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Okanogan County declares jail staffing emergency; county negotiates higher pay for public defense director
Summary
County commissioners declared a state of emergency for jail staffing and directed HR to continue salary negotiations after a conditional offer to a public defense director; commissioners approved the emergency resolution unanimously.
Okanogan County commissioners on Feb. 5 declared a local state of emergency because of “unprecedented low manning levels” at the county jail and discussed pay for a prospective public defense director.
The board unanimously approved Resolution 15-2025, declaring an emergency for the jail “due to unprecedented staffing shortages,” a move commissioners said gives the sheriff and county more flexibility to seek short-term staffing solutions. The motion and second were made during the meeting and carried by voice vote with all commissioners saying “aye.”
Separately, in executive session the county’s HR director, Shelley Keithman, reported that the county had extended a conditional offer for public defense director to Randy Teese. Keithman said Teese has more than 20 years of public defense experience and asked the board to consider a higher starting wage; the candidate requested a $160,000 starting salary. Keithman presented compensation comparisons showing a $150,000 figure would place the hire at about 87% of comparable counties and $155,000 at roughly 90% of comps. Commissioners instructed HR to make a counteroffer (the board’s discussion described a phased increase option: $155,000 for the remainder of the current year and $160,000 in year two) and follow up with the candidate.
The emergency declaration and the hiring negotiation are separate actions: the emergency grants the sheriff short-term latitude for operations, while the HR discussion addressed a long‑term staffing and management need within public safety. No additional appropriations were adopted at the meeting for emergency overtime or outside staffing; commissioners said further measures would be considered if required.
Commissioners and staff emphasized the distinction between declaratory emergency authority and formal, long-term budget actions. The emergency resolution was approved on the record; the public defense salary remains under negotiation and no final contract was posted in the meeting minutes.
