2025-03-10 Wrap-Up CMBOCC Wrap-Up / County Manager Update
March 10, 2025
9 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope, County Manager Ryan
Barrett, Becky Butler, Josh Weiss, Troy Nichols, Meja Handlen, Mindy Brooks, Geoff Soderquist, Angie
Hodge, Undersheriff Kevin Engelbertson, Chief Chris Sweet, Gabe Anzelini, Grace Jimenez, Graham
Gowing, Sherri Dokken, Tom Stanton, Alex Murray, Kate Chatterton
Guest(s): Lisa Striedinger-Hubbard and an unnamed guest
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Public comment: None.
2025 Legislative Session: Josh Weiss and Troy Nichols reviewed bills of local interest. Updates included
the following:
• Public defense bill is not moving forward.
• WSAC moved from opposed to neutral on 1380.
• Mindy asked that 5184 be amended to include cities’ urban growth areas.
• 5060 provides grant funding for law enforcement funding.
• Need to provide a one-page North County Industrial Access update.
Agenda changes: Commissioner Pollock made a motion to add to the March 11, 2025, BOCC Business
Meeting agenda the approval of minutes from the Feb. 25 Business Meeting as well as Resolutions 25-
066 through 25-075. Commissioner Swope seconded.
• 25-066: Approval of warrants / payroll.
• 25-067: Granting permission to terminate agreement for ReEntry Demonstration Initiative
Project. Chief Chris Sweet discussed the resolution.
• 25-068: Approve Consolidated Contract #CLH32057 Amendment #2 between the Washington
State Department of Health (DOH) and Lewis County. Meja Handlen discussed the resolution.
• 25-069: Approve a lease agreement for Central Transfer Station and East Lewis County Transfer
Station between County of Lewis and Solid Waste Disposal District No. 1. Becky Butler discussed
budgetary concerns regarding the fund to which the lease payments would be routed.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to remove Resolution 25-069 from the March 11 BOCC Business
Meeting agenda. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
• 25-070: Ratify signature for the Toledo Senior Center Roof replacement Change Order No. 2,
Project 31-2417. Ryan Barrett discussed the resolution.
• 25-071: Ratify the County Manager’s signature on Change Orders 1, 2 and 3 for the Twin Cities
Senior Center Roof replacement project, 31-2418. Ryan Barrett discussed the resolution.
• 25-072: Approve 2025 Public Defender contracts for Superior, Juvenile and District Courts. Becky
Butler discussed the resolution.
• 25-073: Ratify a contract between Lewis County Public Works and Sage Geotechnical, LLC, to
provide geotechnical and geological design services for public works facilities. Geoff Soderquist
discussed the resolution.
• 25-074: Declaration of Surplus Vehicles & Equipment. Geoff Soderquist and Ryan Barrett
discussed the resolution. The commissioners directed Alex Murray to reach out to Tim Mixer
about the possibility of moving the surplussed dump truck to the fairgrounds.
• 25-075: The proposed acquisition of additional right of way for Evans Road Culvert Replacement
at MP 5.371. Geoff Soderquist discussed the resolution.
The motion to move the Feb. 25 minutes as well as Resolutions 25-066 through 22-068 and
Resolutions 22-070 to 25-075 to the March 11, 2025, BOCC Business Meeting passed 3-0.
Municipal bridge inspections: Geoff Soderquist said the county has been performing bridge inspections
for the cities of Winlock, Pe Ell and Napavine at no charge to the cities since 2011. The commissioners
expressed concerns about the potential of gifting of public funds and / or subsidizing the inspections.
The commissioners directed Geoff to have the PA’s Office review the expired agreements regarding
bridge inspections.
Rodeo tickets / general fair and fairgrounds updates: Alex Murray said the Rodeo Committee has
recommended increasing Thursday night ticket prices while making Wednesday a lower-cost option. He
said the goal is to encourage attendance on Wednesday, which has historically been lower than
Thursday. He said the committee also recommends reducing VIP ticket prices back to $100 (2023 price).
Last year’s increase to $200 led to lower attendance. Alex said many nonprofit and community
organizations have historically received discounted or waived rental fees for events such as:
• Super Saturday (4-H)
• Dairy Days (WSU Extension)
• Spring Youth Fair (Spring Youth Fair Association)
Upcoming presentations:
• Honoring WF West student athletes (March 11)
• Family Education & Support Services (March 11)
• Honoring Juvenile employees (March 12)
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline presentation (March 18)
• Gifford Pinchot National Forest / Cowlitz Valley Ranger District update (March 25)
Rocky Lyon discussed Resolution 25-069. Rocky said the funding had been going to the General Fund to
repay a bond. Grace Jimenez said the bond was paid off in 2024.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to add Resolution 25-069 to the March 11, 2025, Business
Meeting agenda. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Correspondence regarding a request regarding property tax advisor (RCW 84.48.140): The
commissioners directed staff to respond to the individual and to note that the county does not have
funding to hire for such a position.
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)(c) until 10:19 a.m. to discuss the Kresky building.
At 10:19 a.m., Commissioner Brummer extended executive session until 10:21 a.m.
Executive session ended at 10:21 a.m. Commissioner Brummer noted that no decisions had been made.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to authorize county staff to proceed with negotiations
regarding the Kresky building as discussed in executive session. Commissioner Swope seconded.
Motion passed 3-0.
Meeting adjourned at 10:22 a.m.