Board approves procurement, public-health contract amendments, water plans, trail funding and multiple public-works contracts

Thurston County commissioners on June 3 approved a series of motions and resolutions covering procurement policy updates, public-health contract amendments, water system plans, trail preservation funding and multiple public-works contracts.

Key board actions at a glance

- Procurement policy amendment (Central Services): The board adopted a resolution amending the Thurston County Procurement Policy (Policy 201) and Attachment A201‑1 to incorporate 2024 legislative changes and remove Attachment B201‑03. Kim Burnett, central services director, presented the item. The motion to approve was moved and seconded; the board recorded the motion carrying by voice vote.

- Washington State Department of Health consolidated contract, Amendment No. 6 (Public Health and Social Services): Public Health Director Jen Freight requested approval of Amendment No. 6 to the Department of Health consolidated contract (CLH32070). The amendment adds $436,100 for a revised maximum consideration of $6,091,760 and extends the contract through Dec. 31, 2027; it adds statements of work for workforce development, perinatal hepatitis B and immunization promotion and amends statements of work for seven other program areas. The board approved the amendment by unanimous voice vote.

- County water system plans (Public Works): The board adopted a resolution approving updated water system plans for Thurston County‑owned water systems covering the 2025–2033 planning period. Tim Wilson, water resources manager, said the plans align with Washington State Department of Health requirements and include customer engagement during development. The board approved the resolution by voice vote.

- Shawn Drive Southwest / unnamed tributary to Dempsey/Dumpsham Creek fish passage project (Public Works contract award): The board awarded Contract CP C63024 to Simmons & Sons Contracting Inc. of Montesano, Washington, as the low responsive bidder in the amount of $849,854. The motion authorized the public‑works director to execute the contract and to approve change orders only for unforeseen conditions up to 10% ($84,985), for an aggregate not to exceed $934,839. Funding was described as a combination of real estate excise tax dollars and two grants (the Department of Ecology streamflow restoration program and the Salmon Recovery Funding Board). The board approved the award by voice vote.

- Chehalis Western Trail Preservation Phase 1 (WSDOT local agency agreement): Public Works requested authorization to execute a project prospectus and local agency agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation for Chehalis Western Trail Preservation Phase 1 after receiving $1,621,238 in federal funding. The first phase obligates $250,000 of federal funds for design with a required 13.5% local match of $39,018. The board approved the agreement and authorization for the public‑works director to execute subsequent amendments and supplements by voice vote.

- Oracle Cloud stabilization professional services (Information Technology): IT Director Sherry Ilg requested a waiver of competitive bidding and authority to contract with Baker Tilly for stabilization of the county’s Oracle Cloud (TC Connect) implementation to obtain skills and knowledge not available in house. Director Ilg stated an amount “not to exceed $335,000,” while the motion recorded in the meeting floor referenced an amount “not to exceed $330,000.” The board voted in favor of waiving competitive bidding and approving the contract by unanimous voice vote. (See clarifying detail below about the conflicting amounts recorded in the presentation and motion.)

Votes and procedure

Most items were approved by voice vote; the meeting transcript records the standard roll call language (“All in favor say aye”) followed by the chair stating the motion carries. Where a specific mover or seconder was not clearly identified in the transcript, the record lists the motion as moved and seconded and records the outcome as approved. No recorded roll‑call tallies (named yes/no votes) were published in the transcript for these items.

Why it matters

The items advance infrastructure and public‑health work across the county: the fish‑passage and trail projects use state and federal grant funds and local match; the water system plans set multi‑year planning and system‑leakage targets; the DOH contract amendment brings additional public‑health funding and program work; and the Oracle stabilization contract is intended to address ongoing issues with a countywide financial and HR system.

Clarifying note: the Oracle stabilization item contains inconsistent amounts in the record. The IT director stated a ceiling of $335,000; the motion as read on the floor referenced $330,000. The board approved the motion as read. The county clerk or contract documents should be consulted to confirm the final authorized dollar amount.