Lewis County moves to update emergency management code, approves interlocal agreement with Chehalis

Lewis County commissioners on Tuesday opened notice to amend the county emergency management code and approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Chehalis to formalize local emergency management coordination.

County staff presented a notice of hearing for Ordinance 13-65, which would update Chapter 3.02 of the Lewis County Code to designate emergency management as a department rather than a division and add a provision (Chapter 3.02.007) designating a county spokesperson during emergencies.

"This includes the update to reflect emergency management as a department instead of a division," Erica, staff member, said while describing the ordinance. "It also adds in chapter 3.02.007, and it designates a spokesperson during emergencies or disasters." The notice was introduced as a hearing item; no final action on the ordinance was taken Tuesday.

The board also approved Resolution 25-136, an interlocal agreement between Lewis County Emergency Management and the City of Chehalis to "formalize a collaborative local emergency management organization to enhance emergency preparedness, response and recovery within Lewis County," Erica said. She said the agreement ensures compliance with RCW 38.52.070 and WAC 118-30-040 and aligns county practice with state emergency management requirements.

The ordinance language proposed to add the ability to record a property lien as a special assessment was provided in the packet as a read-ahead and staff requested the board allow additional time to update the exhibit before a fuller presentation and final consideration. "Staff are requesting that the commissioners recess this hearing and continue it to next week to May 20 at 10AM because we would like to add language regarding recording a property lien as a special assessment," Erica said.

The board approved the interlocal agreement as part of a set of deliberation items that were moved, seconded and voted on together. The vote on the package of deliberation items (Resolutions 25-135 through 25-140), which included Resolution 25-136, was recorded as "Aye" by the commissioners present and the motion passed.

If adopted following the separate hearing and any further edits, the ordinance change would formally change the county code structure for emergency management and add a spokesperson designation to be used during declared emergencies. The interlocal agreement with the City of Chehalis takes effect as an administrative arrangement to coordinate preparedness, response and recovery activities across jurisdictions.