Lewis County commissioners approve vehicle purchase, public-health contract amendment, fee schedule, shelter funds and appointments

The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 4 approved a series of routine and programmatic measures, unanimously passing a call for bids for the county's newspaper of record and approving resolutions to replace vehicles, update sheriff's office fees, amend a public-health contract and add contingency funding to a shelter contract, and to appoint members to the county's Criminal Justice Treatment Account (CJTA) committee.

Rita Lester, Clerk of the Board, told commissioners the county is issuing a call for bids for the newspaper of record beginning July 1 and cited state law in explaining the selection process. "RCWs 3,672 and 6,516 govern the process by which we establish the newspaper of record...the successful bidder serves as the newspaper of record for 1 year," Lester said. Bids are due by 3 p.m. on March 13. The motion to approve the call for bids (resolution 25-032) passed 3-0.

In other business, Josh Metcalf, Lewis County public works director, presented a recommendation to purchase up to four light-duty pickup trucks. "We received 2 responsive bidders, Shelton, Chrysler Dodge was the apparent low bidder, at $39,593.87 per vehicle, for a total amount of $158,375.48," Metcalf said. Commissioners asked whether the vehicles included plows or other special equipment; Metcalf said they were standard light-duty replacements for supervisors and not outfitted with sanders or plows. The board approved the procurement as part of a group of resolutions (25-034 through 25-038) by a 3-0 vote.

Gabriel Fraslow of the Lewis County Sheriff's Office spoke about an update to the sheriff's fee schedule, referencing state law. "RCW3618040, says [the] sheriff still collect the following fees for their official services," Fraslow said, explaining the office adjusted its mileage and fee schedule to better reflect current costs. The board approved the fee-schedule resolution (25-035) 3-0.

Mija Hamlin, director of public health and social services, described an amendment to the county's consolidated contract with the Washington State Department of Health, commonly called the "con con." Hamlin said the agreement runs through 2027 and "adds the funds for" multiple programs including maternal and child health block grants, office of drinking water functions, SNAP-related services, and WIC nutrition services. On WIC, Hamlin said, "Our staff are doing a really good job of messaging out, that the program is up and running, and we, are onboarding a couple new people." The transcript included an unclear figure when Hamlin spoke about the contract's dollar amount; staff described the amendment as adding funds but did not state a clear total in the record. Commissioners approved the contract amendment resolution (25-036) 3-0.

Hamlin also described an amendment to the county's contract with Lewis County Community Health Services Group ("Valley View") for the planned night-by-night shelter on Kresge. The amendment adds $30,000 in contingency funds for inspections and required work (for example, L&I and electrical projects) so the facility can open. Hamlin said the amendment increases the total contract consideration to $90,000 and ends May 31, 2025. The board approved that amendment (resolution 25-037) 3-0.

The board also approved appointments and reappointments to the county Criminal Justice Treatment Account (CJTA) advisory group, set to run Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027. Hamlin asked the board to reappoint Sam Goldberg (criminal defense representative) and other county representatives and to appoint Teresa Bridal Johnson as the substance-abuse treatment-provider voting member, replacing Mindy Greenwood. The board approved those appointments as part of the group vote (resolution 25-038) 3-0.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 25-032 (call for bids; newspaper of record): approved 3-0. Motion to approve moved by Commissioner (unnamed); second noted in the record. - Resolution 25-033 (consent: warrants and payroll; Jan. 28 minutes): approved 3-0. - Resolution 25-034 (purchase of up to four pickup trucks; fleet replacements): approved 3-0. Low bid: Shelton Chrysler Dodge, $39,593.87 per vehicle; total $158,375.48. - Resolution 25-035 (Sheriff's Office fee schedule/mileage update): approved 3-0. Cited state statute in presentation. - Resolution 25-036 (amendment to consolidated public-health contract with Washington State Department of Health): approved 3-0. Contract runs through 2027; amendment adds funds for multiple programs including WIC and maternal-child services (amount not clearly stated in the transcript). - Resolution 25-037 (amendment to Lewis County Community Health Services Group contract for Kresge night-by-night shelter): approved 3-0. Amendment adds $30,000 in contingency funds; total contract consideration reported as $90,000; end date 05/31/2025. - Resolution 25-038 (appointments to Criminal Justice Treatment Account advisory group): approved 3-0. Appointments effective 01/01/2025 through 12/31/2027.

Several items were presented by county staff and approved with unanimous votes. The board held no additional public hearings on these items at the Feb. 4 meeting. The meeting adjourned after routine announcements.