Commissioners ratify methane‑reduction consultant, approve fish‑passage and road grants, public defender contracts and loan amendment

The Lewis County Board of Commissioners on May 6 approved Resolutions 25‑125 through 25‑130, ratifying a Solid Waste contract with a consulting firm for methane‑emissions compliance and approving multiple project agreements, public‑defender contracts and a loan amendment.

Rocky Lyon of Solid Waste told commissioners the county seeks to "ratify a contract between Lewis County Solid Waste and the Puget Sound Environmental" firm to support the county in meeting newly adopted landfill methane‑reduction standards and related state rules. County staff explained the contract will provide consultant support to meet the cited statutory and administrative requirements.

Jeff Soderquist, Lewis County engineer, spoke to three items: a design‑only grant through the Recreation and Conservation Office for the South Fork Newakkim tributary at Clark Road fish‑passage project; a local agency agreement and federal aid prospectus with WSDOT for the Burwick Creek at La Bridal fish‑passage project that obligates construction funding; and Amendment Number 1 to the Rural Arterial Program agreement for the Bunker Creek rehabilitation project, which secures the county's percentage funding share. "This is a design only grant. It is through RCO, so we do have landowner acknowledgment for every property affected," Soderquist said.

Becky Butler explained Resolution 25‑129 would approve two 2025 public‑defender contracts for superior and juvenile court; the superior‑court contract is structured as a six‑month trial that may be extended at year end. Bridal Lester, clerk of the board, described Resolution 25‑130 as an amendment to the county's 0.09 loan agreement with the East Lewis County Public Development Authority that would eliminate future interest and make the loan principal‑only for 20 years.

All the listed resolutions were moved, seconded and approved 3‑0.

County staff noted landowner acknowledgment had been obtained where required and that the RCO grant covers design only; construction‑phase funding obligations are addressed in the WSDOT and Rural Arterial agreements.