2021-06-29 Business Meeting Minutes LEWIS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS(BOCC)
Business Meeting minutes
June 29,2021
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
Rieva Lester read a statement William Forth submitted requesting the commissioners to ban fireworks
due to the current hazards.
Frank Corbin thanked the fire crews who responded to a June 28 house fire in his neighborhood. Frank
also discussed the Lewis County Seniors group's efforts to reopen the area senior centers safely.
NOTICE ITEMS
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve Resolutions 21-235 through 21-237. Commissioner
Swope seconded.
Resolution 21-235: Call for Bids for the Chehalis Ridge Radio Site. Bids are due to the Clerk of the
Board by 3:00 p.m.July,22, 2021.
Capital Projects Manager Doug Carey discussed the resolution. He said the county is looking for bids for
the construction of a new radio tower on recently purchased property in Chehalis.
Resolution 21-236:Call for bids for the Lincoln Creek Rd MP 13.7 Culvert Replacement Project,SM
20F100191370. Bids are due to the Clerk of the Board by 12:15 p.m.July 15,2021.
Public Works Director Josh Metcalf discussed the resolution. He said a concrete structure will be
installed as part of the county's project on Lincoln Creek Road.
Resolution 21-237:The temporary closure of Townsend Road to all through traffic.
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Real Estate Services Manager Martin Roy discussed the resolution. He said Townsend Road will be
closed,from its intersection with Cinebar Road to its end, as the county replaces a bridge in the area.
Motion passed 3-0.
CONSENT ITEMS
Commissioner Swope made a motion to approve minutes from the June 22, 2021, meeting as well as
Resolution 21-238. Commissioner Pollock seconded.
Resolution 21-238: Approval of warrants/claims against the various county departments.
Chief accountant Grace Jimenez, representing the Auditor's Office, said warrants numbered 843,429
through 843,533 and direct disbursements numbered 3499, 3566, 3567, 3569 through 3573, 3583,
3586, 3596, 3597, 3600, 3603, 3604, 3605, 3614 through 3618, 3629, 3630 and 3633 were issued in June
for payments against the county totaling $277,886.64. She noted a skip in sequence for warrants
843,395 through 843,428, which were issued on behalf of Special Purpose Districts.
Motion passed 3-0.
DELIBERATION ITEMS
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve Resolutions 21-239 through 21-246. Commissioner
Swope seconded.
Resolution 21-239: Restrict outdoor burning on all unincorporated lands regulated by Lewis County.
Community Development Director Lee Napier discussed the resolution. She said the resolution ratifies
the Fire Marshal's decision from the previous week.
Resolution 21-240: Ratifying a purchase and sale agreement for 57 W. Main St., Chehalis.
Capital Projects Manager Doug Carey discussed the resolution. He said the purchase will help with the
county's efforts to create a one-stop campus.
Resolution 21-241:Approving Memorandum of Understanding between Lewis County and Providence
Health and Services Washington to include the Drive-thru Mass Vaccination event that occurred on
January 24, 2021.
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Public Health and Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution. He said the
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) updates an existing contract to include a drive-through mass
vaccination event that took place in January.
Resolution 21-242:Adopt changes to the regular public meeting schedule of the Lewis County Board
of County Commissioners.
Clerk of the Board Rieva Lester discussed the resolution.She said the change to 10 a.m.Tuesdays will
take effect July 13, 2021.
Resolution 21-243: Reappoint three full-time members and three alternates to the Lewis County
Board of Equalization.
Board of Equalization Clerk Tammy Martin discussed the resolution. She said the resolution reappoints
fulltime members Tom Crowson,Johnny Dunnagan and Russ Wigley for additional three-year terms and
reappoints alternates Richard Tausch, Paulette Eaton and Dennis Blake for additional three-year terms.
Resolution 21-244:Approve the amended agreement between Lewis County and Washington State
Military Department for the FEMA Emergency Management Performance Grant and authorizing
signatures thereon.
Emergency Management Planner Erika Katt discussed the resolution.She said the resolution updates
an agreement with the State Military Department.
Resolution 21-245: Extending the local declaration of a state of emergency in response to the COVID-
19 virus in Lewis County.
Emergency Management Deputy Director Andy Caldwell discussed the resolution. He said the
resolution would extend the local declaration through Aug. 4, 2021.
In response to a question from Commissioner Swope,Andy said he doesn't believe the county remains
in an "extreme emergency" situation. Commissioner Swope said he wants to modify the proposed
resolution to reflect that the county was extending the declaration in order to qualify for additional
funding. Commissioner Stamper said he is concerned that not passing an extension would put potential
funding in jeopardy.
Commissioner Pollock said she would prefer to pass the resolution as-is so there is no gap instead of
changing it on the fly. She noted that the emergency could be updated—or could be set to sunset—
later.
Jonathan Meyer said Gov. Inslee's actions cover all 39 counties. He said other counties have opted out
of having their one emergency declarations and that those counties have cited the governor's work as
providing a coverage umbrella.
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Becky Butler said FEMA contracts regarding the mass vaccination sites and Lewis County Seniors require
that the county be under a local, state and federal declaration of emergency.
JP Anderson discussed efforts to determine the future of mass vaccination clinics.
Becky said funding for mass vaccination sites and the Lewis County Seniors may be eligible for use of
American Rescue Plan Act.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to amend her earlier motion,taking Resolution 21-245 out of the
"grouped" deliberation items to be voted upon so it could be voted on independently.
Commissioner Swope seconded.
Motion passed 3-0.
Resolution 21-246:Approve amending a Memorandum of Understanding between Lewis County and
Lewis County Seniors to provide services upon receipt of FEMA funding due to COVID-19.
Budget Services Manager Becky Butler discussed the resolution.
Commissioner Pollock's amended motion to approve Resolutions 21-239 through 21-244 as well as
Resolution 21-246 passed 3-0.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve Resolution 21-245.
Commissioner Stamper seconded.
Commissioner Pollock's motion to approve Resolution 21-246 passed 2-0-1,with Commissioner Swope
abstaining.
HEARING
Resolution 21-247:Approve a franchise to Claquato Cemetery Association to install,construct,
operate and maintain water facilities in Lewis County road rights of way.
Commissioner Stamper introduced the hearing.
Real Estate Services Manager Martin Roy gave the staff report. He noted that a notice regarding the
hearing for the five-year franchise was published in The Chronicle on June 10 and 17.
Commissioner Stamper asked if there were any questions.There were no questions.
Commissioner Stamper then closed the question-and-answer portion of the hearing.
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Martin asked that his 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 Resolution 21-247. Commissioner Pollock seconded.
Motion passed 3-0.
COVI D-19
JP Anderson said the county saw 40 new COVID-19 cases during the most recent reporting week.
Commissioner Swope discussed information regarding heart inflammation linked to the COVID-19
vaccinations. He discussed his concerns regarding the lack of a comprehensive risk-benefit analysis
regarding the COVID vaccines. Commissioner Swope said he has concerns that some countries are
seeing two vaccine deaths per 100,000 citizens versus three COVID deaths per 100,000 citizens.
JP noted that the risk of heart inflammation is higher for those who contract COVID-19 than those who
receive the vaccine.
JP said he would ask John Abplanalp to attend the following day's Directors' Update.
Becky Butler said she continues to work with offices and departments to address American Rescue Plan
Act needs.
FIREWORKS
Sheriff Snaza expressed concerns regarding the Sheriff's Office's ability to respond to fireworks
complaints if the county were to ban the use of fireworks.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kevin McDowell said the commissioners have a few options regarding
fireworks:
1. Do nothing
2. Devote efforts to education and outreach
3. Extend the burn ban to restrict fireworks as"recreational fires"
Kevin said RCW 70.77.488 could apply to current conditions. He said RCW 70.77.495 prohibits the
discharge of fireworks on any surface other than pavement.
The commissioners asked Lee Napier to draft some public outreach regarding fireworks safety.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commissioner Pollock invited the public to attend a professional fireworks show July 4.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Peter Lahmann said the museum is undergoing a funding review. He invited the pubic to a living history
event July 3. He said Summerfest is planned for July 4.
Frank Corbin further discussed Summerfest events planned for July 4.
ADJOURNMENT
The BOCC Business Meeting adjourned at 3:19 p.m.,with the next Business Meeting scheduled for
2 p.m.Tuesday,July 6, 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 se R. ollock, DVM,Vice Chair
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