Board Meeting Minutes 03/30/20151
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
March 30, 2015
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) for Lewis County, Washington, met in
regular session on Monday, March 30, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. Commissioners Edna J.
Fund, P.W. “Bill” Schulte, and Gary Stamper were in attendance. Chair Fund
determined a quorum, called the meeting to order and proceeded with the flag salute.
Commissioner Stamper moved to approve the minutes from the 10:00 a.m. meeting
held on Monday, March 23, 2015. Commissioner Schulte seconded the motion.
Motion Carried 3-0
PUBLIC COMMENT
Cheryl Heywood, Timberland Regional Library Director, shared the Timberland Libraries
Annual State of the Library Report and introduced the staff at our local libraries.
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
The BOCC recognized Daleyn Coleman for being awarded the National Employers
Labor Relations Association Certified Labor Relations Professional.
The BOCC recognized Les Mauel, Communications 911 employee retiring on March 31,
2015, for 33 years of service to Lewis County.
PROCLAMATION
Commissioner Schulte made a motion to approve the Proclamation Agenda item one.
Commissioner Stamper seconded the motion.
1. Proclamation: Honoring the Lewis County Sharpshooters Level 7, Special
Olympics Basketball.
Motion Carried 3-0
NOTICE
Commissioner Schulte made a motion to approve the Notice Agenda items two
through six. Commissioner Stamper seconded the motion.
2. Call for Bids: For the 2015 Countywide Base Stabilization Project. Bids are due
to the Clerk of the Board by 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Resolution No.
15-100
Tim Fife, Public Works, stated sealed bids for the 2015 Countywide Base Stabilization
Project, CRP 2172A, shall be submitted to the Clerk of the BOCC (351 N.W. North
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Street, Room 210, CMS-01, Chehalis, Washington 98532), by or before 11:00 a.m. on
Tuesday, April 14, 2015, and will be opened on or after 11:30 a.m. on April 14, 2015.
This contract will allow Lewis County to improve various roads by pulverization and
cement stabilization, and other work, all in accordance with the Contract Provisions and
the Standard Specifications. The 2015 Countywide Base Stabilization Project, CRP
2172A, is listed as #3 on Lewis County's previously adopted amended 2015-2020 Six-
Year Transportation Improvement Program.
3. Request for Qualification: To investigate alternatives to improve access from
the I-5 corridor to industrial properties in northern Lewis County/North County
Industrial Access. Requests are due by 4:00 p.m. on April 24, 2015, at the
Lewis County Public Works Department. Resolution 15-101
Tim Fife, Public Works, stated Lewis County Public Works is seeking the services of
qualified consulting firms to investigate alternatives to improve access from the I-5
corridor to industrial properties in northern Lewis County. The analysis will include
investigating alternative routes utilizing existing interchanges, as well as investigating
the feasibility of a new interchange between Harrison Avenue (Exit 82) and the Grand
Mound (Exit 88). This effort will require close consultation and coordination with
Thurston County Public Works, Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT), the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, the City of Centralia
and the Port of Centralia. Project funding has been secured from the Distressed
Counties (.09) funding in the amount of $500,000. While the first phase of the project is
to complete a comprehensive alternatives analysis, only consulting firms with
experience in preparing Interchange Justification Reports (IJRs) using Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) and WSDOT guidance will be considered in the event that a
new interchange is the preferred alternative.
4. Notice: Extending the closure of a portion of Bunker Road to all through
traffic. Resolution No. 15-102
Larry Unzelman, Public Works, stated the Department of Fish and Wildlife requested
Lewis County on November 4, 2005 to close a portion of unmaintained Bunker Road
due to water on, over and along the road. Vehicular traffic on the road is creating habitat
degradation and loss of fish life. Additionally, protection is needed for vehicular traffic
from the potential hazard caused by water over the road. The Department requested the
road to be closed to all vehicles seasonally, from October 15 to April 15. Resolution 06-
014 passed by the BOCC on January 9, 2006 instructed Lewis County Public Works
Department to gate the end of Bunker Road, and keep it closed to all vehicles during
the seasonal closure. This seasonal closure was for a period of five years ending on
April 15, 2010 and resolution 10-092 extended the seasonal closure to April 15, 2015.
There has been no change in the condition of this portion of unmaintained Bunker Road
and until the problem is cured, Public Works Department sees no alternative to keeping
the road seasonally closed as was proposed and extend the closure date for a period of
five years ending on April 15, 2020.
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5. Notice of Hearing: To review applications for Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) Planning Only Grant (POG) from WA State Department of
Commerce. Hearing will be held on or after 10:00 a.m. on April 13, 2015.
Resolution No. 15-103
Shirley Kook, Public Works, stated Lewis County Water District #2 (LCWD#2) have
identified a community development need to seek CDBG POG to assist LCWD#2 to
meet state Department of Health's (DOH) planning requirements by updating their water
system plan. LCWD#2 is an existing public water system serving the unincorporated
Onalaska area. LCWD#2 conducted an income survey to determine that the use of
these funds will benefit low to moderate income citizens in their water service area.
Lewis County may only make one application per year in each funding category, and
Public Works recommends the Board support this project for application. The hearing
for the grant application will be noticed in The Chronicle on March 31 and April 7, 2015.
6. Notice of Hearing: Regarding approval of Open Space Designations. Hearing
will be held on or after 10:00 a.m. on April 20, 2015. Resolution No. 15-104
Lee Napier, Director of Community Development, stated this Resolution sets public
hearing date to consider the granting of tax relief under the Open Space Program for
four properties located within Lewis County. At the conclusion of the hearing the BOCC
will consider a resolution granting said properties tax relief consistent with RCW
84.34.073(1) and Lewis County Code 3.50. Lewis County Code (LCC) 3.50 allows the
County Assessor to defer a percentage of the property tax on parcels where it can be
shown that the characteristics and use of the land contribute to a public benefit.
Motion Carried 3-0.
CONSENT
Commissioner Schulte made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda items seven
through nine. Commissioner Stamper seconded the motion.
7. Resolution No. 15-105 Approval of warrants for payment.
Chair Fund stated this Resolution approves 231 regular warrants for a total payment
against the County in the amount of $789,778.34.
8. Resolution No. 15-106 Approval of funding from the Tourism Promotion Fund
198 to agencies for agritourism related activities.
Chair Fund stated this Resolution approves funding to Onalaska Alliance in the amount
of $1,500, Destination Packwood $3,000, and Lewis County Government $55,000 to be
used for the tourisms promotion including agritourism.
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9. Resolution No. 15-107 Transfer of accumulated vacation and sick leave from
the Assessor’s Office Fund 001 to Information Technology Fund 540.
Suzette Smith, Auditors Office, stated employees occasionally transfer from one fund
or department to another within Lewis County. When that occurs the BOCC allow them
to take the accumulated vacation and sick leave. This Resolution will transfer Amanda
Prices accumulated sick and vacation leave from current expense to the Information
Technology Fund 540.
Motion Carried 3-0.
HEARING
Hearing: Approving the 1st 2015 Budget Amendment-Resolution No. 15-108
Steve Walton, Budget Manager, stated copies of the detailed budget amendment is at
the front of the room. This will be a hearing on the 1st 2015 Budget Amendment for
Current Expense/General Fund and Other Funds. The hearing was noticed in the
Chronicle on March 17th and 24th. The amendment increases expenditures in the
amount of $2,452,336 and increases revenue in the amount of $372,766 resulting in a
use of reserves in the amount of $2,079,570. The Current Expense/General Fund
portion of this Amendment includes: Revenue increase in the amount of $54,075
Expenditure increase in the amount of $71,168 use of reserves in the amount of
$17,093
Chair Fund asked if there were any questions. There were none. She closed the
question and answer portion of the hearing and opened the formal hearing.
Steve Walton asked that his previous comments be adopted into the record.
Chair Fund asked if anyone else would like to testify. There was none. She closed the
hearing and asked for a motion.
Commissioner Schulte stated over the last four years the BOCC, the Elected Officials
in Lewis County, and the budget staff has done an outstanding job of balancing revenue
collecting and expense. In 2011 we had a $2.5 million dollar surplus, in 2012 and 2013
we lost around $1 million each year, and in 2014 we had a budget surplus of around
$250,000. He appreciates everyone’s hard work.
Commissioner Schulte moved to approve Resolution No. 15-108. Commissioner
Stamper seconded.
Resolution No. 15-108 Lewis County 2015 Budget, Emergency and Supplemental
Appropriations to and Transfers within Current Expense and Other Funds.
Motion Carried 3-0
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There being no further business, the BOCC’s business meeting adjourned at 10:39 a.m.
on March 30, 2015. The next public meeting will be held Monday, April 6, 2015.
Please note that minutes from the BOCC’s meetings are not verbatim. A recording of
the meeting may be purchased at the BOCC’s Office.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
ATTEST: Edna J. Fund, Chair
Karri Muir, CMC, Clerk of the Board P.W. Bill Schulte, Vice-Chair
Lewis County Commissioners
Gary Stamper, Commissioner