2011-06-20 Board Meeting Minutes 1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
June 20, 2011
The Board of County Commissioners for Lewis County, Washington met in regular
session on Monday, June 20, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. COMMISSIONERS RON
AVERILL, P.W. “Bill” Schulte, and F. Lee Grose were in attendance. Chairman
Averill determined a quorum, called the meeting to order and proceeded with the
flag salute. Commissioner Grose moved to approve the minutes from the 10:00
a.m. meeting held on Monday, June 13, 2011. Commissioner Schulte seconded
the motion.
Motion carried 3-0
NOTICE
Commissioner Schulte made a motion to approve Notice Agenda item one.
Commissioner Grose seconded the motion. Candace Hallom read the items into
the record.
1. Notice of Hearing: Consider Amending Chapter 17.200 “Zoning Maps”.
Hearing will be held on Monday, July 11, 2011 on or after 10:00 am.
Resolution No. 11-198
Robert Johnson, Director of Community Development, stated this Resolution is
to consider amending Section 17.200 “Zoning Maps”, of the Lewis County
Development Code to consolidate 111 zoning maps into (1), one official zoning map,
and to clarify the purpose section of Chapter 17.200. Currently, any amendment to
the existing zoning designations necessitates changing all affected zoning maps.
Consolidation to one map will reduce the time and cost associated with amending
various separate maps. This will also limit the likelihood of error that accompanies
the creation of multiple maps. After a duly advertised public hearing, the Planning
Commission adopted a set of findings and conclusions and transmitted their
recommendation to approve the amendment to the BOCC. A public hearing will be
held on July 11, 2011 to consider approving an ordinance amending Chapter
17.200, consolidating the adopted zoning maps into one “Official Zoning Map” for
Lewis County.
Chairman Averill stated there may be people concerned that by reducing this to
one map, they may not be able to find out what their planning designation is. He
asked Mr. Johnson to explain how they will be able to find their parcel on this map.
Robert Johnson, Director of Community Development, explained that the map is
available electronically on the County Website. One can manipulate that map so
you can zoom in and out to get to a fine detail of your parcel. There will also be a
nine foot map available.
Motion Carried 3-0
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CONSENT
Commissioner Grose made a motion to approve Consent Agenda items two
through eight. Commissioner Schulte seconded the motion. Candace Hallom read
the items into the record.
1. Resolution No. 11-199 Approval of warrants for payment.
Chairman Averill stated this approves 4 Special Purpose Warrants (Vader Water
System) for $974.33; and, 215 warrants issued by the Auditor’s Office for
$1,006,119.72 for a combined total of $1,007,094.05. Also, approves 266 warrants
for draws on County Net Pay for a total of $231,647.00.
2. Resolution No. 11-200 Approving an Inter-local Agreement, with the City of
Centralia, to provide on-call back-up Vader Water Treatment Plant Operator
services.
Tim Elsea, Director of Public Works, stated this resolution will allow the City of
Centralia and Lewis County to enter into an inter-local agreement. This Agreement
will govern reimbursable work performed by City of Centralia for Water Treatment
Plant Operator services upon the absence of County personnel to accomplish said
work. It appears to be in the best public interest to authorize the execution of said
inter-local agreement. We already have an inter-local with the City of Winlock to
provide back-up Vader Water Treatment Plant Operator services; this is a
redundancy we feel is necessary to ensure we always have coverage.
3. Resolution No. 11-201 Ratify consultant contract for on-call structural
engineering services.
Tim Elsea, Director of Public Works, stated pursuant to Lewis County’s On-Call
Consultant Roster (Resolution 10-018) requirements, five consulting firms (KPFF,
Sitts & Hill, PBS, Exeltech Corp and Sargent Engineering) were selected for
telephone interviews to determine which firm was best qualified for structural
engineering services. Specialized structural consulting services are needed to
conduct fracture critical bridge evaluation, bridge load ratings, and other structural
evaluations. Telephone interviews were conducted and Exeltech Engineering was
determined best qualified to provide the needed services. A contract was negotiated
and signed with Exeltech Engineering on February 16, 2011 with a not to exceed
price of $38,000 (the Public Works Director is authorized to sign contracts up to
$40,000 per guidelines contained in Resolution 09-299). The majority of the original
contract provided for a comprehensive evaluation, load rating and repair plan for
Ferrier Bridge near Winlock. However, Public Works staff members have identified
additional structural evaluations needed to comply with federal guidelines on several
other Lewis County bridges. Load Ratings are required for new structures meeting
the 20-ft span definition for a bridge. Additionally, review of existing bridge files
indicate previous administrative letters used as Load Ratings may not be adequate
according to federal guidelines. Therefore, Lewis County is in need of in-place
evaluation or load ratings for 20-ft span structures in our bridge inventory.
Approximately 12 structures need a load rating to complete the structure’s inventory
data. It is advantageous for Lewis County to have all structures eligible to be
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inventoried per federal guidelines, the structure is then eligible for damage repair
following a federally declared natural disaster or replacement after the structure’s
service life has been completed. Therefore, Public Works proposes to increase
Exeltech’s existing contract to $54,000 for a new not to exceed price of $92,000. As
per the original agreement, all work will be approved via Task Assignments
approved by the Director of Public Works. Tim Elsea expanded further on what this
means.
Chairman Averill stated that by doing this, if a bridge is destroyed in a natural
disaster we are allowed to draw on federal funds for the repair or replacement on
that bridge.
4. Resolution No. 11-202 Transfer of accumulated annual and sick leave for
employee transferring to and from Solid Waste Fund 401 and Roads Fund
117.
Tim Elsea, Director of Public Works, stated when an employee transfers from one
fund to another, such as Solid Waste to Roads, the new fund must be paid by the
original fund for leave accumulations. This includes all annual leave, to a maximum
of 240 hours and half of sick leave, to a maximum of 360 hours (half of 720 booked
hours). The employee still retains all hours booked to date of transfer, including any
current month earnings eligible when the transfer occurs after the first of the month.
Both David and Joshua have accumulated annual and sick leave on the books under
the respective fund for the divisions in which they were employed. It would be in the
best interest of these funds for David Royle to have his leave balances transferred
from Road Fund 117 to the Solid Waste Fund 401 for half the dollar value of his
accumulated sick leave and for the entire value of his annual leave and for Joshua
Mishler to have his leave balances transferred from the Solid Waste Fund 401 to the
Road Fund 117 for half the dollar value of his accumulated sick leave and for the
entire value of his annual leave.
5. Resolution No. 11-203 Recognizing the legislative merger of Cowlitz
County Fire District #4 (Ryderwood) with Lewis County Fire District #7
(Vader).
Chairman Averill stated this recognizes the legislative merger of Cowlitz County
Fire Protection District # 4 (Ryderwood) with Lewis County Fire Protection District #
7 (Vader) into Cowlitz County-Lewis County Fire Protection District # 20. The
merger was approved by the respective commissioners of both districts and the
Boundary Review Boards of both counties. Convention requires the newly merged
district to take the next highest number in the county having the most districts (in
this case 19 in Lewis County).
6. Resolution No. 11-204 Rescinding Resolution 92-437, setting dates for the
annual budget process.
Dawna Truman, Budget Director, stated the County currently follows the budget
set forth in RCW’s 36.40; therefore Resolution No. 92-437 needs to be rescinded.
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Resolution No. 92-437 was passed on August 20, 1992 that set dates relating to the
budget process, including but not limited to the dates set in RCW 36.40.010,
36.40.50, and 36.81.130 to conform to the alternate dates for the budget process.
The county currently follows the budget dates set forth in RCW 36.40 for the
purpose of conducting the annual county budget process; therefore Resolution No.
92-437 needs to be rescinded.
Chairman Averill stated in 1992 the Commissioners at that time wanted to follow a
process that was slightly different from the RCW. In looking back on it we have
discovered that there is no reason not to follow the normal schedule.
7. Resolution No. 11-205 Approving reappointment and appointment of
members to the Veterans’ Advisory Board.
Danette York, Director of Health & Social Services, stated this resolution is to
approve an appointment and reappointment of members to the Veterans Advisory
Board.
• Roland Jones, who was an alternate in 2010, is appointed to fill board position
through June 30, 2012.
• Reappoint William Evans and Steve Amoroso to fill board positions through
June 30, 2013.
• Appoint Micheal Hurley, and Dave Shook to fill board positions and James
Roses as alternate, through June 30, 2013.
Chairman Averill stated we try to pull from each district to fill the positions on these
boards. The following have expressed their interest in and agreed to serve on this
board:
• William Evans (Mineral) reappointed member
• Steve Amoroso (Winlock) reappointed member
• Micheal Hurley (Mossyrock) new appointed member
• Dave Shook (Centralia) new appointed member
• Roland Jones promoted from alternate to member through 2012
• James Roses (Chehalis) new appointed alternate
The Veterans Advisory Board is a group which advises the County Commissioners
on veterans affairs which are impacted here locally in the County. We do have a
special fund drawn from property taxes that allows us to help veterans who are in
need of financial assistants for one reason or another. This is a very important
board and a very important responsibility of the County to help those veterans who
are in distress.
Motion Carried 3-0
Hearing
Hearing: Ordinance 1224, CD-MH-TC Sales Tax
Chairman Averill announced the hearing and asked for a staff report.
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Danette York, Director of Health & Social Service, stated his is a hearing on
ordinance number 1224, which if adopted will add a new chapter to Title 3 Lewis
County Code increase the sales and use tax by one tenth of one percent to be used
for Chemical Dependency Treatment, Mental Health Treatment, and Therapeutic
court programs and services for Lewis County. This hearing was published in _the
East County Journal on June 8, 2011. Information was also published in the
Chronicle but not as a legal notice.
• The Revised Code of Washington 82.14.460 authorizes the Lewis County
Board of County Commissioners to fix and impose sales and use tax for the
purposes of providing for the operation or delivery of new or expanded
chemical dependency or mental health treatment programs and services AND
for the operation or delivery of therapeutic court programs and services.
• Evidence based treatment programs and therapeutic court programs
including services such as case management and providing safe housing
have been shown to be effective in reducing costs to society.
• Currently in Lewis County we have about 360 people enrolled in chemical
dependency treatment programs. That number includes both youth and adult
and the treatment programs are not just Drug Court. The Washington State
Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) estimates that
approximately 5,400 people in Lewis County need chemical dependency
treatment.
• A National study shows that based on our population, there is approximately
8,000 residents suffering from mental health issues. Mental Health issues
range from depression to schizophrenia. In that study, of the 8,000,
approximately 3400 are suffering from severe mental illness.
• Of those suffering with mental illness and/or suffering from chemical
dependency problems a few use the Hospital Emergency Rooms and the
Lewis County Jail to meet their medical and housing needs. The burden of
costs associated with such behavior falls to the taxpayers.
• Therefore, Public Health & Social Service advocates led by the Community
Health Partnership started a campaign, that was then championed by Drug
Court Judge Nelson Hunt, to inform residents how passing this one tenth of
one percent sales tax will benefit the county as a whole and they now request
that the Board of County Commissioners pass ordinance number 1224 to
establish the tax.
• It is important to note again that the funding from this tax, if passed, is
designated for three distinct areas; Chemical Dependency, Mental Health,
and Therapeutic Courts and funding must be used only for those three areas.
Should the tax pass, the Board of County Commissioners will establish an
advisory committee made up of not more than 9 members whose priorities
will be to review proposals on how best to use the funds generated and make
recommendations to the BOCC on which proposals to fund. The members
would consist of: Public Health & Social Services Director, one representative
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of therapeutic courts, one Licensed Mental Health professional, one certified
Chemical Dependency professional, one representative of the newly
established Board of Health advisory committee, one representative of the
Affordable Housing Network, one representative of the Community Health
Partnership, and two citizens of the county appointed to at-large positions.
• The Community Health Partnership and advocates of the tax request that the
Board of County Commissioners pass ordinance number 1224 to establish
the tax.
Chairman Averill stated the publicity for this particular tax proposal has focused
predominantly on Drug Court, there is no question that the Drug Court would be one
of the recipients to the fund, however, it would be restricted in terms of the fact there
is a law in the state of Washington when you start a new program you can supplant
existing funding. Unfortunately, Drug Court is an established program in Lewis
County. There have been some recent changes which allow some supplanting, in
our case we would be able to supplant 50% of Drug Court cost by using this fund
source. He asked if there were any questions.
Ron Nilson, Mineral, asked if this tax will go on forever or is there a timeline.
Chairman Averill stated yes, unless rescinded.
Ron Nilson asked if there has been a third party objective analysis study, someone
who analyzes the pluses and minuses of a program like this.
Chairman Averill stated we have not established the final program for anybody to
analyze yet. The program exists in 17 of the counties in Washington State and we
have gone through each of those programs and looked at how those monies are
distributed, what they are used for, and the pros and cons for that.
Ron Nilson asked if this program will duplicate or triple other programs in
existences to help these people.
Commissioner Schulte stated the only other program we have for mental health in
this county is the Jail and that is not the right place to provide mental health
treatment, so that answer to most of the question is no. There are some other drug
treatment programs for specific groups but this has very little overlap on any other
program we have in the County.
Chairman Averill stated the intent is to establish programs that we are not getting
funded for to help people who need it. We have a large number of people who keep
going in and out of the jail due to mental health problems. One of the areas that has
persistently come to us is we need a program for finding housing for the mentally ill
people who are in treatment.
Don Lynch asked what the proposed effective date of this tax is.
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Chairman Averill stated the State would not allow us to start collecting the taxes
until the 1st of October. The taxes currently are anticipated to raise $73,000 a month
and we would not be able to start drawing from that fund until January 1, 2012.
Don Lynch asked in terms of drug court, other programs, and the tax that this will
raise, what is the gross dollar amount that this tax will raise.
Chairman Averill stated the tax in this current economic down turn is raised
countywide somewhere around $900,000.00. Currently the funding that Lewis
County gives to the Drug Court program is around $250,000.00. That doesn’t count
the programs that provide for treatment of the people in the drug court program. We
have not decided specifically where the rest of this money is going. One of the first
things that we need to do is to set aside at least 10% of the collection in reserve so
that when the economy improves and we add programs we don’t over allocate the
funds and that we have a reserve to go back to if needed. This is the reason we are
asking for the formation of an advisory committee to look at what programs might be
added that can do good for the citizens of the County.
Don Lynch stated regarding the mechanics for implementing these things, he
doesn’t fully understand how the drug court works, but there have been issues with
getting people to take the medications to stay in more control, do you have a plan on
how one could be more forced to stay on their medications.
Chairman Averill stated yes, there are plans on how to get the mental health
people to take their medications.
Danette York stated there are evidence based practices that are model programs
that we would follow. The advisory council would review those models submitted by
various organizations and verify that it is evidence based and produces the
outcomes that we are looking for. They would then submit that recommendation to
the Board of County Commissioner who will then decide whether or not the county
does it.
(N.B. Judge Hunt had to report for a court appointment and requested an exception
to allow his testimony. The Chair granted the request)
Judge Nelson Hunt thanked the Board of County Commissioner for considering
enacting this tax which will do more than save Drug Court, it will provide badly
needed resources for the mentally ill in our community. He thanked the people in
Lewis County for their overwhelming support of these programs. People believe in
the goal of this tax but it does focus on two claims, the first is in this economic time
this is the wrong time for any tax increase. Back in 2006 when this tax could have
been enact the financial outlook was much different and the tax was not passed as
we had federal grants and at that time the decision was made that current expense
could afford to have Drug Court. With the loss of Federal Grant money and the
County’s Current Expense budget in distress, this tax is the only way to save this
program. There is no other way to fund this program. There are no other ways or
resources to fund programs for the mentally ill. This tax makes sense financially
and is good policy.
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(N.B. returned to question period)
Sean McNeal, Dryad, asked regarding the drug court aspect of this program. Is
there a medical assessment to this, if so where are those services received?
Jennifer Soper-Baker, Manager of Drug Court program, stated yes, everyone gets
a formalized drug and alcohol assessment and the current contract provider is the
Eugenia Center.
Tracy Swetz, Silvercreek, asked if you have to have a violation to utilize portions of
the program for mental health treatment.
Danette York stated it will depend on what programs are approved by the Board of
County Commissioners to fund. The only thing you would need a violation for is to
go through Drug Court.
Tracy Swetz stated in the Ordinance it says Mental Health Treatment and
Therapeutic Court programs. What is the difference between the two?
Chairman Averill stated Drug Court is a Therapeutic Court because they take
someone who is guilty of a crime and give them an opportunity to follow a program
which includes about a year of going to the Eugenia Center to get assistance with
their addiction problem. This is a program meant to change their habits and that is
what it means by therapeutic. Mental Health Treatment, on the other hand, is the
treat people with a mental illness.
Commissioner Schulte stated that the Family Dependency Court is also a
Therapeutic Court.
Bob Bozarth, Chehalis, asked on a percentage basis how many people would be
involved in this program that are chemically crazy or just naturally born crazy.
Chairman Averill stated he is not sure it has been divided in that fashion.
Danette York stated one of the major things that we are trying to address with this is
co-occurring disorder. If someone is both mentally ill and then becomes chemically
dependent, if they have co-occurring issues that disqualifies them for Drug Court.
This tax would help us fund some programs that would address those co-occurring
disorders.
Emily Anderson asked how do you anticipate upholding the integrity of the court
considering that Drug Court violates the first amendment and fourth amendment? It
looks like it is spiraling downhill and unraveling our constitution, a foundation that our
country was based upon.
Commissioner Schulte stated when they did the constitution they spelled out what
the Federal Governments responsibilities are. All other responsibilities are reserved
for state and local government. We are using one of the other areas of
responsibility. He recommended that Emily attend one of the Drug Courts. This is
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an option that people elect and if they are uncomfortable with it they can leave the
program at any time.
Commissioner Grose stated they do so with legal guidance all the way through.
There are only around 1% of applicants that get accepted to Drug Court. This has to
be a mutual agreement. It is a voluntary program and not a mandatory program.
Emily Anderson asked since many citizens are not aware of their right how do you
ensure that they are aware when their rights are being violated.
Paul Dugaw, Drug Court Defense Attorney, stated when people enter Drug Court it
is his job to inform them of all of their rights. The Drug Court program is a voluntary
program were the defendant waves their right to a trail and various constitutional
rights. He goes over this information very clearly with them. They get a copy of the
contract and he reads the contract to them word for word.
Don Lynch, Winlock, asked about the Family Dependency Court and what exactly
does that mean.
Jennifer Soper-Baker stated Family Dependency Court is a Therapeutic Court for
families that have had their children taken away. The goal is to keep kids out of the
dependency system.
Tammy Bozarth, Chehalis, stated the reason for this tax is to replace lost funding
for Drug Court but you must implement additional programs in order to put this tax in
place?
Chairman Averill stated the only mandated program is the Family Dependency
Court. We have a number of other programs that are going unfunded because there
is no local, state, or federal funding.
Tammy Bozarth asked if the County has people being turned away that need
mental health help.
Chairman Averill stated yes, and there are 16 people who frequent the jail
repeatedly due to mental health issues.
Commissioner Schulte stated we have no way of treating the mental health people
now. This is an opportunity to treat the worst of them, between the local Pastors,
Sheriff’s Deputies, DSHS, and the Health Department we have a good idea of who
the neediest of those individuals are.
Chairman Averill asked if there were any more questions. There were none. He
closed the question and answer portion of the hearing and opened the formal
hearing.
Danette York asked that her previous comments be adopted into the record.
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A statement from Jenni Bodnar of Centralia was read into the record. Mrs. Bodnar
wrote in support of this tax.
Donna Karvia, Chehalis, spoke in favor of this ordinance.
Harvey Brooks, Zandecki Road Funny Farm, spoke in favor of this tax.
Steve Dahl, Centralia, Drug Court graduate spoke in favor of this tax and explain
how Drug Court helped him.
Ron Nilson, Mineral, stated he believes government has a responsibility to help
mentally ill or addicted people. There is one option that hasn’t been discussed
today. He believes this tax should be put to the vote of the citizens of Lewis County.
Martha Hunt, Chehalis, spoke in favor of the tax.
Lisa Taylor, previously worked as a compliance officer for Drug Court, spoke in
favor of the tax.
Larry Cook, Chehalis, spoke in favor of the tax.
Emily Anderson, Glenoma, spoke against Drug Court and read a written statement
into the record.
Bob Berg, Police Chief Centralia, spoke in favor of the tax.
Sue Killillay, Executive Director of Cascade Mental Health, spoke in favor of the
tax.
Bob Bozarth, spoke against the tax.
Heidi Zipperer, Dryad, spoke in favor of this tax.
Jonathan Meyer, Lewis County Prosecutor, spoke in support of this tax.
Sean McNeal, Dryad, spoke against the tax.
Joely Yeager, Deputy Prosecutor for Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office,
spoke in favor of this tax.
Larry R. Smith, Mossyrock, spoke against the tax.
Donald J. Lynch, Winlock, spoke against the tax.
Paul Dugaw, Chehalis, spoke in favor of the tax.
Tracy Swetz, Silvercreek, agreed that people do need help but does not want to be
forced to help them. Feels the best thing to do would be to put it before the people
for a vote.
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Mr. Franco, Eugenia Center, spoke in favor of this program.
Mindy Greenwood, Citizen of Lewis County, spoke in support of this tax.
Mary Dunkamp, PeEll, spoke against the increase in tax.
Standa Kenz, Chehalis, spoke in support of the tax.
Chairman Averill asked if there were any other statements for public testimony.
There were none. He closed the hearing and asked for a motion.
Commissioner Schulte made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 1224.
Commissioner Grose seconded the motion. Candace Hallom read the item into the
record.
Ordinance No. 1224 - Creating a New Chapter to Title 3 of Lewis County Code
to Impose an Additional Sales and Use Tax for Chemical Dependency
Treatment, Mental Health Treatment, and Therapeutic Court Programs and
Service.
Commissioner Grose stated this has truly become one of if not the most
contentious issue I have faced since becoming commissioner. Since taking office in
2007, I and my colleagues on this Board, have repeatedly faced the prospect of
declining revenues and increasing expenses. Even if we were to allow only for the
slight 1% increase in real estate taxes that is allowed under initiative 747 and even
with a decrease of over 100 employees, we could still see a budget shortfall of
around $1 million in the 2012 budget. While I am one who prefers that all of us,
government included, need to live within our means, the facts are that as expenses
continue to increase, we need to seek new avenues of raising revenue in order to
provide the services to our citizens. With last year’s cuts in the Fair and Senior
Center budgets, there is very little left in discretionary spending that we can look to
in order to further reduce expenses.
The one area in the general fund that is discretionary and that could be eliminated is
Drug Court. And, while this would save the county some $200 to $300,000 in
expenses, the cost of eliminating the program would be substantially more if we
consider the cost of keeping prisoners in jail, the cost inflicted by those who we fail
to rehabilitate via the new crimes they would in all likelihood commit, and the savings
realized with the rehabilitation of just one offender who does complete this program;
not to mention the impact on the community of future generations of drug users and
abusers.
This board is very aware of the fact that we do have drug, alcohol and mental health
issues in Lewis County. But we also recognize the reality that programs to deal with
these issues have been the first to get the financial ax on the state level. Therefore,
it is incumbent on us to take action within our county to deal with our problems.
Action on our part is necessary for the continued success of not only our Drug Court
but to provide necessary counseling services for those with mental health issues.
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Commissioner Schulte stated we do not have a fuzzy plan for this funding. What
we have is a request for almost $1.2 million and we are going to have to tell half of
them no if we pass this ordinance. It is not that we don’t know where we are
spending the money, we haven’t narrowed it down to which programs would get
funded. We have more programs asking then we have funding. He stated he has
talked with very conservative friends, law enforcement, local hospital, and school
superintendents and principles and they are all saying you have to pass this. We
are seeing the impact of drug abuse and lack of proper treatment for mental health.
Chairman Averill stated the three of us on this Board have come from as strong a
background of fiscal integrity as any group that has served on this County
Commission. He came from a cultural heritage of frugality and as we have gone
through the crisis of this County starting in 2006 we have cut back 107 position on
the staff, we have had to look at whether we could departmentalize the jail to save
deputies, we have a planning department that at one time had eight people in it and
now has two, two building inspectors, a health department social services
department that has been decimated losing over 70% of its people. There have been
comments about the constitutionality of what we are doing and I would suggest it is
not a constitutional issue it is an economic issue. There is nothing in the constitution
that says government can’t raise taxes. There was a famous philosopher who said
“Life Sucks and then you Die”. He has told people in the past that he sits on the
Drug Court advisory board and he appreciates what the Drug Court does. It has
saved a lot of young and older people in this community. It is a very important
process. Finding the money to support this program from elsewhere is not easy.
The real concern that he has is the issue of mental health. He has had to deal with
mental health in his family. American society has always treated mental health as a
stigma. If you don’t believe it look at your insurance and see the coverage you get
for mental health compared to physical health. If you don’t believe it look at the
institutions we had for mental health that have disappeared in the last decade.
There is a man who had sever schizophrenia that killed four Police Officers in
Lakewood last year. He belonged in a mental institution but our laws say if you can
get stabilized we will put you back on the street and let you fend for yourself. The
beds at Western and Eastern have been cut down to almost nothing. This problem
is here in Lewis County and what we are being asked by the proponents to this tax is
to raise some funds to take care of our own. This money can go nowhere else but
Lewis County for programs that we know do well and stem the problem that we get
from drug addiction and cases of uncontrolled mental health. Passing this tax will
not solve every problem that we have but we think we are doing several things. We
are creating an advisory committee to tell us what programs work and which ones
don’t work and to apply our fund rationally in a fiscally responsible way. We will still
need more. There are several of you that have said if the Drug Court will save $1.75
then put the $0.75 somewhere else. The $0.75 is the car that wasn’t stolen, the
property from your home that wasn’t stolen, abused children that we have to put in a
foster home. That is the savings, you get to pay that cost. We are saying is it
worthwhile to take some government funds and try to help people mend their ways
so they can go back into society and be useful citizen in our country. It is in his faith
his responsibility to help those people who can’t help themselves.
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Motion Carried 3-0
There being no further business, the Commissioners’ public meeting adjourned at
12:32 pm on June 20, 2011. The next public meeting will be held Monday, June 27,
2011, 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: Ron Averill, Chairman
Clerk of the Board P.W. Schulte, Commissioner
Lewis County Commissioners
F. Lee Grose, Commissioner