[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6467696,"mediaKeyId","5785412-93232fda2519255331c38b1d801ede0e","parentId",5785412,"title","Public hearing on Thurston County 2025 Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan draws drainage‑district and environmental concerns; adoption set for Sept. 30","audioSeconds",1009,"startMs",2280000,"endMs",3289000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785412-93232fda2519255331c38b1d801ede0e&start=2280&end=3289","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785412-93232fda2519255331c38b1d801ede0e/thumbnail_2280000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6467696/Thurston-County/Washington/Public-hearing-on-Thurston-County-2025-Flood-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-draws-drainagedistrict-and-environmental-concerns-adoption-set-for-Sept-30","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467696-f95537ae40676879598d7edb7154ca3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961727&Signature=PaEbuZ5y9GJpRiQP-aYk1tqoOGuiIgxun1gI4lyCk5yP1A5GPls3370YOX~2c2eRsWydDuaJf9uQNlc23QKFIT5IUsVX8UtQodVJqTk0ASRo0gfJKKnblf5uTuAcJUxjMYQqAM2bZJ~bZ4fTVwPCyOhthyHv~zEufZps5mhramgBm8jofwUx9pa0KBcv0M-7E6nXuy-7RKlR8i6UE-AdhXq7rl5QjcILbHCyVd60p9rZ7xaAjvcTbI~0OF129J04o5dSNAS0MttM5yv-e9JziDJyg49ClYtjNHPpbNz2SPwXtD8PHrkDn4TWecbb5fb8wUrI4n0mxYEixSuqmMrg9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Thurston County Washington","date","2025-09-17T00:35:03Z","article","(Note: The body below is a single article body; paragraph breaks follow AP‑style with two newlines between paragraphs.)

Thurston County held a public hearing Sept. 16 on the county’s 2025 Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan update, a FEMA‑focused document intended to maintain the county’s Community Rating System (CRS) status and guide county flood‑mitigation initiatives. County staff told commissioners the plan incorporates updated data and program descriptions but does not change regulatory flood maps or create new regulations.

Ashley Rai, director of Community Planning and Economic Development, said the update is intended to meet FEMA requirements and help guide mitigation projects. “It is important to note that this update does not create additional regulations or changes to any of the maps regarding flood hazard areas here in the county,” Rai said, and she noted the plan’s role in preserving reduced flood‑insurance rates through continued CRS participation.

Rai said the county received about 26 written comments prior to the hearing and summarized major themes, including concerns about Tacoma Power and flood storage in Alder Dam/Howard Hanson (Holder Dam was cited by commenters), protection of habitat and species, critical‑area buffers, land‑use and impervious surface regulation, and tree‑clearing.

Multiple members of drainage‑ditch districts urged the county to explicitly recognize and work with RCW 85‑established drainage districts. Matt Jackman, chair of Hopkins Drainage Ditch District No. 2, told the board he and other ditch district chairs feel the plan and the county have “ignored and snubbed” the county’s drainage districts and asked to be included in county planning and education efforts. Jackman said the plan’s table listing drainage districts omitted functioning districts and that ditch districts possess historical knowledge relevant to groundwater flooding in Salmon Creek Basin.

Ken Miller, chair of the Scott Lake Drainage District, echoed Jackman and urged greater county collaboration with elected drainage‑district commissioners. Environmental commenters asked the county to prioritize habitat protection in flood response planning. Betsy Norton of South Sound Bird Alliance said wildlife and critical habitat must be protected “before, during, and after flooding” and recommended updating zoning, development codes and stormwater standards to address combined sources of flooding, including groundwater plus increased precipitation.

Several commenters argued that sub‑basin plans and hydrology models are dated; speakers urged the county to update maps and models that inform mitigation. Howard Glasseter, a long‑time Nisqually Delta resident, urged scrutiny of how Alder Dam operations and reservoir management factor into valley flood dynamics and referenced past major flood events.

After public testimony, a commissioner moved to place the Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan update on the Sept. 30 meeting agenda for adoption, providing the board two weeks to review written comments. Staff noted a FEMA CRS visit is scheduled for Oct. 15 and that updated, adopted plan language should be in place before that date to avoid compliance issues. The motion to calendar the plan for Sept. 30 was seconded and carried.

County staff said where comments relate to code or regulatory change, those items will be considered through the broader comprehensive plan and forthcoming critical‑areas ordinance updates; the flood plan itself remains a FEMA‑required, countywide guidance document.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 16, 2025 - Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Thurston County held a public hearing Sept. 16 on its 2025 Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan update; staff said the document is informational for FEMA CRS compliance and does not change maps or regulations.","taxTitle","Thurston County, Washington","taxId",4614,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467701,"County extends and adds $800,000 to Maple Court shelter contract with Low Income Housing Institute",162,2205000,2367000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785412-93232fda2519255331c38b1d801ede0e&start=2205&end=2367","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785412-93232fda2519255331c38b1d801ede0e/thumbnail_2205000.jpg","/articles/6467701/Thurston-County/Washington/County-extends-and-adds-800000-to-Maple-Court-shelter-contract-with-Low-Income-Housing-Institute","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467701-85a3218453bc92d6730c71573b263f6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961727&Signature=f3DC7dYOP6z-~drVKC3cOL0G2xrlAMSdVgPet1Fsd4-DtG0OQpo5uzcvHP1ef42QGRy2yexK7voBZ1fukAEJSGZ3yJFYvloegV4z1wibLWfN~ONrQxKBJJqyi1mFFMS1wBm5XfJ73v~72PYUeosvx5tWFtEd0DU24zdqfKYg7ZFFCjMa1iu2scgSFjawUwDTjzGyfFRuqWIW4fNkfKflyNtaOUfLMpMzydyf4aAOA6-OuBfUiXLdT7j18chWf2mHNuAU1aE~6vQItlwqjiPWEspJKDNQ6eUFqx5yuHrFOoYKfcer6YTriXwD5vkQK2osmyJxjPew~9eCK~kLPbA7~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thurston County commissioners on Sept. 16 approved Amendment No. 1 to the contract with the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) to continue operations of the Maple Court Enhanced Shelter, extending the contract end date to Oct. 31, 2025, and adding $800,000 in Encampment Resolution Program funding.

Dr. Jen Breyheit, Public Health and Social Services director, told the board that the amendment is intended as a bridge while staff finalizes negotiations on a new, larger contract for Maple Court operations. The board previously approved a new LIHI contract on Aug. 19 for $2,900,000 covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027; PHSS staff said negotiations on the new contract’s scope are ongoing and expected to conclude in October.

A commissioner asked whether another amendment was likely; staff indicated they hoped this would be the only amendment and that staff would brief the board before any future action. The approved motion authorizes the director of Public Health and Social Services or a designee to execute the amendment and future amendments that do not exceed 10 percent.

Motion language on the record identified the contract as \"2325.CHG.ROWD.LIHI\" in county materials and noted funding is from the Encampment Resolution Program. The motion carried.","The board approved Amendment No. 1 to the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) contract to extend Maple Court enhanced shelter operations through Oct. 31, 2025, and increase the contract by $800,000 from encampment resolution program funds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467706,"Board approves public health contract amendment with Washington State Department of Health",94,2120000,2214000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785412-93232fda2519255331c38b1d801ede0e&start=2120&end=2214","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785412-93232fda2519255331c38b1d801ede0e/thumbnail_2120000.jpg","/articles/6467706/Thurston-County/Washington/Board-approves-public-health-contract-amendment-with-Washington-State-Department-of-Health","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467706-8d1804e79e2c220670731d991996b398/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961727&Signature=UTE8HOCJ0WuTsziMbpIZBb2H4sdR9-7yolZdnwkXCjd9VNh2ov5ScIu5~sxiVDXyBnbxPrOkj9Z-5-BccLAao0AvIWWg9f2UdJGq8jM8ZGAwVhSXROtra46~egt3nOcHKxWSohTkfN1BxP5rNFwRr3BHRVbEuipEN9NY07MaETSxPs0B6vDS0eJZhup14ZqwkgicfNZChXqbhmsso-CdOlXtGmXGjgCFKHP5spO3arj1Xh1PBHDlDeh7vjy22~0y3-dZsH8vB65lJZLARZ5H220w4SjWlIhs-esfoC3jvEu8ARE09LJVouECGRHA3N3v~i6Dl6~w0jL7L29uwXraGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners voted Sept. 16 to approve Amendment No. 9 to the county’s consolidated contract with the Washington State Department of Health, increasing the contract by $4,102,328 to a revised maximum consideration of $10,198,827 for the period Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027.

Dr. Jen Breyheit, Thurston County Public Health and Social Services director, presented the amendment and said it adds statements of work for foundational public health services, immunizations, perinatal hepatitis B work, resiliency and health security (public health emergency planning), and it amends statements of work for expanded laboratory capacity, injury and violence prevention (overdose data to action), and the maternal and child health block grant.

The board moved and seconded a motion to approve the amendment and to authorize the director of Public Health and Social Services or a designee to execute the amendment and future amendments that do not exceed 10 percent. The motion carried.

The amendment was presented as a funding and program update to align county public‑health services with state programs; Dr. Breyheit offered to answer questions from the board.

The amendment’s effective dates are Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027. The transcript record shows the board approved the motion without a recorded roll‑call tally in the minutes beyond the meeting’s stated “Aye. Motion carries.”","The Thurston County Board approved Amendment No. 9 to the county’s consolidated contract with the Washington State Department of Health, increasing the contract by $4,102,328 for a revised maximum of $10,198,827 covering 2025–2027.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467710,"Thurston County proclaims September as National Recovery Month, highlights low‑barrier services",830,124000,954000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785412-93232fda2519255331c38b1d801ede0e&start=124&end=954","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785412-93232fda2519255331c38b1d801ede0e/thumbnail_124000.jpg","/articles/6467710/Thurston-County/Washington/Thurston-County-proclaims-September-as-National-Recovery-Month-highlights-lowbarrier-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467710-a33d73a8dfbcc0d6a1878a8919f1a584/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961727&Signature=WACdVMdXJyDcbtnplXUPzztDD-ggY9k9AW4JFE-psr9~QTzmcubN-zrMX0rJgqglgDc9U0mU1b7arkVS71Ownl7fSrd3R5ETBj-hgtztZvDszDygxYMJJ-SB6fwmq6uVfYhq4E6wH-x9o~vHZ~eM36zb04D2apTrXfwFwwLabrGumNWaAftI3fAn0vjGyCf~VV64XNSTjEJI0s0OZeC8hLdLB86AdKbmGiXuFtn75AyHhBZ4BfIdHAGZHN4PRjIre8I6J4m437Y1jZBbt9GL5wyk3jXFurErmSNl~dI7OdBKAwlaQKG5MusX8LeEJoENgwv061nIb7ePTNLWzzHvrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thurston County commissioners on Sept. 16 adopted a proclamation declaring September 2025 as National Recovery Month and heard from county and community recovery providers about local treatment access and harm‑reduction services.

The proclamation was read and adopted during the Board of County Commissioners meeting. Commissioner Rachel Grant read the resolution and the board adopted it, declaring the county’s support for recovery programs and urging residents to “support recovery efforts, spread awareness, and reaffirm our commitment to a healthy and compassionate society.”

The proclamation, presenters said, reflects a broader effort to offer low‑barrier services and a range of recovery pathways. Katie Strozzi, opioid and overdose response program manager at Thurston County Public Health, told the board recovery is a spectrum and that the county supports treatment options beyond abstinence‑only programs. “Recovery includes harm reduction services, recovery includes medications for opioid use disorder, and recovery is really personal for each person,” Strozzi said.

Corey (last name not provided), a peer worker with Northwest Resources who described himself as having lived experience with addiction, said his program arranges furloughs from jail to connect people to treatment and helps with immediate post‑release services. “All I wanna say is, thank you for your guys’ time and your guys’ support,” he told the board.

Hannah Klimak, outreach coordinator for the Chehalis Tribe’s Hope and Healing Clinic, described a recently launched mobile unit and a downtown clinic location co‑located with syringe‑services and harm‑reduction partners. Klimak said co‑location has improved immediate connections to care: “When someone is ready for treatment, they don’t face the usual barriers of transportation, scheduling, or long delays. They can walk across the parking lot, connect with our team, and often begin care the very same day.”

Carolina Hershey, operations coordinator for the Thurston County Resource Hub, said the hub’s work centers on connection, self‑efficacy and community and described recovery as a “choice to be cherished and celebrated.”

The presentations followed remarks recognizing the role of peer specialists, clinicians and volunteers in expanding access to care. The proclamation text cited the 2025 National Recovery Month theme and encouraged residents to support recovery efforts countywide.

No formal board action beyond adoption of the proclamation was required; the board recessed for a photo after the presentations.","The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 16 adopted a proclamation recognizing National Recovery Month and heard presentations from local recovery providers about harm reduction, mobile treatment access and peer services.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467691,"County moves stormwater‑rate setting from code to resolution; ordinance adopted after hearing",165,3393000,3558000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785412-93232fda2519255331c38b1d801ede0e&start=3393&end=3558","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785412-93232fda2519255331c38b1d801ede0e/thumbnail_3393000.jpg","/articles/6467691/Thurston-County/Washington/County-moves-stormwaterrate-setting-from-code-to-resolution-ordinance-adopted-after-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467691-0736c15da002ce0ec7a04a8507260a8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961727&Signature=Xq13PvSJ9yJlcaPX1Ha0QSvmVH3wHRUaBqNEpcA50K1NiclnZ~Sjevhv8P8ST9nG-jwafmLxKXD31zmhob1D~CzAAUTQrtwuNqUKpCoxw49hMNFEDO9wvxlMcH2YO7hSBRTWece1YROGJAhYV-ezUyuL9Jb~SfFcxzE65O3glbXIDjf3cHGwmxop2ae9CThxYbdOnH~XQbYK2OSmZQPvnAQ7WBmwpzv98Wjba0bFK9NLumTcZHUXPBzt1Z59zeAz4erebHvPSi4QvN1EV6CmB7nP~9InzfAV5jtBqe3Ku2gV6GQSULgjNISVeXSYmY8NR7NH67gUoxf8mA2Snqvnkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thurston County commissioners adopted an ordinance Sept. 16 to amend Thurston County Code chapter 15.06 so that storm and surface‑water utility rates and charges are set by Board resolution rather than being fixed in the county code.

Tim Wilson, Thurston County Water Resources manager, told the board the change aligns the stormwater utility’s rate‑setting process with the county’s water and sewer utilities and provides a more efficient administrative mechanism for periodic rate adjustments. \"The proposed ordinance is considered an administrative change only and will not by itself affect or adjust current stormwater utility rates,\" Wilson said.

Wilson also said county staff had posted the proposed ordinance and that, as of 3 p.m. the day of the hearing, no written public comments had been received. During public comment, Matt Jackman, chair of Hopkins Drainage Ditch District No. 2, objected to county control of stormwater funds and asked the board to release funds to elected drainage‑district treasuries so landowners can use the funds for local stormwater planning and maintenance.

The board closed the public hearing, and a motion to approve the ordinance passed. County staff said a proposed resolution with a rate sheet aligned to the 2026–2027 budget cycle will be presented later this year; the ordinance itself does not change current billing.","The Board adopted an ordinance removing storm and surface water utility rates from Thurston County Code chapter 15.06 and authorizing the board to set rates by resolution; staff said the ordinance is an administrative change and will not by itself change current rates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public hearing on Thurston County 2025 Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan draws drainage‑district and environmental concerns; adoption set for Sept. 30

County extends and adds $800,000 to Maple Court shelter contract with Low Income Housing Institute

Board approves public health contract amendment with Washington State Department of Health

Thurston County proclaims September as National Recovery Month, highlights low‑barrier services

County moves stormwater‑rate setting from code to resolution; ordinance adopted after hearing