Yakima County commissioners review June 17 agenda; items include Atanum Road project, solar grant amendments, labor contracts and water-rights hearing

Yakima County commissioners reviewed the county's agenda for the June 17 public meeting during a short work session on Thursday, June 12, identifying several items that will come before the board next week but taking no formal votes on those items.

The agenda review, led by county staff, listed a rural arterial program project agreement that would authorize the county engineer to sign documents for construction of the Atanum Road improvement project; multiple facility-related grant amendments for solar power projects at Yakima County Sheriff's Office Precinct 3 and the Yakima County Road Maintenance Shop; labor agreements covering 2025'-2026 for noncommissioned Yakima County Sheriff's Guild employees and for officers, corporals and sergeants represented by Teamsters Local 760; contracts and modifications for home rehabilitation projects; and a public hearing on negotiation and sale of a portion of Yakima County's water rights.

The agenda review also listed grant-related items that would require state or federal approval if the board moves forward, including an amendment to a grant agreement with the Washington State Department of Health, an amendment to a hazard mitigation grant with the Washington Military Department for the "gap to gap protection" project (d25-026), and authorization for the Public Services Water Resources Division to enter into a grant agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Erin Franklin, Clerk of the Board, and county staff read item titles and resolution and agreement identifiers into the record but did not take substantive action on the listed items at the June 12 work session. No members of the public provided comments at the meeting.

Commissioners also noted administrative items set for the June 17 agenda, including payroll warrant certification for pay dates May 16'May 31, 2025, amendments to agreements with the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation to extend contract end dates, and an accounts-payable warrant approval for McKinney Glass with issue date May 30, 2025.

The session included a procedural note about attendance: commissioners initially listed Commissioner McKinney as excused, then later asked that the minutes reflect that McKinney was also attending; the work session record does not show any debate or votes on the substantive agenda items themselves. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn; commissioners present voted in the affirmative and the work session concluded.

All items reviewed on June 12 will be considered, debated, and potentially acted on at the board's regular meeting on Tuesday, June 17, when staff presentations and any public testimony will be on the record.