[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6297752,"mediaKeyId","2507543-53d6d70aafa118545e879c8869871ae5","parentId",2507543,"title","Franklin County commissioners give consensus to resolve two lawsuits, including $2.5 million jail-death settlement","audioSeconds",361,"startMs",1175000,"endMs",1536000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2507543-53d6d70aafa118545e879c8869871ae5&start=1175&end=1536","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2507543-53d6d70aafa118545e879c8869871ae5/thumbnail_1175000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6297752/Franklin-County/Washington/Franklin-County-commissioners-give-consensus-to-resolve-two-lawsuits-including-25-million-jail-death-settlement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297752-bd6799b0f5955081fa4d2b827862deb0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775326099&Signature=drosafjnytjD7ZM8iGU-ftHd7bKECbmxC~QCQHfBzhw-XiqexlmPUQhDdGGiVwII9w4gg~wvlvlvT5VapKZecH0ai1Jwv~YaflYGK~3bqQki62sy6w1sBksvT1rrMzZggOY3d1W0birUE1OhdeIN6ryKvl5WdzkEfqtLsIXFRBFncx02sK9fjb6ewDfJwGhYj4qf2K95bTQeAW4D~E003QpJ-~4uUrbZTedsPRPbWd8yRPJRLqDH6ilThiPvgrKFg7-aBbPvxgDm81RpriYQiRPuOwZ9hiReni3OD3DjNkC~ikrYYLYeiSEIk4cslW86yhekL8Hh0LlZYCUBsZ2~Wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Franklin County, WA","date","2025-03-05T16:50:35Z","article","Franklin County commissioners at their March 5 meeting gave consensus to accept the risk-pool-approved resolution to resolve two pending lawsuits, including a $2.5 million mediated settlement in a jail-death case and an accepted offer of judgment in a defamation claim.

County Prosecutor’s Office Deputy Prosecutor Jeff Bridal asked the board for consensus to approve resolution 24-2-00222-36, telling commissioners he was “looking for some consensus from the board to approve, resolution of 2 lawsuits that were approved by the risk pool.”

The larger case involves the estate of Fabiola Valenzuela (identified in meeting remarks as the estate of the decedent) against Franklin County and includes wrongful-death, medical-malpractice, 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Monell-style policy/practice claims. Bridal said the matter mediated and produced a CR 2A binding mediation agreement for $2,500,000, with the county’s deductible at $25,000. He said the risk-pool attorney Anne Trevette of Keaton, Buckling & McCormick mediated on the county’s behalf and was involved in discovery and settlement negotiations.

The second case described by Bridal was a defamation claim involving plaintiffs identified as Anderson and Burkhart. Bridal said the county made a CR 68 offer of judgment to limit attorney fees; the offer was accepted and a judgment will be recorded against the county. Bridal said the per-plaintiff amounts were $5,000 plus attorneys’ fees and costs, with a combined attorney-fee-and-cost figure he cited as about $17,800.

Bridal emphasized the risk-pool’s role in litigation: \"The risk pool is sort of in the driver's seat with litigation,\" and noted the county can pull a claim out of the risk pool but that doing so would expose the county to paying full costs and attorney fees.

Commissioners indicated their agreement by voice when the chair asked for consensus; no roll-call vote or motion was required for the requested consensus. Bridal said the risk pool would invoice the county for deductibles at a later date and that settlements typically include language of no admission of liability.

Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton later addressed the meeting during public comment to distinguish a signed settlement from a judge-signed judgment in a related harassment/defamation matter affecting auditor staff. Beaton said, “a settlement is signed by parties, and a judgment is signed by a judge,” and described the judgment as bringing a sense of closure to long-standing workplace complaints.

What happens next: Bridal said he would notify the risk pool that the county was in agreement and that the county should expect invoices for deductible amounts. No executive-session decision or further vote on these specific settlements was recorded at the open meeting; Bridal had earlier noted the prosecutor advised considering executive session for potential litigation matters but the board moved forward in open session with the consensus request.

Votes at a glance: The meeting record shows the board gave consensus approval (voice agreement) to proceed with the two settlements as presented; no formal roll-call vote or named tally was recorded in the public transcript provided.

Authorities cited: The prosecutor and staff referenced risk-pool procedures and case law categories (wrongful death, malpractice, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Monell claims) during the presentation; no statutory citation was introduced for these settlements at the hearing.

Ending: County staff will notify the risk pool to finalize settlements and will process the county’s deductible invoicing. Commissioners did not take further open-session action on these matters at the March 5 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/05/2025 Franklin County WA Board of County Commissioners Meeting and Workshop session.","oneSentenceSummary","Franklin County commissioners at their March 5 meeting gave consensus to accept a $2.5 million mediated settlement in a jail-death lawsuit and to accept an offer of judgment in a separate defamation case.","taxTitle","Franklin County, Washington","taxId",5109,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6297737,"Commissioners approve reclassification and hire parameters for information-services network analyst",222,1558000,1780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2507543-53d6d70aafa118545e879c8869871ae5&start=1558&end=1780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2507543-53d6d70aafa118545e879c8869871ae5/thumbnail_1558000.jpg","/articles/6297737/Franklin-County/Washington/Commissioners-approve-reclassification-and-hire-parameters-for-information-services-network-analyst","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297737-9e2839f3355ca8a4ab57b34d7b18aeb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775326099&Signature=mByiVJ7MjZEa2LToCvA2bvOo6evXqHcDzgEOG5eD4z5TFrwhB7jxledY0WfKuizDJMuqMs0WN9U1q9D3ECP~iBnZiholk5ZPLmi7V8Mm5Sp6LWVak6~k44K9X9gvi5Uqqq9u6IKGH8VdoDZnMBY-skSLszsG2KUavNVRjq9HO17Qy8gnp44a0keOS3iVJOP1lNBE11AeHT3RVUCYY7jWjLc8thbisNz9s0YfXC5XFg-vdSGgaCctCkD0CsxIHkfA0Z9l5dCoagUDx5Jz1tZo2SMt7IvcT03v6mncFUFOnFiZGrLtHdNpdYO97gcB3kkXVZ8bieIO~KV9t~tSNlv-UA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Franklin County commissioners approved a reclassification and hiring authorization for an information-services position at their March 5 meeting.

Beau Buckley presented Resolution 2025-587 seeking authorization to bring in a candidate as a network analyst. Buckley said staff reclassified the communications engineer position from grade 19 step 1 down to grade 17 step 1 and requested permission to hire a network analyst at grade 17 step 4. He told the board state thresholds for an exempt computer technician required hiring at a higher step in some classifications and that the proposed reclassification and hire point would yield salary savings to the county.

Buckley said the vacancy had been open since October and that additional savings accrues because the county has not been paying salary and benefits during the vacancy. A motion to approve Resolution 2025-587 was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Implementation: Buckley and county human-resources staff will move forward with recruitment under the authorized pay grade and step. Commissioners were told the hiring plan reduces ongoing salary expense compared with filling the prior communications engineer classification.

Ending: The county will proceed with recruitment under the authorized grade and step; no additional materials or amendments were presented at the meeting.

","Franklin County commissioners approved Resolution 2025-587 to authorize hiring a network analyst; the position reclassifies a communications engineer from grade 19 step 1 to grade 17 step 1 and allows a grade 17 step 4 hire to meet state exempt thresholds while saving salary costs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6297741,"Commissioners approve replat of Underwood Estates after health department confirms ditch setback no longer needed",441,887000,1328000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2507543-53d6d70aafa118545e879c8869871ae5&start=887&end=1328","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2507543-53d6d70aafa118545e879c8869871ae5/thumbnail_887000.jpg","/articles/6297741/Franklin-County/Washington/Commissioners-approve-replat-of-Underwood-Estates-after-health-department-confirms-ditch-setback-no-longer-needed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297741-6b5781beab987451d29af8a483ed566b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775326099&Signature=JU5PupBM2DCNZy6TW5MfaqUJKAeh0o7~b-1kTEWxRt3t~Fg79egdDUbn-xkVfZrUrIAMJxep9n22ziQ5mBpvZ2Wvuj3B2jfZLsj2hZENZAWWzzax-33Y84QU1E~IPFSFNQ0ffAzOUkHeS8DEXcoC~7iQuSE-~bIPAtfsVXYgZTaU2eEa0bKozhULUIuaUWdlhnqMLzCXUbWGijDPDRgHOIB-lJpXhuPyUupbq0IpxJ29BstV-C7bvaaDueK35-EipS6Vbzln4SmAp1YwcSkZChyozwdusk5vZR~Go-C4nzm76pLmCtd-xbluOcupyTOHBFTdLv4lHhJdzoGYjMhLRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Franklin County commissioners on March 5 approved a replat and final plat for Underwood Estates, removing a sanitary setback that had been recorded in 2024 after county planning staff and the health department confirmed the irrigation ditch no longer exists as an open feature.

Wes McCart, the county director of planning and building, told the board the Underwood Estates plat was recorded in July 2024 and at that time a ditch with standing water created a health-department sanitary setback requirement of 100 feet. McCart said that ditch has since been piped and \"the health department has agreed that that, setback is no longer, needed.\" He advised the board the SEPA determination would remain unchanged and that state law governing plats limited the board’s options to approve or deny the replat.

Peter Harpster, the applicant’s representative, confirmed the ditch served historic farming needs and that engineering work had relocated the piping parallel to Frasier Road. Harpster said the recorded setback was negatively affecting the marketability of certain lots and that the replat process was the simplest clean-up mechanism to remove the recorded setback.

A public hearing was opened and closed with no public opposition recorded. A motion to approve Resolution 2025-586 was made and seconded and commissioners voiced their assent; the resolution was approved as presented.

Authority cited: McCart referenced state plat law as \"RCW 58 17 2 1 2 1 5\" during his presentation and said the commission’s authority on the item was to approve or deny the replat as filed.

Ending: County staff will record the new plat removing the sanitary setback as approved; the SEPA status for the original plat remains in effect.

","The Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 2025-586 to remove a previously recorded 100-foot sanitary setback from the Underwood Estates plat after the county health department signed off that an irrigation ditch was piped and no longer requires the sanitary setback.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6297746,"Franklin County reviews ICRA option, VEBA use and self-funding feasibility in benefits workshop",707,4961000,5668000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2507543-53d6d70aafa118545e879c8869871ae5&start=4961&end=5668","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2507543-53d6d70aafa118545e879c8869871ae5/thumbnail_4961000.jpg","/articles/6297746/Franklin-County/Washington/Franklin-County-reviews-ICRA-option-VEBA-use-and-self-funding-feasibility-in-benefits-workshop","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297746-ba8e597ede64efc5fd83eae6f8fadd9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775326099&Signature=lQ5qQwDbrEGt3AnhQbHx8r22RTTGxCpCtslebNnOCGvjkr3~CEfQMRImk7izAuFcIDBlpv4uPEqy1rjfpIaNKQQd8ug~265m2B3tmdSO~QeVl3KOMXN6t9~85lXCBjHBW0R4JondAALBmjGPrisEC0VZxHRTBOH9FJB1TEbm29iZjVIsF~lbN5Ef~rzfZAlEfrKHQBKVjxAFRojqoTd6iQJSnQkeze6MAH2HEJqEpH0aXdpfXYpp1wXaBK2w4TWHPsn8H4QO2nUc5r0hoxy0xZpshM8HZz1BulviYi-97tXIjElwplYHjQ3VLSGTyD2fQrWxcIYoDxtqc2hxP2aeaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Franklin County commissioners and staff spent a workshop session on March 5 reviewing alternative employee-benefit strategies, including an individual health-care reimbursement arrangement (ICRA/ICHRA), options to let employees use accumulated VEBA funds for individual premiums, and a self-funding feasibility analysis.

Wes Harris and Marshall (H.W.L. presenters) introduced the ICRA concept, saying it gives employees flexibility to shop for individual Marketplace plans while receiving employer reimbursement. \"What the ICRA is is it's an individual health care reimbursement plan,\" one presenter said, noting the proposal would allow employer contributions to be paid as cash-in-lieu and reimbursed for Marketplace premiums up to a specified amount.

Presenters emphasized two county-specific concerns: rapid cost growth in the county's VEBA contributions and limited current utilization of VEBA funds. H.W.L. staff described Franklin County’s VEBA trust as containing roughly $10 million and said current annual utilization of those VEBA balances was low relative to total contributions; presenters framed the ICRA as a way to let employees apply VEBA balances to premium costs and to control long-term county costs by replacing dual health/VEBA contributions with a single, more-flexible employer contribution.

Dan Fisher of HUB International, joined by HUB colleagues Brandon and Jamie, cautioned that switching to an ICRA structure would not automatically satisfy Affordable Care Act (ACA) affordability safe harbors. Fisher, a CPA and ICRA-certified advisor, said employer-provided dollars under an ICRA may be treated differently for ACA affordability calculations and recommended careful legal and benefits counsel. HUB also presented a preliminary feasibility comparison showing a self-funded unbundled model could produce material budget savings for the county versus fully insured renewal projections; presenters provided a stop-loss estimate and a draft feasibility figure showing potential savings at current enrollment levels, with a caveat that results depend on claims experience and bargaining-unit decisions.

Commissioners asked practical questions about enrollment, COBRA/continuation coverage, Medicare interactions for older employees and whether 800 monthly employer contributions would be sufficient to meet ACA minimum-value and affordability thresholds. Presenters answered that the feasibility study and broker analyses would calculate ACA compliance using the county census and the marketplace plan mix and that the county could set different contribution classes (for example, bargaining units, executives or full-family coverage) to protect employees with higher premiums.

Presenters also outlined self-funding strategies: stop-loss (individual and aggregate) to limit employer exposure, direct contracting with local providers to control facility pricing, pharmacy carve-outs and disease-management or dialysis carve-outs for high-cost chronic claims. HUB cautioned that self-funding is not a good fit in every case, that it requires state approval in Washington (Department of Enterprise Services filings) and adequate reserve planning, and that the county should avoid fragmenting broker engagement during market negotiations.

Next steps taken in the workshop: brokers will finalize a self-funding feasibility analysis (CIFA) and stop-loss/TPA soft quotes for the county to review. Commissioners were told two additional broker presentations (Alliant and Marsh McLennan) are scheduled for the following week. No formal resolution or vote to change the county's benefits structure was taken at the March 5 workshop; presenters and staff characterized the session as exploratory and asked for direction to proceed with the feasibility analysis.

Ending: Staff and broker teams will complete the feasibility analysis and return with refined estimates, stop-loss quotations and legal analysis of ACA effects before the county considers plan design or bargaining negotiations.

","Commissioners heard two vendor presentations and discussed shifting county benefit design to an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICRA)/ICHRA, the limited use of the county VEBA trust and a feasibility study for self-funding health coverage.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Franklin County commissioners give consensus to resolve two lawsuits, including $2.5 million jail-death settlement

Commissioners approve reclassification and hire parameters for information-services network analyst

Commissioners approve replat of Underwood Estates after health department confirms ditch setback no longer needed

Franklin County reviews ICRA option, VEBA use and self-funding feasibility in benefits workshop