Government

During public comment, a resident urged council members to delay any future ordinances related to pet ownership until additional data on rabies risk and dog bites can be reviewed.

Stevens, Pend Oreille, and Ferry County’s newly-appointed Superior Court Judge Thomas Webster was sworn into office on Friday, Jan. 23. “I’m honored,” Webster said, adding that the application process was long and comprehensive.

Stevens County commissioners said they are scaling back plans for a new jail and courtroom facility two years after voters approved taxes to pay for a justice center adjacent to the existing courthouse.
“(W)e can’t build the building that we want,” Commission Chairman Greg Young said at a board meeting called to discuss the project on Jan. 15. “Like I said, it’s too darn expensive.”

House Bill (HB) 2113, prefiled for the 2026 legislative session, proposed changes to state regulations governing radiologic technologists by allowing additional flexibility in physician supervision while maintaining patient safety requirements.

MINIMUM WAGE
While the state already has one of the highest minimum wages in the country, it will increase again. Officials said Washington will raise its minimum wage to $17.13 in 2026, up 2.8% from $16.66. The federal minimum wage is $7.25.

In an interview with the Statesman-Examiner, Congressman Michael Baumgartner (R-Spokane) discussed his time as a U.S. House Representative for Washington state’s 5th district, reflecting on accomplishments and hurdles faced throughout his freshman year in Congress. 

Officials said the situation marks a sharp shift from the pandemic era, when large infusions of federal relief dollars significantly boosted state revenues. Those temporary funds have now expired, forcing lawmakers to confront structural imbalances in the budget.

In his letter of resignation, he stated, “It’s my understanding that the state statute indicates that I would continue to serve in the seat until the next election. I appreciate the trust placed in me this past year and the opportunity to serve our community. However, after careful consideration, I have decided to step down from this seat.”

Chewelah’s new mayor and two council members took the oath of office Dec. 1, but the first order of business at the Dec. 3 city council meeting was a resignation.

The general election results for Stevens and Ferry Counties were officially certified on Nov. 25. The results include: 

STEVENS COUNTY 

City of Chewelah 
Lindsay Baxter won the election for the Chewelah Mayor, finishing with 606 (67.11%) of the total 903 votes.

7th District Legislative Rep. Hunter Abell (R-Inchelium) reflected on his time spent since leaving Olympia in April, and what he looks forward to accomplishing during the next legislative session. 

The Colville city council meeting on Nov. 10 was full of energy as the council members juggled budgets, allocated funds to local events, and celebrated the return of local volunteers. The council got straight to business, quickly approving the consent agenda, including signing off on October’s minutes and the monthly $388,000 city staff payroll.

After a record 43-day shutdown, the federal government reopened on Wednesday, Nov. 12, after President Donald Trump signed a funding package. The U.S. House approved Resolution 222-209, funding parts of the government through January, and others through fall 2026. According to the resolution’s language, the agreement will also reverse the mass federal layoffs that occurred during the shutdown.

Representative Andrew Engell (R-Colville), met with Washington state governor Bob Ferguson in Spokane on Nov. 8, to discuss local issues and explore common ground. Engell said that his goal for the meeting was to help build trust in the state government, reduce tension between the urban and rural communities, and ensure the east side of the state is heard.

The Stevens County commissioners met on Nov. 7, to discuss the county’s new Veterans Relief Fund (VRF) policy. During the meeting, the commissioners found themselves unable to reach an agreement on approving the new policy and whether it would benefit local veterans.

General election results for Stevens and Ferry counties are still being counted, however, current tabulations provide an indication of the winning parties. According to election department officials, the election results for both of the counties will be certified on Nov. 25.

The council approved a three-year extension with Walsh Coomer and Associates Inc., worth $491,190, to continue engineering and construction work on the city’s Reservoir No. 2 project. The updated agreement runs through 2028 and covers final design and bidding. Council members also gave the green light to an easement agreement with Day Management Corporation...

State representatives Hunter Abell, R-Inchelium, and Andrew Engell, R-Colville, from Washington's 7th Legislative District, announced that they visited the U.S./Canadian border to strengthen ties with their neighbors in British Columbia. The two lawmakers met with Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) Brittny Anderson and Steve Morissette at the Frontier-Patterson border crossing.

The duo toured the Meyers Falls Dam on Sept. 19, led by Ben Hendrickson, president of Hydro Technology Systems, Inc., and accompanied by Mike Phillips, owner of Sheep Creek Hydro, Inc. The group discussed various issues and topics relating to hydro power, including price discrepancies in what is sold vs. bought back by the state...