Residents raise court due-process concerns and procurement questions during public comment

Multiple residents used the public-comment period at the June 2 Benton County Board of Commissioners meeting to urge the board to address perceived problems in local courts and county procurement.

Marcy Torres, who described herself as a longtime court watcher, said she has tracked cases in which parents with substance-use histories retain parenting rights and receive public benefits while others—she said—face stricter treatment. “This is not okay, and it needs to stop,” Torres said, calling for more accountability and oversight of programs and court decisions.

Christopher Dare, executive director of the Columbia Basin Veterans Center, praised county–veteran partnerships and invited commissioners to collaborate on services for the region’s veterans.

Jim Atkins questioned several auditor and procurement entries on the agenda, asking specifically about a $90,478.99 payment to the Benton Franklin Community Action Committee, a $2,352 surveying amendment, and furniture purchases that lacked dimensions, photos or clear vendor signatures. “How do you accept a signature of ‘ed’ when that’s not really somebody’s signature?” Atkins asked, urging more complete vendor documentation.

Marie Redout, a Richland resident, said a group is documenting “due process violations” in court cases and is coordinating with lawmakers and legal counsel to gather cases for review. Rebecca Ulrich asked whether the county would issue a public-service announcement about new fireworks rules for unincorporated areas and commended staff for improvements to the county website.

The board did not take action during public comment; commissioners asked staff to continue outreach where appropriate and noted that items identified in public comment could be referred to the county administrator for follow-up.