PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has approved an agreement to cross-deputize certain sheriff’s deputies and Olympic National Park rangers.
County commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the memorandum of understanding with the National Park Service in their Tuesday business meeting.
Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron has said cross-deputization will improve response times to incidents in remote areas.
The Sheriff’s Office has similar agreements with other law enforcement agencies and cross-commissioned park rangers in the past, Cameron said in a board workshop Monday.
Emergency aid
While the Sheriff’s Office has “no interest whatsoever” in making federal arrests inside the park, Sheriff Bill Benedict said the agreement “allows for mutual assistance” in emergencies.
The agreement with the park can be terminated by either party with 60 days’ notice.
The Sheriff’s Office has cross-commissioned Forest Service rangers and has mutual aid agreements with tribes and the Coast Guard.
In response to a question in public testimony Tuesday, Cameron said the Sheriff’s Office has a “close working relationship” with the Border Patrol but no specific agreement.
April ballots
In other board action, commissioners inked a $16,343 agreement with Everett-based K&H Printers for printing and mailing 22,555 April election ballots.
Voters in the Sequim School District will decide April 22 on a $154 million construction bond proposal that would fund the construction of a new elementary school and athletic complex, and fund an extensive remodel and renovation of the high school and two existing elementary schools.
If approved, the bonds would add about $1.70 per $1,000 of assessed value to property tax bills of district landowners.
Voters in the Cape Flattery School District will be asked to approve a four-year maintenance and operation property tax levy bringing in $375,000 each year from 2014-15 through 2016-17.
If approved, the levy would represent a cost of about $2.99 per $1,000 of assessed value for property owners each year.
Committee appointees
Meanwhile, commissioners also appointed members to three committees.
Liz Mueller, Loren Kreutner, Brandon Janisse and Brooke Nelson were appointed or affirmed as members of the Sheriff’s Citizens Advisory Committee.
Skye Newlin-Eastman and Bill Plumley were appointed to the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee.
Michael Rynas was appointed to the Peninsula Regional Support Network.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
