2020-01-27 Business Meeting Minutes LEWIS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS(BOCC)
Business Meeting minutes
January 27,2020
Present Commissioner Stamper,Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Jackson
Recorder. Rieva Lester
Commissioner Stamper called the meeting to order at 10 01 a m , determined a quorum and then
proceeded with the flag salute.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Lisa Striedinger voiced support for affordable housing
Chris Murphy discussed proposed Resolution 20-037. He asked:
• Whether the SEPA checklist had been submitted
• Whether the relocation of the fish had been included in the FEMA no-rise study
• Whether there was an agreement with the Packwood Improvement group
Chris urged the commissioners to vote down the resolution He said he feels the park project is not in
the public's best interest Commissioner Stamper said he would talk to Public Works to get answers to
the q uestions Chris asked.
NOTICE ITEM
Commissioner Jackson made a motion to approve Resolutions 20-026 through 20-029. Commissioner
Fund seconded.
Resolution 20-026• Notice of hearing regarding Ordinance 1315,which would amend Chapter 17 10
("Definitions")of Lewis County Code.The hearing will begin at or after 10 a.m. Feb. 24 in the
Commissioners' Hearing Room.
Community Development Director Lee Napier spoke to the resolution. She said Ordinance 1315 would
amend chapter 17.10("Definitions") of Lewis County Code.
Resolution 20-027•The necessary acquisition of additional right of way for a project on Snyder Road in
Packwood
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Real Estate Services Manager Martin Roy discussed the resolution. He said the county is at an impasse
with two property owners: Greg Derrick and William and Tracy Croshaw Martin said high-water events
are wreaking havoc on the area
Resolution 20-028: Call for bids for the material purchase of a precast concrete slab/girder bridge
(Cousins Road MP 3.15, CMP 1502). Bids are due to the Clerk of the Board by 11 a.m. Feb. 18
Public Works Director Josh Metcalf spoke to the resolution He said the bridge will be installed by
county staff.
Resolution 20-029: Notice of hearing regarding a franchise to Woden LLC to operate and maintain
telecommunications facilities in county rights of way. The hearing will begin at or after 10 a.m. Feb. 24
in the Commissioners' Hearing Room.
Real Estate Services Manager Martin Roy spoke to the resolution. He said the county received a
franchise application from Woden LLC and that a hearing will be held to review the franchise request
Motion passed 3-0.
CONSENT ITEMS
Commissioner Fund made a motion to approve minutes from the January 13, 2020, meeting as well as
Resolution 20-030. Commissioner Jackson seconded.
Resolution 20-030:Approval of warrants/claims against the various county departments.
Chief accountant Suzette Smith, representing the Auditor's Office, said warrants 824,146 through
824,457 and 824,535 through 824,682, as well as direct disbursements numbered 1741, 1742 and 1761
were issued in January payments against the county totaling $3,609,870.01. Suzette said payroll/tax
deposit warrants numbered 795,742 through 795,743 and Automatic Deposits 6663 through 7254 also
were approved for payments against the county totaling $1,652,975 38
She noted a skip in sequence for warrants 824,110 through 824,145 and 824,458 through 824,534,
which were issued on behalf of Special Purpose Districts
Motion passed 3-0.
DELIBERATION ITEMS
Commissioner Jackson made a motion to approve Resolutions 20-031 through 20-040. Commissioner
Fund seconded.
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Resolution 20-031: Cancel delinquent personal property and mineral rights taxes from the tax
collection system.
Treasurer Arny Davis spoke to the resolution. He said the tax write-off was for 98 mineral rights parcels,
six businesses and 18 mobile homes.Together, he said, the write-offs totaled $3,053 07
Resolution 20-032: Accept a grant for the restoration and preservation of the Historic Lewis County
Courthouse.
Facilities Manager Doug Carey spoke to the resolution He said the matching grant will reimburse up to
$109,390 in work
Resolution 20-033. Accept a grant from the Washington State Department of Agriculture Fairs
Program toward a remodel of the main restrooms at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.
Southwest Washington Fair Manager spoke to the resolution She said the $40,500 grant will be used to
remodel restrooms at the fairgrounds
Resolution 20-034: Appoint Donna Moody to the Lewis County Citizens' Commission on Salaries for
Elected Officials (Salary Commission).
County Manager Erik Martin spoke to the resolution He said Donna Moody will replace someone from
District 1 who was appointed but could not serve
Resolution 20-035: Appoint Josh Metcalf as the Director of Emergency Management.
County Manager Erik Martin spoke to the resolution He said Emergency Management will now be
housed under Public Works
Resolution 20-036: Close a Columbia Bank Petty Cash Fund ending in 0913.
Public Works Director Josh Metcalf spoke to the resolution. He said the petty cash fund established in
the 1990s no longer is needed
Resolution 20-037: Approve a Recreation Grant Agreement between Tacoma Power and Lewis County
for the Cowlitz River Public Access Point Project in Packwood.
Public Works Director Josh Metcalf spoke to the resolution. He said Public Works has obtained funding
totaling$89,120 for the project.Josh said he would provide answers to questions Chris Murphy posed
during public comment.
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Resolution 20-038: Emergency establishment of gross tonnage limits on Frase Road Bridge No. 200.
Public Works Director Josh Metcalf spoke to the resolution He said damage was discovered on Frase
Road Bridge He said the tonnage limit will be set at 10 tons.
Resolution 20-039: List the bid(s)and contractor selected for the Undercarriage Spray Wash Project,
No.90-17 F509100443 C.
Public Works Director Josh Metcalf spoke to the resolution He said the county received one bid, a
$88,935 bid from Rognlin's Inc.
Resolution 20-040.Approve a Collective Bargaining Agreement between Lewis County and Teamsters
252 representing the Sheriff's Office Corrections Sergeants for calendar years 2020-22.
Human Resources Director Steve Walton spoke to the resolution. He outlined changes in the contract,
including those for cost-of-living adjustments and increased medical contributions
Motion passed 3-0.
HEARING
Ordinance 1316: Ordinance 1316, authorizing a sales and use tax for affordable and supportive
housing in accordance with Substitute House Bill 1406.
Commissioner Stamper introduced the hearing.
Public Health &Social Services Director JP Anderson and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Amber Smith,
joined by Community Health Services and Contracts Coordinator Meja Handlen,gave the staff report
Amber noted that the ordinance does not create a new tax, rather it gives the county a portion of state
sales tax that already has been collected.
Commissioner Fund and Amber reiterated that it gives the county the opportunity to use the sales and
use tax that otherwise would go to the state.They said the roughly$242,000 will allow the county to
help low-income families that qualify to receive help with affordable housing
JP Anderson noted that cities could apply for the funding,too, but that the reporting and administrative
requirements may prove too burdensome He noted that he met with Centralia and Chehalis and that
those governmental entities supported the county's work to secure the funding
Commissioner Stamper asked if there were any questions.
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Alice Zaikowski asked whether the funding would go to those who are employed or those who are
unemployed
JP explained that there are no set programs as of yet He invited
Pat Moody asked if the tax would be added to the 8.2 percent sales tax in Lewis County
Amber said the amount already is included in the 8 2 sales tax rate, noting that it would not change the
price of a cheeseburger or a lawnmower
Commissioner Stamper then closed the question-and-answer portion of the hearing.
Amber Smith and JP Anderson asked that their previous comments be adopted into the record
Commissioner Stamper asked if anyone wanted to speak for or against the resolution.
Patrick Morrison spoke in support of Ordinance 1316.
Lisa Striedinger spoke in support of Ordinance 1316
Lt Gin Pack of the Salvation Army spoke in support of Ordinance 1316.
Commissioner Stamper closed the hearing
Commissioner Fund made a motion to approve Ordinance 1316. Commissioner Jackson seconded.
Motion passed 3-0.
ANNONCEMENTS
The commissioners discussed social events they participated in over the weekend.
Commissioner Jackson discussed the goals he has set for his role on the state affordable housing board
Steve Walton corrected an earlier statement he had made regarding the COLAs included in the CBA
Ron Averill of Centralia said he testified before the state about HB 6335. He said the bill purports to
address climate change He said the bill would detrimental to the county and the state. Ron noted that
the county has no control over Interstate 5 and Highway 12, which include high levels of emissions.
Peter Lahmann invited the commissioners to the Historical Society's annual dinner, planned for 3 p m
Feb. 9.
PRESS CONFERENCE
No questions from the press.
Commissioner Fund noted that the commissioners are in favor of HB 1154 concerning the financing of
Chehalis basin flood damage reduction and habitat restoration projects
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ADJOURNMENT
The BOCC Business Meeting adjourned at 1101 a m , with the next Business Meeting scheduled for
10 a.m. Monday, February 3, 2020, in the Commissioners' Hearing Room (Room 223)
Please note that minutes from the BOCC Business Meeting are not verbatim A recording of the meeting may be
purchased at the BOCC office, or video footage can be viewed at no charge at LewisCountyWa.gov/bocc-meetings.
Video footage of BOCC meetings also is aired on Comcast Channel 3 at 10 a.m.,2 p.m.,6 p.m.,and 10 p.m daily
Video footage also can be found on the Lewis County Commissioners'Facebook page
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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• •.,1845 ��z: Gary Stam er, Chair 4544;i:
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ATTEST Edn. J Fund, Vice 0:it
ieva Lester, Clerk of the Board Ro•-rt C Jackson, Commissioner
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