Clallam County commissioners approve updated Marshal housing rate, IT services contract and formalize board of equalization role

The Clallam County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 4 approved a set of administrative items including an updated agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service for housing federal prisoners, a vendor contract to support a county permitting software upgrade, and a resolution assigning the commissioners to act as the county Board of Equalization.

The board approved the changes after a short presentation from county staff and votes on the consent agenda and separate contract motions. The board also removed agenda item 3(a) and scheduled it for a special Board of Equalization meeting at 3 p.m. the same day to consider whether to allow a direct appeal to the State Board of Tax Appeals.

The updated U.S. Marshals agreement replaces a 1990 per‑diem rate and sets the new federal inmate housing compensation at $130 per day and establishes a $52 per‑hour reimbursement rate for transporting or guarding a federal prisoner at an outside facility. A county staff member described the increase as an update to reflect current costs; the motion to approve that agreement passed unanimously.

Also approved was a bid waiver and an agreement with a technical services firm to support implementation and training for the county’s new Tyler permit system. County staff explained that the vendor is a small group of former Tyler employees specializing in Tyler product support, that the vendor’s hourly rates are lower than Tyler Technologies’ implementation rates, and that the county’s health department had secured grant funds to cover the technical support costs that will benefit multiple departments. The motion to approve the bid waiver and contract passed unanimously.

On the consent agenda the board approved eight items including payroll and vouchers, minutes, multiple board appointments and reappointments, selection of an associate development organization, and selection of a deferred compensation record keeper. The board also approved a resolution appointing the commissioners to serve as the board of equalization and designating the existing board of equalization members as hearing examiners until a vacancy is filled.

The presiding official noted that under the Washington Administrative Code the scheduled special Board of Equalization meeting is a yes/no decision and does not require a public hearing; the item was moved from the commissioners’ regular meeting to the separate BOE session to avoid a 24‑hour notice issue.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution appointing commissioners to Board of Equalization and designating current BOE members as hearing examiners (Consent item 1(h)): Approved (consent agenda approval recorded as unanimous).

- Agreement with U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Marshals Service for compensation and housing of federal prisoners (Item 2(a)): Approved, passed unanimously. Key terms: $130 per diem; $52 per hour for transport/guarding. Previous per‑diem cited as $46 (1990 rate).

- Bid waiver and agreement for Tyler EPL permit system implementation support with vendor described in meeting as Total/Global Solutions Data Services LLC (Item 2(b)): Approved, passed unanimously. County staff said this vendor comprises former Tyler employees and that Public Health grant funds will cover the work that benefits multiple departments.

- Consent agenda items including payroll, vouchers, minutes, board appointments, selection of associate development organization, and deferred compensation record keeper (Items 1(a)–1(g)): Approved via consent agenda, unanimous.

Ending: The commissioners adjourned after public comment and reminded attendees that commissioners would meet again at 3 p.m. in their capacity as the Board of Equalization to consider the direct appeal question.