Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: CM - County Manager (including Budget)

Directors' Update: Feb. 14, 2024

Business Meeting: Feb. 20, 2024

Summary:

Approving of a fiscal sponsorship agreement with the Lewis County Broadband Action Team (LCBAT).  Lewis County is holding money earned by the LCBAT for broadband and digital equity planning conducted at the State and Washington State University's request.  Lewis County previously agreed to accept those funds on LCBAT's behalf because LCBAT is an unincorporated citizens' group, which has no bank account and cannot receive funds.  LCBAT has formal bylaws, officers, and regular meetings, however, so it can formally direct where such money should be spent for broadband or digital equity promotion purposes.  This agreement delineates the process by which LCBAT can direct the expenditure of those funds, and Lewis County will make such expenditures on LCBAT's behalf, consistent with generally accepted government accounting principles and other limitations on government funds.

Publications:

Cover Letter To: Frank Corbin, Chair, Lewis County Broadband Action Team, frank.corbin@comcast.net [please also CC the official LCBAT email address of lewiscountybat@gmail.com].

Additional Copies To: Becky Butler; Grace Jimenez

Resolution

WHEREAS, the Lewis County Broadband Action Team (LCBAT) is an unincorporated citizens group whose mission includes the promotion of broadband internet access across all of Lewis County; and

WHEREAS, the LCBAT earned funds by conducting countywide broadband and digital equity planning at the request of the State and Washington State University, an effort that Lewis County staff participated in due to a shared interest in widely accessible high-speed internet; and

WHEREAS, because the LCBAT is unincorporated and cannot receive funds, Lewis County contracted with WSU to receive the earned funds on LCBAT's behalf -- however, the LCBAT has formal bylaws, officers, and regular meetings, and so can responsibly direct the expenditure of those funds in furtherance of broadband access and digital equity; and

WHEREAS, Lewis County and the LCBAT have negotiated a fiscal sponsorship agreement setting forth the process by which LCBAT can direct expenditure of the funds, and Lewis County will expend funds according to that direction, consistent with generally accepted government accounting principles and other limitations on government funds; and

WHEREAS, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners finds the fiscal sponsorship agreement to be in the public interest.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the fiscal sponsor ship agreement is approved. The County Manager is authorized to sign on behalf of Lewis County; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED in making expenditures at LCBAT's direction as provided in the the fiscal sponsorship agreement, the County Manager's regular signature authority concerning county contracts and expenditures shall apply. For example, an expenditure under $50,000 may be approved by the County Manager without a resolution of this Board, but one in excess of that amount would require this Board's approval via resolution. Nothing in this normal authority precludes county staff or the LCBAT seeking this Board's approval for expenditures under that amount if they so choose.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 20th day of February, 2024.