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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment Period - BOCCJuly 21, 2026 Board of County Commissioners Grant County PO Box 37 Ephrata, WA 98823 Dear Board of County Commissioners: Please accept this as my official resignation not only as the Chair of the Veterans Advisory Board., but also from the Grant County Veterans Advisory Board entirely I cannot, nor will not, work for an agency that will not account for the taxpayer's money. As I understand it, this is by far a greater problem than just Veteran Services regarding funds and funds accountability. However, when the County cannot account for a fund that has one direct purpose (to support veterans) and can only be accessed by one department (veteran services) this is absurd. As of yesterday, on the county internal webpage the last posted financials were Feb- 2026. How can an agency operate like this? That should be very concerning for all the taxpayers, since this is one smaller department we are talking about. What about the rest of the county's funds? How have they been accounted for — or not accounted for? I do not feel Veteran Services has the full support of the County Commissioners and that is evident in the meetings you all have attended, the interaction with us as a board, and by the fact that 1/3 of you, the County Commissioners, has never stepped foot in the Veteran Services Office. Additionally, please accept this asmyresignation as the Vice -Chair of the Board of Equalization and as a member of the Board of Equalization entirely. Once again, I Board of County Commissioners July 21, 2026 Page 2 cannot, nor will not, work for an agency that will not account for the taxpayer's money. In this aspect, the Assessor has been accused of tampering with the assessment rolls last year — allegedly to potentially benefit herself and her neighbors. This is not only questionable practice, potentially illegal I would think, but also against her own internal policy. This issue, I know this as fact, has been brought to the County Commissioners and to the County Insurance carrier, presumably for investigation. As the months have dragged on, there has been no resolution brought to this matter and additional internal turmoil within the Assessor's office has deepened the issues. Also, another assessment cycle has started and what should the taxpayers believe is the truth regarding their assessment? Additionally, since then, there have been several union grievances and other complaints filed against the Assessor. All brought to the attention of HR and the Union, and hopefully you, the BOCC. But the employees have heard nothing on any of these —other than more dictatorship direction from a short term elected official. Finally, regarding filling the role vacated by the Chief Appraiser: I happened to be personally attending a meeting where the HR Director informed the County Commissioners of the Chief Appraisers' resignation. After discussion, it was stated that "(we are going to advertise this quickly, hopefully we can find a unicorn". The job was advertised. Along with other requirements for the position was a minimum of 5 years" appraisal experience. Not only did the individual selected not have 5 years' experience —they were only hired I year previously and had just become certified as an appraiser. Additionally, he is a close friend of the Assessor family. All this information was also sent to HR and the Union, yet he was appointed and the staff was told he is now their supervisor. This is how our county government operates. Board of County Commissioners July 21, 2026 Page 3 There needs to be accountability, and it starts with you —the legislative body, the County Commissioners, the Leadership of our County —who it appears are just holding out for 6-months hoping everything will change. It won't. Finally, my wife had nothing to do with the writing, input, information or anything that I have stated here. What has been stated is solely from myself and the information I have collected. /00001 r} Jeery Gingrich rich 138 F Street SW Ephrata, WA 98823 Outlook Please read Anonymously From Lesa Trevino <lesatrevino@gmail.com> Date Tue 7/21/2026 9:47 AM To Caitlin E. Manell <cemanell@grantcountywa.gov> **EXTERNAL EMAIL* This email originated from outside Grant County's network. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Caitlin, I respectfully request that the following statement be read into the record during the next Board of County Commissioners meeting as part of the public record. I was employed in the Grant County Assessor's Office until my resignation in March 2025. I did not leave because I no longer enjoyed public service or because I lacked respect for my coworkers. I left because of a work environment that, in my experience, became increasingly difficult to endure. During my employment, I experienced being yelled at in the workplace by the elected Assessor, receiving prolonged silent treatment after disagreements or questions, and witnessing employees being spoken about negatively behind their backs. These behaviors created an atmosphere where many employees felt they had to carefully measure every conversation and interaction to avoid becoming the next target. A workplace should be built on professionalism, respect, communication, and accountability. Instead, I experienced an environment where fear, inconsistency, and poor communication often took their place. The impact extended beyond me and affected morale throughout the office. I recognize that leadership is challenging and that disagreements happen in every workplace. However, there is a difference between disagreement and creating an environment where employees feel intimidated, isolated, or discouraged from speaking openly. I am sharing my experience not out of resentment, but out of hope that the Board will ensure Grant County employees are provided with a workplace where they are treated with dignity and respect. There are many hardworking employees in that office who deserve positive leadership and a healthy work environment. Thank you for allowing my statement to be entered into the public record. To whom it concern, I am writing to request that this letter be read at the open forum for public comment at the BOCC meeting on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Unfortunately, I will have to remain anonymous. Thank you! Good morning, I wanted to address some issues that are of great concern - not only as an employee of the Grant County Assessor's office but as a resident of Grant Co. First, I want to discuss my time under the Grant Co. Assessor, I have been at the receiving end of her bullying, intimidation, and criticism a few times throughout 'my time here. I've seen some excellent employees Leave this office due to her treatment. Once they Left, they were deemed "disgruntled employees" and talked about relentlessly to other employees. I can count at Least 6 of those "disgruntled employees" that have moved on to further their careers & have done so effortlessly; 2 went to the Dept. of Revenue and 4 went to the PUD, one of those "disgruntled employee's"wrote a Letter detailing her time here & how she was treated. But she was dismissed by HR and the Commissioners all because Melissa "told" them she was just a disgruntled & Lazy employee. But she has climbed the corporate Ladder 3 steps now in her short time with the PUD. We've Lost employees that were a wealth of information, dedicated employees who have gone above & beyond just to be Labeled replaceable, not important, and troublemakers. I think it's time to Look at how many people have left either by quitting or by taking early retirement & see it's not a "disgruntled employee" problem but an elected official problem. Secondly, I am going to address the current situation in our office to date; we have zero instruction & Leadership. When the Assessor is .in the office, she has her door closed with 2 DO NOT DISTURB signs on her door. She appointed a Chief Appraiser/ Deputy that has no experience on the basic functions of our office, he can't provide any insights, direction, or Leadership. He stays in his office with the blinds drawn, door shut with a DO NOT DISTURB hanger on his door. We are stumbling trying to do what we think is best by our experience hoping we are making the correct decisions. When we ask the Chief Appraiser, he doesn't know the answer, so he relies on the Assessor for an answer & she comes to us demanding information, criticizing our decisions while accusing us of going behind her back, repeating she is the boss. Instead of making the right decision and putting Clayton in that position, out of spite she put the Least qualified person in a Leadership role with no repercussions. Her disdain for Clayton has made everyone in the office on edge, created a stressful & a , hostile work environment, we are scared to talk, email or correspond with him in anyway in fear of a confrontation or worse. Lastly, I want to speak to you as a resident of Grant Co., a homeowner, and taxpayer. I believe elected officials must be held to a higher standard because we voted for you, we put our belief & trust into what you campaigned on- your word speaks to your integrity & if you lie, cheat or steal you should be held accountable. So, I want to know why the public hasn't been informed about what the Assessor did? Decreasing her friends, neighbors and her own property values? We, the public, have a right to know if there is any misconduct and / or an investigation of any sort with any office that can change our value and/ or increase our taxes. Any elected official who changes their value or the value of friends, neighbors, or entities that can increase votes, and Lower tax burdens is unethical & should be held accountable in a court of public opinion, not swept under the rug. Thank you for allowing me this time and I hope from here on out that the Grant County Commissioners start Looking as employees as not justemployees—butmore importantly as Grant Co. voters, homeowners, & taxpayers- the people you swore to help, the people you swore to protects .and the people that believed in you. We deserve to be heard and treated with respect.