2024-05-20 County ManagerCounty Manager Update
May 20, 2024
9 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope, County Manager Ryan
Barrett, Chief Civil DPA David Bailey, Mindy Brooks, Becky Butler, Josh Metcalf, Doug Carey, Susie
Palmateer, Stacey Werner, David Bailey, Meja Handlen, Undersheriff Kevin Engelbertson, Will Halstead,
Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer, Matt Jaeger, Aimee Albright, Chief Rick Van Wyck, Chief Gabe Frase,
Deputy Kevin Dickey
Guest(s):
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Public comment: None.
Teamsters agreement: Ryan Barrett, Daleyn Coleman and the commissioners discussed a potential late
add for the May 21 Business Meeting. Ryan noted that the proposed resolution would allow the Sheriff’s
Office and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to enter into an agreement with Teamsters that would
allow certain senior administrative staff to access the Teamsters retirees health and welfare trust.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to add to the Teamsters agreement resolution to the agenda for
the May 21, 2024, Business Meeting. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update: Mindy Brooks reviewed results of the Lewis County 2045 Survey.
Superior Court budget request: Stacey Werner said Superior Court will be requesting a roughly $20,000
budget increase to cover a one-month position overlap to allow for succession planning as Court
Commissioner Paul Strophy prepares to retire.
Green River Valley Alliance: Rieva Lester said the Green River Alliance has reached out for a letter of
support regarding its No Place for a Mine campaign. The commissioners declined to provide a letter of
support, noting that Skamania County officials are not in favor of the constraints the group is requesting.
Salary Commission: Rieva Lester discussed changes in state law with respect to the Salary Commission.
She said HR and the Auditor’s Office have completed steps to fill the three mandatory positions via a
lottery-style draw and that the commissioners have the option to identify additional positions, should
they so choose. The commissioners said they would revisit the topic in the future.
Executive session: At 9:17 a.m., Commissioner Brummer announced that the Board would be going into
executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) until 9:33 a.m. to discuss the following four topics:
• Rees tort claim
• Parker tort claim
• Lumen tort claim
• Toledo Skydive litigation / appeal
At 9:33 a.m., Commissioner Brummer extended executive session until 9:36 a.m.
Executive session ended at 9:36 a.m. Commissioner Brummer noted that no decisions had been made.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to move forward on the claims as discussed in executive session.
Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Calendars: Commissioner Swope discussed WSAC’s upcoming Legislative Steering Committee meeting
as well as the upcoming burial of a recently identified WWII POW from Centralia.
Correspondence: Commissioner Brummer discussed a constituent’s email about light pollution. Mindy
Brooks discussed upcoming proposed legislation for Packwood that would require lighting to be turned
downward and any light spillage contained.
Meeting adjourned at 9:45 a.m.