Julie Lawrence were present for the meeting; the transcript does not record additional testimony from counsel during the public reconvening about the terminations.

The board did not announce any immediate appeal process, separation dates, or next steps for replacing the positions during the public portion of the meeting. No related personnel documents or notices were read into the record at the meeting, and no external agencies were cited as directing the action.

The terminations will appear in the board’s posted meeting materials and recording available on the Yakima County website, per the commissioners’ statement that recordings and transcriptions are posted online.","After two closed sessions totaling 50 minutes, the Yakima County Board of Commissioners voted April 22, 2025, to terminate the employment of Brian Griff and Keely Rice for alleged policy violations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident urges ban on out-of-county waste at closed Cape Landfill, raises groundwater concerns

Yakima County adopts consent agenda, approves four veterans vouchers with one abstention

Yakima County commissioners vote to terminate two employees after executive sessions