Commissioners to hold 2025 budget hearing
Chelan County commissioners will hold the 2025 budget hearing at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 10. Public comment will be taken then in-person or via Zoom.
Chelan County News Archive
Traffic restrictions in place during Leavenworth Christmas festival
This story has been updated! To enhance public safety and ensure clear routes for emergency vehicles, temporary parking and traffic restrictions will be enforced during the Village of Lights: Christmastown festival, which begins Nov. 29 and runs on weekends (Friday through Sunday) through Dec. 28.
County awards 2025 lodging tax events, marketing grants
Chelan County commissioners recently allocated $252,350 in lodging tax grants to 23 tourism-related agencies. Read more to see who the successful grantees are.
Clerk offices have special public hours this week to make up for statewide network outage
The walk-up counter at the Chelan County Superior Court Clerk’s Office is closed for normal business until Friday, Nov. 22. In addition, the Chelan County District Court clerk’s office will be operating on reduced hours Nov. 19-22. Read more for details.
Jail's K9 unit receives Gesa Credit Union’s Local Heroes grant
The Chelan County Regional Justice Center’s K9 Unit was chosen by the Gesa Community Foundation to receive its Local Heroes Grant Award. The $15,000 grant will help cover operational costs next year for the K9 unit.
Renovations begin Nov. 12 on Veteran Services Office
The Veteran Services Office will be closed on Nov. 8 so county staff can pack up the office in preparation for a renovation project. On Nov. 12, the VSO will re-open at 400 Washington St., the Administrative Office for the Chelan County commissioners and the program's new home for four months.
County passes unauthorized encampment code
The Board of County Commissioners has passed a new code section that makes it illegal to camp on county-owned property. Read more to learn about the new code section.
Public invited to comment on short-term rental code
The Chelan County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Nov. 13 to take comments on proposed updates to the county’s short-term rental code. Written comments are being taken now. Read more for details on how to comment.
$30 million available for farmers who paid carbon fees on fuel
The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) has issued an application for partial payment for ag producers or transporters of agricultural products who paid carbon fees related to the state’s cap and trade program on fuel purchases. Qualifying purchases are between Jan. 1, 2023 and Dec. 1, 2023.
Are you interested in serving on the Housing Authority?
The county seeks people interested in an open commissioners seat on the Housing Authority of Chelan County and the City of Wenatchee. The Board of County Commissioners makes the appointment to the Housing Authority's board. Apply by Nov. 14. Read more for details about the position.
Do your part: Remove vehicles parked along shoulder of county roads
Please do your part in keeping motorists – and snowplow drivers – safe this winter season by removing vehicles parked along the shoulder of the county road now -- before the snow flies.
5 tips to help out your county snowplow driver
It's never too early to start thinking snow in Chelan County! While snowplow operators work hard to keep people safe on county roads, they need a little help from the traveling public. We’re passing along reminders how you can do your part to travel safely alongside the county snowplows.
T-shirt fundraiser underway to help support jail’s narcotics-detecting K9
The annual fall fundraiser for the Chelan County Regional Justice Center’s narcotics-detecting K9 program is in full swing. Please consider purchasing a t-shirt or hoodie or becoming a sponsor for K9 Gambit. Read for more details, including the website to order your t-shirt or hoodie.
Are you a motorized trail user? We want to hear from you!
Chelan County Natural Resources is asking motorized recreational trail users to complete a 10-minute survey that will help with the drafting of the county’s first motorized trails plan. The public also is invited to an in-person workshop on Oct. 30 to give input into the plan.
County seeks public input on updated Hazard Mitigation Plan
The public is invited to comment on the update to the Chelan County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. You can do that through a variety of ways, from attending an upcoming open house on Oct. 3 to exploring and participating in an online survey and storymap.
Opioid settlement dollars available for local projects fighting substance abuse disorder
CALL FOR PROJECTS: Local agencies and programs fighting substance use disorder, with a focus on opioid and fentanyl use and addiction, can apply for funds that Chelan and Douglas counties and the cities of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee received from the national opioid class action settlements. Proposals are due oct. 11.
Commissioners to host bear conflict expert at September meetings
At three separate public meetings in September, county commissioners will host guest speaker Trina Jo Bradley, chairwoman of the Montana Conflict Reduction Consortium, for a community discussion about living with bears and other apex predators. Full details, including meeting agendas, are in the story.
Take our homeless housing survey!
How concerned are you about homelessness in Chelan and Douglas counties? Would you know where to get help if you or someone you loved needed it? And where do you get information about local homelessness? We want to hear from you! Take our 3- to 5-minute survey -- in English or Spanish -- to help us plan for the future.
Attempt to bring drugs into jail via string, outside window thwarted
A plan to get narcotics into the Chelan County Regional Justice Center using a handmade string, a hole under a window frame and two alleged accomplices standing below the window was thwarted recently by alert jail staff.
Request for Proposals: On-site survey
Chelan County seeks proposals to survey 20 acres of county-owned land. RFPs are due by 10 a.m. on Oct. 7, 2024.
Chelan County, partners launch first Forest Resilience Bond in the state
Chelan County and its partners in Washington state are taking a pioneering step in wildfire risk mitigation by launching the first Forest Resilience Bond (FRB) in state history. The historic effort aims to safeguard communities north of Leavenworth from the growing threat of catastrophic wildfires.
2025 Lodging Tax funding requests are now open; due Oct. 15
Chelan County has $240,000 in funding available to assist in the promotion of tourism activities. Apply by Oct. 15.
$1.2 million awarded to five area agencies
The Board of County Commissioners recently awarded $1,182,000 in CPIF funds to five projects, which range from building a business incubator site in Manson to upgrading utilities on a portion of Wenatchee Avenue to continuing construction on eight affordable homes in Wenatchee.
Request for Proposals: Veterans Service Office remodel
Chelan County Economic Services seeks proposals from qualified general contractors to remodel the Veterans Services Office in Wenatchee. Deadline extended to Oct. 14.