Lewis County commissioners approve $2.63 million budget amendment, ratify contract and surplus declarations

The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners on April 15, 2025, approved a $2,625,216 increase in expenditures and related actions across several resolutions, voting 3-0 to adopt the budget amendment and to ratify contracts and administrative items.

County staff presented the amendment during a public hearing and told the board the final amendment reflected an increase in revenues as well as expenditures. Becky Butler said, “This total budget amendment reflects an increase in expenditures of $2,625,216 and an increase in revenue in the amount of $2,491,282 resulting in a decrease in estimated ending fund balance of $133,934.” No public testimony was offered at the hearing, and the board approved Resolution 25-113 following the staff presentation.

The meeting also moved a set of consent and deliberation items that passed without extended debate. Jeff Soderquist described Resolution 25-108 as the county’s publication showing county forces used for road construction projects in 2024. Eric Eisenberg described Resolution 25-110 as a ratification of change orders 5 and 6 for the Lewis County homeless shelter renovations, telling the board those changes “represent a fairly modest increase in the contract amount. They are new work, requested by us and not by the contractor.” Amanda Price presented Resolution 25-111 to declare a set of nonfunctioning IT items surplus, saying the equipment “has been assessed as having less than 5,000 in value” and citing compatibility issues as the county transitions to newer Windows versions. Alex Murray presented Resolution 25-112, saying the Winlock exterior envelope repairs contract was awarded to Ace Improvements for $56,149 and asking the board to authorize the facilities director to sign the contract.

Votes at a glance: Resolution number — motion summary — mover — second — tally — outcome — notes

• Resolution 25-108 — Publish county forces used for 2024 road construction projects — moved by Commissioner Carey — second not specified — Yes 3 / No 0 — approved — publication of county forces for 2024 road work.

• Resolution 25-109 — Approve warrants and payroll and approve minutes of the April 8, 2025 BOC business meeting (consent items) — moved by Commissioner Carey — second not specified — Yes 3 / No 0 — approved — routine consent approval.

• Resolution 25-110 — Ratify change orders 5 and 6 for Lewis County homeless shelter renovations — moved as part of grouped deliberation items by Commissioner Carey — second not specified — Yes 3 / No 0 — approved — change orders described as a modest, county-requested increase; dollar amount not specified in the record.

• Resolution 25-111 — Declare excess/nonfunctioning IT equipment surplus for Q1 2025 — moved as part of grouped deliberation items by Commissioner Carey — second not specified — Yes 3 / No 0 — approved — equipment described as having less than $5,000 in value and includes older computers, scanners, servers and network hardware.

• Resolution 25-112 — Authorize Winlock exterior envelope repairs; award contract to Ace Improvements for $56,149 and authorize facilities director to sign — moved as part of grouped deliberation items by Commissioner Carey — second not specified — Yes 3 / No 0 — approved — contract execution authorized.

• Resolution 25-113 — Amend 2025 budget (public hearing held) — moved by Commissioner Carey — second not specified — Yes 3 / No 0 — approved — increases expenditures by $2,625,216 and revenue by $2,491,282; decreases estimated ending fund balance by $133,934; notice published in the East County Journal on April 2 and April 9.

Discussion versus decisions: The record shows staff presentations and brief clarifying remarks during deliberation items. The board took formal action on each listed resolution; there was no extended public testimony on the budget amendment. For Resolution 25-110 staff described the change orders as county-requested, new work; the meeting record does not list a dollar amount for those change orders.

The meeting adjourned after routine announcements; commissioners noted there will not be a business meeting at the end of April because that date falls on a fifth Tuesday.