2022-05-15 LC Fire Commissioners Association meeting - special meetingLewis County Fire Commissioners Association meeting – special meeting
7 p.m. Monday, May 15, 2023
Salkum Fire Department (Fire District 8) - 2495 US Hwy. 12, Salkum, Wash.
Present: Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, Jenn Libby-Jones, Nic Scott
Guest(s): Various members of the Lewis County Fire Commissioners’ Association
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Dinner started at 6:30 p.m., and the Fire Commissioners Association called its meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Jenn Libby-Jones said the Combined User Committee (CUC) has recommended the Board of County
Commissioners put to a public vote a 911 sales tax initiative. She said the group would like a change of
911 governance.
Jenn said the CUC is recommending a ballot measure for either a one-tenth of 1 percent or a two-tenths
of 1 percent sales tax for 911 funding. She said the one-tenth of 1 percent sales tax would help with
budget shortfalls, infrastructure, maintenance and some training. She said the two-tenths of 1 percent
option would provide further funding to help decrease user fees and help pay for a stand-alone 911
center. Jenn said the group has discussed contracting out some of the 911 services, potentially
partnering with the county for the services.
Centralia Police Chief Stacy Denham, who serves as president of the CUC, said past issues prompted the
group to issue the request. He said it costs an estimated $5.4 million to fully fund the dispatch center
and that the group’s current budget is slightly over $3 million.
Chief Denham discussed funding the county has pledged for the center, including $4.5 million for
infrastructure. He said the CUC currently operates as an advisory board and that the CUC members
would prefer to have more of a voice and more control over the dispatch center.
Commissioner Brummer said he has been in support of a change in governance but that he is concerned
about the possibility of doubling the costs to operate the 911 center.
Commissioner Pollock said she also has been in support of a change in governance but wonders whether
“divorcing” 911 operations completely from the county is the right answer.
Chief Denham said the group has discussed several options, including the sales tax, ways to completely
divorce from the county, creating a public development authority (PDA) or simply forming a new type of
governance. He stressed that the current 911 center is unsafe due to its location, and he noted that
seismic activity could destroy the current center, rendering it useless in its most crucial time.
Chief Denham discussed the need for infrastructure improvements and the costs associated with the
updates. The group noted that individuals traveling through the area use 911 services but do not pay for
them. A tax, members of the group noted, would level the playing / paying field.
Members of the group noted that 20 of the state’s 39 counties have a 911 tax.
Members of the group said they would conduct an email survey to determine whether the Fire
Commissioners Association would support the tax. They said they would make a determination by the
end of June.
The group noted that the next Fire Commissioners Association meeting is scheduled for Aug. 21 at Fire
District 6 (Chehalis).
Meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.