2019-01-04 Mayors MeetingMayors’ Meeting
January 4, 2019
9 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Stamper, Commissioner Fund, County Manager Erik
Martin, Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) Director Danette York, Emergency Services Director
Steve Mansfield, Winlock Mayor Don Bradshaw, Mossyrock Mayor Randy Sasser, Centralia Mayor Lee
Coumbs, Port Commissioner Peter Lahmann, Pe Ell Mayor Lonnie Willey, Morton Mayor Dan Mortensen,
Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes, Chehalis City Manager Rob Hill, Centralia City Manager Jill Anderson,
Toledo Mayor Steve Dobosh, Chehalis Port Commissioner Mark Giffey, PHSS Housing Coordinator Meja
Handlen, PHSS Deputy Director JP Anderson, Community Development Director Lee Napier (9:46 a.m.)
Guests: Alex Brown, Susan DeLaire, Michael Wilde
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Steve Mansfield discussed the recent statewide 911 outage
and the county’s response to the incident.
Mossyrock Mayor Randy Sasser said he is concerned about the
homeless population in Lewis County.
Commissioner Stamper said the county has toured the
homeless camp near the bridge in Mossyrock and may need to
look into it further.
Danette York said the county has visited the site. She said she will check with Bill Teitzel to get an update
for the commissioners and Mayor Sasser.
JP Anderson said the state Legislature recently increased funding for homeless programs through local
document recording fees, essentially doubling the money available for resources.
Meja Handlen discussed transitory and homegrown homelessness in the area.
Erik Martin and Commissioner Stamper left at 9:33 a.m.
Meja discussed the Homeless Connect event planned for Jan. 24 in the Chehalis/Centralia area and Jan.
25 in Morton.
Commissioner Stamper returned at 9:40 a.m.
Meja discussed the five agencies receiving funding from the document recording fees to fight
homelessness: Housing Resource Center, Reliable Enterprises, Community Action Council, Human
Response Network and the Salvation Army.
TO-DO LIST / RECAP
Meja Handlen: Attend
Mossyrock’s upcoming City
Council meeting
The group discussed systemic problems that lead to homelessness, including drug abuse, alcohol abuse,
slum lords, etc.
Mayor Bradshaw stressed the need for low-income housing.
Community Development Director Lee Napier joined at 9:46 a.m.
Danette York, JP Anderson, Meja Handlen and Mayor Sasser left at 9:49 a.m.
Commissioner Fund urged the group to attend the Timberland Regional Library’s upcoming Community
Chats.
Mayor Bradshaw said he’s against TRL’s keycard proposal.
Commissioner Stamper said it’s important to show unified support for the area libraries.
Commissioner Fund discussed TRL’s indication that it was going more than $670,000 in the red. She
noted that TRL has $10 million in reserves.
Commissioner Fund discussed ways to increase tourism in the unincorporated areas of Lewis County.
Lee Napier discussed the Ruckelshaus Center’s upcoming Road Map to Washington’s Future workshop
regarding the Growth Management Act. She said the meeting is planned for Jan. 11.
Roundtable
The group discussed WSDOT’s Rush Road and Chamber Way projects.
Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes said development at the airport is moving forward.
Chehalis City Manager Jill Anderson said the city is focusing on economic growth. She said the city is
working on water capacity projects, flood mitigation, recreation parks and the fire department’s
housing.
Pe Ell Mayor Lonnie Willey said the city is nearing completion of its water project, chip seal projects and
storm repair.
Morton Mayor Dan Mortensen said the city continues work on funding for a sewer treatment plant and
other infrastructure improvements. He said the police department is housing the teen center.
Toledo Mayor Steve Dobosh said the city has received TIB funding for work on sidewalks and potholes.
He discussed the city’s recent Cheese Ball drop.
Port Commissioner Mark Giffey said the port is working on a design for the McBride building.
Winlock Mayor Don Bradshaw said the city is working on a water leak on SR 505, constructing a water
and internet line to the freeway, improvements to SE First Street, and a recent mudslide.
Centralia Mayor Lee Coumbs said the city has completed phase I of its China Creek project. He said more
than 20,000 attended the Borst Park light show. He said the city is working on solutions to protect an
aquifer.
Centralia City Manager Rob Hill said the city is working on a $3 million, 3.4-mile streetscape project.
Commissioner Stamper thanked the mayors and managers for attending.
Mossyrock Mayor Randy Sasser said the city is working on a sewer line project.
Commissioner Jackson thanked the group for attending.
Meeting adjourned at 10:37 a.m.