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Lewis County commissioners approve settlement, waive shoreline fees for flood repairs and renew PUD telecom franchise
Summary
After an executive session, the Board approved a settlement with Fireman's Fund (Allianz), waived shoreline permit fees and suspended master site review for 15 flood-affected property owners, and authorized a franchise renewal for Lewis County PUD No. 1 to place telecom facilities in county rights-of-way.
The Lewis County Board of Commissioners on May 5 authorized a settlement agreement, approved a flood-relief permitting waiver for affected landowners, and granted a franchise renewal to Lewis County PUD No. 1 for telecommunications facilities in the county road right-of-way.
After a closed executive session to discuss Chehalis landfill mediation, the board moved to approve a settlement with Fireman's Fund (also referred to as Allianz) and authorized the county manager to sign the agreement. The motion passed on a recorded "motion carries 2-0." The meeting record shows the motion was moved and seconded on the record.
In a deliberation tied to flood recovery from December 2025, Public Works staff described that the Department of Fish and Wildlife issued emergency bank-stabilization approvals for 15 property owners following the flood. Staff recommended suspending the master site review step and waiving shoreline-permit fees for those emergency actions. Commissioners approved resolution 26-146 to implement the waivers; staff said letters will be sent this week to the 15 affected owners.
Public Works also held a hearing on resolution 26-147, a nonexclusive franchise renewal for Lewis County PUD No. 1 to install, construct, operate and maintain telecommunications facilities within county road rights-of-way. Kimberly Edmonser of Public Works explained the application had been reviewed and required notices were provided. With no public testimony during the hearing, commissioners moved and approved the franchise renewal.
Other routine actions approved at the meeting included calling for bids on the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds midway drainage and repaving project and a reroof and tuckpointing at the historical museum (resolutions 26-143 and 26-144), and approval of consent item resolution 26-145 and the April 28, 2026 minutes. All motions on the record were carried by recorded vote totals of 2-0 for each item.
The meeting adjourned after a short announcement period. Staff flagged next steps: sending notice letters to flood-affected property owners and moving forward with bid solicitation for the capital projects.
