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2023-02-15 ESC Directors UpdateESC / Directors’ Update February 15, 2023 Time Present: Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, County Manager Erik Martin, Steve Wohld, Mindy Brooks, Josh Metcalf, Becky Butler, Matt Jaeger, Amber Smith, Alex Murray, Doug Carey, Nic Scott, Jenn Libby-Jones, Eric Eisenberg, Justin Stennick, Scott Tinney, Kate Chatterton, Casey Mauermann, Graham Gowing, Matt Thuston, Meja Handlen, Shelly Stewart, Sarah Hensley, Tailor Arrington, Tom Stanton, Undersheriff Wes Rethwill, Gary Fredricks Guest(s): John Christian Recorder: Rieva Lester Public comment: ESC SingleWire Emergency Notification System: Matt Jaeger discussed an internal emergency alert system IT is considering purchasing. 2023 legislative session: Erik Martin said he and Josh Metcalf met with Troy Nichols and Josh Weiss the previous day to discuss transportation needs to present to the Legislature. He noted that the governor’s proposed budget cuts in half the $2.5 million that had been earmarked for Lewis County’s transportation projects. Erik said he proposes asking the Legislature to leave alone the transportation funding already promised for county projects. The commissioners directed staff to move forward with the request. Roundtable Steve Wohld said Internal Services is prepping to launch its park host program. Steve said playground equipment will be installed soon, in time for a March 31 park opening. The commissioners said they’d all like to attend the park opening ceremonies. Steve said the county has three main parks, plus a new section at the fairgrounds. Eric Eisenberg noted he will be out of the office the week of Feb. 20. Jenn Libby-Jones discussed the progress 911 has made with staffing. Scott Tinney said the processing time for passports is roughly 12 weeks. Meja Handlen said she has learned of a Drug Court grant opportunity. Undersheriff Wes Rethwill thanked the commissioners for working on the jail HVAC project. He thanked the commissioners for attending the Sheriff’s Office event the previous week, Motor Pool for its work on Sheriff’s Office vehicles and Nic Scott for his press releases about the Sheriff’s Office. DIRECTORS’ UPDATE Josh Metcalf discussed a notice of hearing regarding a franchise to City of Centralia to construct, operate, and maintain electrical distribution, water, stormwater and sewer facilities in Lewis County road rights-of-way. Alex Murray discussed a declaration of surplus personal property. Matt Jaeger discussed a resolution to authorize the IT Director to execute a purchase order with Dell Inc. Mindy Brooks discussed a resolution to authorize application for the Federal RAISE Grant from the US Department of Transportation, commit local matching funds and assign Director of Community Development as the Authorized Representative. Jenn Libby-Jones discussed a resolution to approve a contract to purchase Replacement Microwave Link for the Lewis County Communications System using National Association of State Procurement Officials contract #05715. Becky Butler discussed a resolution to approve a grant award between the County and Historic Fox Theatre Restorations for Phase 4 of the Historic Fox Theatre restoration including the construction of the building envelope. Rieva Lester discussed a resolution to reappoint Carol Brock, Heidi Buswell and Amy Turnbull and appoint Debbie Aust to the Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging (LMTAAA) Advisory Council. Rieva Lester discussed a resolution to appoint members to the Distressed Counties (.09) Fund / Rural Economic Development Public Facilities Advisory Committee. The commissioners said they’d like an outline of how the Economic Alliance narrows its list of recommendations. Josh Metcalf discussed a resolution to approve a license renewal to Sprint Communications Company for the installation, construction, operation, and maintenance of telecommunications facilities within the road rights-of-way of unincorporated Lewis County. Commissioner Pollock made a motion to move one notice item, two consent items, seven deliberation items and one hearing to the Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, BOCC agenda. Commissioner Brummer seconded. Motion passed 2-0. Wednesday Workshop East Lewis County Public Development Authority (ELCPDA) .09 Longmire project: Erik Martin said the county alerted the ELCPDA that the group had submitted ineligible reimbursement requests totaling roughly $39,000. Erik said the county has told the ELCPDA it could submit eligible reimbursements in that amount rather than repay the $39,000. He said the group has roughly $29,000 in eligible reimbursements. Erik said the ELCPDA said it will come up with the remaining $10,000 in reimbursement requests and that the ELCPDA has indicated it will be requesting a loan, grant – or something – of up to $50,000 from the county to complete its Longmire project. He said the group has cautioned that it has insolvency concerns. Rural housing update: Eric Eisenberg discussed work to allow smaller housing units and / or rentals in rural areas. Eric said the average home size in Lewis County is 1,800 square feet. He said the proposal would allow expansion up to 3,200 square feet for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Planning project for south Chehalis UGA: Eric Eisenberg noted that the county’s growth is supposed to take place in the urban area, according to the Growth Management Act. Eric said developers have expressed concerns about utilities, including water, in the south Chehalis UGA. Eric said Twin Transit has pledged $50,000 toward a project to shore up infrastructure in the area. Eric urged the commissioners to allow the project to move forward, noting that the group is looking at a reclamation process that would use water from the industrial port for the proposed hydrogen facility. The commissioners said they’d like to hear the city of Chehalis’s view of the proposed project. Josh Metcalf expressed concerns with the Rush Road and Bishop Road areas. Winlock annexation interlocal agreement negotiations: Erik said he and Commissioner Pollock met with Winlock Mayor Brandon Svenson, Winlock’s Public Works Director and others on Feb. 13 to discuss the city’s plans for maintaining new roads. He said the ILA outlines the timeline by which taxes would move to the city’s coffers rather than the county’s. He said the city has asked to move up that timeline so it receives the full amount earlier and in exchange would pledge to devote a certain amount to road maintenance. Meeting ended at 10:49 a.m.