Chelan County Commissioners Working on Potential Work Release Facility, Flood Control

The State Department of Corrections and local stakeholders will be meeting next week to discuss the next steps in expanding work release programs in Chelan and Douglas Counties.

Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay says they are working with local stakeholders through a bidding process for a new facility.

"There will be public outreach that will be forthcoming with regards to when a facility is identified and we're definitely going to have a public comment period and so forth for that. We are working on the Department of Corrections on that piece."

Overbay says they will review the properties proposed for the new work release facility, including one county-owned option, before a final determination is made as to the best option.

The County is also working on projects to improve flood plains to handle storms that have caused damage in the past.

Commissioner Bob Bugert says they received a report this week detailing work that was completed in 2019.

"Laying out the groundwork, if you will, for activities in 2020 and 2021. There's going to be a fair amount of emphasis on some areas that have been flood plain and flood control challenges for us."

Areas of concern include Slide Ridge in the Chelan area, Antoine Creek, Number 1 Canyon and several more.

The County has received a FEMA grant to help pay for some of the work.

Hear the full conversation with Commissioners Bugert and Overbay (England was out of town on county business):