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2023-03-27 BOCC Wrap-UpBOCC Wrap-Up March 27, 2023 9:03 a.m. Present: Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, Interim-County Manager Steve Wohld, Mindy Brooks, Lee Napier, Meja Handlen, Becky Butler, Undersheriff Wes Rethwill, Nic Scott, Eric Eisenberg, Daleyn Coleman, Amber Smith, Aimee Albright, Doug Carey, Graham Gowing, Troy Nichols, Josh Weiss, David Bailey, Matt Jaeger, Linda Mastin, Josh Metcalf, Barbara Russell Guest(s): John Christian, Frank Corbin Recorder: Tammy Martin Public comment: None. 2023 Legislative session: Josh Weiss said most of their attention is focused on the budgets. The next week and a half will be fairly busy with capital budgets. Josh said $500,000 was received for the Lewis County Seniors project as well as approval for Lewis County’s water banking project. There hasn’t been very much conversation regarding the “Dig Once” program, but there is more conversation expected later this week. Josh said there was a last minute change to the budget by Senator Braun for Lewis County’s homeless shelter and the DNR Carbon Bill is expected to move next week. Troy Nichols said the transportation budget has critical funding has important features to be on the lookout for. Troy said there will be updates later today. Skookumchuck Dam: Eric Eisenberg said the Office of the Chehalis Basin (OCB) is having a meeting for the different stakeholders. Eric asked for topics of interest to focus on. Lewis County could be in position to propose the management of fisheries on the Skookumchuck River if they are in position to have water banking rights. Eric is looking for a unified strategy. Commissioner Pollock asked if using public funds to purchase the rights at a federal level is the appropriate thing to do. She asked if public funds were used to benefit a private business such as hydrogen production, could the public hold an asset such as the water bank. Eric said the meeting for the stakeholders is April 6, 2023. Employee handbook: Amber Smith addressed sections 7-8 in the employee handbook. Amber said the language allows for the reasonable calculation of time. This will go before the Board for approval during the March 28 Business Meeting. WSU Broadband Action: Eric Eisenberg said funding has been made available through WSU to the Broadband Action Teams. The Lewis County BAT is not an incorporated agency and therefore not eligible for the funding. Eric has submitted a proposal on a reimbursement basis to acquire assistance to contract on the Broadband Action Team’s behalf. The Commissioners have concerns about the requirements associated with the County’s role. New Business: Eric said there is a housing project within Lewis County’s District. Eric said this funding could be utilized for Lewis County’s homeless shelter program. This would be funded as a result of a last minute change to the budget by Senator Braun. Request for letters of support for the Port of Chehalis re: grain terminal: Both Commissioner Brummer and Commissioner Pollock were in support of the grain terminal. They have asked for it to be added to the March 28, Business Meeting. Executive Session: At 9:43 a.m., Commissioner Brummer announced that the Board would be going into executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) for 15 minutes to discuss Mountain View Cemetery and Bella Costa v. Lewis County. Executive session started at 9:44 a.m. At 9:59 a.m., the Board extended executive session 5 minutes. At 10:04 a.m., the Board extended executive session 2 minutes. Executive session ended 10:06 a.m. where Commissioner Brummer noted that no decisions had been made. Meeting ended at 10:07 a.m.