Okanogan County staff told the Board of Commissioners that chronic low domestic water pressure and a lack of irrigation connections at the fairgrounds will be addressed with a new pump house and system overhaul after this year’s fair. Staff said temporary “pod” irrigation hookups and other interim fixes are in place for the upcoming event.

County facilities manager Maurice reported that domestic service to the food-court and RV hookup areas has reduced pressure to about 20 PSI during peak use and that “there’s no irrigation connection in the food court” except one spigot. He said crews have installed pods and will move poly pipe to create a temporary manifold to supply critical zones.

The work matters because a portion of the fairgrounds commonly used by tribal members and long-term campers is struggling to stay green, staff said. “We’ve been trying to water the North End,” Maurice said, and added that the county is “constantly moving water” and experimenting with pod placements to reduce dust and keep camping areas acceptable for attendees.

Staff said they have two bids for a pump house and are waiting for a third. The plan is to install a pump house after the fair, drop pressure to about 7.5 PSI for domestic service, and separate irrigation lines so irrigation and domestic systems run independently. Maurice said that when the pump house is complete the county will “tie our two domestics and leave our irrigation totally separate.”

Other details discussed included an existing three-inch mainline that limits the size of laterals and a past water break under a concrete slab that required excavation and repair. Maurice said the Department of Ecology (DOE) will inspect the Ambuleli office well early in the coming week and that the county is awaiting possible variance guidance on how to fill a vault holding a pressure tank.

Staff also told commissioners they are nearly finished with a Department of Agriculture grant application to fund a 6,000-square-foot ag building that would sit between the current annex and the AgriPlex; the application is “98% complete” pending final prices. Staff said the proposed building would upgrade fairground safety and event capacity.

Separately, fair staff announced a fundraising idea: a dunk/dump tank at the fair’s fourth-through-seventh dates, where commissioners and others would be invited to sit for dunking to raise money. County staff asked commissioners to pick days for participation and said organizers would advertise the event at the fair.

Commissioners asked staff to continue the short-term water management for this year’s fair and to return with final bids, pump-house design, and a timeline for construction.

Less critical details: staff said paint projects and other maintenance were delayed by weather; they plan to have the irrigation cross‑connections and isolation valves ready for fair operations.