[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6302668,"mediaKeyId","2476759-31ea3aa4404f8a1930672627b2c29772","parentId",2476759,"title","Votes at a glance: board approves payroll/voucher and consent agenda by voice vote","audioSeconds",1991,"startMs",5137000,"endMs",7128000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2476759-31ea3aa4404f8a1930672627b2c29772&start=5137&end=7128","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2476759-31ea3aa4404f8a1930672627b2c29772/thumbnail_5137000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6302668/Okanogan-County/Washington/Votes-at-a-glance-board-approves-payrollvoucher-and-consent-agenda-by-voice-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302668-b001da6d40dfa84eec526cf84135387d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149330&Signature=os4R8t8f5~H5SIVHevq214vpLxMRKbpdXUMWEeEFcTmecFh~Be5TkyXohQDt9xDJps42ttV2k3KcTabk7GbBfIUC3Mb0OWGFnfcr3YDr72Kxv7FiezQl7QzhJWSwTx0VucR9LEdn8A-KjoIg2X4yjmRvsnRlFLxV69jq4ucLiO2~Mv0WZ~Vvi4RWlqHv9gLg89H-ylwJYMeAXxyGeY5VIKblOpt7dTSg7QCGXfY7-wNzqz3aLNDVFnhkZVSNvjsP0lgNnqWvgqsGtt30kcyQugrFpW-jfKjU32JSJB7Iwrn3xVpTT9GD9ibW5F6SYED9HuG3kE~2HJgFrgE521hoWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Okanogan County, WA","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","The board recorded two formal actions during the session:

- Voucher and payroll approval: A motion to approve voucher and payroll payments in the total amount of $1,931,793.13 was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The mover and seconder were not identified in the public record excerpt.

- Consent agenda: Commissioners subsequently moved and seconded approval of the consent agenda as presented; the motion carried on a voice vote.

The meeting record shows the motions, a second and the board’s “Aye” response for each item; no roll‑call vote or individual member votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt.

Why it matters: voucher and consent approvals implement routine board financial and administrative actions that authorize county expenditures and record keeping.

What’s next: routine administrative processing of approved vouchers and the items on the consent agenda.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commissioners Meeting 02/19/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the meeting the board approved voucher and payroll payments totaling $1,931,793.13 and approved the consent agenda by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript.","taxTitle","Okanogan County, Washington","taxId",65560,"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},6302673,"Planning staff propose new nightly‑rental rules tied to platform licensing and a per‑booking fee",246,7206000,7452000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2476759-31ea3aa4404f8a1930672627b2c29772&start=7206&end=7452","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2476759-31ea3aa4404f8a1930672627b2c29772/thumbnail_7206000.jpg","/articles/6302673/Okanogan-County/Washington/Planning-staff-propose-new-nightlyrental-rules-tied-to-platform-licensing-and-a-perbooking-fee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302673-dfbf295c38e320dab106da6e35a5f5f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149330&Signature=oh7d7PgAiV~kFRcivXg11g03A-28~kA84~Y434rb8QgeXdkM1tEs1lJpUVNujkXLnDYWLUZxiLfqLXblagxHFQopxo--uEvg6S788PwtALhXA49OJ~6KX1E1OwYYy87o6vpPsjsw4lUP3A-7Xtglq-orEuq-kQRNU4jS00Ptie~RrVjlD78WHThQsg1S8AUXWDuEexnp887GiQrfe3qVVP3t5rAuf~gBKCUhKCkyRN98ZmEX0~PjxfBIEgBzRqckoK-o6FEEM8j~9gaQ0iCh2GnB5mJ8lOWuwgLDRTWy75U1EAKQ7yI6rQA7wagFBx1Tp5cYgyxvTgHvM4ykleom~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Okanogan County planning staff presented preliminary research on nightly rentals and recommended updating the county code to regulate nightly‑rental platforms and increase compliance.

Pete Palmer, director of planning, introduced the briefing and asked the board for direction after Josh Hickman, compliance coordinator, presented data gathered from a third‑party analytics review. The presentation cited a preliminary scan that identified 452 unique nightly‑rental listings in unincorporated Okanogan County and noted that only 76 nightly‑rental licenses had been issued to date for 2025. Staff said analytics providers give wide market estimates — one provider estimated about $2 million in gross revenue countywide, another $10 million and a third as high as $18 million — and that a local reservation operator reported $3.1 million in gross bookings from 98 properties it manages.

Hickman proposed two regulatory approaches the county could adopt: require platform licensing or charge a per‑booking fee similar to Seattle’s $4 per booked night. He described how other jurisdictions use third‑party compliance vendors and automated web crawlers to match platform listings to local license and tax records. Examples offered included Port Angeles, which requires platform reporting and an annual platform license, and Seattle, which charges a per‑booking fee and requires reporting. Staff noted other Washington counties use third‑party compliance services and that costs for those services ranged in the counties reviewed from about $15,000 to $40,000 annually.

Staff said an enforcement package would typically include automated web crawling to find listings, cross‑referencing with county licensing and assessor records, written notices to property owners and, if necessary, enforcement steps for unlicensed operations. Hickman told commissioners the county’s GIS staff believed a similar program could be developed in‑house to identify listings, which might reduce the need for a costly vendor.

Why it matters: staff said unlicensed nightly rentals produce lost license revenue, potentially leave lodging taxes and business taxes uncollected, and present public‑safety and permitting concerns when properties operate without required permits.

What’s next: staff will provide draft sample ordinances used by other jurisdictions and follow up with assessor and GIS staff about technical feasibility and costs. Commissioners asked for copies of Port Angeles and Seattle ordinances and requested a feasibility and cost estimate from GIS and assessor staff before any ordinance is drafted.

Quote: \"Okanogan County supports a multimillion‑dollar nightly‑rental market,\" said Josh Hickman, the department’s compliance coordinator. \"Implementing platform reporting or a modest booking fee would materially improve compliance and recapture revenue for county services.\"","Planning director and compliance coordinator presented data showing hundreds of unlicensed nightly rentals in the unincorporated county and proposed regulating booking platforms or creating a per‑booking fee to improve compliance and recoup revenue.",{"_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},6302678,"Treasurer proposes switch to Washington Federal, overhaul of county credit‑card and travel policies",240,3510000,3750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2476759-31ea3aa4404f8a1930672627b2c29772&start=3510&end=3750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2476759-31ea3aa4404f8a1930672627b2c29772/thumbnail_3510000.jpg","/articles/6302678/Okanogan-County/Washington/Treasurer-proposes-switch-to-Washington-Federal-overhaul-of-county-creditcard-and-travel-policies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302678-b330b9b232c3f9c1ba38315de8f70768/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149330&Signature=UUOfASD01BzKqfnwYL3hls5Q5r2Penfr8eDkM1TsSgYy0NyI1u15PP42rBtNT6lPuVvT1GdbdUxd8ef8UPBHNMlrRrmE1Qv-9-Db7hVvFh7zBMwcoXvVmri0j76cQ34U~lJzIIdCcvGUlugGeaDWDqJdXhkFriXRyOqvcswJvjluVzkuQHTR8uvCQdQaXius0Hra-FXsJHSupFym6M7gzKd1v0EwP4TKg0Lwhn03ls~Ow1NUkOMKKCPTeYHwnNHfrlbtPvQRyVi3eBujFEzjtnlHEwxmgCXndzN6SBeSy6cjPRQbgMmanqZs8ZGT9RAPZm8b1dTRk3XrNg5tzpkA6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pam Johnson, Okanogan County treasurer, told the finance committee she is proposing the county switch its purchasing credit‑card account from FirstBank to Washington Federal, where the county already maintains accounts.

Johnson said Washington Federal offers three practical payment options, a local branch that could accept in‑person payments in Omak and user interfaces she judged easier for cardholders. She also said the bank offers a one‑time branding option to print cards with the county logo. Johnson told commissioners the county must give the current bank a 90‑day notice if it decides to change by Oct. 1.

On policy, Johnson proposed updating the county’s credit‑card policy to remove a specific bank name and replace it with the generic “banking institution,” and to require employees who hold county cards to sign a policy acknowledgement. She told the committee that travel policy is dated and should be updated to address Airbnbs, trip insurance and modern payment practices, and that references to credit cards should be coordinated between policies and any existing resolutions.

Commissioners and staff discussed credit limits and oversight. The committee discussed setting a per‑card cap and agreed on a practical approach: leave existing department limits in place but require that any limit above a threshold — discussed at the meeting as $10,000 — require treasurer or commissioner sign‑off. Johnson said she and her deputy are the only staff who can raise limits currently.

Johnson also reviewed broader finance items: she reported current expense cash on hand for January at $2,798,614.45 and raised concern that the capital improvement fund carryover was “only 400 and some thousand,” which she and commissioners flagged as low. She said recent bank messaging shows interest/State Pool rates near 4.38% and that some revenues/accounts may not be paid back to the county until later in the fiscal year.

No formal vote was taken at the meeting. Staff will draft a 90‑day notice letter to the current bank, prepare proposed credit‑card policy changes (including mandatory acknowledgement for cardholders) and return revised travel and credit‑card policies for commissioner consideration at a future meeting.

Why it matters: the bank and policy decisions affect payment operations, purchase controls, fraud response, and user experience for departments that use purchasing cards.

What’s next: treasurer will draft the bank‑change letter and updated policies and will bring recommended language and a proposed credit‑limit framework back to the board.","County treasurer Pam Johnson proposed moving county purchasing cards from FirstBank to Washington Federal, suggested updates to the credit‑card and travel policies and recommended requiring cardholders to sign acknowledgements; commissioners discussed credit limits and oversight.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6302683,"County posts PERC order finding unlawful contracting of courthouse security; orders restoration and back pay",139,2852000,2991000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2476759-31ea3aa4404f8a1930672627b2c29772&start=2852&end=2991","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2476759-31ea3aa4404f8a1930672627b2c29772/thumbnail_2852000.jpg","/articles/6302683/Okanogan-County/Washington/County-posts-PERC-order-finding-unlawful-contracting-of-courthouse-security-orders-restoration-and-back-pay","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302683-e63dd19d76e457d4253e0b68d65c2467/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149330&Signature=UL2OkUwPYhaRd6liHV9EXc8jVYp1y-nTLLOqmBLNpPeI3bH7FKXjEZTPzOetS~3fUqargbj-11bAej66~mgLpT~ITYjLA1rSeJRoeTFpRAq6eTbZn3RLXe6JOFFUDHy0YeURIUOHCQLRHmtoDwNayW1qsePHc8C~EzG8J4E2ad5mtoZDpWkK-59v0tpqCuLMYCAGq5GKmqwwh2C-W4qf2X~1t5VMjdkpFQccni6Q26Ziy9XhkGmOIfgU4Bgit8zy6Wqx9wSdvDfk922NYs9AldKhq56DO9IInk2iCO657x0UHcXL0PzJXm0-LeE9Jkky9aO1AsrJABYT92clhNS9sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Okanogan County posted an official notice after the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) found the county unlawfully contracted out bargaining‑unit work for courthouse security.

The posted decision (Case No. 137412‑UD‑23; Decision 14019‑PECB) states the county “unlawfully contracted out work of the employees in the bargaining unit represented by the Okanogan County Sheriff Employee Association” and refused to bargain regarding the transfer of bargaining‑unit work. The PERC order directs the county to restore the contracted courthouse security work exclusively to the sheriff’s office and to negotiate in good faith with the Sheriff Employees Association before transferring bargaining‑unit work in the future.

The order requires the county to ascertain the number of contracted employees and hours worked on courthouse security, and to make eligible bargaining‑unit employees whole by paying back pay and benefits, including overtime, from the date of the unlawful contracting until the county returns the work to the bargaining unit. The notice cites payment computation in accordance with WAC 391‑45‑410.

The posting also includes the PERC remedy that the county must cease interfering with employees’ collective bargaining rights and provide required notices and remedies specified in the decision.

Why it matters: the order requires the county to restore bargaining‑unit work and to provide financial remedies that may include interest and overtime, and it constrains future contracting of courthouse security work to non‑bargaining employees without bargaining with the union.

What’s next: the county must comply with the PERC order: restore work to the sheriff’s bargaining unit, calculate back pay per the cited WAC, and notify the union and affected employees. The posting of the PERC decision was read into the record at the meeting.","Okanogan County posted a Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission order requiring it to restore courthouse security work to the sheriff’s bargaining unit and to make affected employees whole, including back pay computed under WAC rules.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6302687,"Okanogan County commissioners debate outside-counsel rate increase and reliance on firm",508,296000,804000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2476759-31ea3aa4404f8a1930672627b2c29772&start=296&end=804","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2476759-31ea3aa4404f8a1930672627b2c29772/thumbnail_296000.jpg","/articles/6302687/Okanogan-County/Washington/Okanogan-County-commissioners-debate-outside-counsel-rate-increase-and-reliance-on-firm","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302687-5dca59b9fe15a5c0b7ee114c2d56e77c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149330&Signature=IonuTya3FqoegL6yJKDmJsEMsB3N5DYWVrx~EwCZtyPiy1XquLLyVJPUfJe0Sw9dwUNt59zfrojIIiBWpnpAQB9Er7evLIvVy4er5TJ2Uxrosp44t3Etq6cbxEtxu4hORfJu1lhtumpNFf466LTVOmyyWB~8BIJPMUOyH0Y3OP~qjwGwD22MHhDLkxJ~Zv3qqtmBU6y-oRK-dlTzeKbFOiaBgTk1OaGuucW5RrpNjQl~CNnF0g1QqmXIuMTfW2KmGYEjNX5HKGJBhZbtG1dX0G-SuI1YfjwIq3vK~CAbDyTS0avdNGqgVrJsmchNoZJLenUCcbIIxHb9kxhA6YJgPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Okanogan County commissioners and staff reviewed a proposed rate increase submitted by outside counsel and discussed options to hold rates, reduce use of the firm or hire in-house attorneys.

The county received a rate schedule from outside counsel in mid-January showing increases for several staff roles the county uses frequently. Commissioners and staff said litigation accounts for the majority of legal spending and that outsourcing to firms with multiple specialists remains the county’s primary approach for matters that exceed in‑house capacity.

The discussion centered on three paths: ask the firm to keep current rates for the county because of the long relationship; sharply reduce reliance on the firm and limit the kinds of work sent out; or consider recruiting one or two in‑house attorneys with specialized expertise. Commissioners noted that finding a single in‑house attorney who could handle the range of land use, water and specialized litigation handled by outside counsel would be difficult.

Staff provided examples from the proposed schedule during the discussion, including line items that the county recorded as increases for frequently used contract roles. Commissioners asked that staff ask the firm to reconsider or hold proposed increases and to return with a breakdown of last year’s legal spending and the share used for litigation.

County staff directed the county administrator or designated staff member to contact outside counsel to try to negotiate the request; commissioners did not adopt a formal motion at the meeting. Commissioners instructed planning and county staff to continue working with legal counsel on day‑to‑day planning matters and to try to minimize outside counsel use where feasible pending the outcome of negotiations.

Why it matters: legal services compose a sizable and variable portion of the county budget, particularly while several litigation matters remain active. Commissioners and staff said preserving access to specialized expertise is a priority while also trying to limit cost increases.

What’s next: staff will attempt to negotiate with outside counsel and produce a spending breakdown and proposal for reducing outside counsel use, and return to the board with recommendations.","County leaders discussed a proposed rate increase from outside counsel, weighed options to negotiate or reduce use, and revisited whether to hire in-house attorneys for specialized matters.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: board approves payroll/voucher and consent agenda by voice vote

Planning staff propose new nightly‑rental rules tied to platform licensing and a per‑booking fee

Treasurer proposes switch to Washington Federal, overhaul of county credit‑card and travel policies

County posts PERC order finding unlawful contracting of courthouse security; orders restoration and back pay

Okanogan County commissioners debate outside-counsel rate increase and reliance on firm