2026-03-23 BOCC Wrap UpBOCC Wrap-Up / County Manager Update
March 23, 2026
9:01 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Swope, County Manager Ryan
Barrett, Becky Butler, Mindy Brooks, Angie Hodge, Anders Pollman, Undersheriff Kevin Engelbertson,
Chief Rick VanWyck, David Bailey, Wes Anderson, Assessor Ross Nielson, Lynn Richard, Clerk Scott
Tinney, Casey Mauermann, Dahkota Harmanson, Grace Jimenez, Graham Gowing, Jeff Landrum, Kirsten
Wecker, Matt Patana, Meja Handlen, Natalie Kamieniecki, Rachel Lester, Shad Hail, Tom Stanton, Emil
Pierson, James Kessi, Geoff Soderquist, Bret Brodersen
Guest(s): Unnamed guests
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Public comment: None.
2026 budget, including COLAs and benefits: Becky Butler provided information regarding rollbacks from
offices and departments over the past five years.
The commissioners discussed fully funding the roughly $794,000 linked to 2026 COLA and benefit
changes. They also discussed the possibility of decreasing the transfer from the Roads fund to the
Sheriff’s Office by $300,000. Becky explained that if the transfer from Roads to the Sheriff’s Office is
reduced by $300,000, then the $300,000 would come from the General Fund instead.
At 9:22 a.m., Commissioner Pollock recessed the meeting until 9:27 a.m.
The meeting resumed at 9:27 a.m.
The commissioners directed staff to move forward with a budget amendment that covers all of the 2026
COLA and benefit changes and to reduce by $300,000 the traffic policing reimbursement from Roads to
the Sheriff’s Office without reducing the Sheriff’s Office expenditures.
Executive session: At 9:28 a.m., Commissioner Pollock announced that the Board would be going into
executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) until 9:48 a.m. to discuss the following five topics:
• Bellacosa litigation
• Vader water system
• Mountain View and other cemeteries – tax foreclosure issues
• Bratton v. County
• Timberland Regional Library
At 9:48 a.m., Commissioner Pollock extended executive session until 10 a.m.
At 10 a.m., Commissioner Pollock extended executive session until 10:10 a.m.
At 10:10 a.m., Commissioner Pollock extended executive session until 10:15 a.m.
At 10:15 a.m., Commissioner Pollock extended executive session until 10:17 a.m.
Executive session ended at 10:17 a.m. Commissioner Pollock noted that no decisions had been made.
Commissioner Swope made a motion to remove the Stalin cemetery properties from the pending
foreclosure list for unpaid property taxes. Commissioner Brummer seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Agenda change: Commissioner Swope made a motion to add Resolution 26-095 – notice of hearing for
Ordinance 1375 to amend the Lewis County Code Title 15, Building and Construction, and adopt a
rainwater catchment policy – to the agenda for the March 24, 2026, BOCC Business Meeting.
Commissioner Brummer seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Centralia UGA preliminary plat: Mindy Brooks recommended the commissioners approve the
preliminary plat with the stipulation that the property would be required to be annexed before final
approval could be given.
Commissioner Swope made a motion to add the Centralia UGA preliminary plat resolution to the agenda
for the March 24, 2026, BOCC Business Meeting. Commissioner Brummer seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Cannabis survey results: Mindy Brooks provided a recap of the cannabis survey. The commissioners
directed staff to move forward direct the Planning Commission to move forward with proposed code for
retail cannabis sales.
Budget: The commissioners directed staff to reduce the traffic policing transfer from Roads to the
General Fund by $300,000 for 2026 only. They directed staff to use General Fund reserves and not
Capital Fund contingency funds at this time.
Correspondence: The commissioners discussed a letter received regarding an application for .09 /
Distressed Counties funding.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.