Story by Rodger Nichols for Gorge Country Media
Klickitat County Commissioners said at their meeting yesterday the deadline for applications to fill the vacancy created when Prosecuting Attorney David Quesnel resigned on November 26 had passed, and they had received just one application. That person was Rebecca Sells. Here’s how she explained her decision
“Once I received word of the resignation, the consideration was, ‘How are we going to move forward?” My biggest concern is someone that doesn’t have the institutional knowledge walking in at this point. There’s going to be a catch-up time where they are trying to learn what the cases are, what the issues are that are county-specific. So in putting forward my application, my consideration is that I would keep those civil cases moving and also work with the criminal attorneys.”
Following a short executive session, commissioners agreed to look at a formal appointment for next week.
Planning Director Scott Edelman presented a list of potential planning department fee increases, including new fees for some filings. Currently, he said, the department was charging no fees for exempt 80-acre land division by deed, boundary line adjustment by deed, and segregation by deed. He proposed adding a $132 fee for each of those filings.
And he asked about other opportunities:
“We don’t charge for over-the-counter questions; we don’t charge for phone calls. Some of those take a lot of time. Is this something that we just do as a service? And I guess that’s why I want to bring it to your attention.”
Any adjustments will be taken up early in 2026.