Taking a look back at the county

The Thurston Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) made critical decisions over the past year to address major concerns of the residents amid the growing population and adapting to the new normal. Take a look at some of the stories that made headlines in 2022.

Housing efforts

On January 25, the BOCC passed an ordinance creating a county-wide Home Fund, extending the 0.1 percent increase Olympia added to its retail sales taxes to the rest of the county to help fund affordable housing. In February, the county approved the interlocal agreement with Olympia to acquire and develop a property on Franz Anderson Road to shelter homeless individuals. In July, the board passed a motion that approved a $49,275 contract with the Catholic Community Services of Western Washington to provide shelter services for homeless and homeless veterans and their families at the Drexel House Emergency Shelter. Before the year ends, the BOCC approved a contract with the Low Income Housing Institute for $1,741,380, which will be used to assist in the construction of the 2828 Martin Way Phase 2 housing project. It also approved an additional $2,231,623 to Geocko Inc., which does business as LiveStories, which was selected to handle the Thurston County Rent Assistance Program (T-RAP 1).

Community Action Council fiasco

Thurston County suspended its contract on February 24 with the Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason & Thurston (CAC), stating that it has reported "suspected fraud" to the Washington State Auditor. The county's internal audit review said CAC's Emergency Rental Assistance compliance with state and federal guidelines could be improved by enhancing fraud prevention procedures and internal controls. In June, CAC announced that it would not renew its remaining housing contracts with Thurston County, citing concerns about its handling of rental assistance changes over the last four months. In a statement shared with the press on June 30, the CAC said that "misinformation" about their programs has done "irreparable harm to CAC's reputation," alleging that Thurston County officials have been resistant to reasonable negotiations.

Commissioners clash on some property decisions

In March, the board approved the purchase of a $995,000 building from the Western Building Material Association. Assistant County Manager and head of county Central Services Robin Campbell said the site would be for the Office of Public Defense building as the current office needs more space. Commissioner Tye Menser disapproved of the purchase agreement, saying that he sees the property as more of a "want than a need." Commissioner Carolina Mejia defended the purchase, saying it will address the county's short and long-term space concerns.

In June, the board awarded the $2,025,558 contract to Gordon Products Inc, which does business as The Creative Office, for furniture, fixtures and equipment for The Atrium, a building the county rents at 3000 Pacific Avenue in Olympia. Commissioner Gary Edwards opposed the motion, saying there is a "fairness issue" on whether REET1 is a valid source of funds, adding that the funding only comes from the taxes of citizens living in unincorporated areas. Commissioners Menser and Mejia approved the motion.

Expansion of Board of Health (BOH)

In July, the county adopted the rules set under House Bill 1152 in the recruitment, selection, and appointment of local BOH members who are not elected officials. Lacey councilmember Robin Vazquez joined the board in August as the first representative from the city-elected officials. She will be on board for the first rotation for two years. The post for the city elected official will rotate from Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Yelm.

In September, three appointees filled up the remaining healthcare and community members' posts or the "citizen seats" within the BOH. Local pediatrician Beth Harvey represents public health, health care facilities, and providers; community-based health provider and psychologist Maria Williams stand for public health consumers; while Lynn Nelson, a registered nurse, represents other community stakeholders. The newly expanded BOH held its inaugural meeting on October 11.

Developing Racial Equity and Inclusion Council

The BOCC announced the appointment of the initial seven community members to the Thurston County Council on Racial Equity and Inclusion (REIC) in August. Nicole Miller, the county's first-ever racial equity program manager, launched the opening of applications in April. Over the next three years, the racial equity council is expected to grow to 15 members with a goal of a vibrant membership representative of the many intersecting identities community members hold. On March 9, 2021, the BOCC declared racism a crisis in Thurston County, approving the establishment of the REIC on December 14, 2021.

Redistricting, adding two more commissioners

The majority of voters approved the expansion of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) from three to five commissioners in the 2022 General Elections. RCW 36.32.055 authorizes any non-charter county, like Thurston, with a population of 300,000 or more and less than 400,000, to cause a ballot proposition at a general election on whether to authorize BOCC to increase its members to five. Based on the latest data from the Office of Financial Management, Thurston County has a population size of 300,500. County Manager Ramiro Chavez said elections for the two new members will be in 2023.