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2022-01-11 Business Meeting Minutes LEWIS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS(BOCC) Business Meeting minutes January 11,2022 Present: Commissioner Pollock,Commissioner Swope,Commissioner Grose Recorder: Rieva Lester Commissioner Pollock called the meeting to order at 10 a.m., determined a quorum and then proceeded with the flag salute. PUBLIC COMMENT Rieva Lester noted that Kyle Wheeler had submitted written comment that was being introduced into the record. Mossyrock resident Jonni Cournyer said she has concerns regarding animal control. She noted she had reached out to the commissioners in the past but has not yet heard back.She said the county's policies need to be strengthened. She cited the Jenkins and Walker cases as efforts in which the county's processes failed. JANUARY 2022 FLOOD Josh Metcalf and Ross McDowell discussed the recent snow and flood events. Ross provided the following timeline recap: • Jan. 5: National Weather Service warned of potential flooding. Lewis County opened up sandbag sites. Opened a Level 1 EOC activation. • Jan.6: Sandbag sites expanded. River gauges rose rapidly. Moved to a Level 2 EOC activation. County and cities started closing multiple roads.Worked to coordinate an emergency shelter. Opened evacuation center(ended up serving 52 evacuees).Sent evacuation notices. County issued state of emergency declaration. • Jan. 7:Additional roads closed. Mudslide concerns grow.Water rescues.Chehalis and Skookumchuck rivers crested lower than predicted. Water rescue teams rescued evacuees. Governor issued state of emergency declaration. • Jan.8: Began work to move the evacuation shelter to 4-H building at the Fairgrounds. • Jan.9: Moved shelter to the Fairgrounds. • Jan. 10: United Way is helping coordinate donations. • Jan. 11:Volunteer clean-up crew Team Rubicon to arrive.Twenty-three evacuees still using emergency shelter services. 1 Ross said future efforts will include: • Reaching out to affected residents. • Helping coordinate Team Rubicon's cleanup efforts. • Assessing and tracking damages. • Awaiting federal declaration of disaster. Ross noted that a pineapple express weather system is forecast to hit the region. Commissioner Grose discussed the closure of Interstate 5. He said Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) deserved criticism for its lack of outreach during its decision-making process, but he noted that WSDOT was hearing about fast-rising rivers and was acting on that information. Commissioner Swope commended Commissioner Pollock and Sen. Braun for reaching out to and meeting with WSDOT to reverse its decision to close the freeway, and he commended Sheriff Snaza for his efforts to bring the actual conditions to light.The group discussed the disruptions the closure of Interstate 5 caused Lewis County's side roads. Commissioner Swope invited the public to join a Centralia clean-up day scheduled for Jan. 15. Sheriff Snaza discussed the response of his staff. He commended the efforts of everyone involved in the response to the January flood. CONSENT ITEMS Commissioner Swope made a motion to approve minutes from the January 4,2022, Business Meeting as well as Resolution 22-006. Commissioner Grose seconded. Resolution 22-006:Approval of warrants/claims against the various county departments. Chief accountant Grace Jimenez, representing the Auditor's Office,said warrants 850,260 through 850,352 were issued between December 31, 2021, and January 6, 2022, for payments against the county totaling$455,454.20. Grace noted a skip in sequence for warrants 850,244 through 850,259, which were issued on behalf of Special Purpose Districts. Motion passed 3-0. DELIBERATION ITEMS Commissioner Grose made a motion to approve Resolutions 22-007 through 22-010. Commissioner Swope seconded. 2 Resolution 22-007:Accept a grant from the Washington State Department of Agriculture Fairs Program toward a remodel and restructured use of the Swine area on the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds. Parks and Recreation Director Connie Riker discussed the resolution. She said work will include 300 volunteer hours. Resolution 22-008: Dissolve the Lewis County Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Commission. Parks and Recreation Director Connie Riker discussed the resolution. Connie said of the goals of the Lewis County Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Commission can be accomplished through informal discussions and interactions. Commissioner Grose read the following into the record: "As the tourism industry becomes more important to our local economy,we must continue to recognize the importance access to our national forest is to that economy. In recent years, road and trail closures and the destruction, deterioration and elimination of signage have made navigation in our Gifford Pinchot National Forest difficult at best. With new leadership at the local and regional level,groups such as the Backcountry Horsemen, OTV/ATV, snowmobile clubs,and Packwood Trails have become an integral part of our tourism economy package. "The elimination of the Lewis County Outdoor Recreation and Tourism group is not intended to reduce the impact these groups are having on revitalizing access to the GP.To the contrary, it is hoped that this move on our part will give these groups even better access to county agencies and partners in the tourism industry. We must keep them involved and be receptive to their comments and suggestions." Resolution 22-009: Amend the salary grid for the Corrections Guild, representing the Sheriff's Corrections group;the Lewis County Deputies Guild, representing the Sheriff's Operations Bureau;and Teamsters Local No.252, representing the Sheriff's Sergeants and Lieutenant group. HR Director Chris Panush discussed the resolution. He said the changes were related to county's the recent salary study. Resolution 22-010:Appoint Kevin Ryan to the Civil Service Commission. Commissioner Pollock briefly discussed the resolution. Commissioner Grose commended the applicants for the position. Motion passed 3-0. 3 HEARINGS Vacation 22-001(1st&Pine):The proposed vacation of a portion of 1st and Pine Streets and adjacent alleys in Dryad. Commissioner Pollock introduced the hearing. Real Estate Services Manager Martin Roy gave the staff report. Martin said: • The BOCC passed Resolution 21-408 on Nov. 23, 2021,declaring their intent to look into a possible vacation. • The portions of the street and alleys do not abut a body of water. • The County Road Engineer filed his report on December 7, 2021. • The BOCC passed Resolution 21-433 on December 14, 2021, setting the hearing date as January 11, 2022. Commissioner Pollock asked if there were any questions.There were no questions. Commissioner Pollock then closed the question-and-answer portion of the hearing. Martin asked that his previous comments be adopted into the record. Commissioner Pollock asked if anyone wanted to speak for or against the resolution. No one spoke. Commissioner Pollock closed the hearing. Commissioner Swope made a motion to approve Vacation 22-001. Commissioner Grose seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Resolution 22-011: Lewis County 2021 budget,emergency and supplemental appropriations to and transfers within current expense and other funds. Commissioner Pollock introduced the hearing. Budget Services Manager Becky Butler gave the staff report. She said the amendment reflects a $538,202 increase in expenditures, a $352,721 increase in revenues with a $185,481 use of fund balance. Becky provided a brief overview of the changes reflected in the amendment. Commissioner Pollock asked if there were any questions.There were none. Commissioner Pollock then closed the question-and-answer portion of the hearing. Becky asked that her previous comments be adopted into the record. Commissioner Pollock asked if anyone wanted to speak for or against the resolution. No one spoke. 4 Commissioner Pollock closed the hearing. Commissioner Grose made a motion to approve Resolution 22-011. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0. COVID-19 JP Anderson said the COVID-19 testing site has reopened.JP said the county has started receiving some at-home COVID-19 tests. ANNOUNCEMENTS None. PRESS CONFERENCE Peter Lahmann commended improved communication efforts during the flood. He suggested developing a list of construction companies and others who can be called on to meet equipment and manpower needs during emergencies. The group discussed communication efforts and ways to improve upon them.Josh Metcalf noted that Public Works is resuming the use of ham radios in emergency situations. Elizabeth Rohr said the state Board of Health is meeting to discuss adding COVID-19 vaccines to childhood vaccine requirements.JP said he was aware that the state Board of Health was meeting Jan. 11.JP noted that the CDC had eased quarantine and isolation guidelines but had not eased requirements for schools.JP invited Elizabeth to call him directly to further discuss the matter. ADJOURNMENT The BOCC Business Meeting adjourned at 11:29 a.m.,with the next Business Meeting scheduled for 10 a.m.Tuesday,January 18, 2022, in the Commissioners' Hearing Room (Room 223). Minutes from the BOCC Business Meeting are not verbatim. The weekly Business Meeting streams live on VouTube (search for"LewisCountyWa"on YouTube or go to https://www.youtube.com/user/LewisCountyWa/featured). Video footage also is available at no charge at https://lewiscountywa.gov/offices/commissioners/bocc-meetings/. [SIGNATURES ON NEXT PAGE ] 5 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON • .. �',•gOARS-;e. •O,' • ��� a(vC� • ,y• , Lindsey . Pollock, DVM, Chair • • �.', 1845 :z: •T�n`. �co,' • ATTEST: •c�; 7s-is-`OO•••• Sea D. wS e,Vi Chair 4./2 te+141e AVZ 44> J 7.'a4 Rieva Lester, Clerk of the Board F. Lee Grose, Commissioner 6