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County signs interlocal agreement with Franklin for horticultural pest services; Franklin staff outline monitoring plans
Summary
The board approved an interlocal agreement with Franklin County’s Horticultural Pest and Disease Board to provide pest inspections and monitoring in Walla Walla County and separately approved the joint board logo; Franklin representatives described weekly inspections, orchard focus near Burbank, and outreach to expand Walla Walla board membership.
Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement with the Franklin County Horticultural Pest and Disease Board and then approved the combined Franklin‑Walla Walla board logo during the Jan. 5 meeting.
Pam Loa, representing the Franklin County Horticultural Pest and Disease Board, told commissioners her team will perform weekly inspections in orchard areas (noting East Harbor and orchards near Burbank), monitor for a pest that had been detected locally, and provide annual reporting. The Franklin board is funded in Franklin County by a parcel assessment (Pam Loa cited an approximate $6.30 per parcel assessment) and will contract with Walla Walla County to provide services there; Walla Walla will use general‑fund support for the service relationship.
Loa said the boards will maintain separate governance and policy making, but will collaborate operationally and may expand Walla Walla’s board membership (there are currently three members on the Walla Walla board, with at least one vacancy). Commissioners asked about recruitment outreach for board vacancies and suggested announcing openings at community events.
The motions to approve the interlocal agreement and the joint logo each passed 3–0. Commissioners thanked Franklin staff for traveling to meet the county and for the partnership approach to protect orchards and mitigate quarantine risk.
