2025-07-21 Wrap-Up CM
BOCC Wrap-Up / County Manager Update
July 21, 2025
9 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope, County Manager Ryan
Barrett, David Bailey, Scott Gripp, Matt Cockrell, Meja Handlen, Mindy Brooks, Angie Hodge, Kirsten
Wecker, John Abplanalp, Gabe Anzelini, Arny Davis, Ross Nielson, Lynn Richard, Caroline Garibay,
Graham Gowing, Natalie Mauermann, Rae Sisson, Rudy Rodriguez, Sherri Dokken, Chris Lanegan
Guest(s): Unnamed guests
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Public comment: None.
Executive session: At 9 a.m., Commissioner Brummer announced that the Board would be going into
executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) until 9:15 a.m. to discuss the following three topics:
• Restorical Research – Centralia landfill (with outside counsel Matt Cockrell)
• Napavine Boundary Line Adjustment (BLA)
• Darigold Board of Tax Appeals (BTA) settlement
At 9:15 a.m., Commissioner Brummer extended executive session until 9:25 a.m.
• At 9:25 a.m., Commissioner Brummer extended executive session until 9:28 a.m.
• At 9:28 a.m., Commissioner Brummer extended executive session until 9:30 a.m.
Executive session ended at 9:30. Commissioner Brummer noted that no decisions had been made.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to authorize settlement discussions on the Darigold matter as
discussed in executive session. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Agenda change: Commissioner Pollock made a motion to add to the July 22, 2025, BOCC Business
Meeting agenda Resolution 25-213: Approve an amendment to the agreement with Antiquity Consulting
LLC for consulting services related to the Winlock Broadband Project. Commissioner Swope seconded.
Motion passed 3-0.
Public Facilities District (PFD) sales tax extension: Arny Davis said the state Legislature has added an
additional 15 years to the 2047 deadline for the PFDs in the state. Arny said he cautions the
commissioners to have the county avoid being the guarantor for future extensions. The commissioners
directed staff to schedule an update with the PFD.
HR Generalist: Ryan Barrett and Angie Hodge outlined a request to reclassify the vacant HR Assistant
Position to an HR Generalist position. Ryan said the change would lead to a roughly $15,000 increase in
2026 and thereafter.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to reclassify the vacant HR Assistant Position to an HR
Generalist position as presented effective Aug. 1, 2025. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion
passed 3-0.
Water lab: John Abplanalp outlined options for the future of the water lab, noting that the proposed
modernization would cost roughly $50,000.
• Option 1: Modernize the lab and then maintain current lab services while reducing staff time
from 0.8 FTE to 0.6 FTE, based on anticipated efficiency gains from the modernization. Under
this option, the estimated General Fund contribution would be approximately $35,000 per year
if revenue remains at the current level.
• Option 2: Modernize the lab and then transition it to part-time operations, open during the first
two weeks of each month. This would still require roughly $10,000 in annual support from the
General Fund, depending on public use.
• Option 3: Modernize the lab and then limit lab operations to emergency testing only, such as in
response to contamination or natural disasters. Over the past 20 years, the lab has been
activated for emergency testing three times. Maintaining emergency capacity and required
accreditation would cost about $20,000 annually.
• Option 4: Retain the lab for emergency use without modernization. This would avoid the
upfront capital expense but would increase the annual cost to $40,000 due to increased staff
time and supply costs.
The commissioners directed staff to move forward with Option 2 and to gather additional information
regarding remodeling and modernization costs.
Civil Service Commission Secretary request for pay increase: Angie Hodge provided information
regarding comps for Civil Service secretary pay in response to a recent request to increase the pay for
the Lewis County Civil Service Commission Secretary. The commissioners directed staff to draft a
resolution approving the pay increase.
Requested market adjustment: Ryan Barrett discussed the request.
Commissioner Pollock made a motion to approve the two market adjustments as outlined in the read-
ahead effective Aug. 1, 2025. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Timberland Regional Library Board of Trustees request for letter of support: Rieva Lester said
Timberland Regional is requesting a letter of support related to Thurston County’s appointment of Susan
Hettinger. The commissioners said they approve of the letter.
Meeting adjourned at 10:05 a.m.