Lewis County board approves consent resolutions, renews meal-site contract and backs 'Whole Milk for Healthy Kids' bill
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Summary
The Lewis County Legislature approved a set of consent resolutions including auditing $1.97 million in claims, renewal of a congregate meal-site contract with a ~33% price increase, updates to the rail-trail advisory committee, a solid-waste fund transfer, and a resolution supporting the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act; an executive session on labor negotiations was scheduled.
Lewis County legislators moved through a slate of consent resolutions and committee reports during their monthly session, approving audited claims, renewing an elderly meal-site contract at a higher cost, updating rail-trail advisory appointments, transferring funds for solid waste, and expressing support for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.
The finance and rules committee reported examining claims presented for payment totaling $1,968,022.31 and recommended they be audited and allowed. The recommendation was moved, seconded and carried; the action was later recorded as Resolution 240, auditing and allowing those claims. During the roll call on that resolution a legislator recused themself, noting payments had been made to them on vouchers they had approved; the recusal was noted for the record.
Resolution 252 authorized a renewal agreement between the Office for the Aging and the Double Play Community Center to continue a congregate meal site. County staff told the board the contract cost has increased by about 33 percent compared with 2024. Carla (a staff/contract representative) explained the increase included a $10,000 freezer (cost split with the caterer), higher electricity for additional freezers and a walk-in unit, higher gas, water and trash costs, and increased liability insurance. The board approved the renewal.
The board approved agency contracts for fiscal year 2026. One legislator raised governance concerns about 'Natural Lewis' (noted as a $373,000 line item), saying five county representatives sit on its board and suggesting that representation be reduced so the organization can operate more independently; the board approved the contracts as presented.
Resolution 261 updated appointments to the Lewis County Rail Trail Advisory Committee and subcommittees. Members and staff noted several personnel changes and said Alta, the contracted consultant, will conduct direct outreach to adjacent landowners and hold public hearings; the resolution passed. A legislator asked that the treasurer include rail-to-trail expenditures in monthly reports going forward.
Resolution 268, a fund transfer related to solid waste, was approved with no substantive discussion recorded.
A late resolution, number 274, conveyed the board's support for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. Staff said the county previously supported the measure but the state senate did not pass it two years ago; this session staff reported the senate has now passed the bill and the house is expected to follow before it goes to the governor for signature. The board voted to adopt the support resolution.
Before adjourning into a closed meeting, the board voted to enter executive session for a brief update on labor negotiations; no further business was expected after the closed session.
Votes were conducted by voice and with standard motions; where members recused themselves this was noted for the record. The meeting also included routine committee reports (elections canvass, recycling revenue concerns, DSS HEAP reopening and the launch of an AI phone assistant) and a clerk's report noting a board resignation and a $100,000 grant for pretrial services.
