Lewis County approves Vader UGA annexation after public hearing; residents urge delay

The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners voted 3-0 on July 7 to adopt Ordinance 1378, approving the annexation of identified parcels in the urban growth area west of Vader into the city’s boundaries after a public hearing and staff briefings.

The hearing drew several residents who urged the board to delay or modify the annexation. Jeremy “Moe” McFarland, an Enchanted Valley resident, said outreach had been lacking and told the board: “This union at this point does not have our blessing.” McFarland said many neighbors are on fixed incomes and warned of a “6,000 plus dollar mandatory fee” tied to required sewer hookups and new water/sewer-meter installations if properties move into city jurisdiction.

A second commenter, identified only as Jen and describing herself as a project manager and farmer, asked the board to remove parcels west of Ollaqua (Olaqua) Creek from the interlocal agreement and the UGA. She said the city had not provided a capital facilities plan showing sewer and stormwater capacity, noted a cultural-resource assessment near McGriffie Park that found a “moderate probability” of pre-contact materials, and urged protections for future farming. “The plan for provision of urban services should not only include critical-area review, but also cultural resource assessments where appropriate,” she said.

Brian Horton, participating online and a three-generation property owner in the west Vader UGA, said he and nearby landowners opposed incorporation and accused the city of moving to secure tax revenue from commercial development without earmarking money to extend services to the UGA fringe.

County and city staff responded that the annexation process is governed by the state Growth Management Act and by local planning processes. Miss Brooks (county staff) said the county had transferred city responses, an FAQ and written testimony into the record. Planning staff James Eager said the shoreline master program is up to date and that updates to the county’s critical-areas ordinance are underway with input from state agencies and will be available for public comment; “we are currently doing that as part of our comprehensive plan implementation,” he said.

Commissioners repeatedly framed annexation as the product of long-standing UGA planning: one commissioner said these UGA changes were the result of the Growth Management Act and the 21-year planning horizon for such areas. After public testimony and staff responses, a commissioner moved to approve Ordinance 1378 and the board voted 3-0 in favor.

The ordinance took formal action to transfer the listed parcels into the city’s jurisdiction. The hearing record includes written testimony and city-provided materials that county staff said had been added to the record; staff indicated critical-area and shoreline protections remain part of the regulatory framework and additional plan updates are in progress. The record does not show a specific timeline for physical service extensions (sewer, stormwater) to the annexed parcels; commenters said cost and service timing remain their chief concerns.

Next steps noted in the meeting record are procedural: the ordinance was adopted at the July 7 meeting and will be processed according to statutory timelines for finalization and implementation. The record does not show any immediate capital-facility funding commitments tied to the annexation.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 1378 — adopted 3-0.