[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6449746,"mediaKeyId","5860837-d06110f6031540d6bfa1c79e9f763f2e","parentId",5860837,"title","Board delays Long Lake management-district decision after residents raise equity concerns about assessments","audioSeconds",10,"startMs",3377000,"endMs",3387000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860837-d06110f6031540d6bfa1c79e9f763f2e&start=3377&end=3387","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860837-d06110f6031540d6bfa1c79e9f763f2e/thumbnail_3377000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6449746/Thurston-County/Washington/Board-delays-Long-Lake-management-district-decision-after-residents-raise-equity-concerns-about-assessments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449746-0e2548c1343c29f752230cc96276f2c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770773443&Signature=oozXcgYLeNtx4Rts6MMJVgeN5sYUUkyCTq09FimauVfp9YDJlIsV05f5DQq3yTlWUoo1YYjXHC-HTbuM3u91ttar3RQJKuvgqS7waXLAYzasQWvWZFJBjJcUeTlx015umzkTWLmxTJODlqW1lRB9BJ6BtERz6dWMv2X26a6~rLXWKyNX44GLcA9Jbsc~vkqcGgDvNf34eO~1RCBlfdhmNapHS1IaH67dATd4lUlqNk2Ao74ZI7yDFfaAypsjaHUHIDJ5GvhnL2yO8hnhjy9Fv3tknrohpPwZiGYlAYiWvHMcc6qpatEoszzkkf4RqNKPsyVMUPrbzWhGm-6o-n58UQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Thurston County Washington","date","2025-10-01T01:09:09Z","article","The Board of County Commissioners paused final action on a resolution of findings and determinations for Long Lake Management District (LMD) No. 25 and moved the item to the next appropriate meeting after an hour-plus of public testimony that included both support and objections to the proposed assessment structure.

Dr. Jen Freiheit, director of Public Health and Social Services, summarized the formation process and the board's prior steps. Staff noted the board had called for the public-hearing sequence earlier in the summer and that the current hearing was the required next step in the LMD formation and assessment process.

Speakers were divided. Chad Booth, a civil engineer representing an HOA on Long Lake, said the proposed assessment structure was \"vastly inequitable,\" noting that non-lakeshore community parcels could be assessed 11 to 365 times more, by his calculation, than their fair share given use and access. Booth presented a petition signed by 114 residents asking the board to revise how assessments are calculated.

Other speakers, including Eric Casino and Steven Mower, urged commissioners to move the measure to the ballot so voters can decide. Casino summarized existing LMD services including weed management, water-quality testing, safety buoys and phosphorus mitigation programs and said the fee structure had historical precedent and been discussed over more than a year in steering-committee meetings.

Commissioners and staff discussed timing and public-notice constraints. Staff said missing the board's next steps could require reworking notification schedules; commissioners determined a brief additional interval for staff review and commissioner deliberation was feasible. The board voted to place the resolution of findings and determinations on the next appropriate meeting after the public comments were considered and to return the item for a board work session and further deliberation on October 7. The motion passed 4 in favor, 0 opposed with 1 abstention.

Ending: Staff will provide supplemental materials and commissioners requested a Tuesday morning work session before the board takes final action; the assessment roll itself will be the subject of a later ordinance and vote.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 30, 2025 - Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","After a contested public hearing, the board moved the Long Lake Management District No. 25 resolution and related assessment roll to the next appropriate meeting (scheduled for Oct. 7) to allow staff and commissioners more time to review objections from upland property owners who said assessments are inequitable.","taxTitle","Thurston County, Washington","taxId",4614,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6449747,"Residents, sheriff press commissioners as Thurston County budget cuts target public safety",0,2124000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860837-d06110f6031540d6bfa1c79e9f763f2e&start=2124&end=2124","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860837-d06110f6031540d6bfa1c79e9f763f2e/thumbnail_2124000.jpg","/articles/6449747/Thurston-County/Washington/Residents-sheriff-press-commissioners-as-Thurston-County-budget-cuts-target-public-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449747-841f9d12810c3ef92d97516c907f4cfc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770773443&Signature=lBI4pKQWXgL8ENtbdPJN3scZAT0oZ8IGK-kPxI2m85541eTBqesKa8Pf3ECXG1JBtSFZpwufLaoRc~gJv1jJalm0GY9SJin9BKoad4T-A-egx9rZ7bkchcw1681Y7sNUvso~P2VI2mB72do099q1QqJa-2wGZDxpqQWGwIRcLUHXLES-FrzVfSrtJPwL0tz~WZQ9CB9VVqwnw6bzefS81q3T9KRTPT6D6NOnAZpz6hwB-45XK-eXGZ525Xkfkchl9dk~6m~4Bkryx9Q8PKgC1pLRnUOEI4PlZsW3CFNCntE5~u89YLupXnqodlCabJ-ADgAzpiAhdMVnDIuBHV4rDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sheriff Derek Sanders and dozens of Thurston County residents urged the Board of County Commissioners to spare or restore proposed cuts to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office during a long public-comment period Tuesday.

\"We as elected officials can better educate our citizens on the very real systemic problems that are facing county level government,\" Sanders told the board, adding that Washington ranks low on officers per capita and that local staffing remains below national averages. He warned that deputies and support staff will face 2026's operational pressures with reduced resources.

Chair Ty Minster and staff told the assembled residents the board has been negotiating reductions across nearly every office and department to reconcile a structural budget deficit. The chair said the board had reduced a previously proposed sheriff cut from about $13.2 million to roughly $2.5 million \"—a number we're not quite at yet\"—and that preliminary decisions were expected the next day.

Public commenters voiced a range of concerns. Many residents, including volunteers and public-safety professionals, said recent increases in deputy staffing and visible enforcement have improved safety and should be preserved. Ron Schnell, a Johnson Point resident, said the sheriff's office \"has improved the staffing\" and urged the board not to cut funding because it would increase long-term costs, such as damage to property and increased workload for prosecutors.

Several commenters recounted personal incidents and said reduced staffing would lengthen response times and make their neighborhoods less safe. Others urged shifting cuts away from law enforcement to other parts of the county budget. A smaller group of commenters asked the board to maintain or protect funding for climate programs and social services, and some speakers described concerns about enforcement practices and called for accountability measures in the sheriff's office.

The chair and individual commissioners repeatedly described the budget as difficult and widespread: \"Nearly every office and department in the county will be seeing budget reductions for 2026,\" the chair said, noting limitations on county revenue and the role of restricted funds. Commissioners encouraged continued public engagement and noted that the sheriff and the board had sent shared communications to the county's independent salary commission indicating an unwillingness to take raises during the crisis.

Ending: No final budget vote occurred at the meeting; staff and commissioners said more proposals and preliminary decisions would be considered the following day and that public comment was well timed for the deliberations.
","Sheriff Derek Sanders and scores of residents urged the Board of County Commissioners to restore cuts to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office, while the board said cuts to multiple departments are being considered as it pursues a balanced 2026 budget.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6449748,"Thurston County approves $34.9 million purchase of downtown Plum Street site",1081,237000,1318000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860837-d06110f6031540d6bfa1c79e9f763f2e&start=237&end=1318","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860837-d06110f6031540d6bfa1c79e9f763f2e/thumbnail_237000.jpg","/articles/6449748/Thurston-County/Washington/Thurston-County-approves-349-million-purchase-of-downtown-Plum-Street-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449748-955330095cde1e800fb1dc2efee73ad4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770773443&Signature=E1sKbUswny40lIEsndmGynE6GLS7~ieeF1WubqW2csLJ2SMeR3lECpVOefAT9kwhUthBnFCKaeLFK1oPxvyp8L6GwNhObns34KIcz~FFw0g5BkdOHTTQ6iIHqi6R4h~zcQbroN4~9KZQqdEL~9RFfNjvAe~uHfA94wxH6CXj1iDV8fz1MlSloXeJss3oNztxlQMFg5~AMRBZbK1TZsHKbTF0rjdqU7DdDJswnOI7nkysgJwIYifAL4PxbkV7ua2-l~MY0jzmvn5A0CCrb9EP93C~A2VdUaflNbwYQbkEmkvNskhIFsGllFKeR~VfPE6k45LEBgl4CLn4zi5CerhOuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thurston County\u000board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to close on a purchase-and-sale agreement for seven acres and six buildings at 805 Southeast Plum Street in Olympia for a purchase price of $34,900,000 plus applicable closing costs and post-closing adjustments.

The county will use the property to co-locate several county departments and reduce lease costs, county staff said.

Assistant County Manager Joshua Cummings, who briefed commissioners before the vote, said the acquisition uses bond proceeds established years earlier for courthouse, law-and-justice and general government facility needs. \"The bond can only be used for the purchase or renovation of property and must be used by October 2025 or incur arbitrage penalties,\" Cummings said. He added that the bond proceeds cannot be used to plug the county\u000budget shortfall in the general fund.

Rick Thomas, capital projects planning manager with Central Services, told commissioners that a $500,000 deposit previously paid under the purchase-and-sale agreement had initiated inspections and research and that due diligence confirmed the buildings \"will meet the needs of the county.\" Thomas requested authorization to execute lease amendments and any future amendments that do not exceed 10 percent in order to finalize closing and recording.

Commissioner Pournier framed the purchase as a long-term capital solution, saying it avoids repeatedly asking voters for large bond measures and moves the county away from leasing. The motion to authorize closing and approve lease-amendment authority passed unanimously.

Public commenters asked questions about process and transparency before and during the staff presentation. John Pettit, who had addressed the board during the public-comment period, said the county had not sought adequate public input and raised concerns about the property site being sited on liquefaction soils. Cummings and Thomas referenced previous public outreach, an earlier 2022 board resolution that initiated the bond for acquiring new property, and legal review from the prosecuting attorney's office.

Staff materials and a frequently asked questions page are available on the county website, and central services staff said they anticipate completing final due diligence and recording before October to conform with bond timing requirements.

Ending: The board authorized the county manager or designee to complete closing per the agreement executed 07/29/2025 and approved the lease amendments as described. Commissioners and staff signaled the county will now proceed to implement tenant improvements and consolidate departments into the new site.","The Board of County Commissioners unanimously authorized closing on the purchase of seven acres and six buildings at 805 Southeast Plum Street, Olympia, for $34,900,000 plus closing costs and post-closing adjustments; staff said the bond used for the purchase is limited to facility acquisitions and must be used by October 2025.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6449743,"Votes at a glance: Thurston County Board actions on property purchase, flood plan, WARC contract and HUD amendment",518,1209000,1727000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5860837-d06110f6031540d6bfa1c79e9f763f2e&start=1209&end=1727","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5860837-d06110f6031540d6bfa1c79e9f763f2e/thumbnail_1209000.jpg","/articles/6449743/Thurston-County/Washington/Votes-at-a-glance-Thurston-County-Board-actions-on-property-purchase-flood-plan-WARC-contract-and-HUD-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449743-64db4ed0c69875971505c43f53b29240/orig.mp4?Expires=1770773443&Signature=nNBUfYLvF86I~g6OrZqA-sj4gbjou2JX~W-a9RR1~a0D-19aMG8U1mk3EJ4DMIHkeNfUsQI93kN8IHLKphu2~bHEPz4GgqiZHoGv0qeZdFxFp9S9y4~BabU99TjI6opLUR42KOga4JcIzaHk2dBoE5j4v8YmAI~lWNuAVCGCN-Y3dugHbaFTskdVkVzsQ-lRoJ46LmZrg4eePSrDA4HGtWs0-zQ8bkFOgx3gvnC9CpXE3Ssphjo6RkVurzOmF~mAEV0LG5HFwND8XW2OhSnQBOa4AOdXyvjHCUHUXDJ2yTHVQTwDqoZ982aPbPirQUyfDSW7lD9d7gAIqcTOWvdhuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners took the following recorded actions during the meeting.

1) Central Services: 805 Southeast Plum Street acquisition
Motion: Authorize closing per the purchase-and-sale agreement executed 07/29/2025 for 805 Southeast Plum Street for $34,900,000 plus post-closing adjustments and approve associated lease amendments; authorize the director of central services to execute amendments not exceeding 10%.
Outcome: Approved unanimously. (Staff: Joshua Cummings, Rick Thomas.)

2) Resolution: 2025 Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan update
Motion: Approve the resolution adopting the Thurston County 2025 Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan update as amended with updates to the special districts table.
Outcome: Approved unanimously. Staff emphasized this update does not change flood-hazard maps or create new regulations and helps the county retain a favorable Community Rating System designation used to lower flood-insurance rates.

3) Public Works: Contract award for Waste & Recovery Center (WARC) reconfiguration
Motion: Approve contract award for owner advisory and construction management services for WARC reconfiguration (CP C90010) to Turner and Townsend Heery LLC for a maximum of $600,000 and authorize the director of public works to execute contract and amendments up to 10% contingency.
Outcome: Approved. Vote recorded as unanimous.

4) Public Health & Social Services: Program Year 2024 HUD annual action plan substantial amendment
Motion: Accept the program year 2024 HUD annual action plan substantial amendment and authorize the Department of Public Health and Social Services to submit the amendment to HUD. (Included Low Income Housing Institute Maple Court Shelter Conversion Project for home funds.)
Outcome: Approved. No public comment had been received on the amendment.

5) Long Lake Management District No. 25: resolution of findings and determinations
Motion: Move the resolution of findings and determinations for Long Lake LMD No. 25 to the next appropriate meeting after additional review of public comments and staff materials; schedule a work session for further discussion.
Outcome: Motion passed 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention. Action deferred to Oct. 7 work session and subsequent agenda.

Ending: Several items passed unanimously; the Long Lake item was delayed for further review after extensive public comment. Commissioners noted budget pressures require further deliberation on other proposed reductions, including those in the sheriff's office.
","The Board of County Commissioners approved multiple items including the Plum Street purchase, the 2025 Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan update, a construction management contract for the Waste & Recovery Center, and an amendment to the PY2024 HUD annual action plan; it also moved the Long Lake LMD resolution for further review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board delays Long Lake management-district decision after residents raise equity concerns about assessments

Residents, sheriff press commissioners as Thurston County budget cuts target public safety

Thurston County approves $34.9 million purchase of downtown Plum Street site

Votes at a glance: Thurston County Board actions on property purchase, flood plan, WARC contract and HUD amendment