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County authorizes DOH consultation on opioid treatment program, approves property transfers and short warming‑center funding
Summary
Walla Walla County commissioners authorized the chair to sign the Washington State DOH consultation form for a proposed opioid treatment program, approved transferring several county‑owned homes with developmental‑disability covenants to a housing authority, and authorized limited warming‑center funding using FPH emergency‑preparedness dollars.
The Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners took multiple Department of Community Health (DCH) items on Nov. 3.
Nancy Wenzel (DCH) asked the board to authorize the chair to sign a Washington State Department of Health County/City Legislative Authority Consultation form for a proposed opioid treatment program located inside city limits. The RCW requires consultation; commissioners said the project is primarily a city issue but confirmed support of the consultation form and authorized the chair to sign it. The motion passed 3‑0.
DCH also presented a resolution authorizing transfer of several county‑owned homes (201 & 205 SE 3rd in College Place; 1869 Fern Ave; 1027 & 1029 Valencia in Walla Walla) to the local housing authority for developmental‑disability and supportive housing. Staff noted the properties have covenants requiring use for those purposes and cannot be sold at market; commissioners approved the transfers 3‑0.
Wenzel said the current entity operating the county warming center will not reapply; DCH proposed using federal public health (FPH) emergency preparedness funds to support the warming center through spring while jurisdictions and partners pursue sustainable, longer‑term funding. She said the county will convene a cohort to look at long‑term funding strategies. Commissioners supported the short bridge funding plan.
What happens next: Chair will sign the DOH consultation form and staff will proceed with documents to transfer the identified properties; DCH will work with the cities and partners to fund a warming center through spring and explore sustainable funding models.
Sources: Department of Community Health presentation by Nancy Wenzel at the Nov. 3 Walla Walla County commissioners meeting.
