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2010-05-03 Board Meeting Minutes 1 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON BOARD MEETING MINUTES May 3, 2010 The Board of County Commissioners for Lewis County, Washington met in regular session on Monday, May 3, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. COMMISSIONERS P.W. SCHULTE, RON AVERILL and F. LEE GROSE were in attendance. Chairman Schulte determined a quorum, called the meeting to order and proceeded with the flag salute. Commissioner Averill moved to approve the minutes from the 10:00 a.m. meeting held on Monday, April 26 2010. Commissioner Grose seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0 Public Comment Don Iddings, Vader, WA, stated that “May Day” is a big deal in the Town of Vader. He thanked the Board and staff for coming out and celebrating with them. Notice Commissioner Grose made a motion to approve Notice Item one Commissioner Averill seconded the motion. Commissioner Averill read the Proclamation into the record. 1. Proclamation: Proclaiming May as Drug Court Month. Judge Nelson Hunt stated the mission of Drug Court is to take individual drug addicts, who have been charged with felony drug related crimes, and provide each one with the opportunity to change and become productive drug free, crime free citizen. This is done by providing comprehensive services, ranging from treatment. to housing assistance, individual counseling, job search assistance, and a supportive environment. On the other hand we have swift and sever sanctions for failing to meet our expectations. This combination has been proven effective nationally for years. In Lewis County, of our 57 graduates, only two have returned to court with new felony charges. The success of Drug Court is because of a team made up of the following: Drug Court Manager, Jennifer Soper-Baker, Prosecuting Attorney, Michael Golden, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Caileen Wevodau, Defense Attorney Paul Dugaw, Compliance Officer Kevin Dickey, The Eugenia Center, Easton Franco, Juvenile Court Administrator Holli Spanski, and Program Coordinator Jennifer Helm. It is through the combined efforts of everyone that we are successful. He thanked the Board for their support during these hard budgetary times. He thanked Commissioner Averill, who is a Drug Court Advisory Board Member, who has taken his role seriously and provided a great deal of support through some difficult times and his support remains stead fast. He thanked the Social Services Department, Danette York and Tara Smith. Ann Cole, former Drug Court participant stated that before Drug Court she was homeless, did not have any family, and had lost everything. She had heard good things about Drug Court and felt if she could get into the program it would help her. She got 2 into Drug Court and it helped her. She noted that Drug Court works because it forces you to change your behavior, not just the use of drugs and alcohol. She is able to make good decisions now. She believes Drug Court works for people. Hillary Cole, former Drug Court participant stated that Drug Court helped her. She dropped out of school in the eighth grade and without Drug Court she does not feel she would have gone back to get her GED. She is now in college, and this was a huge success for her. She tried getting clean and sober on her own but was not successful. She has been clean and sober for 18 months. Commissioner Averill noted that Drug Court is an important program. Statistics prove that over time Drug Courts pay for themselves. The people who go through the program and get clean do not go back to drugs and commit crimes. This is one of the reasons why he has been a supporter of the program. There are two programs, one is the Drug Court and the other is Rehabilitation Court in the Juvenile system. We are very proud of the participants that have gone through these programs and successfully graduated. He appreciates all the people who support these programs in the County with all the work they do. Motion carried 3-0 Commissioner Grose made a motion to approve Notice Items two and three Commissioner Averill seconded the motion. Karri Muir, Clerk of the Board read the items into the record. 2. Call for Bids: For a safety improvement project at the Packwood Airport. Bids will be opened on or after 10:00 a.m., on Monday, May 24, 2010. Bob Johnson, Community Development stated Packwood Airport is owned by the County and we have a firm, WH Pacific, which does project management for the County owned airports. This project is to bridge the tailrace, owned by Energy Northwest with an estimated cost of $500,000.00. Commissioner Averill noted that we have been working on this project for the past two years. Commissioner Grose noted that he had about three people ask him about this project over the weekend. He feels it is a good project, especially with the expansion of the White Pass ski area happening. 3. Notice of Hearing: Open Space Land Classifications. Hearing will be held on or after 10:00 a.m., on Monday, May 17, 2010. Dianne Dorey, LC Assessor, stated this hearing will be for the Open Space, Open Space applications. There are two categories these fall under. One is Open Space, Open Space, which is land left in its natural state, and Open Space Farm and Agricultural Conservation, which is land that was typically farm land that we hope will return to farming. There are ten applicants, seven are Open Space, Open Space and the other three are Open Space Farm and Agriculture. This goes through a process the Public Benefit Rating System Committee who score the applications. After this the completed applications are sent to the Planning Commission for their recommendation 3 to the Board. On May 17, 2010, there will be a hearing held based on the Planning Commission’s recommendations. Commissioner Averill stated these applications go through an extensive review process. First it is looked at by the PBRS Committee, who goes through and scores the applicants. Not in every case do people get a break, most of the properties that are coming under this system, have previously been forest lands or agricultural properties, which receive a greater taxing break for being in those categories. When these properties get moved into the Open Space Program, you get a break on the percentage of benefits that the property has. Some people may be paying a higher tax on their properties. The second thing that happens, because it is Open Space the property owner has to agree that it is open to the public. The PBR Board has already seen these and made their recommendations and it they are now going before the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will hold a hearing on May 11, 2010 and we will hold our hearing after their recommendations to us. Ms. Dorey introduced Susan Johnson and noted she does a wonderful job with the Open Space Program. Motion carried 3-0 Consent Commissioner Averill made a motion to approve Consent Items four through eight. Commissioner Grose seconded the motion. Karri Muir, Clerk of the Board read the items into the record. 4. Resolution No. 10-112 Approving a Rural Arterial Program Project agreement with the CRAB for the Centralia Alpha Slide and Safety Project. Rod Lakey, Public Works, stated this project appears as #33 on the 2010-2015 Amended Six-year Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The Centralia Alpha Slide & Safety project qualified for Rural Arterial Trust Account (RATA) funding through the Rural Arterial Program (RAP) in the amount of $655,300.00. This project is scheduled to receive $344,700.00 in additional RATA funding during the 2013–2015 biennium. The total preliminary estimated cost is $3,000,000.00 for the Slide & Safety Project. This roadway also qualifies for STP(R) funding. It is Lewis County Public Work’s intent to secure both funding sources to complete the project with the following: RAP Funds - $1,000,000.00 (Lewis County match - $111,111.00) STP(R) Funds - $1,633,889.00 (Lewis County match – $255,000.00) Total Lewis County match - $366,111.00 5. Resolution No. 10-113 Bid award for the Chandler Bridge Restoration Project. 4 Rod Lakey, Public Works, stated this project is listed as #7 on the County’s 2010 STIP. The contract will provide improvement of Chandler Road and Doty Dryad Road. The Chandler Bridge Rehabilitation Project is currently funded as follows: FEMA $ 849,249.00 State DEM $ 141,541.00 CRAB RAP Emergency Project Funds $ 141,541.00 Lewis County Funds $1,700,356.00 Lewis County’s appeal to use current Bridge Codes and Standards was recently approved by FEMA. This will likely increase the FEMA and State DEM contributions to 87.5% of the total project. However, the original project worksheet has not been revised Quigg Brother Construction will be awarded this project in the amount of $2,832,687.00. FEMA has reviewed the bid tabs, Quigg Brother Construction is not on the disbarred list and Public Works recommends this award. Commission Averill stated this is an important project. This bridge has been out since 2007. We have been working with FEMA, and after a long struggle and having to get Congressional support, we finally got word back from FEMA stating they are going to help us do this right and construct the bridge with the current road standards. With the FEMA approval, Lewis County will not be spending as much money as anticipated, because FEMA is covering 87.5% of the cost. We need to pass this today to get the project going. 6. Resolution No. 10-114 Bid award for the Historic Courthouse Ridge Cap Painting. Michael Strozyk, Central Services, stated in 2009 we applied for a grant from the State to do some preservation work on the Historic Courthouse. This is Phase I of the project. It is a bid award to Long Painting in the amount of $53,000.00. Funding for the project was in the 2010 budget. There is a 50% match in the amount of $26,500.00. Commissioner Averill stated we had this funding established and the approval to use the funding through the Historical Society, unfortunately it got cut in the budget process this year and we were not sure, and the historical people were not sure if the money would be cut off. That is why we decided to go this route of splitting this project. 7. Resolution No. 10-115 Formalization of the Capital Facilities Planning Committee Membership. Michael Strozyk, Central Services, stated back in 2000 a Capital Facilities Committee was formed to review plans for the renovation of the Historic Courthouse. The staff members have evolved throughout the past ten years. This resolution formalizes the core membership of that committee. The current make up will be: Commissioner Central Services Director Facilities Manager County Treasurer Chief Accountant-Auditor’s Office Budget/Fiscal Director IT Manager Administrative Assistant 5 The Capital Facilities Committee reviews projects and makes recommendations to the Board. It is like an oversight committee for the County’s construction projects. As projects are being done within departments, those departments will be brought in and included in the discussions, so they will have input in the projects. Commissioner Averill stated this is an important committee. Some of the projects that have been done since Commissioner Grose and himself have been in office include, the Fleet Building remolding, new facilities for the Coroner Office and the Sheriff’s Evidence Room, demolished the old Coroner/Evidence Building and Social Services and put in a temporary parking lot. There are long term plans to improve the County Campus. Hopefully replacing the Health Building and putting up a new building that will house the Health Department and the other departments that are now housed on Kresky Avenue. This will make it easier for citizens to conduct County business. Commissioner Grose stated the New Coroner Evidence Building was slated for demolition until the CFP Committee looked at the cost to remodel or demolish it. The cost was comparable to do it either way. The Committee decided to remodel it. The finished product speaks for itself. We have a building that is a good size and really does a good job. We ended up with more square footage than we would have had we demolished it and put in a metal building. 8. Resolution No. 10-116 Approving a loan agreement with the City of Centralia to provide distressed Counties funding Commissioner Averill stated this approves the final loan agreement between Lewis County and the City of Centralia for the award of $300,000.00 in grant funds and $300,000.00 in a loan for a total of $600,000.00 from Lewis County Distressed County (.09) Funding IAW RCW 82.14. Pursuant to the recommendation for approval by the Distressed Counties/Rural Economic Development Public Facilities Advisory Committee, the BOCC adopted RES 08-310 on October 27, 2008 to finance upgrading and installing electrical facilities and related infrastructure owned by City of Centralia City Light to serve the Millard Refrigerated Services – Business Attraction Project. This resolution approves final documentation of the loan. Motion carried 3-0 There being no further business, the Commissioners’ public meeting adjourned at 10:37a.m. on May 3, 2010. The next public meeting will be held Monday, May 10, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. Please note that minutes from the Board of County Commissioners’ meetings are not verbatim. A recording of the meeting may be purchased at the Commissioners’ office. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON ATTEST: P.W. Schulte, Chairman 6 Clerk of the Board Ron Averill, Commissioner Lewis County Commissioners F. Lee Grose, Commissioner