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Kittitas County commissioners hear LTAC update as public urges City of Ellensburg to fix pool maintenance
Summary
Public commenters at the July 14 Kittitas County Office Administration meeting urged support for the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recommendations and criticized the City of Ellensburg for failing to maintain the city pool; commissioners heard an LTAC briefing on roughly $10 million in awards and said funded projects were 'shovel-ready.'
At their July 14, 2025 Office Administration meeting, the Kittitas County Board of Commissioners received an update from the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and heard several public commenters press the City of Ellensburg to prioritize maintenance and sustainability before seeking county lodging-tax funding.
Members of the public told commissioners the LTAC recommendations deserved support. "They need a sustainability plan and when they maintain what we have now, then they should be considered for funds towards new facilities," said Candice Comfort during public comment, referencing county lodging-tax decisions that favor visitor-oriented projects. Julie Ann Clemons said she was "appalled" by recent Ellensburg City Council remarks about the city pool and echoed support for LTAC. Jennifer Patterson said the city had not exhausted other funding options and that LTAC "made the right call." Issac Comfort added that the city must take care of existing facilities before seeking additional responsibilities.
The LTAC update, given by Chair Laura Osiadacz and LTAC member Jessica Karraker, said the committee prioritized projects that were "shovel-ready" with concrete plans and listed completion dates by 2026. According to the minutes, the committee had roughly $10 million available to award; Karraker said that the applications selected demonstrated readiness and clear timelines, and that the City of Ellensburg's request was difficult to deny but could be reconsidered if returned with changes.
Why it matters: Lodging tax awards direct tourism-related revenues toward projects that draw visitors; commissioners and LTAC members must weigh readiness and accountability when allocating funds. The public comments signaled local concern that municipal maintenance and planning affect eligibility and public support.
The board recorded receipt of at least one supporting email for LTAC's recommendations. No formal votes on LTAC allocations were recorded at this meeting; commissioners reviewed the committee's recommendations and discussed possible future reconsideration of amended applications.
