Last update:  08/19/2010

 1.   Stevens County Land Services Director - Interim appointment

 2.   Stevens County Land Services Director Resigns

 3.   Stevens County Solid Waste Division considers changes

 4.   Volunteers Wanted - Stevens County Advisory Boards

 5.   Stevens County Water Conservancy Board - citizen applications 

 6.   Stevens County Fish & Wildlife Advisory Committee -Update

 7.   Stevens County Board of Equalization (BOE) opening

 8.   Re-dedication Ceremony of the Stevens County Courthouse & Fountain

 9.   Stevens County Adopts Dog Control Resolution No. 101-207 ENFORCEMENT SUSPENDED FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS FROM MAY 11, 2010

 10.  Stevens County Public Works Department 2010 Spring & Summer Maintenance Summary

 11.  County’s Paper of Record

 12.  Code of the West Adopted by County Commissioners in PDF format

 13.  Stevens County Fish & Wildlife Advisory Committee

In an effort to minimize the effects of shrinking revenues and the loss of personnel, the Stevens County Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division is considering two options. The first is the potential closing of the Park Rapids Transfer Station permanently.  The second is reducing the hours at the Kettle Falls Landfill facility by eliminating the former practice of being open on Mondays during the summer months of June, July and August.  This would result in the landfill keeping the same hours year round, Tuesday through Saturday 8:30am to 5:00pm.  The Solid Waste Division will accept public comments on the two proposals through April 30, 2010.   They can be directed to Dennis Durbin, Solid Waste Manager, at 738-6106 or (866) 205-9220.

The Stevens County Board of Equalization (BOE) currently has one opening for an alternate member. The BOE is responsible for hearing appeals of assessed value on real and personal property in Stevens County.  This is an appointed, volunteer position which receives $75 per day, plus a small travel stipend.  The successful appointee must be willing to attend State of Washington sponsored BOE training within one year of his or her appointment.  Although real estate or appraisal knowledge is helpful, all interested Stevens County citizens are welcome to apply.  Please submit a letter of interest including experience and qualifications to the Stevens County Commissioners - 215 South Oak, Room #214 Colville, WA  99114.  This volunteer position will remain open until filled.  Additional information may be obtained from Karen Phipps, Secretary of the Board of Equalization, 509-684-7515. 

On Monday, July 13th, approximately 40 people attended the re-dedication ceremony of the Stevens County Courthouse and Fountain. Current and former Commissioners, elected officials and people who remember trout in fountain gathered during a brief cloud-break to hear about the revitalization project that included window replacement and refurbishment of the historic window frames, cleaning the outside of the Courthouse and re-pointing the brick, refurbishing the fountain and entry doors and adding automatic door openers to provide greater accessibility to those with a handicap.

Land Services Director Clay White was successful in securing a grant for this project and Chris Moore from the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation was on hand to present the county with a check in the amount of $157,000.00.

Pictured from left: Commissioners Merrill Ott, Tony Delgado, O.G. Clem Clemons, Fran Bessermin, Jack Cogswell, Fred Lotze and Larry Guenther.
 

Stevens County Public Works will again be busy this spring and summer providing road maintenance services to the residents of Stevens County.  The activities discussed in this release generally pertain to paved roadways.  However, we will also do routine work on gravel roads grading and managing roadside vegetation, in addition to concentrated gravel road maintenance on roads listed below.  We trust that this release provides the public important information regarding our upcoming programs and services increases awareness and serves to solicit public input.

In general, spring road maintenance activities will include grading gravel roads, maintaining roadside vegetation and crack sealing paved roads to prevent water infiltration and damage.  Several county roads are scheduled for roadside vegetation management, which will be provided by mechanical and chemical methods.  The purpose of mechanical brush control is to enhance line-of-sight for drivers, reduce fixed object collision hazards and improve conditions to reduce vehicle/wildlife interactions.  Our chemical treatment program is intended to control noxious weeds throughout the county.  If you have concerns regarding our mechanical or chemical treatment (herbicide) program, please call our office.  Stevens County does administer a no-spray/owner maintained roadside program.  Please call the Stevens County Weed Board at (509) 684-7590 for more information.

Our summer maintenance program includes pavement patching and bituminous surface treatment.  Pavement patching will be accomplished with quick setting hot mix asphalt providing improved performance and increased driver satisfaction.  The bituminous surface treatment program involves placement of hot liquid asphalt followed immediately by placing rock chips to cover the asphalt.  The hot asphalt/rock chip application will lengthen the road’s useful life by protecting the pavement surface from oxidation and studded tire damage, sealing small cracks in the pavement and providing improved skid resistance during winter months.  As a consequence of using rock chips however, some driver inconvenience and customary road hazards can be expected.  The roadway is usually dusty immediately following application.  In addition, flying rocks may be experienced from drivers exceeding the posted 25-MPH work zone speed.  We apologize for the inconvenience and ask all drivers to obey flagging personnel and posted speed limits.

Following is a listing of roads scheduled for bituminous surface treatment: 

ROAD REHABILITATION – Aladdin Road, MP 12.50-16.05

STIMULUS PROJECT -  Bituminous Surface Treatment – Williams Lake Road and Cedonia-Addy Road

Stevens County is hopeful that this publication is helpful to our customers, the local citizens.  Please call our office at (509) 684-4548 with questions, concerns or comments regarding our programs.  Your input will be greatly appreciated.  You can also visit our Website at http://www.co.stevens.wa.us/ and click on Departments/Public Works for current information on our department, including the 2009 construction program.

NOTICE is hereby given that, effective July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011, the official newspaper for advertising Stevens County's legal notices will be The Chewelah Independent; E. 309 Main Street; P.O. Box 5; Chewelah, WA 99109.

In 2003, the Board of County Commissioners of Stevens County created the Stevens County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee to address threats to livestock, domestic animals, private property and humans caused by cougar and other problem wildlife.  Anyone interested in serving as a member of the Wildlife Service may apply by submitting a letter of interest to the Board of County Commissioners; Room 214, Stevens County Courthouse; 215 South Oak; Colville, Washington 99114.  The letter should include a description of the person’s background and experience and the reasons for their interest in serving.  Letters of application will be accepted throughout the year and kept on file for future vacancies or needs.  Additional information may be obtained from the Commissioners’ Office at the address listed above or by calling (509) 684-3751.