County leaders praise local crews, approve fairgrounds rental waiver for statewide animal-services event
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Summary
County commissioners and emergency managers reviewed recent wildfires, praised interagency response and approved a modified rental agreement for a statewide animal sterilization/training event at the fairgrounds that will pay a weekend fee while receiving weekday waivers for local service.
Okanogan County commissioners and emergency management officials on Aug. 6 reviewed a string of recent wildland fires, described the scale of response and agreed to a fairgrounds rental arrangement for a statewide animal-services event. The discussion followed multiple briefings from County Emergency Management and Fire District representatives about several fast-moving fires this week and the county nd state resources mobilized. Commissioners voted to approve a contract amendment for the county griplex allowing a 100% waiver for Tuesday through Wednesday setup days while charging the event the weekend rental rate of $32.50 and asking the event pplicant to reimburse additional on-site costs such as electricity. Emergency Management Director Maurice Goodall briefed the board on the Brooks Tracks Fire and other recent incidents, saying local crews, district strike teams and aircraft limited damage and set up food and day-shelter support at the fairgrounds for crews. —We had 2 spot fires . . . they got a strike team in there; it will be burning for a while,— Goodall said, summarizing response and ongoing mop-up. County staff told commissioners the waiver was conditional because the event serves a regional population that will draw many people from outside Okanogan County; commissioners agreed that if the event served only county residents a fuller waiver might be justified. The county also clarified the agreement will record specific waived and charged days in the event contract so auditors can trace the discounts. The board also discussed operational reimbursements for meals and fairground support provided to incoming strike teams and state mobilizations. Staff said those costs are generally reimbursable through state mobilization processes and the county will invoice the state or other responsible agencies where appropriate. Ending: Commissioners asked staff to finalize the revised fairgrounds agreement, include clear waiver dates and billing language, and to monitor any reimbursement paperwork from state mobilizations so the county can recover eligible costs.