Martin Earning High Marks in New County Manager Role

One year after Lewis County began the search for a full-time executive — a new position based on the recommendation of a blue ribbon task force — county leaders and observers have praised the addition of the role, and the work put in by county manager Erik Martin. 

“Erik brings an engineer’s mind,” said county commissioner Edna Fund. “He's very organized. There's certain things that (commissioners) always had our fingers in and had to manage. Now we can let him do the management. I can put more effort into the policy and the advocacy side of things versus the nitty-gritty of an elevator that's out of service.”

The role of the county manager, as advised by the task force, is to oversee the county’s appointed department heads and leave the elected commissioners more time to focus on big-picture items. Martin holds weekly update meetings with the commissioners, often covering more than a dozen agenda items — based on his own meetings with department heads. According to Fund, those hour-long briefings cover the ground that usually required a multitude of director meetings to keep commissioners informed.

“This is really about the commissioners and what their role can be for the county,” Martin said. “Working on policy, economic development, legislative issues — I think the public expects that of their elected officials.”

Martin officially started the job on Aug. 1 last year, after previously serving as the county’s Public Works director. His addition came in the midst of home rule charter efforts from the group One Lewis County to restructure county government — including installing a permanent executive. Though that measure was rejected by voters, One Lewis County member Todd Chaput said the group has been pleased to see at least one of its proposed reforms implemented by the county.

“The underlying reason was always for a more efficient county government, and the principal way we sought to do that was through a county executive,” he said. “It’s a win for One Lewis County, but it’s also a win for the county.”

Chaput serves on the board of the Lewis County Public Facilities District, where he has regular dealings with county government and Martin. 

“He’s a problem-solver,” Chaput said. “It streamlines it a little bit, because there’s that one point of contact. Instead of trying to get the ears of each commissioner, I can just go through Erik and get things done.”

Steve Walton, the county’s Central Services director, worked with the task force that recommended creating the executive position. Martin’s addition, he said, has met the need it was intended to fill. 

“It’s been more efficient from my perspective,” Walton said. “Erik is very accessible, so if I ever have anything to run by him he’s always easily reachable and prompt to respond. … It seems that (commissioners) are free to get out and about and deal with things that they are best suited to deal with rather than being handcuffed to a desk with all the administrative tasks and meetings they had previously.”

Walton said he used to meet with county commissioners twice a month, meetings that he now has with Martin — who condenses that information into a single update with commissioners, incorporating all the county’s departments.  

“It’s been a good thing,” said county commissioner Gary Stamper. “It’s allowed me some ability to do some other things, focus in on some projects, spend a little more time out in the field working with individuals. It’s cut down on the number of meetings, so that’s been a positive thing.”

Martin and commissioners stress that the elected officials still take a hands-on role in dealing with their constituents and directors, and they want to remain accessible. But having a county manager on hand allows many things to get dealt with more efficiently. 

“Usually if someone contacts me, I will go to that director or Erik or whatever,” Stamper said. “What I’m finding is there’s been some times where the situation has been worked out even before it’s gotten to me. I think you’re going to see even more of that. Erik’s made it very clear that if there is something we need to address, feel free to call the county manager.”

Currently, Martin is working on assembling a resolution that will formalize some aspects of his role, allowing him the authority to handle some of the duties he’s been delegated without bringing them back to county commissioners for approval. After nearly eight months on the job, it’s now more clear just what his role entails.

“With each issue or situation that comes up, we’re having discussions about that. We’re clear on who’s taking what role,” he said. “As we’ve worked through a lot of those, I feel like we’re in a place now where we’ve got a pretty clear picture.”

Martin also serves as the administrator of the Chehalis and Cowlitz River Basin Flood Control Zone Districts, on which the commissioners serve as supervisors. Bringing the same working relationship to those dual roles has helped both entities work more smoothly, Martin said. 

“Obviously flooding is probably the biggest issue that we’re dealing with here in Lewis County,” he said. “I’m really happy with the progress we’ve made. … I’m optimistic about where that’s headed and plan to remain involved.”

Though the county manager position has not been codified into county government, Fund said it’s likely the role will become permanent. 

“I don't see us ever taking it away,” she said. “One (other county) commissioner who had a manager told me, ‘Once you have it, you never can live without it.’”