2026-04-27 Wrap UpBOCC Wrap-Up / County Manager Update
April 27, 2026
9 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Swope, County Manager Ryan
Barrett, Becky Butler, Meja Handlen, Mindy Brooks, Geoff Soderquist, Matt Patana, Rocky Lyon, Alex
Murray, Andrea Dulaney, Fionna Velazquez, Todd Chaput, Erika Katt, Justin Bushnell, Gabe Anzelini,
Caroline Garibay, Grace Jimenez, Kirsty Ward, Natalie Kamieniecki, Sarah Hensley, Tom Stanton
Guest(s): Darlene Purl of Hope Alliance
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Public comment: None.
Business Meeting agenda changes: Commissioner Brummer made a motion to add to the April 28 BOCC
Business Meeting four items:
• Resolution 26-133: Declaration of surplus vehicles and equipment. The items will be sold
through Ritchie Brothers Auction (RBAuction.com).
• Resolution 26-134: Notice of hearing for Ordinance 1376, which would update Chapter 10.20 of
Lewis County Code to allow electric-thrust operated vessels on specific bodies of water.
• Resolution 26-140: Approve contract #H04-0257-25 amendment B between Hope Alliance and
Lewis County.
• Resolution 26-141: Approve contract #C15-0256-25 amendment D between Coastal Community
Action Program (CAP) and Lewis County.
Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Historic Museum HVAC replacement: Alex Murray said county staff had to replace the secondary HVAC
system at the Historic Museum at a cost of $11,166.85. He requested the commissioners consider using
the Historic Preservation fund to cover those costs. Becky Butler said staff had reached out to MRSC and
that MRSC and the Auditor’s Office have determined it would be an acceptable use of the Historic
Preservation Grant.
Commissioner Brummer made a motion to authorize use of the Historic Preservation Fund to pay the
$11,166.85 in costs associated with the HVAC system replacement at the Historic Museum.
Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Virgil Fox water meters: Ryan Barrett discussed a proposal to remedy the county’s long-standing issue
regarding Virgil Fox’s accounts in Birchfield / Fox Run Estates. He noted that no water service was
provided or used through either of the two meters in question and that the charges consist solely of
base rates, penalties and administrative fees. Ryan said the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the
Auditor’s Office had reviewed and approved the proposal, which includes the following actions:
• Write off all charges associated with account Nos. 40025 and 40026.
• Adjust account balances to zero to reflect that no service was provided.
• Close both accounts permanently following meter removal.
• Treat the matter as an administrative correction, not a service-related loss.
Commissioner Brummer made a motion to resolve the issues with Virgil Fox’s water meters – account
Nos. 40025 and 40026 – as outlined above / in the attached memo. Commissioner Swope seconded.
Motion passed 3-0.
Department of Emergency Management position: Erika Katt discussed a request to increase the current
0.5 FTE Administrative Assistant position (Grade 117 – Step 3) to a full-time (1.0 FTE) position.
Commissioner Brummer made a motion to increase the 0.5 FTE Emergency Management
Administrative Assistant position (Grade 117 – Step 3) to a full-time (1.0 FTE) position effective May 1,
2026, and to approve a General Fund transfer of up to $21,631 to cover the change in 2026.
Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Opportunity Zones: Mindy Brooks and Todd Chaput discussed Commerce’s upcoming Opportunity
Zones selection period.
Fairgrounds and Fair price lists: Fionna Velazquez reviewed proposed changes to Fair and Fairgrounds
pricing, including parking pricing.
Commissioner Brummer made a motion to increase Fair parking fees to $10 on Fridays and Saturdays,
leaving it at $5 for presales as well as for parking on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
The commissioners directed staff to draft a resolution capturing the change to parking fees as well as
any other proposed fee changes.
Letter to WSDOT re Highway 12 safety concerns: The commissioners agreed to sign the letter.
Resolution 26-131: Commissioner Brummer made a motion to approve a nunc pro tunc correction for
Resolution 26-131 (Law and Justice Council appointments) to correct the presiding judges for District
and Superior Court as the names had been transposed. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion
passed 3-0.
Correspondence: The commissioners discussed correspondence regarding commemorative silver Lewis
County coins that potentially could be declared surplus and sold.
Meeting adjourned at 9:35 a.m.