Back before rat rods were a thing, Dad would drive around #ThurstonCounty in a rusty 1950s Ford pickup

With #EddieRabbitt blasting thru its crackly speakers at FULL volume

Dad's three little girls bopping up and down on the bench seat next to him screaming

I LOVE A RAINY NIGHT! 💦

(cuz... #pnw)

Oppose two fall ballot measures that target trans youth. Link in comments. #NoHate #Olympia #ThurstonCounty #MasonCounty

Board hears legislative update: concern after tobacco-tax amendment pulled; FPHS funding in flux Staff updated the board on the 2026 legislative session: a tobacco-tax measure with an amendment to address foundational public-health services (FPHS) was pulled from executive session and did not pass in that form, prompting concern about FPHS funding. House bills related to clinic services and vaccination remain active; board members discussed revenue risks from proposed wealth-tax exemptions and next steps for engagement with lobbyists.

Thurston County's public health funding is in jeopardy after a crucial tobacco tax amendment was pulled, raising alarms about the future of essential services.

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #LegislativeUpdates #CommunityHealthServices #PublicHealthFunding

Thurston County health officer warns of measles spread, explains ARI threshold; proposes testing and outreach Health officer Dr. Villona reported low COVID but warned that the respiratory season remains active, outlined an acute respiratory illness (ARI) transmission alert threshold used regionally to guide masking in clinical areas, and flagged rising measles cases (about 1,300 nationally, 26 in Washington). She also noted uncertainty about local syphilis testing rates and proposed education and testing campaigns.

Thurston County's health officer warns of rising respiratory illnesses and alarming measles trends, emphasizing the need for urgent public health action.

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #RespiratoryIllnesses #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #VaccinationEducation

Thurston County directs staff to review draft moratorium on federal facilities The Board of County Commissioners voted to direct the county manager and prosecuting attorney to review a draft six‑month moratorium ordinance on siting federal facilities and return options to the board for consideration.

Thurston County is taking a bold step by reviewing a temporary moratorium on federal facilities—what could this mean for the community?

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #CivicEngagement #GovernmentTransparency #PublicPolicy

Thurston County commission reviews geologic-hazards code update, debates 400-foot permit trigger At a March 4 Planning Commission meeting, staff presented a draft update to the geologically hazardous areas chapter of the Critical Areas Ordinance, citing new DNR landslide mapping and a range of geotechnical report requirements; commissioners debated lowering a 400-foot permit trigger to 200 feet and heard public calls for clearer materials and more review time.

Thurston County is re-evaluating its geologically hazardous areas code, with heated debates on whether to reduce the permit trigger from 400 feet to 200 feet—what could this mean for homeowners and safety?

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #GeologicalHazards

Jurisdictions weigh Lehigh’s proposed unit‑mix change for Franz Anderson housing project Lehigh has asked to shift half of the Franz Anderson project’s 70 units from 30% AMI to 50% AMI to attract an equity investor; jurisdictions and state funders are engaged in ongoing discussions and no local amendments or decisions were finalized.

Jurisdictions are grappling with a controversial request to change the affordability mix of the Franz Anderson housing project, a decision that could reshape local support for low-income residents.

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #AffordableHousing #CommunityDevelopment

Regional Housing Council warns of service gaps as state trims encampment‑response funding Staff and providers told the Regional Housing Council that state cuts to the Encampment Resolution Program have produced immediate operating shortfalls for emergency shelters and tiny‑home operations, and jurisdictions agreed to gather more data for an expected March decision on short‑term support.

The Regional Housing Council is sounding the alarm on a looming crisis as funding cuts threaten essential homeless services, risking the closure of vital shelters like Queen Street Village.

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #HomelessnessResponse #EmergencyShelters

Commissioners review Chapter 2 bylaws line-by-line, direct staff to clarify notice, quorum and subcommittee rules The board spent substantial time reviewing proposed Chapter 2 bylaw edits, asking staff to add statutory citations, clarify what constitutes an "action," define emergency and special meetings consistent with RCW, and tighten subcommittee notice, duration and reporting language.

Thurston County commissioners are taking a deep dive into their bylaws, seeking clarity on critical procedural rules and transparency for subcommittees.

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency #PublicMeetings

Public comment highlights support for home energy disclosure ordinance; hearings on energy score and precinct plan set for 3:30 p.m. During public comment at the Feb. 17 meeting, residents urged passage of a residential energy performance rating and disclosure ordinance and promoted community events; commissioners announced two public hearings at 3:30 p.m. on the energy disclosure policy and the 2026 election precinct maintenance plan.

Thurston County residents are rallying for a groundbreaking residential energy performance rating ordinance that could change how we view home energy efficiency!

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #PublicParticipation #EnergyPerformance #CommunityGovernance

Thurston County superintendents warn of flat funding, facility needs and mounting student mental-health demand County superintendents told commissioners on Feb. 18 that flat state funding and rising costs are forcing program cuts even as districts face aging buildings, enrollment volatility and growing student mental-health needs.

Thurston County superintendents are sounding the alarm as flat funding and rising costs threaten crucial student programs and support systems.

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #MentalHealthSupport #EducationFunding #CommunityResources #ThurstonCountySchools

Thurston County hears hours of public comment on proposed Home Energy Score ordinance; legal review pending Hundreds of residents and stakeholders urged both adoption and a pause of a proposed mandatory Home Energy Score at time of listing. Supporters called it a modest, information-providing step on county climate goals; real-estate groups warned of costs, timing and legal risks. The board closed public comment pending prosecuting attorney review.

Thurston County is at a crossroads as passionate voices clash over a proposed Home Energy Score ordinance, with the potential to reshape real estate and climate efforts in the region.

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #ClimateAction #EnergyEfficiency #HousingAffordability

Votes at a glance: Commissioners approve salmon recovery grant, affordable-housing contracts, road closure and grant application At its Feb. 17 meeting the Thurston County Board approved a Commerce salmon recovery grant ($593,299.08), two Homes First contracts totaling $750,000 to preserve affordable rental units, authorized a temporary closure of Little Rock Road for bridge work and authorized a $9.3 million grant application for fish barrier removal on Green Cove Creek.

Thurston County is set to enhance salmon habitats, preserve affordable housing, and improve local transportation with recent approvals that could transform the community.

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #TransportationImprovements #CitizenPortal #AffordableHousing #HabitatRestoration

Woman confronts Thurston Co. Sheriff deputy outside school A woman confronted a Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputy outside Seven Oaks Elementary School on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. Sheriff Derek Sanders reshared the video on his Facebook page and commende...

This is just my opinion, but this Thurston Country deputy deserves commendation and a cup of coffee for his professionalism. He is a local law enforcement officer, not ICE. People should know the difference and try to understand there are a lot of good cops out there.

#ThurstonCounty #Deputy #ICE

Thurston County health officer reports rising respiratory illnesses, measles counts and Black Lake compliance success Health Officer briefed the Board on rising respiratory illnesses and RSV wastewater signals, noted measles case counts (U.S. and Washington totals cited), highlighted universal infant hepatitis B vaccination impacts, and reported an 83% compliance result from the Black Lake Pollution Identification and Correction project.

Rising respiratory illnesses and alarming measles counts have Thurston County on alert, while a major pollution compliance project celebrates impressive success.

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #ThurstonCountyHealth #VaccinationImpact #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #RespiratoryIllnesses

County seeks consultants to support $600K in salmon‑recovery grants and an integrated water initiative County staff said it received roughly $600,000 in Puget Sound salmon recovery grant awards and requested RFQs to create a consultant pool (roughly $350,000 available for consultant support) to facilitate grant work and support a phased Integrated Water Initiative.

Thurston County just snagged $600K in salmon recovery grants, but they need expert consultants to turn plans into action!

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #SalmonRecovery #CommunityOutreach

Thurston County to apply for $9.3M grant to remove fish barrier on Green Cove Creek Public works asked commissioners to authorize a $9.3 million RCO grant application to design and build a bridge at the 36th Avenue crossing on Green Cove Creek; staff said the project would open about 0.75 miles of fish habitat and builds on Phase 1 bridge work completed last summer.

Thurston County is seeking a $9.3 million grant to remove a fish barrier on Green Cove Creek, unlocking nearly a mile of vital spawning habitat!

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #InfrastructureDevelopment #WildlifeConservation #EnvironmentalRestoration

Thurston County seeks design‑build teams for $25M Waste & Recovery Center reconfiguration Thurston County public works asked the Board of County Commissioners to authorize an RFQ for progressive design‑build services to reconfigure and expand the county Waste & Recovery Center, a project staff estimates at more than $25 million, with a state review scheduled Feb. 26.

Thurston County is gearing up for a groundbreaking $25 million reconfiguration of its Waste & Recovery Center, aiming to enhance customer access and streamline operations during construction!

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #InfrastructureDevelopment #PublicWorks

Thurston County wins salmon-recovery grant to build framework measuring regulatory ecological outcomes County staff announced a roughly $489,000 salmon-recovery grant to build a framework that will assess net ecological gain and loss from county regulations and programs, partnering with the Thurston Conservation District and outside expertise.

Thurston County just secured a $489,000 grant to measure the ecological impact of its regulations, paving the way for smarter environmental decisions!

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #ConservationPartnership #CitizenPortal #RegulatoryImpact #EcologicalAssessment

Thurston County SWAC authorizes sign‑in support on paint‑care bill, delays leadership vote and approves work plan The Solid Waste Advisory Committee voted to authorize the chair to sign in pro, send an email and testify if called on a paint‑care expansion bill; members also voted to delay chair/vice‑chair elections until March and approved the 2026 work plan with that change. Staff provided updates on capital projects, the hazardous‑waste plan, and an upcoming Home Energy Score ordinance hearing.

Thurston County’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee takes a bold step by supporting a new paint-care bill while postponing leadership elections—what’s next for waste management in our community?

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalPolicy #PublicParticipation

Thurston County planning panel weighs broader flood mapping, fears for residents who could be barred from rebuilding The Planning Commission reviewed options to use maps beyond FEMA for frequently flooded areas and debated trade-offs between stronger flood protections (and CRS insurance discounts) and the risk that stricter rules could prevent low-income residents — especially in mobile-home parks — from repairing or replacing damaged homes.

Thurston County's Planning Commission is at a crossroads, debating how to enhance flood mapping while protecting vulnerable residents from strict regulations that could prevent them from rebuilding their homes.

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CitizenPortal #FloodProtection

WSAC policy coordinator outlines bills affecting county solid‑waste programs Travis Dutton of the Washington State Association of Counties briefed Thurston County’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee on a slate of solid‑waste bills — including a proposed new revenue bill (HB2018), a bottle‑deposit proposal (HB1607), paint‑care expansion, mattress EPR and other producer‑responsibility measures — and urged local engagement ahead of key session cutoffs.

Travis Dutton reveals crucial legislation that could reshape solid-waste operations in Washington counties—are you ready for the changes ahead?

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #LegislativeReform #CitizenPortal #SustainabilityInitiatives

Thurston County Planning Commission reviews 2026–27 docket, moves to remove four preliminary items Commissioners reviewed comprehensive-plan and development-code docket items, prioritized key projects (joint plans/codes, CAO update, Title 20/18 work), emphasized watershed-scale planning and housing, and voted to remove four applicant-initiated preliminary docket items; staff outlined timelines for public comment and board review.

Thurston County's Planning Commission is shaking things up by prioritizing housing and watershed-scale planning while removing four controversial preliminary docket items!

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #PublicComment #CitizenPortal #HousingOutcomes

Franz Anderson unit-mix change raised and deferred; council asks jurisdictions for more information Lehigh requested to change unit mix for the 70-unit Franz Anderson permanent supportive housing project to include 35 units at 50% AMI and 35 at 30% AMI (47 units expected to serve people experiencing homelessness). Jurisdictions asked for more time and possible Interlocal Agreement amendments; a vote was withdrawn and the item was deferred to a future meeting.

A proposed shift in unit mix for the Franz Anderson supportive housing project has sparked intense discussions among Olympia council members over funding and governance implications.

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #HomelessnessSupport #InterlocalAgreement #ThurstonCountyHousing

Regional Housing Council agrees to press for flexibility as state ERP funding falls and considers short-term award to Olympia With state Encampment Resolution Program funding cut from about $9M regionally in 2024 to $5.5M in 2025, Thurston County’s Regional Housing Council backed drafting a letter to mayors and legislators seeking flexibility and signaled support to approve $400,000 to Olympia to keep Quint Street Village operating this fiscal year.

Thurston County's Regional Housing Council is facing tough decisions as state funding for the Encampment Resolution Program drops dramatically, threatening vital projects like Quint Street Village!

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CommunitySupport #FundingSustainability #CitizenPortal

Washington Geological Survey shows Thurston County landslide inventory as residents press for stronger CAO protections At a Jan. 7 Planning Commission meeting, Washington Geological Survey staff demonstrated new high-resolution landslide mapping and a public portal intended as a screening tool for site investigations. Multiple residents urged the county to use the data to strengthen the Critical Areas Ordinance and to limit harms from upslope forestry and land-disturbing activities.

Thurston County residents are demanding stronger protections after a new landslide inventory reveals critical geological risks tied to local logging and land-use practices.

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #LandUsePolicy #EnvironmentalHazards #CommunitySafety #CitizenPortal

Thurston County planners review ‘critical aquifer recharge areas,’ discuss managed recharge and permitting changes Planning staff told the commission that CARA (critical aquifer recharge area) mapping shades most of Thurston County and outlined options — including allowing managed aquifer recharge with reclaimed water — while commissioners and residents raised concerns about farmland loss, incentives, and water‑rights limits.

Thurston County is at a crossroads, balancing critical aquifer recharge area protection with the need for responsible development—how will this impact your drinking water and the environment?

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #SustainableDevelopment #ThurstonCountyAquifers #PublicHealth

Thurston County debate over temporary pause on AI-enabled surveillance ends without a board vote Commissioners debated a proposed temporary pause on county acquisition of AI-enabled surveillance technologies pending state guidance. Supporters cited vendor and retention concerns; opponents said existing IT governance and an AI guideline provide safeguards. A later motion to send revised language to staff failed (2‑2, one abstention).

A heated debate in Thurston County over a proposed pause on AI surveillance acquisition ended without a decisive vote, raising questions about safety, governance, and the future of technology in the community.

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #AISurveillance #PublicSafety #CitizenPortal

Panel warns HUD CoC NOFO changes could threaten local supportive housing; injunction delays implementation A panel briefed the Thurston County Regional Housing Council on proposed HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) NOFO changes that would cap permanent housing funding and reduce automatic renewals; litigation led to an injunction requiring current-project renewals while the case proceeds, but local providers say uncertainty still risks services for hundreds of households.

Major changes to HUD's funding policies could jeopardize essential housing services for thousands in Thurston County—are we prepared for the fallout?

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#ThurstonCounty #WA #CommunitySupport #HousingSecurity #FederalFunding #CitizenPortal

Know Your Rights | Immigrants' Rights | ACLU Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. Learn more here about your rights as an immigrant, and how to express them.

Sharing for signal: #ACLU

#Olympia #ThurstonCounty #Washington #CivilRights #ImmigrantRights #Immigration

www.aclu.org/know-your-ri...