2012-04-30 Board Meeting Minutes 1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
April 30, 2012
The Board of County Commissioners for Lewis County, Washington met in regular
session on Monday, April 30, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Commissioners F. Lee Grose, Bill
Schulte, and Ron Averill were in attendance. Chairman Grose determined a quorum,
called the meeting to order and proceeded with the flag salute. Commissioner Schulte
moved to approve the minutes from the 10:00 a.m. meeting held on Monday, April 23,
2012. Commissioner Averill seconded the motion but noted that in the budget
amendment there was one item that is unclear in the section of Forest Counties Fund
123. In 2012 we budgeted $132,979.00; we had more money than we originally though
so we increased the amount to $134,897.00. The way it is stated in the minutes it is not
clear of where that increase was.
Motion Carried 3-0
PUBLIC COMMENT
Edna Fund, Historical Museum, invited the Board to the “Railroad Ties” a production
done by KBTC. It is about our two 100 year old depots in Centralia and Chehalis.
CONSENT
Commissioner Averill moved to approve Consent Agenda items one through eight.
Commissioner Schulte seconded the motion. Candace Hallom read the items into the
record.
1. Resolution No. 12-137 Approval of Warrants for payment.
Commissioner Averill stated this approves 15 Special Purpose warrants (Vader Water
System) for $10,234.60 and 258 warrants issued by the Auditor’s Office for
$751,290.25, totaling $761,524.85.
2. Resolution No. 12-138 Approving a joint resolution with Cowlitz and Skamania
County in support of Mt. St Helens being managed by the US Forest Service
(USFS) and to go on record opposing the creation of a Mt. St. Helens National
Park.
Chairman Grose stated three years ago Congressman Brian Baird and Senator Maria
Cantwell requested and called into session a Congressional Advisory Committee
consisting of representatives from Cowlitz, Lewis, and Skamania Counties to discuss
whether Mt. St. Helens should become a national park or should it remain under control
of the USFS. That committee spent 18 months taking testimony, reviewing documents,
allowing for public input on all aspects of the monument. The committee unanimously
came to an agreement that it should remain under governship of the USFS. The
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pressure is on from certain individuals to change Mt. St. Helens to a National Park.
Over 2 million acres of Washington lands have been designated wilderness areas since
1984. This is another attempt to take control of more of that federal land by parks and
wilderness areas. The Commissioners from the three Counties have agreed to come
out strongly opposed to the creation of the Mt. St. Helens National Park.
3. Resolution No. 12-139 Cancellation of warrants.
Commissioner Averill stated this approves cancellation of two warrants issued by the
Lewis County Auditor’s Office for a total of $735.00. One warrant was for a registration
fee for a conference that was cancelled, and the other was a duplicate payment.
4. Resolution No. 12-140 Bid award for the 2012 USFS Crushed Screenings and
Crushed Surfacing Top Course Proposal.
Rod Lakey, Public Works, stated this project is listed as #1 on Lewis County’s 2012
Six Year Transportation Improvement Program. This contract will allow Lewis County to
purchase crushed screenings and crushed surfacing top course (CSTC) to improve
approximately 1.5 miles of Skate Creek Road. A Call for Bids was made on April 2,
2012. The project was advertised for two consecutive weeks in the East County Journal
and The Chronicle. The project was also listed on Lewis County’s website. Public
Works received 4 responsive bids for this project on April 17, 2012. Justice Trucking &
Backhoe, Glenoma, WA, provided the lowest responsive bid of $77,756.68 (the
Engineer’s estimate was $89,005.07). The lowest responsive bid is below the
Engineer’s estimate. Approval of the Resolution will authorize an action to execute a
contract between Justice Trucking & Backhoe and Lewis County Public Works for the
2012 USFS Crushed Screenings & Crushed Surfacing Top Course Proposal, and
authorize the Director of Public Works to sign the same. The USFS received a
$300,000.00 grant for Western Federal Lands for maintenance on forest roads. The
grant will reimburse Lewis County for the USFS Project. This is being included into
Lewis County’s 3R program.
5. Resolution No. 12-141 Approving an agreement for acquisition of additional
right of way for Koontz Road.
Larry Unzelman, Public Works, stated this Resolution 10-099, passed by the Board of
County Commissioners on April 19, 2010, instructed the County Engineer to acquire all
right of way necessary for improving Koontz Road, southeast of Napavine. The Koontz
Road Widening Project is part of the County’s Six Year Transportation Improvement
Program. An offer dated December 19, 2011, was made to a property owner, Judie L.
Cruse, in the amount of $33,800 for 7.50 acres of land. The County received a letter on
January 31, 2012, from Ms. Cruse’s attorney rejecting the offer. The County responded
to the letter explaining the offer was based on an appraisal by the County which had
been independently reviewed and the value was found to be reasonable and
appropriate to the market. Ms. Cruse hired an appraiser who determined a value of
$81,000. She then offered to sell the property for $90,000. The County did not accept the
results of the appraisal, however, continued to negotiate with the property owner.
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Negotiations have resulted in the property owner offering to sell the property for $67,400
plus $7,000 in appraisal and attorney fees. Further negotiations will likely not bring the
parties closer together and the cost associated with delaying the road project will exceed
the increased acquisition cost. Therefore, to resolve this matter the County is willing to
accept the property owner’s offer for the purpose of settling negotiations. The agreement
has been sent to Ms. Cruse for signature. The Board’s approval and execution of this
Agreement will conclude this acquisition.
Commissioner Averill ask Larry to explain why we need 7.50 acres.
Larry Unzelman stated part of it is for additional right of way at the intersection of North
Military Road and Koontz Road. The larger part is for mitigation designated for a
stream that runs along the road way and wetlands that are being disturbed as a result of
the road project.
6. Resolution No. 12-142 Appointment of a member to the Timberland Regional
Support Network, Quality Review Team.
Danette York, Director of Health and Social Services, stated this Resolution is for
the appointment of Kristine Towner, Centralia, to the Timberlands Regional Support
Network Quality Review Team. This appointment will bring Lewis County’s
Representation up to three on the Quality Review Team. The team monitors, plans,
and reports on the quality of mental health services being provided to Lewis County
residents. This is a two year appointment starting May 2012 through April of 2014.
Commissioner Averill stated the Timberland Regional Support Network is among 13
Regional Support Networks in the State. The provider in Lewis County is Cascade
Mental Health.
7. Resolution No. 12-143 Approving amended bylaws of the Lewis County
Veterans Advisory Board.
Danette York, Director of Health and Social Services, stated the bylaws of the Lewis
County Veterans Advisory Board were approved by Resolution 08-019 on January 14,
2008. This amendment is to allow ample time to review and act on any Action Items in
the Minutes. It designates the Veterans Relief Fund Coordinator (county staff) to
prepare and mail minutes of meetings within one week of a board meeting. The
Veterans Advisory Board unanimously approved to amendment of the by-laws.
8. Resolution No. 12-144 Approving a Department of Ecology grant between
Lewis County, cooperating with the cities of Centralia, Chehalis, Winlock, and
Morton, for funding required to update their respective Shoreline Master
Programs.
Robert Johnson, Director of Community Development, stated this Resolution
approves a $780,000.00 contract between Lewis County and the Department of
Ecology for Grant Funding for Lewis County and the Cities of Centralia, Chehalis,
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Winlock, and Morton to update their respective Shoreline Master Programs. Under
RCW 90.58 Counties and Cities subject to regulation are required to periodically update
their Shoreline Master Programs. The County is working cooperatively with those cities
to do the Shoreline Master Program inventory, analysis, and update together. This
$780,000.00 grant will provide money that will be agreed to by the County and Cities to
hire a consultant to do the necessary technical work and assist the County and Cities in
doing their public outreach and drafting. This is a three year grant and the County and
Cities are required to have their Shoreline Master Programs updated by June 1, 2014.
Commissioner Averill stated when talking of shorelines we have a tendency to think
about the beaches along the Ocean. In the Shoreline Management Act shorelines are
any large river, lake, and shores on the ocean. There are strict restrictions for those
property owners who have shoreline designated property. This is a very important
project for Lewis County due to our agriculture lands.
Chairman Grose stated, with a State that is a billion or two dollars out of balance, for
Ecology to continue to award grants for consultants to do consulting work in an area
that may or may not be truly needed raises serious questions. He feels that the State
Legislature needs to look at what is really needed and what is really wanted.
Commissioner Schulte stated we are spending three quarters of a million on a
updating a plan that is already pretty affective.
Motion Carried 3-0
There being no further business, the Commissioners’ public meeting adjourned at 10:33
am on April 30, 2012. The next public meeting will be held Monday, May 7, 2012, at
10:00 a.m.
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.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
ATTEST: F. Lee Grose, Chairman
Clerk of the Board P.W. Schulte, Commissioner
Lewis County Commissioners
Ron Averill, Commissioner