Thurston County

Elections will be open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. on Tuesday, February 12, 2019. ALL other Thurston County offices ARE CLOSED. Including Superior, Family, Juvenile, Drug and District Courts. Essential personnel should report to work unless instructed otherwise. Jurors should call the Juror Hotline for further instructions. ****** Agenda Setting, Board of County Commissioners and the Board of Health Meetings scheduled for February 12, 2019 are also Cancelled. Specific agenda items will be rescheduled. ******

Hot Topics and Events

New Courthouse and Regional Administrative Building Project

The Board of County Commissioners are considering proposing a property tax increase to help finance the construction of a new Thurston County Courthouse and Regional Administrative Building (new Courthouse) in downtown Olympia on existing City of Olympia property located on Plum Street.

Project Website

Commissioners to Hold Evening Board Meeting in Rochester

In an effort to enhance transparency and take government out into the community, the Thurston County Board of Commissioners are hosting one of their weekly Board meetings at the Rochester Middle School Commons on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.

What: Board of County Commissioners Meeting

When: Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.

Where: Rochester Middle School Commons, 9937 US-12, Rochester, WA 98579

News Release

Flyer

Public Hearing Scheduled for Emergency Housing Ordinance Interim Amendments

The Thurston County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing to accept public testimony on the proposed emergency housing ordinance. The ordinance offers waivers to some existing requirements for homeless encampments to facilitate effective and timely services for the homelessness public health crisis.

What: Public Hearing on Emergency Housing Ordinance Interim Amendments

When: Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 3:00 p.m., or soon thereafter

Where: County Courthouse, Building One, Room 280 at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW in Olympia, 98502

News Release

Toxic Algae Health Alert Lifted for Summit Lake

Lab results received today from Summit Lake water samples show the levels of anatoxin-a are below the threshold for health concern. Residents of Summit Lake should purge their water systems to be certain their water is safe. Instructions can be found at: https://bit.ly/2DyBPmW.

There is still an algae bloom at Summit Lake. A new sample was collected on Wednesday, April 24th from an area with algae scum, results are pending. Residents should be aware water quality can change and to take precautions by staying out of the water when algae is present.

News Release

County’s Blue-Green Algae Advisories website

2019 1st Half Property Taxes Due April 30

The deadline for Thurston County residents to pay the first half of their 2019 property taxes is on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Payment can be made in person at the Treasurer's Office or the courthouse parking lot drop box, mailed by the due date, or online at www.thurstoncountywa.gov/treasurer. Property owners can also sign up for Paperless Property Tax Bills so they can receive future property tax bills electronically, saving paper and postage. For those who create an account, it comes with the option to schedule your tax payment in advance of the due date and email payment reminders will be sent ahead of the due date.

News Release

Treasurer's Office

Toxic Algae Health Warning in Effect for Summit Lake

Summit Lake has a toxic algae bloom. Lab results show anatoxin-a levels at the sample site are 18 micrograms per liter. The state advisory level for anatoxin-a is 1 microgram per liter. Anatoxin-a is a potent neurotoxin that is fast- acting and can cause serious illness or death. Thurston County Public Health and Social Services recommends that residents do not drink the lake water.

News Release

Summit Lake Toxic Algae website

Blue-Green Algae Advisories website

Addressing Homelessness As A Region

On June 14, 2018, the Thurston County Board of Health (BoH) declared homelessness a public health crisis in Thurston County. Learn more about what Thurston County is doing to address homelessness at the links below.

Homelessness Website

Homelessness: A Crisis in Thurston County

February 7, 2019 Commissioner Planning Session

Hazardous Weather Task Force