Lewis County recesses public hearing on flood-related amendment to next Tuesday for cost evaluation

Lewis County commissioners opened a public hearing on Resolution 23-376 at the Dec. 16 meeting, then recessed the hearing until the following Tuesday to allow staff time to evaluate flood-related costs and include them in a year-end amendment.

Mindy Brooks, director of community development, asked the board "to recess the hearing until next Tuesday in order for us to evaluate any costs related to the flood and so that we can include this in this year end amendment." The chair invited anyone present for testimony to raise their hand and to sign in; several staff and commissioners discussed the timing and the need to capture flood-related expenses.

A commissioner moved to recess the hearing until next Tuesday at or after 10 a.m.; the motion was seconded and carried by unanimous vote (3-0). The meeting record shows the motion was recorded and passed with an affirmative vote.

After the recess motion, commissioners made public remarks thanking county departments, fire districts, nonprofit partners (Red Cross, Salvation Army), local churches and residents for their flood response and recovery efforts in the East End. The chair said the county is now in the recovery phase and praised the coordinated response from DEM, public works, sheriff's office, police departments, public health, social services and volunteers.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: staff will analyze flood-related costs for inclusion in a year-end amendment and the public hearing on Resolution 23-376 will reconvene the following Tuesday for continued consideration.