2019-03-19 PA UpdatePA Update
March 19, 2019
2 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Fund, County Manager Erik Martin, Becky Butler, Archie
Smith, Jonathan Meyer, Eric Eisenberg, Janelle Kambich, Cullen Gatten, Wayne Whiton
Guests: Winlock Mayor Don Bradshaw, Dr. Lindsey Pollock, Alex Brown, Winlock City Attorney Erin Hillier
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Jonathan Meyer said a District Court deputy has resigned.
Jonathan said his office believes Winlock has a council member who was not appointed correctly. He
said Winlock disagrees. Jonathan said the county could affirm the appointee or open the process up for
applications and interviews, which he said could lead to litigation.
Winlock Mayor Don Bradshaw discussed the appointment in question. He read a statement his attorney
had sent in February 2018. Mayor Bradshaw said he would like the appointment to be left as-is.
Winlock City Attorney Erin Hillier said Winlock feels the statute for county involvement in appointing a
member to the council has not been triggered. She said she suggested the county affirm the vote taken
regarding the appointment in question. She noted that the appointment has not yet been re-affirmed.
Mayor Bradshaw said the appointment was challenged by a member of the public in February 2018.
Eric Eisenberg asked if the city is concerned that it could be sued.
Jonathan noted that there had been four applicants for two vacant positions at the time of Jodi Curtis’
appointment, which is the appointment being scrutinized.
Erin said Barbara Pedersen was appointed to the first vacancy and did not participate in the vote for the
second vacancy, for which Jodi was appointed.
Mayor Bradshaw said Anne Randt has been the only dissenting vote since the appointment of Jodi
Curtis.
Commissioner Fund asked whether there were any close votes for which the outcome would have
changed had someone else been appointed in Jodi’s place. Mayor Bradshaw said there were none.
Commissioner Fund also asked whether there had been multiple applicants for the position. Mayor
Bradshaw said there were not.
Commissioner Fund made a motion to nominate Jodi Curtis to Position 3 on the Winlock City Council.
Commissioner Jackson seconded.
Motion passed 2-0.
Mayor Bradshaw and Erin left at 2:22 p.m.
Eric said a gentleman has asked whether he can purchase a sliver of county-owned land that abuts the
gentleman’s property. He said his office is reviewing land sales rules.
Cullen Gatten said agreements have been reached with all property owners along the North Fork
realignment project.
Eric said the county could begin the application process for Water Sewer District 5 before the district’s
90-day appointment window closes. He said the PA’s Office will attend the WSD 5’s next meeting, which
is planned for March 27. He said the county is reviewing the steps that would be required for a county
takeover of the water sewer district. He also noted that the recall hearing for is planned for March 25.
Commissioner Jackson left at 2:28 p.m.
Eric said Greg Lund told Water-Sewer District 2 that Virgil Fox has sold the note he owned regarding the
water-sewer district.
Commissioner Jackson returned at 2:30 p.m.
At 2:30 p.m., Commissioner Jackson announced that the Board was going into Executive Session under
RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) for 15 minutes to discuss pending and potential litigation related to
Cortland/Hupy/Green litigation, a WSU tort claim, Cortland/Green OPMA and opioid litigation.
Executive Session ended at 2:45 p.m. No decisions were made.
Meeting adjourned at 2:46 p.m.