2021-08-10 Business Meeting Minutes LEWIS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS(BOCC)
Business Meeting minutes
August 10,2021
Present: Commissioner Stamper,Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope (10:21 a.m.)
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Commissioner Stamper called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m., determined a quorum and then
proceeded with the flag salute.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to amend the day's Business Meeting agenda to include
Resolution 21-306: Health building water leak declaration of emergency and waiving bidding
requirements.
Commissioner Stamper seconded.
Motion passed 2-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
PRESENTATION
Parks&Recreation and Events Director Connie Riker read a proclamation honoring the 2021 Southwest
Washington Fair and the Little Miss Friendly Program into the record.The reigning Little Miss Friendly,
Haiden Bartel, Miss Lewis County Sophie Moerke and Lewis County Dairy Ambassador Brylee Yackley
introduced themselves.The five Little Miss Friendly 2021 finalists—10-year-old Jaylyn Evans of Chehalis,
8-year-old Aria Hoffman of Centralia, 10-year-old MaKayla Maynard of Chehalis, 10-year-old Laney
McGregor of Chehalis and 10-year-old Zoey Zachary of Chehalis—introduced themselves and gathered
for a photo with the commissioners.
COVI D-19
Providence Health and Services Southwest Washington Chief Executive Officer Darin Goss said the
Providence, which includes the Centralia hospital, is seeing a near-high level of new COVID-19 cases. He
said prediction models indicate the cases will continue to increase in coming weeks. He noted that the
hospital will adhere to the governor's recent vaccine mandate,which requires hospital staff statewide to
be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18. Darin said Providence is grappling with staffing shortages and staff
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burnout. He noted that Providence hospitals, including the Centralia site, will re-impose visitation
restrictions effective Aug. 11.
Commissioner Swope joined at 10:21 a.m.
Commissioner Swope asked whether the hospital would be providing informed consent forms for those
mandated to get vaccinated. Darin said he would look into the matter.
PRESENTATION
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve a proclamation honoring the 2021 Southwest
Washington Fair and the Little Miss Friendly Program. Commissioner Swope seconded.
Motion passed 3-0.
NOTICE ITEMS
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve Resolutions 21-288 through 21-291. Commissioner
Swope seconded.
Resolution 21-288: Call for bids for the Chehalis Ridge Radio Site. Bids are due to the Clerk of the
Board by 3 p.m. Sept. 2, 2021.
Capital Projects Manager Doug Carey discussed the resolution. Doug said the county will build a radio
tower on Chehalis Ridge.
Resolution 21-289: Issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP)to provide annual hydrologic, hydraulic, and
geomorphic services for projects including Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)funded projects,
Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA)funded projects, and Lewis County Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP) projects. Proposals are due to Public Works on Kresky Avenue in Chehalis
by 1 p.m. Sept. 10, 2021.
Public Works Director Josh Metcalf discussed the resolution. He said several of the projects are
federally funded.
Resolution 21-290: Notice of hearing regarding a franchise to Middle Fork Water&Sewer to install,
construct, operate and maintain water and sewer facilities in Lewis County rights of way. The hearing
will take place in the Commissioners' Hearing Room at or after 10 a.m. Aug. 31, 2021.
Real Estate Services Manager Martin Roy discussed the resolution. Martin noted that Lewis County
oversees the water-sewer district.
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Resolution 21-291: Notice of hearing regarding a franchise to Vader Water to install,construct,
operate and maintain water facilities in Lewis County rights of way. The hearing will take place in the
Commissioners' Hearing Room at or after 10 a.m.Aug. 31, 2021.
Real Estate Services Manager Martin Roy discussed the resolution. Martin noted that Lewis County
oversees the water-sewer district.
Motion passed 3-0.
CONSENT ITEMS
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve minutes from the August 3, 2021, meeting as well as
Resolution 21-292. Commissioner Swope seconded.
Resolution 21-292: Approval of warrants/claims against the various county departments.
Chief accountant Grace Jimenez, representing the Auditor's Office, said warrants 844,816 and 844,837
through 845,217 were issued in July and August for payments against the county totaling$827,397.45.
Grace noted a skip in sequence for warrants 844,817 through 844,836,which were issued on behalf of
Special Purpose Districts.
Motion passed 3-0.
DELIBERATION ITEMS
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve Resolutions 21-293 through 21-295. Commissioner
Swope seconded.
Resolution 21-293:Approve Erika Katt, DEM Planner,as the Lewis County Community Emergency
Coordinator and William Teitzel as the Alternate Community Emergency Coordinator for 2021-2022
for hazardous material incidents.
DEM Planner Erika Katt discussed the resolution. She said the resolution names her as Lewis County's
Community Emergency Coordinator(CEC) and William Teitzel as the county's Alternate CEC.
Resolution 21-294:Approval of the Twenty-second Supplement Agreement between West
Consultants Inc. and Lewis County, acting as Fiscal Agent for the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority,
and authorization for the Director of Community Development to sign the same on behalf of Lewis
County.
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Community Development Director Lee Napier discussed the resolution. She said the amendment adds
$2,818.40 to an existing agreement to allow for the replacement of a web cam.
Resolution 21-295:Authorizing a contract between Lewis County Noxious Weed Control and
AquaTechnex for Eurasian watermilfoil treatment at Mineral Lake.
Noxious Weed Control Program Coordinator Charles Edmonson discussed the resolution. He said a
grant from the Department of Ecology will be used to cover the costs of the watermilfoil treatment at
Mineral Lake.
Motion to approve Resolutions 21-293 through 21-295 passed 3-0.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve Resolutions 21-296. Commissioner Swope seconded.
Resolution 21-296: Establish salaries for Elected Officials.
No one discussed the resolution.
Motion to approve Resolution 21-296 passed 3-0.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve Resolutions 21-297 through 21-304 as well as
Resolution 21-306. Commissioner Swope seconded.
Resolution 21-297: Declare a state of emergency for Lewis County to include the Shorey Road
Emergency Bank Stabilization Project under WAC 197-11-880 and WAC 173-27-040(2)(d).
Public Works Director Josh Metcalf discussed the resolution. He said flooding created an erosion
emergency situation for the bank along Shorey Road and that county crews will make emergency
repairs.
Resolution 21-298: Ratify the purchase of new fuel card readers and software from Mascott
Equipment and authorize signature thereon.
Public Works Director Josh Metcalf discussed the resolution. He said the county is replacing fuel card
readers and software for a total price of$123,896.96.
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Resolution 21-299:Approve an agreement between Washington Health Care Authority and Lewis
County for CBO Prevention Services.
Public Health and Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution.JP said the two-year
contract is for a total of$80,000.
Resolution 21-300: Remove Fabiola Gonzalez from and appoint Jerry Clark to the Lewis County
Criminal Justice Treatment Account(CJTA) Panel through December 31,2021.
Public Health and Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution.JP said the panel helps
determine CJTA allotments.
Resolution 21-301:Approve an agreement between Lewis County and Reliable Enterprises to provide
services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
Public Health and Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution.JP said the two-year
contract is for a total of$248,026.
Resolution 21-302:Approve an agreement between Lewis County and Morningside to provide services
to individuals with developmental disabilities.
Public Health and Social Services Director JP Anderson discussed the resolution.JP said the contract
will run from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, and that the agreement provides funding totaling$370,400.
Resolution 21-303:Amend the Current CBA between Lewis County and the Lewis County Dispatchers
Guild to Change Health Care Providers from WCIF to PEBB effective January 1,2022.
HR Director Chris Panush discussed the resolution.
Resolution 21-304:Authorization to establish the rate of pay for a non-union extra help Deputy
Coroner.
HR Director Chris Panush discussed the resolution. He said the resolution increases the pay for all
Deputy Coroner positions by$3 per hour.
Resolution 21-306: Health building water leak declaration of emergency and waiving bidding
requirements.
Capital Projects Manager Doug Carey discussed the resolution. He said RCW 36.32.270 allows the Board
of County Commissioners to waive bidding requirements in the event of an emergency pursuant to RCW
39.04.280. He noted that the leak at the Public Health and Social Services building meets the
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requirements of the emergency. Commissioner Pollock commended county staff for its response to the
emergency.
Motion to approve Resolutions 21-297 through 21-304 and Resolution 21-306 passed 3-0.
HEARINGS
Resolution 21-305: Lewis County 2021 budget,emergency and supplemental appropriations to and
transfers within current expense and other funds.
Commissioner Stamper introduced the hearing.
Budget Services Administrator Becky Butler gave the staff report. Becky said the resolution increases
expenditures by$660,355 and increases revenue by$1,449,274, resulting in an increase in estimated
ending fund balance in the amount of$788,919.
Becky outlined the budget changes reflected in the amendment.
Commissioner Stamper asked if there were any questions.
Commissioner Stamper asked if any of the funding would be covered by American Rescue Plan Act
(ARPA)funds.
Becky said some of the costs are related to the COVID-19 impact and may be moved to the ARPA fund in
the future.
Commissioner Stamper then closed the question-and-answer portion of the hearing.
Becky 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 Pollock made a motion to approve Resolution 21-305. Commissioner Swope seconded.
Motion passed 3-0.
Commissioner Swope directed staff(Clerk of the Board Rieva Lester)to sign all of the day's documents
on his behalf.
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COVID-19
JP Anderson said health officials estimate that the Delta variant now accounts for 95 percent of all
current COVID-19 cases statewide.
JP said the county has received clarification that indicates the county is not considered a sub-contractor
for the state and therefore would not be subject to the governor's recent vaccine mandate.
JP said he will look into the updated number of confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to UNFI.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commissioner Stamper said the Farm Bureau picnic is planned for Aug. 11. He said the Loggers Jubilee is
planned for the upcoming weekend.
Rieva Lester noted that there would be no Business Meeting on Aug. 17.
Peter Lahmann thanked Isaac Freeman and Discover Lewis County for its help advertising a recent event.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Claudia Yaw asked what measures the county is taking to ensure the Fair is not a super-spreader event.
JP Anderson said the county has contingencies regarding COVID-19.JP said vaccinations will be available
during the fair.
Connie Riker said the county has added additional hand-washing and hand-sanitization units. Connie
said the Fair will follow the state's guidelines for mask use but that mask use will be left to personal
decision.
In response to a question from Claudia Yaw,Josh Metcalf discussed the erosion and emergency fixes on
Shorey Road. He said the hope is to work with the state and feds to create a permanent fix the following
year.
ADJOURNMENT
The BOCC Business Meeting adjourned at 11:09 a.m.,with the next Business Meeting scheduled for
10 a.m.Tuesday,August 24, 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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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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