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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019/11/25 - Briefing BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' BRIEFING MINUTES Mason County Commission Chambers,411 North 5th Street,Shelton,WA Week of November 25,2019 Monday,November 25,2019 9:00 A.M. Meeting with State Legislators Commissioners Shutty,Trask and Neatherlin were in attendance. Also in attendance were Representatives Griffey and MacEwen. Senator Sheldon attended via telephone. • Loretta Swanson,Public Works Director,presented an update on the Belfair Sewer Extension to Puget Sound Industrial Center(PSIC)Project. The MTA roundabout on SR3 is under construction and a sewer crossing needs to be done during construction,Rep.MacEwen-$2M needs to be spent in this biennium(ends June 30,2021). Loretta said it would start to be spent mid-year 2020. • Diane Sheesley,County Engineer,presented information on various culvert projects. • Loretta presented information on the SR3 Freight Corridor which includes preliminary design of Romance Hill connection to the Freight Corridor. Cmmr.Neatherlin stated he has been working with Michele Britton,WSDOT,to make sure this project stays funded. Senator Sheldon commented that he feels the project is still a priority. The question is if the recently passed car tab initiative will impact this project. • Cmmr.Neatherlin spoke about a proposal from WSDOT for the Johns Prairie Intersection with SR3. The proposal is for a round about. Cmmr.Neatherlin is not asking for state funding but wants a design so the County can pursue funding. • There was a discussion of how to improve the Clifton Road intersection. • Loretta provided information on the Skokomish River Basin Ecosystem Restoration project. Due to funding,there is a tight construction schedule with the goal being to complete by December 1, 2022. Senator Sheldon pointed out that the residents have asked for time to think about any real estate offers. There have been several public meetings to provide project information. There is a separate project to fix the"dips". • Senator Sheldon talked about improvements to the Lake Cushman Road. • Cmmr.Shutty provided information on the remodel of Building 10 for District Court and the Regional Jail Study. Cmmr.Neatherlin asked the legislators to consider legislation that for 5 years there would be no prevailing wage requirement or sales tax on jail construction. Cmmr.Trask noted that all counties are having issues with their jail facilities. • Auditor Paddy McGuire talked about a Fair Share Funding Bill for election costs because everybody pays their fair share except the state during even-numbered years. • Court Clerk Sharon Fogo presented information on two priority bills for Court Clerks. One has to do with Clerk's bonds and a bill that publication costs for dependency cases should be paid by the state. • Cmmr.Trask presented WSAC legislative priorities. These include unfunded mandates,funding for homelessness and behavioral health and increased funding for Trial Court Public Defense. • Senator Sheldon stated his transportation budget is his priority during this short session. He advised the Board to not take the 1%increase on levies. • Rep Griffey stated his priorities include assistance for sexual assault survivors;change the definition of theft to improve safety;improve awareness for traumatic brain injuries. • Rep.MacEwen stated his priorities include a bill that would allow services to be extended beyond the UGA;economic forecast still looks good but we are due for a downturn and the state needs to increase their ending fund balance to weather a downturn. The meeting ended 10:02 a.m. 10:05 A.M. Closed Session Commissioners Shutty,Trask and Neatherlin met in Closed Session from 10:05 a.m.to 10:30 a.m. with Frank Pinter for a labor discussion. 10:30 A.M. Support Services—Frank Pinter Commissioners Shutty,Trask and Neatherlin were in attendance Board of Mason County Commissioners'Briefing Meeting Minutes November 25,2019 • The Board is good with keeping the same Board assignments for 2020. • Jennifer reviewed the October Financial Reports. • A Green Star presentation to Public Works staff will be at the December 10 Commission meeting. • Frank provided the status of CDBG Microenterprise Loan Grant Status. Mason County has a $225,000 grant award that would be loaned out to participants of the microenterprise program. Essentially the County would serve as the bank and assume the risks associated with this. The Audit Committee is recommending the County not continue with this CDBG program. The Commissioners agreed to decline this grant. • The Commissioners approved placing the letter of support of YMCA's capital budget request on the agenda. • Cmmr.Shutty offered to arrange for live music at the County's bake sale. 10:50 A.M. Community Services—Dave Windom Commissioners Shutty,Trask and Neatherlin were in attendance • Public hearings will be set on January 7,2020 for two rezone requests. • Application from Norma Jean Jacobs for the Planning Advisory Commission. Cmmr.Neatherlin would like to interview the applicant. • Received an application for a multi-family project. The tax incentive expires at the end of the year and Kell is working with the Assessor's office to see if the contact can be approved in 2019. • Permit Center business hours need to be changed to accommodate the new on-line permitting appointment process. The plan is to close at noon for lunch. Cmmr. Shutty asked that they either close at noon or Friday afternoons but not both. Cmmr.Trask stated she has received several calls about the delay in permits being issued. • Dave provided updates on various issues. On-line permitting will start next week for certain permits along with scheduling appointments. Cmmr.Neatherlin will attend a meeting with Ecology. A news release will be issued regarding the new schedule. There is a question on how TST money can be used in the new year. Discussion on partnering with WSU medical for a health van to serve as a mobile unit in our rural areas. Discussion of potential changes to buffers that could cause issues in Mason County. 10:45 A.M. Public Works—Loretta Swanson Utilities&Waste Management Commissioners Shutty,Trask and Neatherlin were in attendance. • A public hearing will be scheduled on January 7,2020 to consider several franchise agreements. • Resolution establishing load/lane limits for six Mason County bridges will be placed on the agenda for approval. • May be bringing forward an amendment to the Six-Year TIP and the annual construction program for the Harstine Island bridge if funding is received. • Announcements for 2020 water and sewer system rate increases for North Bay,Rustlewood and Beards Cove and 2020 United Ways Day of Caring—Free Dump Days.The Commissioners asked for some of the vouchers to distribute. 11:15 A.M. Finance Committee Treasurer Lisa Frazier and Chair Kevin Shutty were in attendance.Commissioners Trask and Neatherlin and Leo Kim were also in attendance. • Treasurer Lisa Frazier presented the 31 quarter report and noted that end of September Current Expense cash balance was$9.4M. The Reserve Policy at 15%has been met leaving$3.5M unspent cash. • Loretta provided information on the Skokomish River project and the need for a bridge loan of $4.5M to$5M for the local share of construction and that will then be reimbursed from a grant; will need funds by September 2020 based on the County securing real estate acquisitions by March 2020. Total local share is$7.73M including grant funding for real estate acquisitions, which is coming through the Mason Conservation District.Lisa has contacted a financial advisor and will need 60 to 90 days for the loan. Board of Mason County Commissioners'Briefing Meeting Minutes November 25,2019 • Belfair Sewer—the Commissioners need to select the preferred alternative;Loretta believes the stakeholder group is in agreement;not a need for the entire$8M—will need$4M to$6M in addition to the grant. Public Works will bring forward the alternatives with finance options in a briefing. • There is no new information on the proposed new jail. • $1.5M from Commerce for Belfair Sewer rate relief—Loretta stated it was a prior appropriation so there is no new appropriation. Cmmr.Shutty asked if this money can be used to pay down debt; Loretta will check on that. Meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m. 11:45 A.M. Sheriffs Office—Sheryl Hilt Commissioners Shutty,Trask and Neatherlin were in attendance. • Sheryl presented a request to transfer$200K from wages and benefits to operations to purchase computers and other equipment. Need to spend$110K in Traffic Diversion operations to purchase various traffic equipment. Cmmr.Neatherlin noted that next year there will be payments for jail control panel and tasers. He supports a$110K transfer and they can move$50K without Commissioner approval. Undersheriff Adam wanted to make sure Commissioners are aware of how the transferred funding is spent. The$110K Traffic Diversion transfer is included in the $200K request. Discussion of the timeline for remaining request of$90K. The equipment needs to be purchased soon to allow for payment before year end. The Board agreed the$50K transfer can be made. The outstanding item is the transfer of$40K. A follow up briefing will be scheduled next Monday.Cmmr.Neatherlin brought up the possibility of issuing camera tickets in extreme problem areas. Commissioner Discussion • There was discussion of the permitting process and Cmmr.Neatherlin asked if the Commissioners were good with him doing an observation in the Permit Center to better understand the process and see if he has any suggestions. The Commissioners are supportive of this. The meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Diane Zoren,Administrative Services Manager BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Ke(rin Sh tty RaVdy Neatherlin Sharon Trac c Chair Commissioner Commissioner