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2023-02-13 BOCC Wrap-Up CM updateBOCC Wrap-Up / County Manager Update February 13, 2023 9:01 a.m. Present: Commissioner Swope, Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, County Manager Erik Martin, Steve Wohld, Eric Eisenberg, Amber Smith, josh Metcalf, Nic Scott, BJ Kuykendall, Barbara Russell, Meja Handlen, Justia Madrigal, Josh Weiss, Troy Weiss, Doug Carey, Graham Gowing, Mindy Brooks, Tailor Arrington, Undersheriff Wes Rethwill, Grace Jimenez Guest(s): John Christian Recorder: Rieva Lester Public comment: None. >> Wrap-Up 2023 legislative session: Josh Weiss said the cutoff for new bills is Feb. 17. Josh and Troy Nichols discussed a handful of bills, including: 5649 regarding flood-proofing homes. The commissioners said they support the bill. HB 1789 regarding trust lands: The commissioners agreed to oppose the bill. HB 1702 regarding a credit against the state sales tax to assist senior services: Josh said the hearing will take place at 8 a.m. Feb. 15. Commissioner Swope said he will attend the hearing. 5624 and another bill regarding the Blake decision. Josh and Troy left at 9:14 a.m. Night-by-night shelter RFP: Eric Eisenberg said launching the RFP now would allow use of Commerce funds for technical support to start the planning process. Eric said the county could extend the application deadline for the RFP if desired. Commissioner Brummer asked for clarification regarding insurance coverage and administrative. He stressed the need to maximize efficiency while keeping costs at the lowest level possible. Meja Handlen discussed the benefits of offering wraparound services. Commissioner Pollock made a motion to add the night-by-shelter RFP to the agenda for the Feb. 14 Business Meeting. Commissioner Brummer seconded. Motion passed 3-0. .09 application process / policy / appointees: The commissioners said they’d like a red-line version of the proposed changes. The commissioners also discussed the need to address management costs and plans for future funding. Lodging Tax Advisory Committee vacancy: Rieva Lester said the county didn’t receive any applications for the “provider” position. She Administrative settlement agreement for Centralia-Alpha right of way acquisition: (Josh Metcalf requested permission to negotiate with landowners beyond the $5,000 limit on a case-by-case basis for the remaining parcels. Commissioner Pollock made a motion to amend the Wrap-Up agenda to include an executive session discussion under RCW 42.30.110(1)(b) to consider the selection of a site or the acquisition of real estate by lease or purchase when public knowledge regarding such consideration would cause a likelihood of increased price. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0. At 9:54 a.m., Commissioner Swope announced that the Board would be going into executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(b) for 10 minutes to discuss real estate acquisition. Executive session started at 9:55 a.m. At 10 a.m., the Board extended executive session for 2 minutes. Executive session ended at 10:02 a.m. Commissioner Swope noted that no decisions had been made. Commissioner Brummer made a motion to authorize Josh Metcalf and Public Works to proceed with negotiations as discussed in executive session. Commissioner Pollock seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Consolidated Homeless Grant, including Eviction Prevention program: Meja said the new eviction program has helped 922 households, with payments going directly to landlords, not tenants. Meja said a new program could help 13 households at $3,000 per month for qualifying individuals. Justia Madrigal said the county can set parameters regarding how many times and how frequently an individual can apply, based on qualifying factors. Commissioner Swope said he’d like families with children to receive higher prioritization. Winlock annexation / Boundary Review Board (BRB) invocation deadline: County Manager Erik Martin said the petition submitted by the residents in the Urban Growth Area did not meet the requirements to invoke the BRB. Erik said the deadline to invoke is Feb. 27. Calendars: Commissioner Pollock said she’ll be out of the office the week of Feb. 20. Commissioner Swope discussed his upcoming. Commissioner Pollock made a motion to add broadband fabric to the day’s agenda. Commissioner Brummer seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Nic Scott said the PUD had requested that the county share its Facebook post regarding the FCC’s broadband data service map. The commissioners directed staff to share the post with an explanation describing why it’s important to correct the map. >> County Manager items Office operations: Erik said Lara McRea’s last day is the following week. He suggested canceling Zoom for everything except Directors, Wrap-Up and the Business Meeting. Commissioner Swope said he’d like to add Mayors to the list. The commissioners approved the request. Erik also suggested having offices and departments take their own minutes for direct reports to the commissioners. The commissioners approved the request. Erik suggested closing the office for one hour daily for lunch. The commissioners agreed to close from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Erik said Tammy Martin will take over some of Lara’s flood work and that Kate Chatterton will help with Tammy’s work on LTAC and .09 reimbursements. East Lewis County Public Development Authority (ELCPDA) Longmire project: Erik said the county has asked ELCPDA to reimburse the county $39,000 for walk-in fridges the ELCPDA purchased and submitted as a .09 reimbursement request. He said it was determined the fridges were not qualifying purchases. Erik said the PA’s Office has said the ELCPDA could submit qualifying expenses instead of repaying the county. He said the county has proposed that to the ELCPDA and is awaiting response. Fair update: BJ Kuykendall said he talked with the Fair Advisory Committee the previous week and that the committee wants to keep the open class for horses. IT Services: Steve Wohld said IT Director Matt Jaeger has requested a $200 monthly stipend rather than mileage reimbursement or using a county vehicle. Erik noted that Matt uses his personal vehicle regularly for county business and that he has not submitted reimbursement requests for that. The commissioners denied the request and instead encouraged county employees to submit reimbursement requests. Meeting ended at 10:54 a.m.