2012-07-16 Board Meeting Minutes 1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
July 16, 2012
The Board of County Commissioners for Lewis County, Washington met in regular
session on Monday, July 16, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Commissioners F. Lee Grose, Bill
Schulte and Ron Averill 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, July 9,
2012. Commissioner Averill seconded the motion.
Motion Carried 3-0
Employee Recognition
Chairman Grose announced the Employee Above and Beyond award.
Detective Dan Riordan, Sgt. Alan Stull, and Sgt. Rob Snaza
On April 16, 2012 the Sheriff’s Office received a report of a missing rafter on the
Chehalis River near Doty. The rafter was identified as Daniel Kuhn from the Olympia
area. An extensive search was conducted by the Chehalis Fire Department Swift Water
Rescue Team, but unfortunately, the search ended with no sign of Mr. Kuhn. On April
19, 2012 at about 6:00 p.m., Sgt. Snaza, Sgt. Stull and Detective Riordan went out to a
stretch of the river near where Mr. Kuhn had last been seen. Sgt. Stull and Detective
Riordan donned their swift water gear and began searching for the body while Sgt.
Snaza assisted from shore. While searching in about five feet of water, Sgt. Stull
discovered the body. The three deputies then put their skills to work while navigating
the deep water, swift current and heavy rainfall. Their teamwork eventually paid off, as
Mr. Kuhn was brought back to shore.
Chairman Grose announced the nominees for Employee of the Quarter.
Don Driscoll, Facilities
Ellen Mauerman, E911 Communications
Ann Weckback, Environmental Health
Shawn Lakey, Auditors Office
The 2012 Employee of the Quarter
Ellen Mauerman
On June 23, 2012 at approximately 9:26 am, Communications Officer Ellen Mauerman
received a 911 cellphone from a 5 year old boy who stated that Daddy was very sick
and needed a doctor. The only address information that the 5 year old was able to
provide was the number 3. Ellen was able to locate an address for the residence within
a minute or two using available technology and immediately dispatched the Riverside
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Fire Authority and AMR units to the scene. Due to her experience and dedication to her
position, she was able to locate an address, and send the necessary aid units to the
scene where the father of the 5 year old boy was having a seizure and had fallen. In
addition, the Communications Center worked as a team to locate a responsible adult to
responded to the residence for care and custody of the two children who were 5 and 3
years old. The father was transported via ambulance to Providence Hospital where he
was treated.
NOTICE
Commissioner Averill moved to approve Notice Agenda item one. Commissioner
Schulte seconded the motion. Candace Hallom read the item into the record.
1. Notice of Hearing: Regarding Ordinance 1240-relating to amending Lewis
County Code 12.15, regarding Road Vacations. Hearing will be held on or after
10:00 am on July 30, 2012. Resolution No. 12-236
Larry Unzelman, Real Estate Services Manager, stated Lewis County Code 12.15
provides for the County to receive monetary compensation as a condition of vacating road
rights-of-way. Although LCC 12.15 does not specify compensation amounts, road
vacations have historically required compensation at 30% of the appraised value of the
right-of-way. This Resolution will set July 30, 2012 as the date for hearing to consider
Ordinance 1240 to amend Lewis County Code 12.15 to further specify when
compensation will be required and at what levels. For vacation of right-of-way established
25 or more years prior to the date of the request for vacation, no compensation will be
required; for those rights-of-way established more than 10 years prior to the date of the
request for vacation, but less than 25 years prior to the date of the request for vacation,
compensation will be at 30% of appraised value; and for rights of way established less
than 10 years prior to the date of the request for vacation, compensation will be equal to
the amount the county originally paid for the property or at 100% of appraised value if
the appraised value is greater than the purchase price, but at no time will the county be
reimbursed less than the county originally paid for the property. The approved
Administrative fees will continue to be applicable to road vacations as well as
reimbursement for publication costs.
Commissioner Grose stated this came up because there were some questions from a
couple who had purchased property which had a road easement on it and asked that
the easement be vacated. The road had never been built and this was an ancient
roadway put on the property. The property owners were going to be charged $12,000
for the County to vacate this roadway which we had never used and never developed
and in an issue of fairness we felt we shouldn’t be charging someone for something that
we have never used. So that is why we came up with a package that would be
reasonable and not penalize property owner for not even having a part in the original
right-of-way.
Commissioner Averill stated when we get an easement for a road or for some other
purpose we pay for it, generally at fair market value. The point is if we then
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subsequently do a vacation this establishes the rate of reimbursement due to the
County.
Motion Carried 3-0
CONSENT
Commissioner Schulte moved to approve Consent Agenda items two through six.
Commissioner Averill seconded the motion. Candace Hallom read the items into the
record.
2. Resolution No. 12-237 Approval of warrants for payment.
Commissioner Averill stated this Resolution approves 257 warrants issued by the
Auditor’s Office totaling $915,023.30.
3. Resolution No. 12-238 Approving a second supplement to the funding
agreement with the Office of Financial Management.
Robert Johnson, Director of Community Development, stated this agreement is for
funds in support of the Flood Authority. Lewis County acts as fiscal agent for the Flood
authority and any contracts and agreements come through Lewis County. Lewis County
has an existing supplement which provides the funding. The original amount of funding
was $1.32 million and was supplemented with additional money for additional studies
and an audit done by the State Auditor. This supplements the original and second
agreements but also adds some additional funding. This agreement is for $1.38 million.
This agreement has been vetted, the executive committee has reviewed it, and Jim
Kramer worked out this contract with the Office of Financial Management. This funding
will fund the Flood Authority through June 30, 2013.
Commissioner Averill stated the agreement that we had ended on June 30, 2012 so
this is for the remainder of the biennium. Except for the small amount added this is
redistributing what funds were leftover unexpended from the previous contract. Specific
changes for the remainder of the biennium are:
• Hydraulic Modeling by WSE $ 40,000.00
• Early Warning System by WEST $ 20,000.00
• Study of Bridge Bypasses $ 5,000.00
• Program Facilitation $174,000.00
• Staff Support $ 36,000.00
4. Resolution No. 12-239 Authorizing a contract with Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council
of Governments for costs for transportation planning.
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Rod Lakey, Public Works, stated this Contract between Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of
Governments and Lewis County is provided to support a Transportation Planner for
2012–2013. The Planner will support Lewis County and the Lewis County
Transportation Strategy Council in developing comprehensive transportation solutions
and to assist in prioritizing and programming transportation infrastructure within the
County and developing regional infrastructure improvements. This work will support the
delivery of the Products/Outcomes as defined in the Lewis County Transportation
Strategy Council Charter including travel demand forecasting and traffic modeling of the
regional, county, and local city roadway systems. The purpose of this work is to develop
long range regional transportation improvements to meet future land use and growth to
an acceptable level of service within Lewis County. The term of the agreement is July 1,
2012 through June 30, 2013. The maximum amount payable under this contract is
$25,000.
5. Resolution No. 12-240 Bid Award for the Koontz Road Widening Project.
Rod Lakey, Public Works, stated this contract provides for the improvement of 1.71
miles of Koontz Road in Lewis County by widening and reconstructing roadway,
crushed surfacing base, top course, planing, hot mix asphalt overlays, shoulder
finishing, placing pavement markers, installing flexible guide posts, traffic control,
constructing culverts, placing guardrail and other work as directed by the County
Engineer. A Call for Bids was made on June 18, 2012. The project was advertised for
three consecutive weeks in the East County Journal and Journal of Commerce,
Portland and Seattle. The project was also listed on Lewis County website. Public
Works received three responsive bids for this project on July 10, 2012. Sterling Breen
Crushing, Inc. provided the lowest responsive bid of $2,893,173.92. The Engineer’s
estimate was $2,599,523.00. The lowest responsive bid is above the Engineer’s
estimate by 11.3%. Due to the current bidding climate and a 5% average annual
construction cost increase due to inflation, Public Works recommends award to Sterling
Breen Construction, Inc. Additionally, WSDOT local Programs staff members have
reviewed contractor bids and DBE submittals and concur with the award to Sterling
Breen Construction, Inc.
6. Resolution No. 12-241 Agreement with the USDA Forest Service for Noxious
Weed Management.
Bill Wamsley, Weed, stated this is a modification to an agreement with the Forest
Service and amends agreement NFS 07-PA 11060300-037 and extends the
performance period through October 31, 2014. This is an agreement that is the basis
for the work we do with the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District funding that comes from
secure rural schools. The Forest Service has a variety of different weeds that we are
working on.
Motion Carried 3-0
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There being no further business, the Commissioners’ public meeting adjourned at 10:33
am on July 16, 2012. The next public meeting will be held Monday, July 23, 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