2021-05-04 Business Meeting Minutes LEWIS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS(BOCC)
Business Meeting minutes
May 4,2021
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
Rich Curtis said he would like to set a date to resolve the North and South Prairie Road issue.
Commissioner Stamper said staff would reach out to Rich to set up a meeting.
Caleb Huffman urged the commissioners to vote down Ordinance 1324. He noted that the state has
recriminalized the possession of controlled substances.
PRESENTATION
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve proclamations for Mental Health Awareness Month,
Drug Court Month and National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. Commissioner Swope
seconded.
Proclamation recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
Great Rivers Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization (ASO) Chief Executive Director
Trinidad Medina read the proclamation into the record.
Proclamation recognizing May as Drug Court Month.
Lewis County Drug Court Manager Stephanie Miller read the proclamation into the record.
Stephanie invited the public to attend a walk in support of Drug Court beginning at the courthouse at
4:30 p.m. May 17.
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Proclamation recognizing the first full week of May as National Correctional Officers and Employees
Week.
Chief Chris Tawes read the proclamation into the record.
Motion passed 3-0.
CONSENT ITEMS
Commissioner Swope made a motion to approve minutes from the April 27, 2021, meeting as well as
Resolution 21-175. Commissioner Pollock seconded.
Resolution 21-175:Approval of warrants/claims against the various county departments.
Chief accountant Suzette Smith, representing the Auditor's Office, said warrants numbered 841,125
through 841,332 and direct disbursements 3238, 3252, 3280, 3303, 3304, 3320 through 3326, 3333
through 3338, 3342 through 3345, 3348 through 3352, 3354 through 3363, 3367 through 3369, 3385,
3408 and 3417 through 3422 were issued in April for payments against the county totaling
$2,189,834.77. She said payroll Automatic Deposits numbered 25,578 and 25,579 also were processed
for payments against the county totaling $845.75. Suzette noted a skip in sequence for warrants
841,093 through 841,124, which were issued on behalf of Special Purpose Districts.
Motion passed 3-0.
DELIBERATION ITEMS
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve Resolutions 21-176 through 21-185. Commissioner
Swope seconded.
Resolution 21-176:Authorize the initial placement of Animal Shelter Technician on the current Lewis
County Salary Grid (13 Step Grid)for Non-Union Extra Help.
HR Director Chris Panush discussed the resolution. He said the position would be a Grade 115 on the
salary grid adopted in April.
Resolution 21-177: Declare a state of emergency for the Newaukum Valley Road Emergency Bank
Stabilization Project under WACs 197-11-880 and 173-27-040(2)(d).
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Public Works Director Josh Metcalf discussed the resolution. He said the emergency action is required
to protect lives and the integrity of the road.Josh said Public Works is working on an engineering
solution to address the issue in summer 2021. He said declaring an emergency will help the county
address the issue more quickly.
Resolution 21-178:Authorize an interfund loan from Capital Facilities Plan Fund No. 3100 to COVID-19
Response Fund No. 1410.
Budget Services Manager Becky Butler discussed the resolution. She said the move is necessary due to
the timelines for receiving state and federal funding.
Resolution 21-179: Approve an amendment between Lewis County and Reliable Enterprises to add
additional funds through DDA in the amount of$5,960 and revise planned service rates.
Public Health and Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution. He said the
reimbursement rates are being increased.
Resolution 21-180: Approve an amendment between Lewis County and Morningside to add additional
funds through DDA in the amount of$18,990 and revise planned service rates.
Public Health and Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution. He said the contract
adds$18,990 to Morningstar's agreement with the county.
Resolution 21-181: Approve Amendment A to a Memorandum of Understanding between Lewis
County and Lewis County Public Health &Social Services to use the SW Washington Fairgrounds for
COVID-19 mass vaccination events.
Public Health and Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution. He said the
amendment extends the duration of use through July.
Resolution 21-182: Approve Memorandum of Understanding between Chehalis LLC and Lewis County
to provide a space to be used for the safe and effective operation of a walk-in COVID-19 mass
vaccination clinic.
Public Health and Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution. He said the MOU
allows the use of the former Sears site at the mall for walk-through COVID-19 vaccination clinics. He said
the contract can be ended, if needed, with 10 days' notice.
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Resolution 21-183:Approving Amendment A to a Professional Services Contract between Cascade
Community Healthcare (formerly Cascade Mental Health)and Lewis County for CJTA-funded
treatment and Recovery Support Services.
Public Health and Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution. He said the services
outlined in the amendment already have been provided.
Resolution 21-184:Approve an amendment between Lewis County and Equity Institute to remove
funds in the amount of$90,800 from Outreach and Prevention Case Management.
Public Health and Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution. He said the county has
and Equity Institute are shifting the focus of their efforts.
Resolution 21-185:Approve an amendment between Lewis County and Reliable Enterprises to add
$75,000 in funding and update requirements to be used for people who are homeless or receiving
homeless assistance.
Public Health and Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution. He said the agreement
includes updated requirements for those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Motion passed 3-0.
HEARINGS
Ordinance 1324:An Ordinance prohibiting the possession of controlled substances,counterfeit
substances,and legend drugs,as well as prohibiting certain related activities,and setting penalties.
(Deliberation only as the hearing was held during the March 30,2021, Business Meeting and then the
matter was tabled until May 4, 2021.)
Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Eric Eisenberg provided a recap of the history of the proposed
ordinance. He noted that the state Legislature passed a bill to re-establish laws regarding possession of a
controlled substance, removing the need for action at the county level. He suggested the commissioners
make and pass a motion to vote down Ordinance 1324.
Sheriff Rob Snaza said he agrees with Eric's recommendation. He said he hopes that the state is trying to
help drug users, not excuse their illegal actions.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to reject Ordinance 1324. Commissioner Swope seconded.
Motion passed 3-0.
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Ordinance 1325:An ordinance to amend Chapters 2.25, 16.05 and 17.05 of the Lewis County Code to
allow subdivisions as a Type III project permit application.
Commissioner Stamper introduced the hearing.
Community Development Director Lee Napier gave the staff report. She said the ordinance would allow
subdivisions to be processed as Type Ill permit applications.She said the ordinance would allow the
commissioners to discuss subdivisions with constituents and staff outside the hearing process. She said
the ordinance would change portions of Chapters 2.25, 16.05 and 17.05 of Lewis County Code.
Commissioner Stamper asked if there were any questions.There were none.
Commissioner Stamper then closed the question-and-answer portion of the hearing.
Lee asked that her previous comments be adopted into the record.
Commissioner Stamper asked if anyone wanted to speak for or against the resolution.
No one spoke.
Commissioner Stamper closed the hearing.
Commissioner Swope made a motion to approve Ordinance 1325. Commissioner Pollock seconded.
Motion passed 3-0.
COVID-19
JP Anderson said the governor announced earlier in the day that the state was issuing a two-week pause
on changes to county phases. He said Gov. Inslee indicated the current fourth wave of COVID-19 cases
appears to be plateauing.
JP said the state has notified the county that it has contracted with Lakeview Hotel in Centralia to house
Department of Corrections and work release individuals who must quarantine. He noted that the state
was not transparent about its efforts until it was a done deal.
Ron Averill said the hotel is near Plummer Lake in Centralia.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commissioner Pollock thanked Public Works and to individuals who clean up or alert area leaders about
in the community for alerting the county about graffiti or garbage.
PRESS CONFERENCE
JP Anderson said he feels it's time for the state to move away from its phased approach now that
vaccines are available.
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ADJOURNMENT
The BOCC Business Meeting adjourned at 3:16 p.m.,with the next Business Meeting scheduled for
2 p.m.Tuesday, May 11, 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/.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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