# October 13, 2026 - Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Work Session

The October 13, 2026 Thurston County Board of County Commissioners work session reviewed business planned for the October 20 agenda and discussed several procurement and funding items. Central Services proposed a new two-year landscaping RFP for county-owned buildings outside downtown; the current contract is with Transwestern for $497,848, and changes made in 2026 reduced costs by about $65,000. Commissioners asked staff to research whether county employees could perform some of the work. Other items included a proposed $151,893 one-time purchase of audiovisual technology for the Emergency Coordination Center, funded through interlocal-agreement revenue, and a call for sealed bids for the Meadows Subdivision Pond 4C retrofit, estimated at $1.95 million, including a $420,750 Washington State Department of Ecology grant and stormwater utility funds. The board also reviewed a proposed $40,000 annual sponsorship for Experience Olympia and Beyond, with a requested four-year commitment. A revised Earth Advantage Home Energy Score implementation contract would be reduced from $169,000 to $109,500 after two cities declined to contribute; a motion to remove the item from the October 20 agenda pending a presentation from the Realtors Association failed on a 2–2 vote, so it remains scheduled for consideration.

Public Health and Social Services presented proposed veteran project grants and other contracts, including a two-year $160,000 retainer with Tacoma Pro Bono, $366,000 for the Thurston County Food Bank, $100,000 per year for South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity home repairs, and other veteran-service awards. Proposed CDBG subrecipient contracts included $236,872 for Habitat for Humanity and $136,872 for Rebuilding Together Thurston County, among other awards. The board unanimously directed staff to prepare estimates and begin project governance for a possible multiyear levy lid lift measure for November 2027, with funding priorities to return in November; the discussion cited a projected 2027 general fund deficit of $22.3 million. The board also reviewed proposed AI-use and IT security-access policies, including required IT security review for AI use and tighter access controls, and requested further staff education. The meeting included review of a $209,000 net special budget amendment for emergency management and Medic One; these and other listed contracts were agenda items for future board consideration, not approvals recorded at this work session.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure, Healthcare
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 13, 2026

### Sources
- [October 13, 2026 - Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Work Session](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhsUxM00Jak) - Thurston County