Story by Rodger Nichols for Gorge Country Media
Klickitat County Auditor Heather Jobe certified the August primary election to the county commissioners at the board meeting yesterday, noting the turnout was 49.9 percent, way over the statewide average of 37.27 percent. And she had a strong reminder for voters in the November 3rd general election.
“Of the 118 ballots that we rejected, 78 percent, or 92 of those ballots were rejected because they were too late. So it is really important to mail timely, and please use the ballot boxes. And for the love of all things holy, do not go on Facebook the day after the election and complain you didn’t get your ballot. It is too late at that point for anybody to um help you out.”
The Public Works department manage Jeff Hunter, announced the upcoming retirement of emergency management coordinator Frank Hewey and requested to backfill the position.
“Frank is formally retiring. He’s planning on retiring September 30th. We would like to backfill. That is a budgeted position. We need somebody that that’s what they do. Because the contacts the state EOC, the FEMA, We have to have somebody in that position. so we could get the winter, when there’s a storm attached. Frank is serving as a half time employee but Hunter informed the board that it’s not only budgeted, but budgeted at a three quarter time position.
And the Planning department introduced a new format for reporting on high-priority code enforcement cases, discussed upcoming public hearings, and detailed the progress of the comprehensive plan update, which included a new strategy of using surveys to increase public engagement.