Thurston County staff seek contracts for Habitat homes, road overlay and services; public hearing set on code for affordable housing

Thurston County commissioners on Tuesday reviewed several items for the upcoming business meeting, including a request to contract with South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity for $560,000 to construct 14 affordable homeownership units, a proposed award of $436,096 for pavement preservation work, an interagency maintenance agreement for Boston Harbor facilities, a five-year internet service contract for the new sheriff’s office and an RFP to secure facilitation for a lived-experience housing steering committee.

The request to approve a contract with South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity was presented by Jen Freight, public health and social services director, who said, “this is a request to approve a contract with the South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity for the total of 560,000 for the construction of 14 units to be sold.” Freight said the funding would come from the Local Home Fund (the 1% local sales tax for affordable housing) and that at least three of the 14 units would be supported for households at or below 60% of area median income with a minimum 20-year retention requirement.

Why it matters: the contract would move a previously approved project into execution and would direct Local Home Fund dollars to homeownership units in Tumwater. Commissioners noted the item had been vetted through the county’s review committee process and was ready for contracting.

Other consent and contract items discussed

- Pavement preservation: The county engineer presented a recommendation to award the 2025 pavement preservation supplemental overlay contract to Miles Resources for $436,096. The work described includes about 1 mile of paving on Old Highway 9 (from Old Highway 99 to just past Maple Lane/James Road). The presenter said construction costs will be paid using REET 2 funds.

- Interagency maintenance agreement: Karen Waste, public works director, outlined a proposed five-year interagency services agreement with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to maintain the parking lot and restrooms at the Boston Harbor/boat launch area. Waste said the agreement continues an arrangement in place for the past four years, with an approximately 50/50 split of costs and a 4% escalator over the term.

- Internet service for new Sheriff’s Office: Sherry Ilg, IT director, described a request to start a five-year contract with Lumen for internet access at the new Sheriff’s Office Building at 1111 Israel Road. Ilg said the total contract amount is $39,780 plus tax and cited a monthly cost of $633; signing a five-year contract would lock that rate.

- Purchase of mobile radios: Bruce Robender, central services director, briefed on a consent purchase of mobile radios for county fleet services in the amount of $24,253. Robender said an April 28 email clarified that funding was available in the coroner’s existing budget to cover the purchase.

- Lived-experience housing steering committee facilitator RFP: Jennifer (public health and social services director) described a request to submit a request for proposals to solicit a provider to facilitate and support the lived-experience housing steering committee. Commissioners asked about prior work; staff noted facilitation dates back to 2021 and that follow-up details were included in the briefing.

Public hearing and legal matters

The clerk noted a public hearing is tentatively scheduled for May 28 to consider changes to the county code on disposition of public property for affordable housing (referenced in the meeting as “county code 2104”). Staff said the hearing is part of aligning local code with state requirements for using real property to support affordable housing; Rick Thomas (staff) will be assigned to staff that hearing.

Executive session and board action

The board convened into executive session under state open meetings law to discuss potential litigation related to a timber sale. The prosecuting attorney advised the session was held pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) to discuss matters likely to result in litigation; the board recessed for the session at 9:30 a.m. and returned at 10:00 a.m. The chair announced there was no board action to take following the executive session.

Next steps

Staff and presenters were directed to carry items forward to the regular business meeting and consent agendas as indicated. The board’s regular business meeting and consent agenda items will resume at 2 p.m.; the code public hearing remains scheduled for May 28. No final contract awards or ordinance actions were taken during the agenda-setting work session.