2010-04-19 Board Meeting Minutes 1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
April 19, 2010
The Board of County Commissioners for Lewis County, Washington met in regular
session on Monday, April 19, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. COMMISSIONERS P.W. SCHULTE,
and F. LEE GROSE were in attendance. Commissioner Averill was absent.
Chairman Schulte 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, April 12, 2010. Chairman Schulte seconded the
motion.
Motion carried 2-0
Notice
Commissioner Grose made a motion to approve Notice Item one. Chairman Schulte
seconded the motion. Karri Muir, Clerk of the Board read the item into the record.
1. Notice of Acceptance: Acceptance of the ARRA Davis Lake Road and Jackson
Highway Projects. Resolution No. 10-098
Rod Lakey, Public Works, stated this project is acknowledgement that all receipts
have been received for this project. The final contract amount was $1,777,075.98 and
all work and contractual obligations have been met. This is a notice to any and all
contractors, who may have claims to the contract, that we have accepted it. They have
45 days to pursue any action pertaining to work on this project
Commissioner Grose asked what the original estimate was on these projects.
Mr. Lakey stated it was just under $1.8 million dollars.
Commissioner Grose asked if the 45 days is in relation to retainage that has been held
on the project.
Mr. Lakey stated primarily yes. This serves as final notice to everyone before the
retainage is released.
Motion carried 2-0
Consent
Commissioner Grose made a motion to approve Consent Items two and three.
Chairman Schulte seconded the motion. Karri Muir, Clerk of the Board read the item
into the record.
3. Resolution No. 10-099 Proposed acquisition of additional right of way for
Koontz Road.
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Rod Lakey, Public Works, stated the purpose of this project is to improve the
alignment, widen and reconstruct the roadway and add safety improvements. The
project will require the right of way acquisition from thirteen property owners.
Commissioner Grose stated we are doing roughly two miles of road.
Mr. Lakey stated that was correct and the project is 86.5% funded through RAP
funding.
3. Resolution No. 10-100 Establishing the Gambling and Fraud Enforcement Fund
No. 165
Michael Golden, LC Prosecutor stated the WA State Gambling Commission, the
Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office and the City of Chehalis Police Department all worked
together on a case which involved an internet gambling organization. The local tie to
this case is that Ron Ehli had bank accounts in Chehalis, WA. When we served a
search warrant on them in September of 2008, $4,183,561.23 was seized in illegal
gambling proceeds. A notice was given to Ron Ehli that he could challenge this if he
wanted. He fled the country instead of trying to get the money back. The Gambling
Commission was so successful last year, in seizing money, that they were able to share
some of the proceeds. As a result Lewis County ended up getting a check for
$643,027.82. This money has limited use. It can only be used for fraud or gambling
fraud, such as addiction or prosecution. The Prosecutors Office will use their portion of
the money to fund a position that is funded by a grant that will run out at the end of
June. There are other organizations in the County that have a similar need. The
Sheriff’s Office and the Lewis County Drug Court will share in the funding through this
resolution. The funding will be as follows:
Drug Court: $200,000.00
Sheriff’s Office $200,000.00
Prosecutor’s Office: $250,000.00
If the funds are not used within a couple of years they will come back to the
Prosecutor’s Office. The Prosecutor’s Office will then try to use the funds up before they
have to go back to the State.
Judge Nelson Hunt, Superior Court, thanked Mr. Golden, for his continued
commitment to Drug Court, the BOCC, and Dawna Truman. It is unusual to say that
Drug Court should get gambling related funds. He noted that addiction is addiction and
gambling is part of the addiction problem. A number of our committing offenses have a
lot to do with drugs, but also a lot to do with fraudulent behavior. The Gambling
Commission is aware of the restrictions on how this money can be spent and they have
said that Drug Court can be included. Drug Court is grateful to receive these funds. He
noted that the only discretionary program Superior Court has is Drug Court. They know
that despite all of their commitment to Drug Court, they have to take the budgetary hits
as they come for everyone. Fortunately we have been able to avoid having to slash the
program to a point where it is meaningless. We are able to continue our mission, but it
is the extra things that make Drug Court not just a good program, but a successful
program. These additional funds will be spent on the things that we could not do given
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our current budgetary system. This is a tremendous gift. We are very excited about it
and we will be able to do the things that we haven’t been able to do.
Commissioner Grose stated the Board had some concerns about this money and
making sure we weren’t putting ourselves in a bind. We checked with the State Attorney
General and got it straightened out.
Judge Hunt stated the local experts have said this is an appropriate use for these
funds.
Mr. Golden stated the Gambling Commission and the State Auditor Office (SAO) have
both been very responsive with the use of these funds. The use of the money within the
PA’s Office or the Sheriff’s Office is not an issue with the SAO. Within the Drug Court,
we believe its purpose to alleviate all the behaviors that are associated with drug use,
are related to fraud. We will be working with the SAO and the Gambling Commission
when we make expenditures to ensure they are okay with them. We did put a provision
in the resolution that the money be reverted back if not used.
Motion carried 2-0
Bid Opening
Chandler Bridget Rehabilitation Project
Chairman Schulte announced the bid opening and asked staff to open the bids.
Rod Lakey, Public Works, went over the project specifics. The Engineer’s Estimate for
the project was $3,082,022.10. There were no addendums, but there was a clarification
notice that was put on our website. There is a 5% bid bond required with all bids
submitted.
Contractor Address Amount
Advanced Construction,
Inc.
Mukilteo, WA $4,258,665.00
NOVA Contracting, Inc. Olympia, WA $3,345,100.00
Harbor Pacific Contractor’s,
Inc.
Woodinville, WA $3,681,541.00
Tapani Underground, Inc. Battle Ground, WA $3,147,227.15
Sterling Breen Crushing,
Inc.
Chehalis, WA $3,100,745.10
Quigg Brothers, Inc. Aberdeen, WA $2,832,687.00
Boss Construction, Inc Bellingham, WA $2,850,620.41
Rodarte Construction, Inc Auburn, WA $3,284,264.80
Rognlin’s, Inc Aberdeen, WA $3,189,561.00
Mr. Lakey stated they will evaluate the bids. This is a FEMA project so they are
estimating a two week turn around before they bring it back for recommendation.
Hearing
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CDBG Grant Funding
Chairman Schulte announced the hearing and asked staff for a report.
Barb Kincaid, Community Development stated a couple of things needed to be done
before the Commissioners approve the submittal for a grant application for Federal
funds. These are HUD funds and the program is called Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG). The CDBG is administered through the WA State Department of
Commerce and we have Federal and public participation requirements that we must
meet. She went over the process she would be following during the hearing to meet the
guidelines of the grant. The Federal requirements, before we make application for
CDBG funds, states that the residents and decision makers need to be made aware of
these funds. She has prepared documents for the public that are available at the
hearing that describe the grant and the funding. The purpose of the public hearing is to
gather any comments from the public on any community projects that they would like
the BOCC to hear before they select a project applicant and to get input on the
Community Development proposals. It is important to make sure that everyone has the
opportunity to give input because the CDBG is only available once a year. The
application has to reflect that it is a priority for community development or housing
needs. There is a sign in sheet for anyone to sign up to ask questions or speak for or
against the project or make other suggestions for other projects. This Hearing was
noticed to meet the Federal requirements. The County has also adopted a grievance
policy, and there are copies of that for the public also. The outreach and
accommodation for non-English speaking citizens was done. The determination is that
there were not a significant number of non-English speaking citizens that we needed to
have the handouts in another language or a translator to help with the language gap.
The project Community Development is proposing is the Packwood Sewer Project. In
2002 the Packwood community and the County recognized a need to try to get a public
sewer system in Packwood. This project will request $35,000.00 from the grant funds.
The total project budget is $70,000.00; Lewis County .09 Distressed Funds are funding
the additional amount ($35,000.00). This funding will be used for update and adoption
of the completed planning work, before going into design and construction for a
treatment and disposal sewer system for the Packwood community.
Chairman Schulte stated his understanding is that we can only submit only one
application for the year for the County, but the cities and towns that are incorporated
can also submit their own grant application.
Ms. Kincaid stated that is correct. Eligible cities, towns, counties where the project is
determined to benefit low to moderate income people, are under the rules and may
submit their own independent applications and receive awards.
Chairman Schulte asked if there were any other questions. There was none. He closed
the question and answer portion of the hearing and opened the formal hearing.
Ms. Kincaid asked that her previous comments be adopted into the record.
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Commissioner Grose stated this project had been going on long before he started in
office. He mentioned this to the Governor’s Office and they said they would look into it.
It was looked into and a lot of the planning work had already been done. The plan did
need to be updated because the other plan was outdated. We started to try to find
updated information and the demographics of Packwood haven’t changed dramatically
over the past eight years. This planning grant is to get that information up to date, so
we can try to get a bid put together for the sewer project. He is in favor of this grant
application and feels it is important that we move forward with it.
Chairman Schulte stated that all three commissioners agreed that this is a priority
project. He asked if there was anyone who would like to speak for or against the
Packwood Sewer Project. There was no one. He closed the hearing and asked for a
motion to approve Resolution No. 10-101.
Commissioner Grose moved to approve Resolution No. 10-101. Chairman Schulte
seconded the motion.
Motion carried 2-0
Hearing: 1st 2010 Budget Amendment
Chairman Schulte announced the hearing and asked for a staff report.
Dawna Truman, Budget/Fiscal Services Director stated she is here to request approval
of the 1st 2010 budget amendment. This Public hearing was published in the East County
Journal on April 7th and 14th.She reviewed a summary of changes affected by budget
amendment Resolution No 10-102. She noted that this budget amendment looks rather
large, but it is because of the Gambling Fraud taxes that were approved, and they need to
be deposited into a new fund established as Fund 165. Depositing the money in Fund 165
guarantees we can track the money and make sure it is spent appropriately. We also have
to budget a $643,028.00 transfer out of Fund 165 and we budgeted a transfer into Current
Expense of $643,028.00. This is one large budget item, budgeted three times. Whenever
you do transfers there is a duplication of budget items. She noted that details and a
description of each budget change are available at the front of the room.
CURRENT EXPENSE: $703,325.00
Supplemental appropriations (increasing revenue, increasing expenditures) total:
$15,765
• Assessor: Transfer of budget between line items.
• Sheriff: $15,765.00 Increasing revenues and expenditures in the amount of
$15,765.00 for the Washington State methamphetamine grant rollover for the
unexpended portion of the grant from 2009.
Emergency appropriations (use of reserves to cover costs) total: $687,560
• Non-Departmental: $643,028.00 Increasing transfer in from Gambling and
Fraud Enforcement Fund 165 in the amount of $643,028.00 and increasing fund
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balance. This is restricted revenue and will be used for gambling and fraud
prevention. Per the Prosecutor $243,028.00 will be used in the Prosecutors
budget, $200,000.00 for the Sheriff’s Office for investigation and equipment to
assist in such activities, and $200,000.00 for the Lewis County Superior Court to
be used for Drug Court
• Assessor: $20,000.00 Increasing revenues and expenditures in the amount of
$20,000.00. Funds will be deducted from the Open Space Fund No 676 and
placed into Current Expense for the Assessor’s Salary Budget; funds will be used
for extra help to scan Current Use/Open Space documents.
• Prosecutor: $15,000.00 Use of fund balance and increasing expenditures for
professional services to hire a contractor to represent Lewis County, local
incorporated communities and other organizations in an effort to correct
preliminary maps developed by FEMA of the floodplain and floodway of the
Chehalis River in Lewis County.
• Human Resources: $20,000.00 Use of fund balance and increasing
expenditures for professional services to conduct an economic study for
arbitration.
• Juvenile: $(600.00)
• Increasing revenue $600.00 and increasing fund balance for funds
received for training staff in the guardian ad litem program.
• Decreasing revenue $(1,200.00) and decreasing fund balance due to
contract language change in the JABG grant resulting in an overestimate
of revenue.
• Animal Shelter: $(34,500.00) Reducing revenue and decreasing fund balance
due to a reduced amount of revenue received from Friends of Lewis County
Animal Shelter (FOLCAS). There will be no reduction in expenditures per the
BOCC.
• Economic Development: $(18,000.00) Reducing expenditures and increasing
fund balance due to the removal of the expense for the Economic Development
Council (EDC) Professional service. The County’s contribution will now be paid
out of the Distressed Counties Fund 130.
• Transfers: $42,632
• Increasing Current Expense transfer out to Flood Control Zone Fund 125 in the
amount of $5,000.00 to cover misc expenses.
• Increasing Current Expense transfer out in the amount of $7,632.00 to Public
Health Fund 190 for the vacation and sick payout for a senior services employee.
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• Increasing Current Expense transfer out in the amount of $25,000.00 to the
South Lewis County Airport Fund 407 for planning study at the Airport.
• Increasing Current Expense transfer out in the amount of $5,000.00 to the
Cowlitz River Basin Sub Zone Fund 126 for misc expenses
OTHER FUNDS: $1,325,244
Supplemental Appropriations (increasing revenue, increasing expenditures) total:
$931,878.00
• Social Services Fund 104: Transfer of budget between line items due to a
change from the State on BARS coding.
• Social Services Fund 104: $114,956.00
• $1,340.00 Increasing revenue and expenditures for an increase in the 2009-2010
emergency and homeless prevention program contract.
• $15,000.00 Increasing revenue and expenditures for a contract with Lewis
County Community Health Partnership. This is a two year contract 07/2009-
06/2011; $5,000.00 rollover from 2009 and $10,000.00 in expected revenue for
2010.
• $98,616.00 Increasing revenue and expenditures for Home Prevention and the
Rapid Re-Housing Contract (ARRA Funds). Budgeting for the 2010 portion of the
2010-11 HPRP contract.
• Community Development Fund 121: $65,000.00 Increasing revenue and
expenditures for professional services for the South Lewis County sub-area plan
development. Grant funding received in the amount of $15,000.00 from the
Department for Health and $50,000.00 from Distressed County .09 funds.
• Flood Control Zone Fund 125: $5,000.00 Increasing transfer in and increasing
expenditures for professional services.
• Cowlitz River Basin Sub Zone Fund 126: $5,000.00 Increasing transfer in and
increasing expenditures for professional services
• Gambling and Fraud Enforcement Fund 165: $643,028.00 Increasing revenue
and increasing transfer out to Current Expense Fund 001 for fraud prevention.
• Public Health Fund 190: $(25,106.00)
• $5,225.00 Increasing revenue and expenditures for Local Capacity
Development funds to be spent on KIPHS software support and updates.
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• $(15,189.00) Decreasing revenues and expenditures to correct how revenue is
received in the Oral Health Program. Currently the revenue is received in Fund
190 but will now be received in Fund 104.
• $2,000.00 Increasing revenue and expenditures for an agreement with the West
Region EMS & Trauma Care for Lewis County’s Medical Reserve Corps
Training. This will cover the speaker fees and recruitment activities.
• $14,089.00 Increasing revenues and expenditures for salary/benefits and
vacation/sick payout. Salary and benefits for Senior Service employee will be
reimbursed by Catholic Community Services (CCS); vacation and sick payout
will be covered by a transfer in from Current Expense.
• $10,434.00 Increasing revenue and expenditures for additional funds received
for breastfeeding activities and for the purchase of anthropetic equipment. Also
for the installation of safety glass and phone system upgrade.
• $(51,665.00) Decreasing revenue and expenditures due to loss of Foster
Care/Passport Contract funding and reduction in nursing staff.
• $10,000.00 Increasing revenue and expenditures for the National Association of
County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) to build the capacity of local
Medicare Reserve Corps Unit.
• Land Acquisition Fund 301: $19,000 .00 Increasing revenue and expenditures
for a grant received from Washington State Department of Agriculture for
installation of security and performance lighting around the horse arena at the
Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.
• South County Airport Fund 407: $25,000.00 increasing the Current Expense
transfer in and increasing expenditures for planning study at the South County
Airport.
• Water/Sewer Fund 410: $80,000 Use of fund balance and increase in
expenditures for professional services.
Emergency appropriations (use of reserves to cover costs) total: $393,366.00
• Social Services Fund 104: $12,000.00 Use of fund balance and increasing
expenditures for a donation to AmeriCorps Program for a Teen Center Program
Coordinator and two Packwood youth program coordinators.
• Distressed Counties Fund 130: $125,00.00
• $75,000.00 Use of fund balance and increasing expenditures for a Grant
Agreement between Lewis County and LC Economic Development
Council to accept funding in the amount of $150,000.00 total for two years.
$75,000.00 will be budgeted for 2010 and $75,000.00 for 2011. These
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funds will be paid from Fund 130 Distressed Counties (.09) for LC
Economic Development Administration and Marketing.
• $50,000.00 Use of fund balance and increasing inter-fund transfer to Fund
121 for the approval of the proposal and request from the Lewis County
Community Development Planning Division for the use of Distressed
Counties (.09) funds for the "South Lewis County Economic Development
Strategy" project.
• Public Health Fund 190: $196,366.00 Increasing revenue and
expenditures and fund balance for H1N1 revenue. Funds received will be
used for salaries and benefits and emergency equipment.
• Capital Facilities Plan Fund 310: 60,000.00
• $50,000.00 Use of fund balance and increasing expenditures to
upgrade the control system for inmate movement and door control.
• $10,000.00 Use of fund balance and increasing expenditures for
lab ventilation at the Coroner/Evidence Building.
Commissioner Grose stated this budget amendment is not an increase in spending. It
is transfers of money from one fund to another. This is the way we have to track the
funds in order to know where money is going to and coming from. Some governmental
agencies try to function without adequate controls and they do not know where the
money is coming from or going to. So, it ends up causing them problems. This is the
way to do the budget so we can effectively and efficiently handle the County’s money. It
is confusing at times, but we do understand that this is what needs to be done in order
to handle the County’s finances and to keep track of what is going on with the funds.
The County handles millions of dollars, so it is important that we keep track of the funds.
Chairman Schulte asked if there were any questions. There were none. He closed the
question and answer portion of the hearing and opened the hearing.
Ms Truman asked that her previous comments be adopted into the record.
Commissioner Grose stated these budget amendments are a way to track these funds.
This makes it an effective and efficient way to handle the County’s finances.
Chairman Schulte asked if there was anyone who would like to speak for or against
Resolution No. 10-102. There was no one.
Commissioner Grose moved to approve Resolution No. 10-102. Chairman Schulte
seconded the motion. Karri Muir, Clerk of the Board read the item into the record.
There being no further business, the Commissioners’ public meeting adjourned at 10:53
a.m. on April 19, 2010. The next public meeting will be held Monday, April 26, 2010, at
10:00 a.m.
Please note that minutes from the Board of County Commissioners’ meetings are not
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verbatim. A recording of the meeting may be purchased at the Commissioners’ office.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
ATTEST: P.W. Schulte, Chairman
Clerk of the Board Ron Averill, Commissioner
Lewis County Commissioners
F. Lee Grose, Commissioner