HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015/12/07 - Briefing BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' BRIEFING MINUTES
Mason County Commission Chambers,411 North 5th Street,Shelton,WA
Week of December 7,2015
Monday, December 7,2015
0:00 A.M. 9:45 A.M. Closed Session—RCW 42.30.140(4)Labor Discussion
Commissioners Neatherlin,Jeffreys and Sheldon met in Closed Session with Bill Kenny and
Frank Pinter for a labor discussion from 9:45 a.m.to 10:15 a.m.
10:15 A.M. WSU Extension-Justin Smith
Commissioners Neatherlin,Jeffreys and Sheldon were in attendance.
• Justin explained the changes to the Washington State University Extension Memorandum of
Agreement to reflect additional moneys received for the South Puget Sound Education&
Outreach/Oakland Bay. The Board approved moving the revised MOA forward.
10:30 A.M. Support Services—Bill Kenny
Commissioners Neatherlin,Jeffreys and Sheldon were in attendance.
• Housing Authority applicants(Dave Gjerstad,Barry Northness,Frank Benavente)will be
scheduled for interviews.
• The .08%non-represented employee COLA and medical contribution rate at$1,102 per employee
is on the December 8 agenda for approval.
• Corrections Support bargaining unit change to Nelson Trust is on the December 8 agenda.
• The Board approved amending the December 8 agenda to schedule a 2015 budget hearing for
Public Health/Environmental to budget$80,000 grant from Department of Ecology. Proposed
hearing date is Tuesday,December 22 at 9:30 a.m.
• The Board approved adding the State Auditor letter to the agenda authorizing the Chair to sign for
the exit conference scheduled on December 14.
Break from 10:46 a.m.to 11:00 a.m.
11:00 A.M. Public Works-Brian Matthews&Melissa McFadden
Utilities&Waste Management-Melissa McFadden,Loretta Swanson and Erika Schwender
Commissioners Neatherlin,Jeffreys and Sheldon were in attendance.
• Simmons Road update. The State Legislature included$5M in funding to deliver the Simmons
Road Project and the funding type is "Connecting Washington". Mason County has purchased a
couple of parcels in anticipation of the project. An option is to transfer the project into the "Z-
Program"rather than the mainstream DOT program and that commits the County to build the
project. The project is for a road behind the Taylor Towne service station and in front of Taylor
Shellfish that would come out by the Kamilche service station. Staff has met with the State and
Squaxin Island staff and has a tentative agreement on the proposed route. At this point,DOT has
committed to close left turns from Lynch Road onto Highway 101 south;could still turn left from
south Highway 101 onto Lynch Road but that may change,depending on safety issues. There was
discussion of various options. Anticipated start date is 2018. Staff did complete the paperwork to
have this project added to the CEDS list.
• St.Andrews culvert replacement has been delayed due to rain.
• Discussion of delinquent rate payers for Utilities. Staff is following through on delinquent
accounts and those who have not paid sewer connection fees. They have placed liens on those
properties that they can lien. Staff intends to develop policies to better address the delinquent rate
payers. Staff needs to follow through on contacting those customers who did not sign the
paperwork for the Belfair sewer connection. Pat McCullough was contracted to manage the Get
Connected Program.
• Cmmr. Sheldon noted that he has talked to Allan Daschel who mentioned he has ideas about
Belfair Sewer refinancing. Cmmr.Neatherlin would like to finish the Belfair finance plan and
staff is working on code changes for the Commissioners to consider. Cmmr. Sheldon stressed that
Board of Mason County Commissioners' Briefing Meeting Minutes
Week of December 7,2015
the $1.5M from the legislature is for'rate relief,not expansion. Cmmr.Jeffreys stated part of the
finance plan is for an annual review so it may a good idea to talk to Mr. Daschel.
Commissioner Discussion
Commissioners Neatherlin,Jeffreys and Sheldon were in attendance
• Cmmr.Jeffreys brought up the Historical Society's request for property for a Historical Museum.
She stated she is hesitant to carve out 10 acres without knowing the entire plan of the property.
Cmmr. Sheldon suggested to write up something that has contingencies in order to raise funds;
Cmmr.Neatherlin questioned if the County should give the 10 acres because it could be sold for
revenue to the County. Possibly they could use the Melaney House for the museum. There was
discussion about requesting proposals for development of the property that would include a design
concept;they would have three years to raise money. City Commissioner Moore is working on a
railroad roundhouse museum and maybe the Historical Society should be working with that
proposal.
Cmmr. Jeffreys stated she will draft a response to the Historical Society requesting a
comprehensive plan and suggesting they work with other organizations who have indicated
interest in the property.
• Cmmr. Jeffreys stated there has been a request made to the criminal justice offices for a
comprehensive plan for therapeutic courts.
NOON BREAK
2:00 P.M. 2016 Budget Workshop
Commissioners Neatherlin,Jeffreys and Sheldon were in attendance.
• Superior Court Judge Toni Sheldon and Jim Maden,Probation Services,presented follow-up
information on pre-trial services. They presented two options: Option 1 -$104,445 and Option 2-
$100,000. Jim recommended Option 1 which allows for a Case Monitor at 19 hours a week vs.
Option 2 allows 13 to 14 hours a week. Judge Sheldon stated they have discussed this program
with District Court.
Cmmr.Neatherlin's thought was to create a service to categorize the offenders,not to expand
probation. If the program doesn't include District Court and not do what he thought was the main
purpose,he can't get behind it.
Discussion of the need for supervision for community safety and the potential savings by
reducing the jail population.
Cmmr.Jeffreys agreed that District Court must be included in the program and is hesitant to
set up a program for only one court. Judge Sheldon stated District Court can set up their
own program;they have the assessment tools and two PO's.
Judge Sheldon stated the court would not participate unless they are sure the community
is protected which is the intent of providing community supervision.
Cmmr.Neatherlin stated he views this as a new program at the end of the budget cycle;
thought it was going to be expansion of current program and therefore does not support
placing it in the 2016 budget. He does support further exploration of the program.
Cmmr. Jeffreys stated she would like a discussion to include District Court and
Therapeutic Courts; acknowledged that state assessment tools are limited;would like to
see this developed with the other courts.
Cmmr. Sheldon agreed all the players need to be in the room to discuss the program.
2:30 p.m. Auditor
Commissioners Neatherlin,Jeffreys and Sheldon were in attendance.
• Auditor Karen Herr stated she originally presented her 2016 budget with an increase due
to the presidential election and she will be reimbursed from the state for these expenses.
She made budget reductions to fund "lead pay" for her senior financial staff and that
request is not funded in the proposed budget. A brief discussion of the new reclass policy
and the impact to union positions,which may have to be negotiated.
Auditor Herr noted there is no "lead pay" in the AFSCME contract and hopes that will be
negotiated in the next contract.
Board of Mason County Commissioners' Briefing Meeting Minutes
Week of December 7,2015
Her request is to reinstate the half time position in elections to full time,$25,000 and set the OT
line at$7,000 in Financial Services.
Cmmrs.Neatherlin and Jeffreys are agreeable to these changes. Cmmr. Sheldon again expressed
his concern with the proposed budget.
• Other 2016 Budget Items:
• Cmmr. Jeffreys brought up the Sheriff vehicle purchase. There was a discussion of the
jail inmate transport vans.
• Veterans homeless housing seed money-need to budget$50K from the Mental Health
fund(#164)and$50K from the Community Support Service Fund, create budget lines in
those funds. Need to correct the$10,000 budgeted for Memorial Hall improvements-it
is budgeted in homeless prevention-$1OK for Memorial Hall should be from Historic
Preservation and place in facilities budget.
$750K rate relief into Belfair Sewer Fund. Discussion of how the funding can be used. Frank is
meeting with Commerce. Cmmr. Sheldon stated that appropriation was never intended to be seed
money for expansion; it is to be rate relief to the customers.
Commissioner Discussion—there was no discussion.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Zoren, Administrative Services Manager
BOARD OF MAS N COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
1,7 4.-
andy Neatherlin Tim Sheldon Terri Jef y
Chair Commissioner Commission