2018-10-29 Meeting with Sen. BraunMeeting with Sen. Braun
October 29, 2018
4:09 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Stamper, County Manager Erik
Martin, Sen. Braun, Budget Services Manager Becky Butler, Clerk Scott Tinney, Winlock Mayor Don
Bradshaw
Guests: Dr. Lindsey Pollock, Brian Green, Alex Brown, Mike Wilde, Susan DeLaire
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Members of the group introduced themselves.
Commissioner Fund discussed some of the unfunded mandates the county faces.
Scott Tinney discussed HB 1783, which changes how legal financial obligations can be imposed. Scott
said that if at any time the individual is deemed indigent, the court cannot charge a filing fee, attorney’s
costs, jail costs, DUI fines, drug fines, etc. He said even if the individual will make $100,000 within the
next four months, that individual cannot be asked to pay those additional costs. He said those revenues
directly support the court system the criminal is moving through.
Scott noted that if the criminal is found to be indigent long after restitution, etc., has been set, the
previously-set fines no longer can be collected.
Sen. Braun said many of the people who voted for the bill knew what it would mean for courts across
the state. He said it leaves the court system underfunded in the future. Sen. Braun said that if there was
a case through which the counties wanted to sue, this could be it.
Erik Martin said a fish culverts inventory found the county has more than 600 fish barriers on county
roads. He said at $304,000 per culvert, it would cost $185 million to replace those.
Sen. Braun said culverts are going to be a problem for the state as well. He said he’d prefer to see them
replaced on an as-needed basis.
Erik said many of the increased costs are linked to mitigation efforts upstream and downstream of the
pipe.
Sen. Braun discussed the importance of solving water infrastructure problems but decried the costs. He
said the state needs to recognize that the counties also will need help as well. He said he would address
the topic further the following day.
Commissioner Stamper said the BOCC will meet with the DNR on Nov. 5 to discuss timber revenue. He
said he’d like to see what can be done to tighten DNR’s budget. Sen. Braun said forest management will
be key to controlling fires and therefore the budget. He discussed a new proviso that requires the DNR
to start valuing its lands, which will help the state measure its returns over time.
Winlock Mayor Don Bradshaw said the state gave the city $1.5 million toward its water plan. He noted
that ToledoTel is including conduit as the water line is being installed.
Mayor Bradshaw said fill from the project is being used to improve three vacant properties that had
been destroyed by fire.
Mayor Bradshaw said the city has three years from March 2018 to finish its project. He said it would cost
$5.5 million to address road and sewer needs. He said the city has to build the road or return the
property back to the Mickelsons. Mayor Bradshaw said Cardinal Glass is creating the well. He said
Cardinal Glass also owes the city 109 feet of water rights. He said Benaroya owes the city a well. Mayor
Bradshaw said a water rights attorney has been hired to review plans for the Mickelsons’ three wells. He
said going through the Mickelsons’ farm will cost more than $3 million. He also discussed a land
donation that would cost $500,000.
Mayor Bradshaw said there’s no residential benefit to the project, so only loans are available.
Commissioner Stamper left at 4:52 p.m.
Mayor Bradshaw discussed plans to create a long-term RV park on Knowles Road. He said that project
will require sewer and water service.
Commissioner Stamper returned at 4:55 p.m.
Sen. Braun suggested putting pressure on Benaroya. He noted that $3 million to $5 million for a city as
small as Winlock would be a hard sell.
Becky Butler said she is working on updating the county’s unfunded mandates list. Becky said changes to
court fees also mean the county cannot collect interest on outstanding balances.
Meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.