2019-09-03 PA UpdatePA Update
September 3, 2019
2:02 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Fund, County Manager Erik Martin, Eric Eisenberg,
Jonathan Meyer, Janelle Kambich, Dianne Dorey, Becky Butler, Cullen Gatten
Guest: Dr. Lindsey Pollock
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Jonathan Meyer discussed:
• Staffing, including new hires.
• A separate salary grid for attorneys, which would include fewer steps but with larger gaps
between the steps. Erik Martin asked that Jonathan draft a proposal. Commissioner Fund said
she’d like HR involved.
• Office credit cards. Jonathan asked if the county can open credit card accounts for award credit
cards, such as those they reward users with air miles, etc. Jonathan said he will work with the
Auditor’s Office to see if it would be a possibility.
Cullen Gatten said he has received feedback regarding the proposed noise ordinance and that he is
incorporating those changes.
Eric Eisenberg said Amber Caulfield has written a report about the valuation of Water Sewer District 5
and that Erik and Public Works are reviewing it. Eric said he has not yet heard whether WSD5 plans to
hire an attorney to help it transition during a possible takeover.
The group said they would discussed code compliance at the next PA Update.
Eric Eisenberg said Community Development’s policy is that it doesn’t use issues not related to a permit
to hold up those permits. He said he would have to review the RCWs related to the matter.
Jonathan said there has been a settlement proposal regarding the opioid settlement and that a verdict
was rendered in a past case, noting that the award did not consider future damages. He said he’d
update the Board as his office learns more.
Eric discussed a recent Attorney General opinion regarding personal property owners and parcels data.
He said a PRA for a list of property owners could be denied if it would be used for commercial purposes.
He noted that Lewis County has made PATS available online for all purposes. Cullen noted that PATS
requires data to be entered.
Dianne Dorey said she vets the web sites run by the requesters to determine whether they are using the
data for commercial purposes.
Dianne said she has fielded requests from the public about removing their names from the online search
due to safety fears. She said the name search function was added without notice or her input.
Commissioner Fund said the group should schedule a separate meeting to discuss the topic more
thoroughly.
Eric discussed the Right to Farm Disclosure. Eric said the county used to require that a notice / covenant
be recorded through the Auditor’s Office if the property was located within 25 years of a farm. He said
the notice now is included in the permit process or subdivision process. He said the Lewis County Code
no longer requires the form but title companies may still need the form to inform buyers about the
proximity to farms.
Dr. Pollock left at 2:32 p.m.
Commissioner Fund joined in person at 2:33 p.m.
Eric said he will provide documentation regarding the ordinance that had required the Right to Farm
Disclosure, which was repealed.
At 2:35 p.m., Commissioner Jackson announced that the Board was going into Executive Session under
RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) for 2 minutes to discuss pending litigation regarding O’Hagan v. Pacific County, et
al.
Executive Session ended at 2:37 p.m. Commissioner Jackson announced that no decisions had been
made.
Meeting ended at 2:37 p.m.