Lewis County repeals local syringe-exchange regulations after hearing and vote
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Summary
After a public hearing Feb. 10, the Lewis County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve Ordinance 13-72, repealing prior local rules (Ordinance 13-54) that regulated sterile needle and syringe exchange services; the hearing included public testimony and law-enforcement declarations cited by commissioners.
The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 10 voted to repeal local regulations governing sterile needle and syringe exchange services by approving Ordinance 13-72.
County Manager Ryan Barrett opened the hearing with a staff report explaining that Ordinance 13-72 would repeal Ordinance 13-54, the county code provisions in chapter 8.8 that had previously set regulations for sterile needle and syringe exchanges. Barrett told the board the earlier ordinance is the subject of pending litigation challenging those regulations.
During the public-testimony portion, Skip Boatberg of Centralia said his family has deep roots in Lewis County and urged commissioners not to abandon regulation. Boatberg said regulation and prevention-oriented measures were needed to avoid public-space litter and other harms, arguing that ‘‘common sense and compassion for humanity dictates that to provide the means for an addict … will only contribute to their further decay and the decay of society in general.’’
Commissioners noted they had declarations from local law enforcement and former officials in the record. One commissioner cited RCW 69.50.612, saying the statute does not prohibit cities and counties from enacting laws related to the establishment or regulation of harm reduction services concerning drug paraphernalia. The board referenced declarations from law-enforcement officials, including statements attributed in the record by former police chief Stacy Denham, Sheriff (as read) and Centralia Police Chief Andy Caldwell, Sergeant Michael Bridal, and Commander Dave Clary, who described observed reductions in discarded syringes in some public spaces and said regulation had produced positive outcomes in the community. The record also includes declarations from others (Troy Westergaard and Cole Mekel) that dispute or question those law-enforcement tallies.
A commissioner said the county has incurred close to about $600,000 in expenditures related to the legal matter. Commissioners expressed disappointment with a federal court decision referenced during discussion but also framed repeal as the legal result to implement in this forum.
After closing public testimony, a commissioner moved to approve Ordinance 13-72; the motion was seconded and the board approved the repeal by a 3-0 voice vote.
The hearing record and staff note the prior ordinance (13-54) and Lewis County Code chapter 8.8, and commissioners said litigation concerning the ordinance was pending. The board made no further policy adoption at the meeting beyond approving Ordinance 13-72; staff and legal records were referenced for the declarations and statutory text cited during remarks.