[{"_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",6097302,"mediaKeyId","2828460-cc4648ded38773b018fb41f78e70adf6","parentId",2828460,"title","Only one bid received for Okanogan County legal‑newspaper contract; Gazette Tribune preliminarily leads","audioSeconds",360,"startMs",1253000,"endMs",1613000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828460-cc4648ded38773b018fb41f78e70adf6&start=1253&end=1613","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828460-cc4648ded38773b018fb41f78e70adf6/thumbnail_1253000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6097302/Okanogan-County/Washington/Only-one-bid-received-for-Okanogan-County-legalnewspaper-contract-Gazette-Tribune-preliminarily-leads","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097302-7f6b682f875e9ca20fb7b72a1eb7ccb4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137654&Signature=lKVeF5Iwq95v~3pGC3gDvNntJqe1DDwCSzNoujRGp2oPTCHXR5199gB6tB1Vit-XuWJ6tyTrUR9JfIYEVnFhVR4nzDfNetororTOtYLsKklJ4FmhuRcVcop5jdY0Rqj5hueKL5WeOURSPGsSIuYnO0WQGffLD~kbLJx4tQ-HjD3mzQSBz1z26KcOlorbx083tV7hq~Pox1bYHaJBiCgAdHKvj~XrqEZKjrEBHbmx50wPBQb9tIdB3tHjXzJeN7eNPsDFcUdkxgM342Bt3P33T8POZgAvl3s9z~ijIpXdoDxk8DOiqTNVvd6iKLOfCed0TkwPUpOX2t4JtBbPY47gRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Okanogan County, WA","date","2025-03-12T00:00:00Z","article","County staff opened bids for the contract to provide Okanogan County’s designated legal newspaper of record and told commissioners the county received a single proposal.

An auditor/staff presentation said the bid package was evaluated using a scoring sheet that compares circulation, cost per package, column width and compliance with the bid notice. \"We do have a scoring sheet. So what I'll do is I will what I normally do is when we have 2 bids, I will do a comparison of the 2, showing the pulse complying with the bid notice requirements and then the cost per package... And the board gets that information and looks up for that and makes a decision,\" a staff member explained.

Staff reported that Midtown Valley News combined with Okanogan County Gazette Tribune — both owned by Sound Publishing — was the only bidder. The staff member said the preliminary count favors the Gazette Tribune and that the formal award is scheduled for the contract award meeting on April 24. No formal award motion was made during this meeting; staff said the contract opening occurred and the board will see a staff comparison and the award at the later date.

Why this matters: county law requires the contract for the county's designated legal newspaper be let by the first Monday in April; the comparison staff provides typically includes circulation and cost metrics that the board uses to decide the award.

Next steps: staff will prepare a comparison sheet laying out circulation, cost per column‑inch and other bid criteria, and the board will consider a formal award at the April 24 meeting, the auditor's office said.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commissioners Meeting 03/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","County opened bids for its designated legal newspaper; a combined Midtown Valley News / Okanogan County Gazette Tribune (Sound Publishing) submitted the sole bid and, based on preliminary scoring, will be the recommended award on April 24, staff said.","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},6097306,"Okanogan County commissioners approve routine administrative items including JARPA signature and park amendment",6191,1040000,7231000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828460-cc4648ded38773b018fb41f78e70adf6&start=1040&end=7231","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828460-cc4648ded38773b018fb41f78e70adf6/thumbnail_1040000.jpg","/articles/6097306/Okanogan-County/Washington/Okanogan-County-commissioners-approve-routine-administrative-items-including-JARPA-signature-and-park-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097306-960f8fec6d0ed51639fac5d7c944a87a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137654&Signature=S5RHDAGa-lyJjcLsmwHr78kfmhERaQ47ueAMO1joQUsOckiDDdzYRX1RuLJfCB0HowOrocArlywVjHpY5KlbwFTNgaUL6jDDvlV5nR-y8IeD6DBvGlZQDiYfVBAfjua6eUfpoH5-vHunLG1Xgq38Uz54RXBL8bEwu9lRFfUEUrbmyan0WwT8OhTbx~0pmkB24KyldKb8VPLnT4zS-OzVx~cu6v73GF7dNHaeMB0~oLvvkiUfJhGyzhPTfm1cJWDi6BWwrrGvzEkRspDey62nvIODSZtA31MgzdGQq1R3kLKIDXaI7UGLrn4YB8xnBfGPOn9OE0gQU6RmVEEsR8jysQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Okanogan County commissioners on Tuesday handled a set of routine administrative matters: they authorized the chair to sign a Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA) for Methow Salmon Recovery, approved an amendment to a Washington State Parks plowing agreement adding Hart's Pass, authorized electronic signature on the 2025 road levy certification, approved the consent agenda and scheduled an executive session under state statute.

The board moved, seconded and voted to authorize the chair to sign the JARPA for parcel number 3322062002, described in the meeting as allowing Methow Salmon Recovery access to private property for project work. A county staff member said the application \"is just letting them gain access to the property legally so they can keep going through them.\" The motion carried after a voice vote of \"Aye.\" The transcript does not record individual roll‑call votes or tallies by name.

Commissioners also approved an amendment to the county’s winter plowing agreement with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to add Hart's Pass as an eligible location. A motion to \"authorize the chair to sign the agreement between Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Okanogan County Department Of Public Works — agreement number IA325-451, amendment number 1\" passed with the board's voice vote.

Auditor staff presented the annual road levy certification to the county; the board moved and seconded a motion to authorize the chairman to electronically sign the 2025 road levy certification, and the motion carried. Separately, the board approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting.

At the meeting’s start commissioners made a motion to enter an executive session under \"RCW4231101G,\" inviting specified staff for 15 minutes; that motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

What the approvals mean: The JARPA authorization allows the Methow Salmon Recovery group to proceed with permitting steps that require property access; the State Parks amendment extends the county’s contracted spring plowing service list to include Hart's Pass; the road levy certification is a routine annual administrative filing the assessor and auditor prepare for the county; and the consent agenda covered several standard administrative items.

The record: the meeting transcript records motions, seconds and voice approvals for each item but does not include a named roll call or numeric tally for the votes taken. Where further documentation is required—such as final JARPA filing materials, an executed State Parks amendment or the road‑levy electronic signature—county staff said signed copies and scanned records will be retained in county files.","Commissioners authorized the chair to sign a JARPA for Methow Salmon Recovery, approved a State Parks amendment adding Hart's Pass to plowing coverage and authorized electronic signature on the 2025 road levy certification; the board also approved the consent agenda and a 15‑minute executive session was scheduled.",{"_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},6097311,"Okanogan County search-and-rescue seeks to reallocate Title 3 funds to dive and water-rescue gear",834,2686000,3520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828460-cc4648ded38773b018fb41f78e70adf6&start=2686&end=3520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828460-cc4648ded38773b018fb41f78e70adf6/thumbnail_2686000.jpg","/articles/6097311/Okanogan-County/Washington/Okanogan-County-search-and-rescue-seeks-to-reallocate-Title-3-funds-to-dive-and-water-rescue-gear","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097311-cce66d60f1471a3a4d482e7ab3fab2b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137654&Signature=muaooORG9CdeGrwbMMvu9w8E3ZhPRYxoORHp1PevubxaCmZlgvu7Z4fsdhhvuI7k26cmO8Dym9hyELQ-9-eS5GoXXmc~sQRlwHLE7oSKoJ8SDYgwkYve56NkdOul5dwn~9Tm12lTD-~JYZmELvxeH1lhRN1Kt7c2~3TEsTr4YJfL75pfPxEp16v2zy4ChE8GeCoearlOli3c23NOd8pKzwDnxqGljjFgZRg~APRvRF5rPTV4d7gYxS8NZPNEqTTxP56cYSezmdt~7yqpJbUNMgoNrfWicRBRvrT77nDJS-dQP0O~b3x0T~PnqqOwE7LZPdTZj7BfOwkguWTh07J5yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Christina Woodworth, Okanogan County’s search-and-rescue coordinator, told commissioners she and deputies want to reallocate Title 3 funds that had been earmarked partly for a four-seat side-by-side to pay for dive and water‑rescue equipment that the county currently lacks.

Woodworth said about $70,000 of Title 3 money is allotted for search and rescue this year and that a prior board allocation—part of a larger $140,000 pool split last year between search and rescue and the conservation district—had been earmarked for a side‑by‑side vehicle. She said deputies and volunteers now recommend shifting those funds to outfitting a forming dive team and improving swift‑water response.

\"We think it would be more beneficial to spend those funds on outfitting our dive and our swift water teams,\" Woodworth said. She detailed equipment requests that would come from the reallocation: four dry suits and four full‑face masks with communications, tanks and lift bags for underwater vehicle recovery, support gear for ice and swift‑water responses, a Starlink terminal and subscription for communications in known radio‑dead spots, and safety accessories for existing side‑by‑sides.

Technical Rubius, identified in the meeting as a search‑and‑rescue team member and diver, described the operational need. \"These aren't just dry suits for diving and recovery. They can be used for swift water rescue. They can be used for ice rescue,\" he said, adding the county currently lacks dry suits suitable for cold, deep work and has been relying on volunteers' personal gear. He and Woodworth said the county now has three certified divers and expects a fourth soon; the planned purchases would outfit four divers.

Woodworth provided line‑item amounts discussed at the meeting: $28,655 proposed for dive‑team equipment (dry suits, full‑face masks with comms, tanks, lift bags and support gear); about $6,843 to supply officers with life jacket, knife and whistle kits (23 sets) for patrol vehicles; $400 to bring a certifier to test two volunteer human‑remains detection dogs and handlers; and smaller sums to enclose an older side‑by‑side, buy gas cans, fire extinguishers and other safety items. She said the county previously had $6,500 slated to replace portable radios and $5,000 for lights/siren equipment on a side‑by‑side; staff recommended reallocating portions of those amounts.

Commissioners and staff discussed eligibility under the Forest Service Title 3 program. A county staff member said the proposed new uses would be compared to the Forest Service's eligible uses and that, if they conform, the county's existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) can be amended to adopt the new uses. \"If they submit the proposed new uses, I'll amend—I'll create the amendment for you to review and OK, and then the commissioners will review and OK the warning changes,\" a staff official said.

No formal motion to reallocate funds was recorded in the transcript. Commissioners expressed general support during discussion—\"I'm fine with it,\" and \"sounds like a good use of funds\"—and asked staff to prepare a written amendment to the Title 3 MOU for the board to review and adopt at a later meeting.

Why this matters: county search‑and‑rescue incidents include ice, lake and swift‑water events where properly certified divers, thermal protection and reliable communications materially affect responder safety and the ability to recover victims or vehicles. Woodworth emphasized the county currently borrows equipment from volunteers or neighboring agencies and pays to repair borrowed gear when it is damaged.

Next steps: staff will prepare an amended MOU or amendment language that lists the proposed new uses and bring that amendment back to the board for formal consideration. Commissioners indicated they would review and vote on a formal amendment in a future meeting.","Search-and-rescue leaders asked county commissioners to reallocate about $70,000 in Title 3 funds toward dive, swift-water and patrol response equipment, and commissioners instructed staff to draft an amended MOU for formal approval.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Only one bid received for Okanogan County legal‑newspaper contract; Gazette Tribune preliminarily leads

Okanogan County commissioners approve routine administrative items including JARPA signature and park amendment

Okanogan County search-and-rescue seeks to reallocate Title 3 funds to dive and water-rescue gear