2019-03-01 Mayors MeetingMayors’ Meeting
March 1, 2019
9:03 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Fund, Chehalis City Manager Jill Anderson, Dale Lewis of
U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler’s office, Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes, Wes Anderson of the
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Kimberly Pincheira of WSDOT, Rhona Sen
Hoss of Gov. Inslee’s office, Vader Mayor Lonnie Willie, Toledo Mayor Steve Dobosh, Public Works
Director Josh Metcalf, Centralia Port Commissioner Peter Lahmann, Winlock Mayor Don Bradshaw,
Centralia Mayor Lee Coumbs, Chehalis City Manager Rob Hill, Mike Peroni of the Northwest Agriculture
Business Center
Guests: Alex Brown, Lynette Hoffman, Anne Randt, Susan DeLaire
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Attendees introduced themselves.
Commissioner Fund discussed HB 1205, HB 1718 and HB 1667. She also discussed OPMA training offered
by MRSC.
Commissioner Fund said federal legislators have asked for an overview of the region’s infrastructure
needs.
Toledo Mayor Steve Dobosh identified some of the city’s needs, including Urban Growth Development,
extending the water sewer line, semi-permanent assisted living for seniors and a new amphitheater at
the revamped wastewater treatment work. He invited the group to the upcoming Vision Toledo
meeting.
Winlock Mayor Don Bradshaw said work continues on the line extension. He said he plans to extend the
sewer line to Interstate 5 and revamp Arden Street in 2020 and revamp Shannon Lewis Lane and
stabilize Second Avenue in 2021.
Centralia Mayor Lee Coumbs and City Manager Rob Hill cited the city’s needs sewer facilities and street
work, sewer and water in the urban growth areas, historic buildings that are difficult and expensive to
maintain, and bridge standards.
Chehalis City Manager Jill Anderson cited needs for street, water treatment and wastewater treatment
improvements. She said ever-changing standards make projects even more expensive. Jill said the feds
need to approve the conservation grant funding. She said Community Block Grant use restrictions and
tracking requirements also need to be relaxed.
Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes said it’s absurd that streets have to be left in complete disrepair in order
to qualify for grant funding. He said just making Band-Aid fixes can make the streets “too good” to
qualify for grant funding. He also discussed the need for help transitioning to LED lights.
The group discussed costs linked to changing ADA requirements.
Mayor Dawes discussed funding sources that have dried up and the additional restrictions that make it
impossible to do more – or maintain the status quo – with less.
Centralia Port Commissioner Peter Lahmann urged the use of apprenticeship programs. Peter said the
state has one of the most robust apprenticeship programs in the nation.
The meeting adjourned at 10 a.m. with Commissioner Jackson’s departure. Other attendees remained
until 10:45 a.m.