The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners convened Nov. 25 and approved several routine and deliberation items by unanimous vote.

The board approved three notice items (Resolutions 25-323 through 25-325) to publish public hearings, including a notice to consider updates to the county's Critical Areas Ordinance. Mindy Brooks, director of community development, said the public hearing for the county's critical areas ordinance will be on Dec. 9 and that staff will present details at a Dec. 3 workshop; written public comment will be accepted through 4 p.m. on Dec. 8.

Deliberation items approved included:

- A temporary cash-flow loan authorization from the Solid Waste Disposal District to fund Rhodes Fund 117 (Resolution 25-327).

- Retention of investment interest earned beginning Jan. 2026 for the newly established E911 communications-building and equipment fund.

- Approval to sign a contract with CDW for a Pure Storage flash array in the amount of $713,794.34, to be purchased off a state contract and funded with LATCF funds. Gabe Anzlini, Lewis County IT, said the county's current array falls out of service next June and the purchase will ensure warranty and support coverage.

- Amendments to consulting and service contracts: an extension of Kimley-Horn's comp-plan contract to complete the Critical Areas Ordinance; an RCO grant agreement to cover cost differences for the Van Ornam Creek fish-passage project; a Salvation Army contract amendment to add $578,287.50 (bringing total to $771,050) for shelter operations and homeless-prevention services; and a Reliable Enterprises amendment adding $138,208.85 (total $189,585.09) for permanent supportive-housing case management.

- Approval of a collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 252 representing sheriff's sergeants (effective Nov. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2028).

Each deliberation block was presented by the appropriate staff member (Grace Jimenez, auditor's office; Jeff Soderquist, public works; Caroline Garvey, public health and social services; Ryan Barrett, county manager) and approved by the board by roll-call-style verbal assent (three "ayes"). Commissioners recorded unanimous approval (3-0) on the items moved during the Nov. 25 meeting.

In other business, the board held and approved a public hearing to renew a nonexclusive franchise for Cardinal FG Company to install and maintain natural gas utility facilities in county rights-of-way (Resolution 25-338) and adopted the county's 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program and 2026 Annual Construction Program (Resolution 25-339).