2026-06-03 Solid Waste position requestLewis County Department of Public Works
Geoff Soderquist, PE, Public Works Director
Wes Anderson, PE, County Engineer
MEMORANDUM
Date: May 18, 2026
To: Ryan Barrett, County Manager
From: Geoff Soderquist, PE, Director
Subject: REQUEST TO MODIFY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT POSITIONS
The purpose of this memorandum serves to request approval of proposed modifications
to the Solid Waste Operations Specialist (SWOS) and Solid Waste Operations Specialist
Senior (SWOSS) positions under the Public Works Department. The modifications
include revised Job Descriptions to better align with the specific Division roles and
responsibilities and re-evaluation of job classifications due to market conditions. Our
intent is to better position the Department to attract motivated and qualified candidates
and retain existing employees by providing opportunities for career advancement and
being competitive with external labor markets.
PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS
This request includes approval of modification within the Solid Waste Division of the
Public Works Department. The proposed changes are as follows:
Road Maintenance &
Fleet Services
476 West Main St.
Chehalis, WA 98532
O 360.740.3380
F 360.740.2741
Solid Waste Operations Specialist (SWOS) - Entry Level (Solid Waste Utility
Fund 40101
• Solid Waste Operations Specialist. Job Description updated to align with
the specific roles and responsibilities and re-evaluation of job
classification due to market conditions. Salary grades change from Grade
115 ($48,558-$65,272) to Grade 117 ($52,792-$70,992). No change in
FTE.
Solid Waste Operations Specialist Senior (SWOSS) - Entry Level (Solid
Waste Utility Fund 4010)
Administration, Engineering, Utilities,
Real Estate Services & Traffic
57 West Main St.
Chehalis, WA 98531
o 360.740.1123
F 360.740.1479
Solid Waste Services
Post Office Box 180
Centralia, WA 98537
o 360.740.1451
F 360.330.7805
• Solid Waste Operations Specialist Senior: Job Description updated to
align with the specific roles and responsibilities and re-evaluation of job
classification due to market conditions. Salary grades change from Grade
118 ($55,094-$74,087) to Grade 119 ($57,520-$77,380). No change in
FTE.
BUDGET
The estimated increase in the salary and benefits (as shown in the attached documents)
will be supported by revenues within the Solid Waste Utility Fund and will become part
of the annual budget. These modifications as proposed will not impact the County's
General Fund budget.
• Solid Waste Utility Fund (4010): The modifications to the Solid Waste
Operations Specialist series as proposed will add an increase of approximately
$27,356.00 for estimated salaries and benefits. The increase will be covered
annually through Solid Waste Utility Fund revenues (primarily tipping fees
collected through Fund 4150). The actual costs may vary slightly depending on the
benefits packages.
o Benefits of request: The modifications to the job descriptions will enhance
the Department's ability to recruit qualified candidates by defining the
specialized work performed and being comparable to other agencies. The
revised division structure provides the opportunity to retain existing
employees, the ability to prepare employees for advancement into positions
key to the department's successful operations and capacity to be
competitive with external labor markets.
EFFECTIVE DATE
The requested changes will be effective immediately upon approval of this request.
Attached for reference are copies of the position analyses completed by Human Resources
and worksheets prepared by Public Works providing a full analysis of the position
modifications and the impacts on the Public Works Department's budget.
Prepared By:
Geoff Soderqui t, PE
Director, Lewis County Public Works
Approved By: Date Approved:
PUBLIC WORKS- PROPOSED SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS SPECIALIST SENIOR RECLASS
Employee
Current Positions
FTE
Grade
Step
2026 budgeted
Salary and
(2026)
Salary
Benefits*
Solid Waste Operations Specialist
William Potter
Sr. (1561008)
1.0
118
1
55,094
65,603
Solid Waste Operations Specialist
Jerry Wallace
Sr. (1561007)
1.0
118
1
55,094
65,603
Solid Waste Operations Specialist
Collin Wolbert
Sr. (1561009)
1.0
118
1
55,094
65,603
Solid Waste Operations Specialist
Jason Ford
Sr.(1561006)
1.0
118
4
59,329
70,645
Solid Waste Operations Specialist
Ty Musselman
Sr. (1561004)
1.0
118
13
74,087
88,217
Solid Waste Operations Specialist
Brian Levine
Sr. (1561005)
1.0
118
6
62,325
74,212
Solid Waste Operations Specialist
Jeffrey Bailey
Sr. (1561001)
1.0
118
3
57,892
68,933
Solid Waste Operations Specialist
Jeremy Bonagofski
(1561003)
1.0
115
3
51,009
60,738
8.0 469,924 559,554
Proposed Positions
2026 Proposed
Salary and
2026
(2026)
FTE
Grade
Step
Salary
Benefits`
Salary &Benefits
Change
Solid Waste Operations Specialist Sr.
(1561008)
1.0
119
1
57,520
68,491
2,888
Solid Waste Operations Specialist Sr.
(1561007)
1.0
119
1
57,520
68,491
2,888
Solid Waste Operations Specialist Sr.
(1561009)
1.0
119
1
57,520
68,491
2,888
Solid Waste Operations Specialist Sr.
(1561006)
1.0
119
4
61,954
73,770
3,125
Solid Waste Operations Specialist Sr.
(1561004)
1.0
119
13
77,380
92,138
3,921
Solid Waste Operations Specilist Sr.
(1561005)
1.0
119
6
65,098
77,514
3,302
Solid Waste Operations Specialist Sr.
(1561001)
1.0
119
3
60,443
71,971
3,038
Solid Waste Operations Specialist
(1561003)
1.0
117
3
55,465
66,044
5,306
*does not include medical and self insurace rates
Note:
8.0 492,900 586,910 27,356
Total Estimated 2026 proposed Salary & Benefits Change $ 27,356.00
Hr
$23.34
$23.93
$24.52
$25.13
$25.76
$26.40
$27.06
$27.74
$28.43
$29.14
$29.87
$30.62
$31.38
PayPr
2,023.26
2.073.78
2,125.38
2,178.02
2,232.68
2.288.36
2,345.13
2,403.95
2.463.78
2,525.68
2,588.62
2.653.64
2.719.67
115
Month
4,046.52
4,147.56
4.250.76
4,356.04
4.465.36
4,576.72
4,690.28
4.807.90
4.927.56
5.051.36
5,177.24
5.307.28
5.439.34
Annuat
48,558.24
49,770.72
51.009.12
52.272.48
53,584.32
54,920.64
56,283.12
57,694.80
59,130.72
60,616.32
62.126.88
63.687.36
65.272.08
Hr
$24.33
$24.94
$25.56
$26.201
$26.86
$27.52
$28.21
$28.92
$29.64
$30.38
$31.14
$31.92
$32.71
PayPr
2.108.85
2.161.50
2.215.16
2.270.86
2,327.59
2,385.40
2,445.20
2.506.09
2,569.02
2.633.01
2,699.03
2.766.11
2,835.19
116
Monthl
4,217.70
4.323.00
4.430.32
4.541.72
4.655.18
4.770.80
4,890.40
5.012.18
5.138.04
5.266.02
5,398.06
5.532.22
5.670.38
Annuall
50.612.40
51,876.00
53,163.84
54,500.64
55.862.16
57,249.60
58,684.80
60,146.16
61.656.48
63,292.24
64,776.72
66.386.64
68.044.56
Hr
$25.38
$26.01
$26.67
$27.33
$28.01
$28.71
$29.43
$30.17
$30.92
$31.69
$32.49
$33.30
$34.13
PayPr
2.199.68
2.254.35
2,311.08
2,368.89
2.427.65
2.488.57
2.550.48
2.614.41
2.679.44
2.746.49
2,815.60
2,885.80
2,958.00
117
Month
4.399.36
4,508.70
4,622.16
4,737.78
4,855.30
4,977.14
5,100.96
5.228.82
5.358.88
5.492.98
5,631.20
5.771.60
5,916.00
Annuaq
52.79132
54,104.40
55,465.92
56.853.36
58.263.60
59,725.68
61,211.52
62.745.84
64.306.58
65.915.76
67,574.40
69,259.20
70.992.00
Hr
$26.49
$27.15
$27.83
$28.52
$29.24
$29.96
$30.71
$31.491
$32.27
$33.08
$33.90
$34.76
$35.62
PayPr
2.295.61
2.353.41
2,412.17
2.472.07
2,533.95
2,596.90
2.661.88
2.728.96
2.797.04
2,867.19
2.938.36
3,011.64
3.086.97
118
Month
4,591.22
4,706.82
4.824.34
4,944.14
5.067.90
5.193.80
5,323.76
6,457.92
5,594.08
5,734.38
5,876.72
6,023.28
6,173.94
Annuat
55.094.64
56.481.84
57,892.08
59.329.68
60,814.80
62,325.60
63,885.12
65,495.04
67.128.96
68.812.56
70.520.64
72,279.36
74,087.28
Hr
$27.65
$28.34
$29.06
$29.78
$30.531
$31.30
$32.08
$32.88
$33.70
$34.55
$35.42
$36.30
$37.20
PayPr
2,396.70
2.456.59
2.518.47
2,581.42
2,646.41
2.712.43
2,780.54
2,849.67
2.920.87
2,994.11
3.069.42
3,145.77
3.224.18
119
Month
4.793.40
4.913.18
5,036.94
5.162.84
5.292.82
5.424.86
5,561.08
5.699.34
5.841.74
5,988.22
6.138.84
6.291.54
6.448.36
Annual
57.520.80
58.958.16
60,44328
61.954.08
63.513.84
65,098.32
66,732.96
68.392.08
70,100.88
71,868.64
73,666.08
76,498.48
77,380.32
As of 12/16/2025: Non -represented; AFSCME, Association of DPAs
Lewis County 2026 Master Salary Schedule
Public Works Department
Operations
Revised April 2026