Kittitas County says WSDOT refused help for clearing snow over lack of vaccine mandate
Jan 12, 2022, 4:17 PM | Updated: Jan 13, 2022, 5:51 am
https://mynorthwest.com/3309838/kittitas...accine-mandate/
BY NICK BOWMAN
MyNorthwest Reporter

Kittitas County leaders revealed Wednesday that the Washington State Department of Transportation refused assistance to clear snow from roadways in the region over the county’s lack of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for its workers.

WSDOT head tells legislature vaccine mandate had no impact on recent pass closures

According to a press release from the county, the state’s own vaccine mandate saw WSDOT terminate 48 employees who were previously tasked with “maintenance and snow removal in Kittitas County.”

Days after the arrival of significant snowfall in early January, Kittitas County’s Department of Public Works says it “offered assistance [to WSDOT] to clear State roadways,” and that its offer was refused “due to Kittitas County not mandating the COVID-19 vaccination for County employees.”

County leaders were critical of WSDOT’s decision in statements sent out this week.

“During these times, we need to be able to put differences aside and work to support one another,” County Commissioner Laura Osiadacz said. “It needs to be neighbors helping neighbors and lending a hand to get the work done.”-- excerpt, rest at link above --