2022-11-09 PHSS and PA updatePHSS Update and PA Update
November 9, 2022
4:10 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope, Becky Butler, Meja Handlen, Barbara Russell,
John Abplanalp, Nic Scott, Kate Chatterton, Tailor Arrington
Guests: JM Nielson, Laura Coppock, Citizens Budget Committee member Tim Wood
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Morton property
At 4:11 p.m., Commissioner Pollock announced that the Board would be going into executive session
under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) for 5 minutes to discuss 153 Bergen Road, Morton. Executive session started
at 4:12 p.m. and ended at 4:17 p.m. Commissioner Pollock noted no decisions had been made.
Commissioner Swope made a motion to send a letter to Freddie Mac regarding the property at 153
Bergen Road in Morton. Commissioner Pollock seconded. Motion passed 2-0.
Public comment: None.
Public Health and Social Services (PHSS)
$3,360 to eliminate the Humane Officer position and instead create a Code Compliance Specialist
position: Commissioner Pollock said she doesn’t see an advantage to eliminating the position.
Meja Handlen said the intent is to increase the number of individuals who can fill the role.
$93,500 to create an additional code compliance specialist position: Commissioner Pollock and
Commissioner Swope approved moving forward with a new FTE Code Compliance Specialist position and
doing away with the casual position.
Meja Handlen discussed the Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) funding.
Commissioner Swope said he wants to know what the state’s requirements will be. Meja said she can
provide the ConCon agreement and a breakdown of the information. John Abplanalp said the state
requires that the county identify which “buckets” the funding is coming and how it’s being used.
The commissioners said they would further discuss the request Nov. 21.
Meja discussed the need for local control and her efforts to ensure the county maintains that control.
She said she will provide a read-ahead to address the FPHS funding and how it would be used. Becky
suggested PHSS provide a breakdown of what FPHS and General Fund dollars cover.
Meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.