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Commissioner's Minutes for the week of December 29, 2025.
If necessary, was this document reviewed by accounting? ❑ YES ❑ NO 0 N/A
If necessary, was this document reviewed by legal? ❑ YES ❑ NO 0 N/A
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DATE OF ACTION: d ' 3-c) Sp
APPROVE: DENIED ABSTAIN
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D2:
D3:
DEFERRED OR CONTINUED TO-
WITHDRAWN -
4/23/24
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Board of Commissioners
Meeting Minutes
Week of December 29, 2025 - January 2, 2026
All public meetings were held in person with public access allowed at Commission Chambers, 35 C Street
NW, Ephrata, WA 98823 as well as via Zoom. Zoom recordings will be posted to the YouTube page Grant
County, WA: BOCC.
CALL TO ORDER
The Grant County Commissioner's Session was called to order at 8:30 a.m. with
Commissioners Jones, Carter (via Zoom) and Burgess in attendance. Commissioner Carter
joined in person at 8:55 a.m.
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. County Administrator Update
Staff Present: Tom Gaines, County Administrator; Caitlin E. Manell (via
Zoom), Deputy Clerk
The following Topics were presented and discussed during the
Interim County Administrator Update:
• Department Head Reports
o Renew -Services Summary
o Tourism Storage Unit Cleanout
• QV Solar Site Visit- Development Services Email (Tent.
1/15/26) -Tom & BOCC All Attend
• Ephrata Pulse Content- Further Discussion
• 2026 Budget Review
o BOCC Budget Reviews
• Merchant Maclntyre Grant Writing
• WSAC State Funding for LEOFF-1 Retiree Expenditures
• BOCC &County Administrator Calendar
• Legislative Tracking - Added to County Administrator
Updates
• Board of Health Recommendations of Appointment
• Chair/Vice-Chair/Member 2026
RCW 42.30.110(1)(f) Commissioner Jones called an Executive Session to order
Personnel Disciplinary beginning at 8:49 a.m. to go until 8:55 a.m. In attendance were
Matters Commissioners Jones, Carter (via Zoom) and Burgess, and
Tom Gaines. Commissioner Jones closed the Executive
Session at 8:55 a.m.
The Commissioners ended the Executive Session at 8:55 a.m. and called a second
Executive Session to order at 8:56 a.m. Due to a technical error, this announcement was
not recorded.
RCW42.30.110(l)(b) Commissioner Jones called an Executive Session to order
Real Estate beginning at 8:56 a.m. to go until 9:00 a.m. In attendance were
Acquisition Commissioners Jones, Carter and Burgess, and Tom Gaines.
Commissioner Jones closed the Executive Session at 9:00
a.m.
9:30 a.m. - 10: 00 a.m. Public Works Update
Staff Present: Andy Booth, Director and John Brissey, Assistant Director;
Tom Gaines (via Zoom), Interim County Administrator;
Barbara Duerbeck, Civil Deputy Attorney
The following Topics were presented and discussed during the
Public Works Update:
• Accomplishments
o Road District Projects,
• Chair Digital Signature - CRAB Reports
• Consent Agenda Item Review
RCW42.30.110(l)(i) Commissioner Jones called an Executive Session to order
Litigation beginning at 9:33 a.m. to go until 9:43 a.m. In attendance were
Commissioners Jones, Carter and Burgess, Andy Booth, John
Brissey, Tom Gaines (via Zoom), and Barbara Duerbeck. The
session continued until 9:45 a.m. Commissioner Jones closed
the session at 9:45 a.m.
10:00a.m.-10:15a.m. Auditor's Office Update (Commissioner Carter joined at
10:01 a.m. Commissioner Burgess left at 11:19 a.m. and
returned at 11:21 a.m.)
Staff Present: Michele Jadertund, Auditor; Mandy Kim, Chief Financial
Officer, Amanda Simonsen, Accountant; Tom Gaines (via
Zoom), County Administrator; Darryl Pheasant, Treasurer;
Undersheriff Gary Mansford, Chief Deputy Phillip Coats,
Sheriff's Office
The following Topics were presented and discussed during the
Auditor's Office Update:
• 2026 Budget Review- Office and Department
Confirmations
o Budget Balance with Transfers, Reductions
• Fund Creation - Development Services: Walk -On Item
Page 2 of 12
BOCC Minutes Week of December 29, 2025
• Debt Payments and Scheduled
• Review of Current Expense Budgets
• Sheriff's Office Revenue & Expenditures
• Ending Fund Balance Coverage of Shortfall
RCW42.30.110(l)(g) Commissioner Jones called an Executive Session to order
Job beginning at 11:39 a.m. to go until 11:51 a.m. In attendance
Applicant/Evaluation were Commissioners Jones, Carter and Burgess.
Commissioner Jones closed the session at 11:51 a.m.
The Auditor's Office Update continued through the following meeting times:
10:15a.m.-10:30a.m. Treasurer's Office Update
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Superior Court Update (Cancelled)
10:45a.m.-11:00a.m. Commissioner Work Session
11:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Position Management Review (PMR) (Cancelled)
1:00 P.M. - 3:00 p.m. 2026 Budget Review Meeting
Staff Present: Michele Jaderlund, Auditor; Mandy Kim, Chief Financial
Officer, Amanda Simonsen, Accountant; Tom Gaines,
County Administrator; Undersheriff Gary Mansford, Chief
Deputy Phillip Coats, Sheriff's Office; Decorah Anderson -
Cook (via Zoom), Human Resources; Desiree Ochocinski,
District Court; Jim Anderson -Cook (via Zoom),
Development Services
The following Topics were presented and discussed during the
2026 Budget Review Meeting:
• Office& Department Final Review of 2026 Budget
• Fund 117 Bond Debt Payment
• District Court Grant Fund Budget
• Misc Gen Gov't Reductions
• Museum Professional Services
• Development Services Expense Removals
• COLA Costs, 2026 Expense Approvals Process
The Monday, December 29, 2025 session was closed at 1:50 p.m.
Page 3 of 12
BOCC Minutes Week of December 29, 2025
The session was re -opened on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. with
Commissioners Jones, Carter and Burgess in attendance.
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Consent Agenda Review/Work Session
Staff Present: Tom Gaines, County Administrator; Caitlin ManeLl,
Commissioner's Office
The following Topics were presented and discussed during the
Consent Agenda Review/Work Session:
• Items to be moved to Board Discussion/Decisions
o Walk -On Requests: Auditor's Office,
Development Services
o Board of Health Recommendations of
Appointment
o Public Works Equipment Rental and Revolving
Fund 510
• Health District Duties & Responsibilities
9:30 a.m. -10:00 a.m. Sheriff's Office Update (Commissioner Carter attended at
9:32 a.m.)
Staff Present: Sheriff Joe Kriete (via Zoom), Undersheriff Gary Mansford,
Chief Deputy Phillip Coats, Chief Deputy Ricardo Char
The following Topics were presented and discussed during the
Sheriff's Office Update:
• Budget Responsibility in the Sheriff's Office
• Previous Budget Allocations and Expenditures
• Need for 24 Hour Medical Staff
o Medical Incidents
• Staffing Needs - Housing Contracts, Public
Expectations, Revenue Sources, Grant Funds
• Morgue Payments
• Tax Revenue Deficit Payments for Additional Bonded
Funds
• 2026 County -Wide Planned Expenditures
RCW42.30.110(l)(g) Commissioner Jones called an Executive Session to order
Job Applicant/ beginning at 9:55 a.m. to go until 10:00 a.m. In attendance
Evaluation were Commissioners Jones, Carter and Burgess, Sheriff Joe
Kriete (via Zoom), Undersheriff Gary Mansford, Chief Deputy
Ricardo Char and Chief Deputy Phillip Coats. Commissioner
Jones closed the session at 10:00 a.m.
Page 4 of 12
BOCC Minutes Week of December 29, 2025
10:00a.m.-11:00a.m. Human Resources Update
StaffPresent: Decorah Anderson -Cook (via Zoom), Director, and Gina
SaLdana, Assistant Director; Sheriff Joe Kriete (via Zoom),
Undersheriff Gary Mansf ord, Chief Deputy Phillip Coats,
Chief Deputy Ricardo Char;
The following Topics were presented and discussed during the
Human Resources Update:
• Open Forum for Public Comment
o The floor was open to members of the public to
speak with a 5-minute total Limit for Human
Resources related topics only. There was no
Public Comment provided.
• Public Works Unfair Labor Practice Settlement
Agreement with Grant County Public Employees
Association and Ruth Mina, (Chair Signed)
• Central Services Personnel Action Request (PAR) -
Probationary Period End (Signed)
RCW 42.30.140(4)(a) Commissioner Jones called a Closed Session to order
Labor beginning at 10:07 a.m. to go until 10:17 a.m. In attendance
Relations/Negotiations were Commissioners Jones, Carter and Burgess, Decorah
Anderson -Cook (via Zoom) and Gina SaLdana. The session
continued until 10:27 a.m., and continued again until 10:40
a.m. Commissioner Jones closed the session at 10:40 a.m.
COMMISSIONER'S MEETING
11:00 a.m. A. Call to Order
B. Open Forum for Public Comment
The floor was open to members of the public to speak with a 3-
minute Limit per person and a 15-minute total Limit. Public Comment
.was provided about the following topics:
• None
C. Approval of Agenda
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CARTER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BURGESS, TO
APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
D. Board Correspondence
• None
Page 5 of 12
BOCC Minutes Week of December 29, 2025
E. Commissioner's Roundtable - Miscellaneous Discussion
The following topics werepresented and discussed during the
Commissioner's Roundtable -Misc. Discussion:
• ER&R Policy and Procedure Update - Payment Schedule
• Board of Health Recommendations of Appointment
• Appointment of Commissioners to Boards and Committees
for 2026 (Chair/Vice-Chair/Member)
F. Consent Agenda
The following items are considered routine or were presented to
Commissioners during earlier sessions Listed above. ALL items are
enacted by one motion. If a separate discussion is desired, that item
may be removed and placed under Board Discussion/Decision.
AUDITOR'S OFFICE ,
1. Payment of vouchers certified by the auditing officer as required by
RCW 42.24.080, and those expense reimbursement claims certified
by the auditing officer as required by RCW 42.24.090, as recorded on
a Listing, and made available to the Board. (None)
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
2. Approve extension request from Port of Royal Slope on the
Strategic Infrastructure Program (SIP) No. 2022-04 Well 3 Project
ending December 30, 2025, extending to June 30, 2026.
3. Approve reimbursement request from Housing Authority of Grant
County on the Consolidated Homeless Grant (CHG) No. 26-46108-
10 in the amount of $115,013.26 for November services.
4. Approve reimbursement request from the City of George on the
Strategic Infrastructure Program (SIP) No. 2024-04 Wastewater
Treatment Plan Project in the amount of $11,458.66.
5. Approve Resolution No. 25-125-CC and recommendations from
the Grant County Economic Development Council (EDC) Strategic
Infrastructure Program (SIP) No. 2025-03 McKay Healthcare, Kitchen
Expansion Ph 1 ($201,546 grant); 2025-04 Beverly Water District,
new reservoir ($450,000 grant); and 2025-05 Hospital District 5,
Coulee Medical Center, Infrastructure for Rural Health Workforce
Project ($1,250,000 grant).
6. Approve Assumption of a Liquor License application for Sienna
Cellars, 7496 Rd K.7 NE, Moses Lake WA, from the Washington State
Liquor and Cannabis Board.
7. Approve Resolution No. 25-126-CC and appoint Commissioners
to certain Boards and Committees for 2026.
8. Approve Resolution in the matter of adopting the Grant County
budgets for the year 2026. (Held to Special Meeting Added
12/31/2025 for Final Action)
Page 6 of 12
BOCC Minutes Week of December 29, 2025
9. Approve recommendation of appointment to the Grant County
Board of Health, Seat #5 - Healthcare Facility, Healthcare Provider of
Public Health. (Shelia Bershauer was appointed for a two-year
term beginning 1/1/2026, through 12/31/2027)
10. Held from the 12123125 ConsentAgenda: Approve
recommendation of appointment to the Grant County Board of
Health, Alternate Seat #7 - Community Stakeholder. (Heather
Mason was appointed for a two-year term beginning 1/1 /2026,
through 12/31/2027)
11. Held from the 12123125 ConsentAgenda: Approve
recommendation of appointment to the Grant County Board of
Health, Seat #7 - Community Stakeholder. (Withdrawn)
JUVENILE COURT AND YOUTH SERVICES
12. Approve Resolution No. 25-127-CC and Request for the
Administrator to Docusign an Interagency Agreement with the
Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts (No. AOC2907)
for Post -Conviction Alternatives to Incarceration. Term is 12/1/25 -
6/30/26.
PUBLIC WORKS
13. Approve Resolution No. 25-128-CC and the annual update of the
Public Works Engineering Services Fees Policy No. 26-01 (originally
adopted via Resolution No. 24-018-CC).
14. Approve for the Chair of the Board to sign the Title VI Plan for
Local Agency Plans with populations over 75,000 for the period of
April 2024 - March 2025.
15. Approve Resolution No. 25-129-CC and the Equipment Rental and
Revolving (ER&R) Fund 510 Policies and Procedures No. 26-02.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CARTER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BURGESS, TO
APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 1 THROUGH 15, WITHDRAWING ITEM 11 TO
SEND BACK TO HEALTH DISTRICT, AND RESCHEDULING ACTION ON ITEM 8 TO A
SPECIAL M EETI NG TO BE H ELD ON 12/31/25 AT 1:00 P. M. MOTION PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY.
G. Board Discussion/Decision Items
• Walk -On Items:
o Auditor's Office, Resolution No. 25-123-CC, relating
to the creation of a new fund titled "Morgue
Construction Bond Payment Fund" 212 and
Resolution No. 25-124-CC, relating to the creation of
a new fund titled "Renewable Solar Development
Fund" 170.
Page 7 of 12
BOCC Minutes Week of December 29, 2025
o Development Services Comprehensive Plan
Amendment Ordinances and Resolution as follows:
■ Ordinance No. 25-119-CC, relating to an
amendment to the Unified Development Code
Chapter and Section 23.12.075 - Clustering
Standards,
■ Ordinance No. 25-120-CC, relating to an
amendment to the Unified Development Code
Chapter 25.04 - Permit Application Review
Procedures - Review Timelines,
■ Ordinance No. 25-121-CC, relating to an
amendment to the Unified Development Code
Chapters 22.04, 23.04, 23.12, and 25.02, and
■ Resolution No. 25-122-CC, relating to
Comprehensive Planning in Grant County in
Accordance with the Washington State Growth
Management Act (RCW 36.70A) and amending
the Comprehensive Plan and associated Zone
Changes.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CARTER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BURGESS, TO
APPROVE THE CREATION OF ACCOUNT 212 FOR SERVICE FUNDS FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE MORGUE. DISCUSSION ABOUT FUND CREATION FOR
MORGUE PAYMENTS. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CARTER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BURGESS TO
APPROVE THE CREATION OF ACCOUNT 170 FOR SOLAR MITIGATION BANKING.
DISCUSSION ABOUT STARTING FUND BALANCE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,985,184.70.
MOTION PASSSED UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CARTER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BURGESS, TO
APPROVE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTION
AS APPROVED DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON 12/16/25. MOTION PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CARTER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BURGESS, TO
CREATE A TRAVEL EXPENSE ACCOUNT FOR 2026 TRAVEL IN CURRENT EXPENSE.
DIRECTION TO HAVE STAFF REACH OUTTO ACCOUNTING. MOTION PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY.
I. Adjournment
The Commissioner's Meeting adjourned at 11:27 a.m.
1:00 P.M. - 2:00 p.m. Budget and Finance AND Finance Committee Meeting
Page 8 of 12
BOCC Minutes Week of December 29, 2025
Staff Present." Darryl Pheasant, Treasurer, Carrie Heston, Treasurer's
Office; Tom Gaines, County Administrator; Decorah
Anderson -Cook (via Zoom), Human Resources; Mandy Kim,
Chief Financial Officer
The following Topics were presented and discussed during the
Budget and Finance AND Finance Committee Meeting:
• State & County Pool Rates
o Portfolio Duration Reports
• Distressed Counties Financing
• REET Funds Incoming
• Year -End Transactions, Revenues: Current Use
Programs, Interest Rates
• Revenue Increase with Tower Lease - No Expected
Increase for 2026
• CLemmer Financial Contract Renewal
• Position Management -Treasurer's Office
• November Financial Reports
• Current Expense Travel Fund Creation: Management of
Funds
• Resolution - Consent 1/6/25
• Movement of Funds from Current Expense
Accounts
2:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Open Record Public Hearing, Year-end Budget Extension
Hearing
Staff Present: Mandy Kim, Accounting; Tom Gaines, County
Administrator; Caitlin ManeU, Commissioner's Office
Public: See Sign -in Sheet
This being the date set, and proper notices having been
posted and published in accordance with local and state
Laws, Commissioner Jones re -opened the public hearing on
December 30, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. to consider the Year-end
Budget Extension requests:
Approved via Mandy Kim gave an overview of the extensions as published:
Resolution No. 25-130- 0 Fund# 107 E-Share $11,000
CC 0 109 INET Forfeiter %$2-001000 $170,000
0 116 Fairgrounds $200,000
0 124 Auditor's O&M 8.5-D.0,0 $20,00
0 126/132 REET $1,381,220
0 127 Trial Court Improvement �88V $105,000
0 136 Dispute Resolution $3,000
Page 9 of 12
BOCC Minutes Week of December 29, 2025
• 142 Vessel Registration $100,000
• 503 Insurance $�, $2,700,000
® 314 Morgue Construction $8,000,000
• 560 Pits and Quarries $500,000
• 190 Grant Admin $135,000
® 192AOC—Blake Decision $11 1000
Tota l P , 71 �','' ^_� � $131156,220.00
Jail Construction — Potential Extension Needed; Not
Published
Discussion about Bond Expenditures
2026 Budget Review
No Public Comment was given.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CARTER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BURGESS, TO
CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE HEARING. MOTION PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY.
Following the motion, it was
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CARTER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BURGESS, TO
APPROVE BUDGET EXTENSIONS WITH THE CHANGES MADE TO FUNDS 109, 124,127
AND 503 AS PRESENTED. DISCUSSION TO NOTE CHANGES COMING IN THE FUTURE.
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The Public Hearing was closed at 2:18 p.m.
After the Public Hearing was closed, further discussion was held about the 2026
Budget and the new Travel Expense Fund.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEM
• The Commissioners signed and approved the Public Works County Payroll Salary
Fund for their December 26, 2025 payroll.
The Tuesday, December 30, 2025 session was closed at 2:41 p.m.
Page 10 of 12
BOCC Minutes Week Of December 29, 2025
SESSION CONTINUATION
The session was re -opened on Wednesday, December31, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. with
Commissioners Jones, Carter (via Zoom) and Burgess in attendance.
1:00 P.M. - 3:00 p.m. 2026 Budget Review Meeting
Staff Present: Michele Jaderlund, Auditor; Mandy Kim, Chief Financial
Officer, Amanda Simonsen, Accountant; Tom Gaines,
County Administrator; Undersheriff Gary Mansford, Chief
Deputy Phillip Coats, Sheriff's Office; Decorah Anderson -
Cook (via Zoom), Human Resources; Desiree Ochocinski,
District Court; Jim Anderson -Cook (via Zoom),
Development Services
Approved via The following Topics were presented and discussed during the
Resolution 2026 Budget Review Meeting:
No. 25-131-CC • Review of 2026 Budget Final Numbers
• Current Expense Total: $70,510,138.00
• Non -Current Expense Total: $255,018,177.00
• Capital Purchases Total: $16,385,482.00
• Total including Capital - $341 ,913,797.00
• COLA Increase Consideration
• Travel Budget - Independent Fund Outside of Current
Expense
• Staff to Contact Employees re: Hiring Freeze and Travel
Fund
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CARTER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BURGESS, TO
ADOPT THE COUNTY BUDGET OF $325,528,314.00, WHICH INCLUDES $70,510,138.00
FOR CURRENT EXPENSE, UTILIZING APPROXIMATELY $5.7 MILLION OF BEGINNING
FUND EXCESS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, INCLUDING THE CAPITAL PURCHASES
TOTAL. MOTION ALSO INCLUDES A TRAVEL EXPENSE BUDGET FOR ALL CURRENT
EXPENSE TRAVEL TO BE APPROVED BY TH E BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
IMPLEMENTING A HIRING FREEZE ON ALL CURRENT EXPENSE POSITIONS NEW OR
EXISTING AND THE 2026 COLA INCREASE TO COME FROM THE 105 EMPLOYEE
GROWTH ACCOUNT. DISCUSSION TO NOTE THAT THE COLA INCREASE IS FOR NON -
REPRESENTED ONLY OF 2.71 %, BEGINNING ON THE FIRST PAY PERIOD ON JANUARY.
MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The Wednesday, December 31, 2025 session was closed at 1:31 p.m.
Page 11 of 12
BOCC Minutes Week of December 29, 2025
Me; ting Minutes for the week of December 29, 2025 were approved this _dayof
",. 2026.
Attest:
1
)j 1"
Barbra J. Vasquez,
Clerk of t e Board
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Grant County, Washington
Kevin R. Burg s, Chair
Page 12 of 12
BOCC Minutes Week of December 29, 2025