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2018-02-02 Mayors MeetingMayors’ Meeting February 2, 2018 9:06 a.m. Present: Commissioner Fund, Chuck Meade of WSDOT, Chehalis City Manager Jill Anderson, Bart Treece of WSDOT, Dena Horton of Sen. Cantwell’s office, Centralia Port Commissioner Peter Lahmann, Morton Mayor Dan Mortensen, Pe Ell Mayor Lonnie Willey, Mossyrock Mayor Randy Sasser, Winlock Mayor Don Bradshaw, Centralia Mayor Lee Coumbs, Toledo Mayor Steve Dobosh, Centralia City Manager Rob Hill, Shari Hildreth of Rep. Herrera Beutler’s office, Vader Mayor Ken Smith, Port of Chehalis Commissioner Randy Mueller, Tamara Greenwell of WSDOT, Rebecca Tripp of the Lewis County Economic Development Council (EDC), Lewis County Public Records attorney Ross Petersen, LC Public Records Manager Casey Mauermann, LC Emergency Services Director Steve Mansfield Guests: Lewis County Tribune reporter Jake Morgan, East County Journal reporter Susan DeLaire Recorder: Rieva Lester Members of the group introduced themselves. Emergency Services Director Steve Mansfield discussed Emergency Services interlocal agreement. Steve said the goal is to have all user groups contribute toward the critical communications infrastructure. He discussed the roles 911 dispatch plays as the first level of first response. Steve said the county has been subsidizing the 911 center for the past several years. He said he is anti-tax but believes a one-tenth of 1 percent increase may be the only way for first responder services can succeed. Centralia Mayor Lee Coumbs said he sits on Riverside Fire Authority and is recommending that Riverside review and sign the interlocal. He urged others to do the same. Winlock Mayor Don Bradshaw said the only fair way to share the costs would be a tax. LC PDR Manager Casey Mauermann gave an overview of the county’s new Public Records Policy. She said it addresses multiple requesters, among other topics. LC Public Records attorney Ross Petersen said every government entity should have a Public Records Policy. He said every entity is subject to become targeted by serial requesters who sue, as Lewis County has been. Ross gave examples of the multiple requests entities can be forced to field. Casey said the policy indicates multiple requests will be responded to sequentially instead of concurrently. She outlined the queue process that is set out in the policy. Commissioner Fund asked the mayors to plan to discuss broadband and opioids during the March Mayors’ Meeting, at which Kirk Pearson with the USDA will be present. Winlock Mayor Don Bradshaw discussed plans to develop Exit 63. He said Cardinal glass owes well work and storage tanks, etc., but has run into permitting troubles. Mayor Bradshaw discussed plans for Mickelsen Parkway. He said he is talking with Benaroya and the Mickelsen family. He said he wants use the $1.5 million from the state’s capital budget to work on sewer and water needs. He said the water problem will be solved and the wastewater treatment plans drawn by summer 2018. He said he is requesting .09 funding to help with Exit 63 plans. Pe Ell Mayor Lonnie Willey discussed work on water lines. Morton Mayor Dan Mortensen discussed snow work. Casey and Ross left at 9:50 a.m. Vader Mayor Ken Smith discussed work on building codes and curb and streetlight repairs. He said the city has $700,000 to design its waste treatment plan and will begin building in 2019. Port Commissioner Randy Mueller said the Port of Chehalis is working on its industrial site, for which it received a large grant. He discussed work being funded through .09. He said the port also has updated its comprehensive plan. Mayor Willey and Mayor Smith left at 9:56 a.m. Chehalis City Manager Jill Anderson discussed the Renaissance Team’s work in downtown Chehalis. She discussed about façade and facility improvements. She discussed plans to improve the pool and fire station. Bart Treece and Chuck Meade discussed current and upcoming WSDOT projects, including changes at Exit 87. The group discussed needs for traffic changes at Exit 73, among others. Tamara Greenwell of WSDOT gave an overview of her professional experience. Dena Horton of Sen. Cantwell’s office discussed the senator’s work on opioids as well as the threat of a government shutdown. She discussed the need for access to health care as well as the senator’s work on broadband. She said Sen. Cantwell is working to restore Net Neutrality rules. She urged the group to research Net Neutrality prior to Kirk Pearson’s arrival. Shari Hildreth of Herrera Beutler’s office discussed the need for funding for community health centers. Shari discussed the Chehalis Basin water retention facility. She said her office is working with the Corps and that a key Determination came through Feb. 1. Centralia Port Commissioner Peter Lahmann urged entities to share artifacts for the Historical Society. Centralia Mayor Lee Coumbs discussed Black History Month and the “Our George Washington” efforts to honor Centralia’s founder. Mayor Coumbs said Winterfest was a huge success. He said the sports hub has helped catapult lodging and that Borst Avenue repairs are moving forward. Centralia City Manager Rob Hill discussed the China Creek project and work with the Public Facilities District, which is refinancing its debt and reinvesting in the area. He said the sports hub drew 150 teams to the area for a recent tournament. He said the group wants to expand the sports hub, including the addition of three basketball courts. Winlock Mayor Don Bradshaw said Winlock has hired a Community Development expert and revamped the Planning Commission. He said the Comprehensive Plan is being rebuilt. Rebecca Tripp of the EDC discussed the EDC’s upcoming dinner. Toledo Mayor Steve Dobosh discussed work to secure grant funding to improve the city’s ball fields, etc. to help draw tourists to the area. He discussed the Cool and Connected broadband efforts. Mossyrock Mayor Randy Sasser said the Mossyrock Action League is working on ways to draw radio control plane tournaments to the city park. He said work is being done to extend the sewer line 800 feet to help the city grow. Commissioner Fund discussed unfunded mandates and said state officials now recognize the need to address issues with unfunded mandates. Meeting adjourned at 10:34 a.m.