2023-01-09 BOCC Wrap-Up CMBOCC Wrap-Up / County Manager Update
January 9, 2023
9:01 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Swope, Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, County Manager Erik
Martin, Steve Wohld, Eric Eisenberg, Josh Weiss, Lara McRea, Mindy Brooks, Troy Nichols, Willie Painter,
Matt Jaeger, Amber Smith, Kate Chatterton, Tammy Martin, Eric Eisenberg, Lara McRea, Brian Warren
Guest(s): Individual identified as “Arthu,” John Christian, Marian Kloster, Richard Vanderlip, unidentified
guests
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Public comment: None.
WRAP-UP ITEMS
2023 Legislative session: Josh Weiss and Troy Nichols discussed bills that may be of interest to the
commissioners. They discussed the process by which they will highlight bills that may affect the county
and encouraged the commissioners to contact them with any proposed legislation they want added to
the watch list.
PUD letter of support regarding Bunker Creek area broadband project: The commissioners agreed to
sign the letter of support for the PUD’s project.
Swofford Pond Recreational Trail: Josh Metcalf said planning-level work for the trail still needs to be
done. He said he is not willing to sign the contract at this time because it would take away the
opportunity to negotiate the terms for future work. Josh said the county is doing all the work and would
like to pursue a relationship with Tacoma Power to have Tacoma Power help as well. Commissioner
Brummer said he will help with outreach to Tacoma Power. Josh said all of the risks fall on the county.
Commissioner Pollock said she had met with Tacoma Power the previous week. She said she is working
on infrastructure with Tacoma Power and has a list of the company’s new contacts. Commissioner
Brummer said he would work with Tacoma Power on Swofford Pond and the Riffe Lake boat launch.
Opioid settlement: Becky Butler discussed the amount the county will receive. She said she has asked
for clarification regarding what the county can spend the funds on.
Capital Facilities Projects: Commissioner Pollock discussed the process by which the county decides
what systems to update. Steve Wohld noted that the county’s consultants gave recommendations about
what systems the county should replace and which it should keep. The group discussed a repair and
replacement program.
Rieva Lester noted that the agenda included a typo. She said a zero was inadvertently left off the RCW
for the real estate executive session and that the RCW should have been listed as 42.30.110(1)(b).
Executive session: At 9:46 a.m., Commissioner Swope announced that the Board would be going into
executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) for 10 minutes to discuss the following:
• County roads condemnation – executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)
• Real estate acquisition – executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(b)
Executive session started at 9:47 a.m.
• At 9:57 a.m., the Board extended executive session for 5 minutes.
• At 10:02 a.m., the Board extended executive session for 5 minutes.
• At 10:07 a.m., the Board extended executive session for 2 minutes.
Executive session ended at 10:09 a.m. Commissioner Swope noted that no decisions had been made.
Sewer problem in UGA: Meja Handlen said there was a sewer issue in the Chehalis UGA. Brian Warren
said a grinder system on private property was overflowing onto a constituent’s property. He said the
county contacted the homeowner and the homeowner said they would take care of the problem.
Commissioner Pollock discussed concerns with standardization regarding UGAs and the interlocal
agreements that govern them. Erik Martin said he’d work on a list that outlines what is contained in the
various interlocal agreements.
COUNTY MANAGER ITEMS
Job title and description for Parks and Rec position: The commissioners approved Steve Wohld’s
request to change the Camping and Grounds Manager to a Business and Office Manager.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding: Becky Butler discussed an update for the Fox Theatre
application. She noted that the county has not yet entered into a contract regarding the Fox Theatre.
The commissioners said they’ll ask for an update on the total amount of taxpayer dollars going into the
project.
Budget: Becky said Susan Drummond is returning roughly $40,000 that was set aside for litigation. The
commissioners said they’d like the money to go to the general fund.
Winlock annexation: Erik Martin said he and Commissioner Pollock will meet with the Winlock Mayor
regarding the county’s ILA negotiations. He said the city would owe more than $510,000 for the
improvements in the area plus an additional amount for road taxes. The commissioners echoed
concerns brought up by citizens regarding the city’s maintenance of the small number of roads it already
oversees.
Public Works / DEM update
County road name changes: Erik said one of the two residents of Buckley Road has requested the road
name change. Josh Metcalf discussed the staff work that would be involved with a road name change.
Erik noted that Marian Kloster volunteered to pay for the new road sign. The commissioners said they’d
like to develop a process before making a determination.
Marian Kloster said Buckley established the road name in 1887 and died in 1888. She said the Masseys
lived on the property for a long time.
Public Works project updates: Josh said the Crumb Road and Centralia Alpha culvert replacements are
nearing completion. He said both are now considered bridges for inspection purposes.
He said the following projects also have been completed:
• Salzer Valley slide repair complete (aside from paving)
• Ceres Hill guardrail project
• Gerrard Creek bank stabilization
• Guerrier Road project
Josh said upcoming projects include:
• Centralia Alpha Road
• Pigeon Springs
• Rosebrook Road
• Carr Road
• Meade Hill Road
• Shorey Road bank stabilization
• South Lewis County Airport upgrade
• Airport master plans
• West connector plan
Josh said the county is in the final negotiations for the Packwood Sewer project.
Erik discussed the need to establish an agreement with Water District 3.
Josh discussed work that has taken place on Howe Road. He said the county has additional work to do in
the area and gave property owners an additional year – until 2023 – to move their fences out of county
right of way.
Meeting adjourned at 11:11 a.m.