2025-11-17 BOCC Wrap-Up County Manager UpdateBOCC Wrap-Up / County Manager Update
November 17, 2025
9:02 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Swope, Commissioner Pollock (virtual), County Manager Ryan Barrett, Becky
Butler, Jonathan Meyer, Scott Gripp, David Bailey, Mindy Brooks, Sherri Dokken, Meja Handlen, Angie
Hodge, Erika Katt, Matt Patana, Ross Nielson, Lynn Richard, Matt Hyatt, Caroline Garibay, Tom Stanton,
Angie Hodge, Anders Pollman
Guest(s): Elizabeth Rohr
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Public comment: None.
At 9:03 a.m., Commissioner Swope announced that the Board would be going into executive session
under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) until 9:20 a.m. to discuss the following seven topics:
• Amicus brief re Initiative 2066 Supreme Court case
• Paul Bromm
• Northwest Hardwoods
• Blankenship tort claim
• Public defense contracts
• Chehalis annexation
• Centralia / Port mediation
At 9:20 a.m., Commissioner Swope extended executive session until 9:30 a.m.
Executive session ended at 9:30 a.m. Commissioner Swope noted that no decisions had been made.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve the settlement value for the Northwest Hardwoods
property as discussed in executive session. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
DEM fees for non-ILA cities: Erika Katt discussed a proposed rate fee for DEM’s work in response to
emergency work the county does on the city of Centralia’s behalf. The commissioners directed staff to
move forward with the proposed ILA.
Planning Commission vacancies: Mindy Brooks said the Planning Commission has two vacancies. The
commissioners directed staff to advertise the positions, noting that Planning Commission members will
review the applications and forward their recommendations to the BOCC in January.
GIS updates: Geoff Soderquist, Matt Hyatt and Assessor Ross Nielson discussed the county’s migration
to a new cloud-based software. Geoff said the transition was planned for 2027. Ross said he is pushing
to have the transition complete in 2026. The commissioners said they will revisit the topic Nov. 24.
2026 budget review: The commissioners provided the following preliminary decisions:
• BOCC attorney fees: The commissioners directed staff to add to current budget.
• Assessor professional services: Ross said the county cannot leave the legacy contract before
2027. Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve a one-time increase of $104,413 for
the Assessor’s 2026 budget. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Commissioner Swope requested the Assessor’s Office provide monthly updates during the ESC
meetings.
• Tax levies: Geoff Soderquist discussed the implications related to approving or not approving
increases.
• Public defense contracts, including Juvenile Court: Commissioner Pollock made a motion to
approve the contracts as presented.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to direct staff to move forward with public defender contract
negotiations as discussed in executive session. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
2026 boards and committees: The commissioners said they would like the boards and committee
assignments to remain unchanged, aside from chair / vice chair for the BOCC, with Commissioner
Pollock serving as chair and Commissioner Brummer serving as vice chair.
Meeting adjourned at 9:49 a.m.