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2023-03-29 Directors' UpdateDirectors’ Update March 29, 2023 9:02 a.m. Present: Commissioner Swope (Zoom), Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, Steve Wohld, Mindy Brooks, Jenn Libby-Jones, Gary Fredricks, Matt Jaeger, Becky Butler, Nic Scott, Lee Napier, Graham Gowing, Grace Jimenez, Doug Carey, Josh Metcalf, Arny Davis, Shelly Stewart, Kevin McDowell, David Bailey, Eric Eisenberg, Casey Mauermann, Meja Handlen, Tom Stanton, Amber Smith, BJ Kuykendall Guest(s): John Christian, Nick Roach, Susan DeLaire, Laurie Lebowsky-Young (WSDOT), and two others Recorder: Tammy Martin Public comment: None. Agenda changes Commissioner Pollock made a motion to add to the day’s agenda the following two items: • Strike though the discussion of the Employee Handbook sections 7-8 • Boundary Review Board litigation Commissioner Brummer seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Directors’ Update agenda items Becky Butler has asked to move the notice item one week to allow for a change. Arny Davis made a request that was formally approved by the Commissioners. This would be to finance capital improvements in the amount of $9,032,505. Grace Jimenez said two funds would be created for the funds for the capital improvements. Commissioner Pollock read the read the resolution about legal printing. There were two bids received and the Chronicle was the lowest bidder. The Chronicle was awarded the legal printing bid. Commissioner Pollock made a motion to move 2 consent items and 2 deliberation items to the Tuesday, April 4, 2023, BOCC agenda. Commissioner Brummer seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Roundtable: Becky Butler said she would be starting a reconciliation sheet to each department and offices to include in budget planning. Lee Napier updated the group about March Madness. BJ Kuykendall said the staff at Parks & Rec are working really hard in preparation of the opening of local area parks. BJ said Dairy Days will be coming back to the fair. Matt Jaeger said the entities that were blocked for cyber-attacks are all clear. Matt said about 25% of employees have signed up for the multi-factor authentication (MFA). Matt said there was a small group meeting to determine support for the remainder of the time Lewis County uses the software program Ascend. Nic Scott expects to update the Lewis County Wa.gov page shortly. This would allow for the search of news and updates regarding Lewis County. Doug Carey said there is now glass going in at the new Community Development building. The exterior piece is wrapping up. The move in date is the week of April 17, 2023. Doug said the jail equipment is expected to arrive this week. As soon as it arrives, work can begin. It’s expected to be complete by August. Doug said there will be major changes to the HVAC in the jail kitchen and laundry area. Gary Fredricks said the Lewis County Master Gardeners are holding the free event ‘Gardening for Everyone’ at Centralia College April 8. Ross McDowell said the outreach programs are starting to pick up. There will be parades as well. Ross and Erika Katt participated in the WSMEA and Ross will be the president and Erika will be the treasurer. Ross said first aid training is available to sign up for on the T drive. Daleyn Coleman said HR/Risk will be participating in a risk conference. Eric Eisenberg announced the Board extended the deadline for the night by night shelter RFP. Eric said there were 4 applicants for the RFQ. Eric asked the Board to adjust the interview process in effort to accommodate all applicants that submitted within the original timeline. Commissioner Brummer agreed to the accommodation. Graham Gowing said Larry Grove had a successful surgery and is on the road to recovery. Workshop: Josh introduced Richard Warren and Laurie Lebowsky-Young from Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Nick Roach from WSP consulting. Richard presented a briefing for the North Lewis NLCI transportation study. Richard said Legislature provided $1 million for a study on North Lewis County and the industrial access areas. Richard said the goal is to improve the transportation system as a whole, to improve safety and to identify short/long-term solutions for traffic flow. Richard said it is important to consider transit options as well. Laurie said this isn’t a typical WSDOT study because it is funded by the Legislature. Richard said there are three possible interchange access points for I-5. Richard said the NCLIA Transportation study will be completed by the end of June. The report will then be available to the public approximately July 2023. Public outreach include roughly 15,000 mailers to the public in a 5-mile radius of the improvement areas. There were questions about traffic capacity and ramp metering in Centralia. Nick said this was acknowledged in the study. He expects extremely higher rates of congestion by 2045 if nothing is addressed. Laurie said it is important to address the traffic entering the mainline of the freeway. 911 Update: Jenn Libby-Jones said the CUC has been looking to change the governance of the 911 communications center and a proposal on the ballot to raise sales and use tax to fund the 911 center. The cutoff to submit the ballot item is August 1 and will require BOCC approval. The next CUC meeting is April 20, 2023. The Commissioners asked for more internal discussion to address the needs and changes. Executive Session: At 10:14 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 Boundary Review Board Litigation. Executive session started at 10:15 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., the Board extended executive session 10 minutes. At 10:40 a.m., the Board extended executive session 5 minutes. At 10:45 a.m., the Board extended executive session 5 minutes. At 10:50 a.m., the Board extended executive session 5 minutes. At 10:55 a.m., the Board extended executive session 5 minutes. At 11:00 a.m., the Board extended executive session 2 minutes. Executive session ended 11:02 a.m. where Commissioner Brummer noted that no decisions had been made. Commissioner Pollock asked for a $5,000 budget capacity from the general fund to go towards Mountain View Cemetery management. Commissioner Brummer seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Steve Wohld presented a salary range for the County Manager position. Commissioner Pollock suggested 139 step 6-13. Commissioner Swope agreed. Commissioner Swope felt the person should be passionate about the job and not the pay. Steve asked that minutes reflect the county manager position would be advertised at grade 139 step 6-13 with a salary range of $161,000-191,000 or as negotiated to a successful candidate. The Commissioners agreed. Steve asked to strike the facilities position as this was approved yesterday during the Budget Update. Meeting adjourned at 11:11 a.m.