Chelan County Commissioners Ask Rental Owners for Cooperation During COVID-19 Pandemic

Chelan County Commissioners released an open letter to vacation rental owners last week asking owners to cooperate in not promoting rentals to people outside of Chelan and Douglas county during the COVID-19 emergency.

The request is voluntary and rental owners and operators are not being forced to act.

According to the letter, since an emergency was declared by Governor Inslee February 29th, there has been an influx of people coming to Chelan County from urban centers and counties expecting better access to medical and other public facilities.

Commissioner Bob Bugert said they've already gotten a few responses from short-term rental owners.

"They said, 'Yes, we would be willing and happy to do that!' So we're going to follow up on that." explained Bugert, "Listening to Leavenworth Mayor Carl Florea, it sounds like the hoteliers in the city itself have really gone above and beyond to reduce their marketing. It's just a great indication that the people of Chelan County always step up."

The letter also requests rental properties be left available should communities need to house service workers or those displaced by the pandemic.