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2020-07-27 Business Meeting Minutes LEWIS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS(BOCC) Business Meeting minutes July 27, 2020 Present: Commissioner Stamper, Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson Recorder: Rieva Lester Commissioner Stamper called the meeting to order at 10:01 a.m., determined a quorum and then proceeded with the flag salute. PUBLIC COMMENT Andy Alexander of Chehalis said he is frustrated with the process related to Water-Sewer District 2. Larry McGee discussed his frustration with the Fox Run development. He thanked the county for its efforts to move forward. NOTICE ITEM Commissioner Fund made a motion to approve Resolution 20-254. Commissioner Jackson seconded. Resolution 20-254: Call for bids for the Tucker Road Improvements Project, Federal Aid Project No. STPR-F212(001), Federal Contract No.TA-6968, F.A.Agreement No. LA 9901, County Road Project No. 2189-C. Bids are due to the Clerk of the Board by 12:30 p.m.Aug. 18, 2020. Public Works Director Josh Metcalf spoke to the resolution. He said the bids will be for an asphalt repair and repaving project for Tucker Road. Motion passed 3-0. CONSENT ITEMS Commissioner Jackson made a motion to approve minutes from the July 20, 2020, meeting as well as Resolution 20-255. Commissioner Fund seconded. Resolution 20-255:Approval of warrants/claims against the various county departments. 1 Financial Analyst Ill Grace Jimenez, representing the Auditor's Office, said warrants 831,044 through 831,170 were issued in July for payments against the county totaling $177,271.58. Motion passed 3-0. DELIBERATION ITEMS Commissioner Fund made a motion to approve Resolutions 20-256 through 20-259. Commissioner Jackson seconded. Resolution 20-256: Middle Fork Water and Sewer System Fund 4100 Authorizing a Cash Flow Loan from Capital Facilities Plan Fund No. 3100. Public Works Director Josh Metcalf spoke to the resolution. He said the 20-year loan cash-flow loan is to cover the acquisition of Water-Sewer District 5. Resolution 20-257: Set Armed Security Officer wages. HR Specialist Daleyn Coleman spoke to the resolution. She said the positions will be covered by Coronavirus Relief Funds. Resolution 20-258:Authorize an MOU between Lewis County Superior Court/Lewis County District Court and the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds to provide a safe space for social-distancing jury selection. Southwest Washington Fair Manager Tamara Hayes spoke to the resolution. She said the courts will use the fairgrounds for jury selection beginning Aug. 3 to allow for social distance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Resolution 20-259:Approve a contract for the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds Blue Restroom remodel. Southwest Washington Fair Manager Tamara Hayes spoke to the resolution. She said funding through the Commerce CARES Act is allowing for a remodel to allow for social distanced restroom use. Motion passed 3-0. 2 HEARING Ordinance 1319:An Ordinance of Lewis County lifting a moratorium upon certain building permits within the boundaries of Middle Fork Water-Sewer System -formally known as Water-Sewer District #5. Commissioner Stamper introduced the hearing. Lee Napier gave the staff report.She said the ordinance would lift the moratorium on development permits in the Middle Fork Water-Sewer System, formerly known as Water-Sewer District 5.She said the moratorium was imposed because Water-Sewer District 5 and Water-Sewer District 2 (WSD2), which jointly provide sewer service in the area, had a dispute that called into question the sewer service's availability. She said Lewis County has now taken over the infrastructure from Water-Sewer District 5, and it is negotiating a renewed interlocal agreement with Water Sewer District 2 to ensure sewer service. She said county staff hoped to finalize the agreement by today, but it is not finalized.Therefore, she said, staff is requesting that the commissioners table the hearing and further consideration on the ordinance until their next business meeting, which will be Monday,Aug. 3, 2020. Commissioner Jackson made a motion to table Ordinance 1319 until Aug. 3, 2020. Commissioner Fund seconded. Commissioner Jackson withdrew his motion to table the ordinance. Commissioner Stamper asked if there were any questions. Larry McGee asked if the two parties are discussing fees. Josh Metcalf said they are. Greg Lund asked if Water-Sewer District 2 had submitted an agreement for review. Josh said WSD2 submitted a red-lined draft agreement. J Vander Stoep asked if Josh believes an agreement can be reached within the next week. Josh said he is not sure. Erik Martin said the county needs to make sure the financial piece is good for the ratepayers and that the county needs to analyze the legal aspect of the proposal. Andy Alexander asked if the county feels it has been dealt with fairly. Josh said he feels WSD2 will work toward a solution. Commissioner Fund asked if more advocacy is needed. Josh said he appreciates the advocacy received thus far. Mike Ayers asked if building permits can be issued soon so construction can begin. Lee Napier said individuals can get permits as soon as the moratorium is lifted. 3 • Lee Napier asked that her previous comments be adopted into the record. She said she would like to continue the staff report upon resumption of the hearing. Commissioner Stamper asked if anyone wanted to speak for or against the resolution. Larry McGee discussed friction in the past and his hopes for a successful process in the future. Rieva Lester read into the record written statements from Greg Lund,Jens Jorgensen, Mark Giffey and Andy Alexander. Greg Lund further discussed improvements to the area and his frustration with the process. J Vander Stoep said the commissioners heard WSD2 say on the record that WSD2 would move forward with the agreement as soon as the conflict with Virgil Fox is resolved. He said WSD2 has had 1.5 years to work on the agreement. He said if the issue isn't resolved by Aug. 3,the county should lift the moratorium. Doing so, he said, would highlight the fact that WSD2 is the problem. Mike Ayers said there is nothing wrong with the water-sewer system. He said all of the disputes are political. He said countless prospective buyers have walked away because of the disputes. County Manager Erik Martin said the county will do a thorough analysis of the fees proposed by WSD2. He said it will be up to the BOCC to weigh a potential overcharge by WSD2 versus the plan to lift the moratorium. He noted that the higher rates puts the onus on the ratepayers. Josh Metcalf said the proposed base rate is a $3,000 separation. Commissioner Stamper noted that WSD2 would not maintain sewer. Commissioner Jackson made a motion to table Ordinance 1319 until Aug. 3, 2020, and to hold open all aspects of the hearing until that time. Commissioner Fund seconded. Motion passed 3-0. ANNOUNCEMENTS Commissioner Fund discussed a letter Gov.Jay Inslee sent regarding the proposed water retention facility. At 11:02 a.m.,the meeting paused due to technical issues.The meeting resumed at 11:07 a.m. Commissioner Fund continued discussing Inslee's letter regarding the water retention facility. Erik Martin noted that the letter doesn't indicate that the governor is pulling away. He said it merely shows that the SEPA needs to be paused. He said the District can take the opportunity to reach out to the public to better explain the project. Commissioner Jackson left at 11:10 a.m. and returned at 11:11 a.m. 4 COVID-19 Erik Martin said there were new cases reported on July 25 and 26. The group discussed further guidance expected from the governor's office regarding new restrictions. JP Anderson discussed work regarding school reopenings as well as jury selection. The group discussed the upcoming release of information regarding the potential awardees for the Coronavirus Relief Funding. Becky Butler said she will reach out to Matt Matayoshi to request that he provide the information via email. Larry McGee said the group will ask the commissioners to consider nonprofits if another round of funding is available. Becky Butler said the RFP for the broadband project has been posted online and that it will appear in the newspaper July 28. PRESS CONFERENCE No questions. ADJOURNMENT The BOCC Business Meeting adjourned at 11:22 a.m.,with the next Business Meeting scheduled for Monday,August 3, 2020, in the Commissioners' Hearing Room (Room 223). 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 LEWIS Co UNTY,WASHINGTON Al I +4 ary St. per,Ch•it ATTEST: • a J. Find,Vice 1 air Rieva Lester,Clerk of the Board Robert C.Jackson,Commissioner 5