Chelan County Commissioners Amend Proclamation on Short-Term Rentals, Look for Funding

Chelan County Commissioners amended their recent proclamation that stopped short-term rentals from housing non-essential personnel.

Bob Bugert says they wanted to provide further clarification and refinement in that the proclamation only applied to unincorporated Chelan County, not the cities which set their own rules.

"We did tighten it up a little bit to get rid of some of the ambiguity related to some of it and to just provide further clarity."

Commissioners also changed the fine structure and instead of a $500 fine, any violation could be considered a gross misdemeanor with a fine of up $5,000.

The order is currently in effect through May 4th, but could be extended.

Commissioners will also work with 12th District legislators to see if some money from the CARES act can be distributed to smaller counties.

Kevin Overbay says the state is going to receive $2.9 billion for funding for counties, but based on the funding, would only distribute some of those funds to the four counties with at least 500,000 people.

"What our ask is going to be is that they take a look at the proportionate share and provide that as relief to other counties as well which would be be about, for the remaining 34 counties, $542 million."

Overbay says they need the money as the county will collect fewer funds with limitations at the jail, and less money coming in from sales taxes and could use it for a wide variety of items.