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Planning director discusses nuisance-property complaints from tribe, jurisdictional limits on reservation
Summary
Planning staff met with tribal representatives about nuisance properties and homeless camps; county agreed to coordinate enforcement where jurisdiction allows and to identify a county-owned parcel in Belvedere that may be transferred.
Okanogan County Planning Director Pete Palmer reported on a recent meeting with tribal representatives about nuisance properties on and near the reservation, including two sites in Belvedere and a homeless camp along the river. Palmer said the tribe may submit more complaints about fee properties located on reservation land and that the county has limited authority over reservation property.
Palmer explained the county’s historical practice of ceding land-use control on reservation and trust lands to the tribe and said enforcement to remove trespassers generally falls to law enforcement (the county sheriff or tribal police). He offered to coordinate planning enforcement for land-use violations but noted that removing people engaged in trespass requires law enforcement cooperation. "You can't have your cake and eat it too ... you can't mix and match," Palmer said, summarizing jurisdictional constraints.
Palmer said the tribe identified a small triangular parcel owned by Okanogan County in Belvedere; he will identify the parcel, report back on county uses, and consider divesting the property to the tribe if it is surplus. Commissioners asked staff to report back after property review. Planning staff also said they will provide a county contact for a water banking grant web page being developed by a consulting firm.
