2021-04-27 Business Meeting Minutes LEWIS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS(BOCC)
Business Meeting minutes
April 27,2021
Present: Commissioner Stamper, Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Commissioner Stamper called the meeting to order at 2 p.m.,determined a quorum and then proceeded
with the flag salute.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
State Rep. Peter Abbarno provided an overview of Legislative session that ended April 25. He praised
efforts to pass the capital budget. He discussed funding provided in the state's budget as well as other
bills state leaders passed during the Legislative session.
STATE-OF-THE-LIBRARY PRESENTATION
Timberland Regional Library(TRL) Executive Director Cheryl Heywood provided an overview of TRL's
activities and events from 2020 and 2021. She said TRL has secured two mobile units for libraries on
wheels. She also said TRL is looking for property in Randle for a new library site.
CONSENT ITEMS
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve minutes from the April 20,2021, meeting as well as
Resolution 21-167. Commissioner Swope seconded.
Resolution 21-167:Approval of warrants/claims against the various county departments.
Chief accountant Suzette Smith, representing the Auditor's Office, said warrants 840,918 through
841,092 were issued in April for payments against the county totaling$1,167,693.75. She said
payroll/tax deposit warrants 795,827 through 795,828 and Automatic Deposits 25,001 through
25,577 also were approved for payments against the county totaling$1,097,353.51.
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Suzette noted a skip in sequence for warrants 840,870 through 840,917,which were issued on behalf of
Special Purpose Districts.
Motion passed 3-0.
DELIBERATION ITEMS
Commissioner Swope made a motion to approve Resolutions 21-168 through 21-173. Commissioner
Pollock seconded.
Resolution 21-168:Approve professional services contract with The Salvation Army for services and
shelter for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Public Health &Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution. He said the agreement
provides$4,518,908 to help those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.JP said the
amount includes a 10 percent administration fee.
Resolution 21-169:Approve a Memorandum of Understanding between Lewis County and Lewis
County Public Health &Social Services to use the SW Washington Fairgrounds entire property for
COVID-19 mass vaccination events.
Public Health&Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution. He said the agreement
allows the use of the Fairgrounds for mass vaccination events. He said the agreement allows for 30-to
90-day increments at$80,000 per month.
Resolution 21-170: List the bids received and contractor selected for the Culvert Material Purchase for
the Lincoln Creek Rd. MP 13.7 Culvert Replacement Project,SM 20F100191370.
Public Works Director Josh Metcalf discussed the resolution. He said the county received only one
responsive bid.Josh said the bid is 31 percent higher than the engineer's estimate, due to increased
shipping costs as well as supply and demand.
Resolution 21-171:Award the contract for the Law&Justice Building Fire Alarm Replacement Project.
Capital Projects Manager Doug Carey discussed the resolution. He said the fire alarm in the building has
reached the end of its life. He said replacement parts are no longer available. He said the county
received two bids and that Absco Solutions submitted the lowest responsive bid at$397,826.
Resolution 21-172:Awarding the contract for the Law and Justice Exterior Upgrades Project, Project
#31-2026.
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Capital Projects Manager Doug Carey discussed the resolution. He said the county received three bids
for the project and that Schwiesow Construction of Centralia was the lowest responsive bidder.
Resolution 21-173: Modify restrictions on outdoor burning to allow permitted burning throughout
lands regulated by Lewis County.
Community Development Director Lee Napier discussed the resolution.She said restrictions on
permitted outdoor burning were lifted as of 8 a.m.April 27.
Motion passed 3-0.
HEARINGS
Resolution 21-174:The closure of a portion of Senn Road off Centralia Alpha Road near Chehalis.
Commissioner Stamper introduced the hearing.
County Engineer Tim Fife gave the staff report. He said the county is considering closing Senn Road at its
Centralia Alpha intersection. He said a property owner contacted the county in May 2020 and asked that
the county close the portion of Senn Road. He said the county then reached out to all of the affected
property owners and that the majority of those contacted indicated they were in favor of the closure.
He said the closure will save the county money.Tim said nine property owners responded to the
county's request for input. He said the property owners who will have to drive the furthest if the area is
closed are those most in favor of the closure.
Commissioner Stamper asked if there were any questions. Ron Averill of Centralia asked if there is an
alternate route.Tim Fife said there is. Ron asked how the entrance would be blocked.Tim said a
turnaround would be installed and the stream would be returned to its normal channel.
Tim Dyeson asked if the closure is a permanent closure.Tim said the closure is a permanent closure.
Commissioner Stamper then closed the question-and-answer portion of the hearing.
Tim Fife asked that his previous comments be adopted into the record.
Commissioner Stamper asked if anyone wanted to speak for or against the resolution.
Tim Dyeson said he will have to drive the furthest of all property owners and that he wholeheartedly
supports the closure.
Commissioner Stamper closed the hearing.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve Resolution 21-174. Commissioner Swope seconded.
Motion passed 3-0.
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COVID-19
JP Anderson said Lewis County has fallen short of criteria for the state's phases and may be at risk of
being rolled back to Phase II. However, he said, Lewis County appears to be moving in a positive
direction. He said he hopes the recent improvements will prevent the county from rolling back to Phase
II. He said vaccinations are the key to community immunity.
JP said the county has seen zero school transmissions. He said family social gatherings have been cited
as transmission sites.
JP said the walk-through clinic at the old Sears site will be open from noon until 8 p.m. April 28. He said
an appointment is not needed.
Commissioner Swope asked if Lewis County is emulating the steps areas, such as Texas, have taken to
fully open up.
JP said the National Guard will help provide mobile vaccine services for groups of 20 or more.
JP discussed mask use for athletes.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Susan DeLaire asked if low testing numbers in Texas have led to the low COVID rates in that state.JP said
he would not speculate.
Claudia Yaw asked if the 20-ish people mobile clinics are taking place elsewhere across the state.JP said
he is unsure if it is. She also asked if confidentiality will be a concern.JP said the National Guard could
address confidentiality and that potential patients would have to determine whether to attend the
vaccination events.
Ron Averill said the Public Facilities District(PFD)expansion project is moving quickly. Ron said Centralia
City Council will vote on phase II of the China Creek project later in the day. He said the Flood Authority
is providing some of the needed funding.
ADJOURNMENT
The BOCC Business Meeting adjourned at 3:13 p.m.,with the next Business Meeting scheduled for
2 p.m.Tuesday, May 4, 2021, in the Commissioners' Hearing Room (Room 223).
Minutes from the BOCC Business Meeting are not verbatim. Video footage can be viewed online at no charge at
https://lewiscountywa.gov/offices/commissioners/bocc-meetings/.
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ATTEST: Lin s y R.-Pollock, DVM Vice Chair
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