Chelan County Commissioners wrap up community discussion series in Leavenworth

LEAVENWORTH – At the Leavenworth Fire Hall Thursday evening, the Board of Chelan County Commissioners (the “Commissioners”) concluded a series of “community-led discussions” that it hosted for the public with county department heads. 

The meeting, hosted by Commissioner Shon Smith, representing District 2, followed similar gatherings in Wenatchee and Chelan earlier in the week, marking an effort by the commissioners to connect County government directly with those for whom they work. In addition to Smith, present on the panel were Chelan County Directors of Community Development, Deanna Walter, Natural Resources, Mike Kaputo, the Regional Justice Center, Chris Sharp, and Chelan County Sheriff, Mike Morrison. Several other county administrators, officers, and clerks also attended.

“We encourage people to come with questions or concerns that they would like to address either to a county commissioner or a department director,” stated Jill FitzSimmons, public information officer for Chelan County, in a press release ahead of the meetings describing their purpose. “These meetings are an opportunity for us all to gather together [sic] and talk about our community.” 

Concurring, Smith stated that “twice a year, the Commissioners have committed to going out to our individual districts to allow members of the community to speak to us face-to-face and in a group setting where they might feel a little safer asking a question that they might not be able to get an answer to downtown from us or department heads. It's a good time to share ideas that the county is working on and hear from the community regarding those and other projects and topics.”

In the standing room only Leavenworth Fire Hall meeting, after each of the department heads on the dais introduced themselves and described their offices, the floor was opened to residents who focused chiefly on the matters of the Tumwater cross and the impact to Chelan County by the Trump Administration’s mass firing of federal workers.

On the latter issue, Smith, who was open and unapologetic about his far-right views and unconditional support of Trump while campaigning for Commissioner and regularly continues to share those views on social media, largely deflected questions as to why the Commissioners were not “advocating for their communities” with the administration. Smith said that it was simply not the County Commissioner’s job to “counsel” the federal government and that he was focused on “local issues.” 

Sheriff Morrison, in contrast, pointed out that the mass firings were local issues that were going to have negative effects in the County, including placing a strain on law enforcement when it is called off of normal duty to cover emergency work previously covered by federal law enforcement associated with forest services, and even wilderness pit toilets going unemptied and leaking into the local water supply, which originates in the Alpine Wilderness. 

Morrison continued by stating that he has been advocating for County residents by contacting U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, whose district includes Chelan County. He urged everyone to do the same. Morrison’s statements were met with applause from the audience.

The partially completed, illuminated seventy-foot cross atop Tumwater Mountain overlooking Leavenworth commanded a significant portion of the remaining ninety-minute meeting. Walter fielded the community concerns and questions, which were unanimously against the cross’ construction. 

After a member of the audience, Michael Martin, suggested that the cross’ construction violates the Washington State Scenic and Recreational Highway Act, which Walter summarily dismissed, environmental and light pollution concerns were raised. Then, first Norm Dorpat followed by Drew Foulk, a member of the Leavenworth Planning Commission, moved the discussion to the focal point of the matter for the County: whether the cross should be viewed under Chelan County Code as a “sign,” and therefore restricted in height, or as a “structure,” which allows for height exemptions.

Last fall, Walter stated initially that she felt the cross “fell under the sign code.” However, she later told the Echo that she changed her “stance . . . due to [receiving] additional information on structures. We know [the height] and . . . the structural components . . . and what it [is] going to look like – more of a tower.” Walter therefore concluded that, “there may be an opportunity for exemption to height limitation pursuant to our Code provisions,” as she “would put this structure under ‘other similar projections’” in the “exception to building height limitation” section of the Code (Chapter 11.88, Section 120), which includes, among other structures, aerials, observation towers, and radio, communication and television towers. 

Last night, however, she deferred from such a pointed interpretation stating that while she has concluded that she will view the cross as a “structure” under the Code, the revised permit, from the group constructing the cross on the site owned by Leavenworth developer Robert Johnson, was yet to be completed. As such, Walter would refrain from a final determination until completion. 

The only other topic raised concerned the potential harmful effects on the tree fruit industry by the Trump administration’s threatened broad swath tariffs against neighboring countries. Smith acknowledged the “uncertainty” facing the local industry. 

Spanish interpretation services were provided at each meeting, and the Commissioners emphasized their commitment to transparency and accessibility throughout the series. “As a representative of the unincorporated areas of the County,” reiterated Smith, “I look forward to every opportunity to come up and interact with the residents of the community and I’m always thrilled to see so many people come out.”

Caroline Menna is an intern for Ward Media and a senior at Cascade High School, where she serves as Editor-in-Chief of the school’s Publications Group.