Thurston County SWAC authorizes sign‑in support on paint‑care bill, delays leadership vote and approves work plan
Loading...
Summary
The Solid Waste Advisory Committee voted to authorize the chair to sign in pro, send an email and testify if called on a paint‑care expansion bill; members also voted to delay chair/vice‑chair elections until March and approved the 2026 work plan with that change. Staff provided updates on capital projects, the hazardous‑waste plan, and an upcoming Home Energy Score ordinance hearing.
At its meeting, the Thurston County Solid Waste Advisory Committee voted to authorize a SWAC representative to sign in pro, send an email on behalf of the committee, and testify if called on the proposed paint‑care expansion bill referenced in the transcript (identified there as HB2301).
David Nightingale moved that he sign in pro and pursue email and testimony as needed; members discussed strategy and the WSAC presenter (Travis Dutton) advised signing in pro and coordinating constituent input rather than crowding a lengthy fiscal hearing with testimony. The amended motion (sign in pro; send an email; testify if called) was put to a voice vote and carried. The transcript records vocal ayes, some opposition, and one abstention; the transcript does not provide a complete roll‑call tally by name.
Separately, members debated electing a new chair and vice chair as terms change. Several municipal representatives are newly appointed and not yet able to vote, and members argued this was a reason to postpone the election. An alternative substitute motion to immediately elect Chad (last name in transcript: Sutter) to chair without a vice chair failed to gain a second. The committee voted to delay the chair and vice‑chair election until the March meeting and agreed that Chad will chair in the interim if needed.
The committee then reviewed and approved the 2026 work plan with the election timing updated. Staff noted the work plan is tentative and will be revised as projects and staffing change.
During manager updates, county staff summarized a planned reconfiguration of the waste‑recovery center under a progressive design‑build procurement and described an upcoming Project Review Committee presentation. Staff also reported the hazardous‑waste management plan process is nearing completion at the city level and will be folded into the 2027–2032 solid‑waste‑management plan update for public input. The solid‑waste division manager position will open for recruitment (per transcript) and the current manager plans to retire in June; the county intends to recruit with overlap to ensure transition.
In roundtable, Commissioner Emily (name in transcript: Emily Klaus/Klass) alerted the group to a Thurston County Home Energy Score ordinance public hearing scheduled for Feb. 17 and encouraged public comment; she described the score as a 1–10 whole‑home efficiency rating and noted typical scoring reports cost $150–$300.
What passed: the amended motion to sign in pro/email/testify (committee‑approved by voice vote), the motion to delay chair/vice‑chair elections to March (committee‑approved by voice vote), and the amended 2026 work plan (committee‑approved by voice vote). The transcript does not include a full roll‑call tally with names for these votes; minutes and staff records should be consulted for official tallies and any formal abstentions.
