The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 26 approved a package of consent and deliberation items, confirmed a staff request to open annexation negotiations with the City of Chehalis, approved short‑term “gap” contracts to cover homeless services provided since July 1, and adopted an update to the county’s on‑site sewage code.

The board voted 3‑0 to approve the consent items and a batch of deliberation resolutions. Mindy Brooks, director of Community Development, asked the commission to authorize county staff to enter negotiations with the City of Chehalis on annexation of territory inside the city’s urban growth area; a city representative said the city is prepared to proceed and looks forward to the county’s action.

Public‑health and services items approved included temporary staffing and contract actions:
- A casual technical position in the water lab to replace a retiring lab technician (presented by Major Mija Hamlin, Lewis County Public Health and Social Services).
- Short‑term gap agreements running July 1–Sept. 30 to pay agencies that have continued delivering homelessness services: Housing Resource Center (maximum $87,500), Hope Alliance (maximum $61,280.50) and Communicativo (maximum $58,811). Presenters said these are interim contracts to cover services already provided and that longer agreements will be discussed at an upcoming workshop.
- A contract with Community Action Council to staff a care coordinator at the Youth Advocacy Center for Sept. 1, 2025–Aug. 31, 2026, in the amount of $115,000; funding was identified as opioid settlement funds.

Other administrative items approved included a SECO coordinator professional‑development contract with the Washington State Military Department to support 9‑1‑1 operations, a declaration of surplus personal property per county code, and approval of the Fourth Amendment to a ground lease with Pope Resources for the Storm King radio site (presented by county radio services staff).

On a separate public hearing, Kirsten Wecker, Lewis County environmental services manager, presented a staff report on Ordinance 13‑66, amendments to Lewis County Code Chapter 8.40 for on‑site sewage systems to align county code with the updated Washington Administrative Code WAC 246‑272A. No public testimony was offered during the hearing and the ordinance passed 3‑0.

Votes: multiple motions to approve consent and deliberation packages and Ordinance 13‑66 carried unanimously (3‑0) during the meeting.

Ending: Several items were described as interim or gap measures pending follow‑up workshops or longer contracts; presenters requested continued engagement and follow‑up with commissioners and partner agencies.