Lewis County commissioners approve multiple resolutions including AT&T franchise hearing, FEMA-funded road repairs and communications lease

The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners approved six deliberation items — resolutions 25-277 through 25-282 — and separately approved notice item Resolution 25-275 to set a public hearing on an AT&T franchise renewal. The motions were moved, seconded and passed Oct. 7, 2025, by recorded vote 2-0.

Kimberly Edminster of Lewis County Public Works presented Resolution 25-275, saying the measure "sets a public hearing to consider the renewal of a franchise agreement with AT and T to install, construct, operate, and maintain telecommunication facilities within Lewis County Road right of rights of way." She told commissioners staff had reviewed AT&T's renewal application and determined it appropriate to move forward for public consideration; the hearing is scheduled for Oct. 28, 2025, and the clerk will complete required notices and publications in accordance with referenced RCW provisions.

Also approved was Resolution 25-277, which authorizes acquisition of small portions of property from two adjoining landowners needed to complete repairs on Rosebrook Road after a slide. Edminster said the Rosebrook Road slide repair is funded through FEMA and is identified as priority No. 4 in the county's adopted 2025–2036 Transportation Improvement Plan; the resolution directs the county engineer to proceed with right-of-way acquisition under county and FEMA procedures.

Resolution 25-278 updates the county's adopted right-of-way acquisition procedures (the transcript references the May 2020 procedures) to reflect organizational changes in Public Works; the updated procedures will be submitted to WSDOT for review. Elizabeth Castile, interim director for Lewis County 911, presented Resolution 25-279 to retroactively extend a lease with Centralia School District for use of a radio communications site on Crego Hill from Nov. 2022 to present and establish a new 10-year term ending in 2032.

Gabe Anzolini, IT director, presented Resolution 25-280, recommending authorization to sign a contract with Skyline of Everett to upgrade multimode fiber to single-mode fiber in the county jail and to connect to the Law and Justice Building. Anzolini said the winning bid was "almost $10 lower than the second" and staff contacted the vendor multiple times to confirm scope and pricing. Resolution 25-281, presented by Ryan Barrett, authorizes a contract with Albert Didcock for public defense services in superior court criminal matters. Rita Lester, clerk of the board, presented Resolution 25-282 to appoint Ryan Thode of Onalaska to the open-space advisory committee to help implement state Department of Revenue guidelines for assessment of open space, farms, agricultural lands and timberlands.

All items were moved and seconded as a group and approved 2-0. The public hearing set for the AT&T franchise renewal will provide an opportunity for public testimony on Oct. 28, 2025.