2020-05-04 Business Meeting Minutes LEWIS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (BOCC)
Business Meeting minutes
May 4, 2020
Present: Commissioner Stamper(by phone), Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Commissioner Fund called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m., determined a quorum and then proceeded
with the flag salute.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
Commissioner Jackson made a motion to add to the agenda Resolution 20-147, which would extend
adjustments made to county operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commissioner Fund seconded.
Motion passed 3-0.
Commissioner Jackson read aloud a proclamation honoring Corrections Officers that Commissioner
Stamper had signed.
NOTICE ITEM
Commissioner Jackson made a motion to approve Resolution 20-145. Commissioner Stamper
seconded.
Resolution 20-145: Request for Qualifications for Engineering and Architectural Services related to
design of the new Animal Shelter Building. Submissions are due to the Lewis County Facilities
Manager by 3 p.m. May 28, 2020.
Facilities Manager Doug Carey spoke to the resolution. He said the county had asked for submissions
earlier in the year but had received little interest. He said the project will be fully funded by bequests.
Motion passed 3-0.
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CONSENT ITEMS
Commissioner Jackson made a motion to approve minutes from the April27,2020,meeting as well as
Resolution 20-146. Commissioner Stamper seconded.
Resolution 20-146:Approval of warrants/claims against the various county departments.
Chief accountant Suzette Smith,representing the Auditor's Office, said warrants 828,249 through
828,259 and 828,272 through 828,370 were issued in April for payments against the county totaling
$283,022.81. She said Automatic Deposits 10,742 through 11,312 also were approved for payments
against the county totaling$1,582,081.83.Suzette noted a skip in sequence for warrants 828,260
through 828,271,which were issued on behalf of Special Purpose Districts.
Motion passed 3-0.
DELIBERATION ITEMS
Commissioner Jackson made a motion to approve Resolutions 20-147 through 20-149. Commissioner
Stamper seconded.
Resolution 20-147:Extend adjustments made to county operations in response to the COVID-19
pandemic.
County Manager Erik Martin spoke to the resolution. He said the opening of governmental buildings
would be allowed under Phase III of the governor's coronavirus response and that the county currently
sits in Phase I. Erik noted that applying for a variance would move the county to a Phase II.
Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Cullen Gatten weighed in on meetings in regard to Open Public
Meetings Act (OPMA) requirements. He said the governor has not yet extended the proclamation
relaxing OPMA rules because he had not yet received approval from the"four corners." If not extended,
Cullen said,the county would need to either cancel its quorum meetings or allow the public to "attend"
on site.
Resolution 20-148:Approve the Public Works Director to sign Applicant Resolution/Authorization
between Lewis County and the Recreation and Conservation Office(RCO)for grant restoration
projects in which funds are administered by RCO.
Public Works Director Josh Metcalf spoke to the resolution. He said Josh said the county has seven
projects for the upcoming year.
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Resolution 20-149: Proposed changes to adopted right of way acquisition procedures.
Public Works Director Josh Metcalf spoke to the resolution. He said the procedures had not been
updated in several years. He said the changes were minor.
Motion passed 3-0.
COVID-19
County Manager Erik Martin said Lewis County remains at 29 confirmed COVID-19 cases with three
fatalities. Of the confirmed cases,John Abplanalp said, 14 patients are considered recovered.
County Manager Erik Martin discussed Gov. Inslee's phased approach for reopening the state. He and JP
Anderson discussed the possibility that Lewis County may become eligible to apply for a variance under
the governor's phased approach.JP said he believes the state will provide the criteria area businesses
would need to meet in order to reopen.The group discussed a need to increase testing.
Becky Butler discussed county policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Ron Averill of Centralia said the Lewis County Seniors has continued providing meals. He said the group
is using the Chehalis Elementary School's kitchen to prepare the meals. He said the group received a
grant from Security State Bank.
Commissioner Jackson discussed a guest commentary he had recently submitted to The Chronicle. He
said he requested businesses that would like the county to apply for a variance to share with him their
plans on how they plan to prepare to reopen.
Steve Wohld said the county has ordered plexiglass and floor tape in preparation for its eventual
reopening.
ADJOURNMENT
The BOCC Business Meeting adjourned at 3:56 p.m.,with the next Business Meeting scheduled for
Monday, May 11, 2020, in the Commissioners' Hearing Room (Room 223).
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Please note that minutes from the BOCC Business Meeting are not verbatim.A recording of the meeting may be
purchased at the BOCC office,or video footage can be viewed at no charge at LewisCountyWa.gov/bocc-meetings.
Video footage of BOCC meetings also is aired on Comcast Channel 3 at 10 a.m.,2 p.m.,6 p.m.,and 10 p.m. daily.
Video footage also can be found on the Lewis County Commissioners'Facebook page.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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