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Votes at a glance: County approves ballot measure filing, contracts, ordinances and staffing moves
Summary
At its April 21 meeting the Walla Walla County Board of County Commissioners approved a range of actions including submitting a 0.2% sales tax proposition for emergency communications to the ballot, interlocal contracts, a sewage-code ordinance, the Sims Pit contract, and multiple staffing and travel items.
The Walla Walla County Board of County Commissioners recorded multiple formal actions April 21, 2025. Below are the principal motions and outcomes from the meeting; where votes were recorded the tallies are given. Speaker attributions reflect names and roles recorded in the meeting.
Votes at a glance
- Approve revised agenda — Motion carried 3-0.
- Approve commissionersconsent items and minutes — Motion carried 3-0.
- Approve county vouchers, warrants and electronic payments — Motion carried 3-0.
- Resolution: Interlocal agreement (Assotin County / Walla Walla County Department of Court Services) — Motion to approve renewal juvenile-detention use contract; motion carried 3-0.
- Resolution: Interlocal agreement for autopsy services (Benton County / Walla Walla County) — Motion to approve; motion carried 3-0.
- Approve request by Waitsburg Celebration Days Association to use county roads for an all-terrain-vehicle event — Motion carried 3-0.
- Approve ordering playground equipment for Wallula Park using community outreach funds (proposal 2020-5-421) — Motion carried 3-0. Commissioners discussed the project; Commissioner Fulmer said the request was for $20,000 from fund 151 and noted the community had contributed labor and recent improvements.
- Approve a letter of support for the City of College Place request for funding for police station, dispatch and EOC partnership — Motion carried 3-0.
- Approve submitting a proposition to voters of Walla Walla County authorizing a 0.2% sales and use tax to fund emergency communications systems and facilities pursuant to RCW 82.14.420 — Motion carried 3-0. Commissioners discussed permitted uses (operations, equipment, and potentially capital infrastructure such as radio towers). Chief Chris Busswal clarified that radio towers, replacement and upgrades could be considered capital uses under the statute.
- Approve contract signature for Sims Pit 2025 with Western Construction of Lewiston (public works) — Motion carried 3-0.
- Approve Ordinance No. 502 amending Chapter 8.16 (sewage disposal regulations) following a public hearing — Motion carried 3-0. The ordinance updates county code to align with state rule changes, clarifies who may design on-site sewage systems, and removes an older subdivision section to align county rules with the state.
- Proclaim May 2025 as Bike Month in Walla Walla County — Motion carried 3-0.
- Approve hiring-freeze exception to fill 1 Superior Courtroom Clerk (Clerk's Office) — Motion carried 3-0.
- Approve Department of Community Health (DCH) request to fill Environmental Health Manager prior to existing managerretirement (07/01/2025) — Motion carried 3-0.
- Approve request for applications (RFA) for naloxone vending machines (DCH) — Motion carried 2-1. Commissioner Fulmer voted no; Commissioners Clayton and Kimball voted yes. Commissioners debated anonymous access vs. face-to-face distribution and whether vending machines should be prioritized over direct distribution through community providers.
- Approve out-of-state travel for Community Health Department employee Griffin (training) — Motion carried 3-0.
- Approve preliminary 2046 growth targets, housing needs allocations and land-capacity analysis methodologies (see separate story) — Motion carried 3-0.
How votes were recorded: Most motions were adopted unanimously (3-0), with a single recorded split vote (naloxone vending machines, 2-1). Several routine motions (vouchers, consent items) were approved without extended discussion.
Ending: Commissioners generally directed staff to follow up on next steps where applicable (legal review, policy drafting, grant coordination) and set timeframes for return reports to the board.
