2014-04-28 Board Meeting Minutes1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
May 5, 2014
The Board of County Commissioners for Lewis County, Washington, met in regular
session on Monday, May 5, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Commissioners F. Lee Grose and
Edna J. Fund were in attendance. Commissioner Bill Schulte was absent. Chairman
Grose determined a quorum, called the meeting to order and proceeded with the flag
salute. Commissioner Fund moved to approve the minutes from the 10:00 a.m.
meeting held on Monday, April 21, 2014. Chairman Grose seconded the motion.
Motion Carried 3-0
Employee Recognition
PROCLAMATION
Commissioner Fund made a motion to approve the Proclamation Agenda item one.
Chairman Grose seconded the motion.
1. Proclamation: Proclaiming the first week in May, 2014 as “National
Corrections Officer and Employee Week” in Lewis County.
Commissioner Fund read the Proclamation into the record.
Sheriff Mansfield, stated
2. Proclamation: Proclaiming the month of May, 2014 as “National Drug Court
Month” in Lewis County.
Chairman Grose read the Proclamation into the record.
Motion Carried 3-0
NOTICE
Commissioner Schulte made a motion to approve the Notice Agenda items three and
four. Commissioner Fund seconded the motion.
Motion Carried 3-0
CONSENT
Commissioner Fund made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda items five
through thirteen. Commissioner Schulte seconded the motion.
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Motion Carried 3-0
HEARING
Hearing: CDBG Grant Application
Commissioner Grose announced the hearing and went over the procedures. He asked
staff for a report.
Danette York, Director of Health and Social Services, stated there are Community
Development Block Grant Handouts available at the front of the room. There is a fact
sheet and the citizen requirement form and are available in both English and Spanish.
Lewis County has submitted an application to be recipient of the 2014 Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Services Grant through a contract with the
Department of Commerce. The total grant award is $98,945 and of that total $3000 will
be retain by Lewis County to cover administrative costs. Lewis County will subcontract
with the Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Community Action Council for the remaining
$95,945. Funds from this CDBG Public Services Grant will be used to provide services
to low and moderate income in Lewis and Mason Counties. In previous years the
funding was used for Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties but two years ago Thurston
reached the threshold were they are an entitlement county and no longer eligible for
these funds.
Chairman Grose asked if anyone would like to speak and there were none. He closed
the question-and-answer period and opened the formal hearing
Danette York asked that her previous comments be adopted into the record.
Chairman Grose asked if anyone would like to speak and there were none. He closed
the formal hearing.
HEARING: Approval of Open Space Designations
Commissioner Grose announced the hearing and went over the procedures. He asked
staff for a report.
Dianne Dorey, Lewis County Assessor, stated on March 6, 2014 the Public Benefit
Rating System met to discuss six applications for open space. Four of the six
applicants were given a 40% reduction, one was given a 50% reduction, and one was
given an 80% reduction. Conservation of land is the most common reason for a person
to apply for this program.
Commissioner Schulte asked if there was any particulars on the TransAlta piece.
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Ms. Dorey stated the TransAlta pieces is part of the land being mitigated and will keep
in a natural state.
Commissioner Schulte asked if this was part of the mitigation bank and stated they
sell the credits for $200,000 per acres and they get a tax break as well?
Ms. Dorey stated this is a unique parcel. The Department of Revenue Assesses all of
TransAlta as a State Assessed Utility. This is giving the property a designation. That
land value is distributed differently because it is based on one parcel.
Ron Averill, Centralia, asked if any of the properties are farm and agriculture.
Ms. Dorey stated yes, five of the parcels are Farm and Agriculture Conservation.
Ron Averill stated is there a time limit on this?
Ms. Dorey stated a year ago Department of Revenue recommended that we could
make it a ten-year period before they would have to return into normal commercial
farming.
Ron Averill asked what happens when you give a break to one person in an area?
Ms. Dorey stated as in any other exemption, other people in the area pay more to offset
the exemption. It is a tax shift.
Chairman Grose asked if anyone would like to speak and there were none. He closed
the question-and-answer period and opened the formal hearing.
Dianne Dorey asked that her previous comments be adopted into the record.
Chairman Grose asked if anyone would like to speak and there were none. He closed
the formal hearing.
Commissioner Schulte moved to approve Resolution 14-140. Commissioner Fund
seconded the motion.
Resolution 14-140 Approval of Open Space Designation and Assessed Value
Reduction for Properties and Property Owners.
Motion Carried 3-0
There being no further business, the Commissioners’ public meeting adjourned at 10:36
a.m. on April 28, 2014. The next public meeting will be held Monday, May 5, 2014.
Please note that minutes from the Board of County Commissioners’ meetings are not
verbatim. A recording of the meeting may be purchased at the Commissioners’ office.
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
ATTEST: F. Lee Grose, Chairman
Karri Muir, CMC, Clerk of the Board Edna J. Fund, Commissioner
Lewis County Commissioners
P.W. Schulte, Commissioner