Walla Walla County commissioners approve interlocal pacts, hiring exceptions and back state public-health funding

Walla Walla County commissioners met Jan. 20 and approved a series of routine administrative actions, including interlocal agreements, personnel replacements and travel authorizations, and voted to formally support continued legislative funding for foundational public‑health services.

The board, with Commissioner Kimball presiding and Commissioner Fulmer participating remotely, approved a revised, condensed agenda to accommodate a short quorum and then moved through action items. Commissioner Fulmer moved and Commissioner Kimball seconded motions on each item; all motions passed on 2–0 voice votes. Commissioner Clayton was absent.

Among the items approved, commissioners authorized an annual interlocal agreement with Franklin County to allow mutual use of jail facilities should the county need to relocate detainees, and approved Amendment No. 1 to an interlocal permitting agreement with the City of Walla Walla so county permitting staff can process permits for county‑owned property inside city limits. The board also approved two landowner acknowledgement forms, acting as Mill Creek Flood Control Zone District supervisors, to support Tri‑State Steelheaders’ grant applications for fish‑passage work at two Mill Creek channel locations; those acknowledgements are required for grant submittal and, if selected for funding, the board will be asked to execute fuller agreements that define roles and responsibilities.

Personnel and spending approvals included two hiring‑freeze exceptions: a replacement hiring for a corrections officer following a recent departure and a replacement office assistant/receptionist for the Clerk’s Office. The board approved spending authorizations for out‑of‑state travel: one to send a sheriff’s office employee, Alonzo, to a three‑day hands‑on National Animal Care and Control Association training (the Sheriff’s Foundation is covering about 54 percent of the cost), and two for Treasurer’s Office employees Heimbigner and Stober.

Public Works engineer Joel Dickerson explained the need to update an electronic signature authorization form (ESAF) for the Department of Ecology to reflect the current board chair; commissioners approved the ESAF so Public Works staff can continue stormwater paperwork for Ecology.

In a substantive policy request, Nancy Wenzel of the Department of Community Health asked the board to support continued legislative funding for foundational public‑health services (FPHS). Wenzel said a vape‑tax funding error last year and a proposed gubernatorial cut of roughly $29,000,000 have created a significant shortfall for FPHS; she noted the county contributes about $280,000 and that legislative funding for local FPHS totals roughly $2,000,000. Commissioners voted to send a letter of support urging continued state funding.

A member of the public later asked whether the Franklin County interlocal had been approved; commissioners confirmed it had been. The meeting concluded with approval of payroll action forms and adjournment.

Votes at a glance - Revised agenda: moved by Commissioner Fulmer; seconded by Commissioner Kimball — approved 2–0. - Hiring‑freeze exception, corrections officer: moved by Commissioner Fulmer; seconded by Commissioner Kimball — approved 2–0. - Hiring‑freeze exception, Clerk’s Office receptionist: moved by Commissioner Fulmer; seconded by Commissioner Kimball — approved 2–0. - County vouchers/warrants/electronic payments: moved by Commissioner Fulmer; seconded by Commissioner Kimball — approved 2–0. - Interlocal agreement (Walla Walla County & Franklin County) — mutual use of jail facilities: moved by Commissioner Fulmer; seconded by Commissioner Kimball — approved 2–0. - Interlocal agreement (City of Walla Walla amendment No. 1) — permitting for county property in city limits: moved by Commissioner Fulmer; seconded by Commissioner Kimball — approved 2–0. - Spend authorization No. 00000010 — out‑of‑state travel for sheriff’s office employee Alonzo: moved by Commissioner Fulmer; seconded by Commissioner Kimball — approved 2–0. - Spend authorizations Nos. 12 and 13 — out‑of‑state travel for Treasurer’s Office employees Heimbigner and Stober: moved by Commissioner Fulmer; seconded by Commissioner Kimball — approved 2–0. - ESAF (Dept. of Ecology) for Public Works: moved by Commissioner Fulmer; seconded by Commissioner Kimball — approved 2–0. - Landowner acknowledgement forms to support Tri‑State Steelheaders grant applications (Mill Creek Channel at 6th Ave and at 3rd/Callville): moved by Commissioner Fulmer; seconded by Commissioner Kimball — each approved 2–0. - Support for continued legislative funding for foundational public‑health services: moved by Commissioner Fulmer; seconded by Commissioner Kimball — approved 2–0. - Payroll action forms and other personnel forms: moved by Commissioner Fulmer; seconded by Commissioner Kimball — approved 2–0.

Next steps and context Many items approved at the meeting were procedural or routine (annual interlocal agreements, travel and personnel authorizations). The landowner acknowledgement forms for Tri‑State Steelheaders enable grant applications but do not obligate the county to construction or funding; final execution of project agreements would follow only if grant awards are made. The board’s support for continued FPHS funding is a formal local endorsement aimed at state legislators amid identified budget shortfalls.

Reported speakers and attributions in this article are taken from the meeting transcript; where the transcript contained inconsistent or misspelled proper names, official local usage was applied (e.g., Walla Walla County). The board recorded actions as unanimous among the two attending commissioners; Commissioner Clayton was absent.