Lewis County commissioners approve contracts, grants and a road vacation; set multiple public hearings

The Lewis County Board of Commissioners on July 14 approved multiple resolutions, awarded contracts and scheduled public hearings during a short business meeting that included a presentation by the Youth Advocacy Center.

Key approvals and outcomes

- Resolutions 26-212 through 26-214 (legal notices and related items) were moved, seconded and approved 2-0. Natalie Kamenicki (senior long-range planner, Community Development) said the board must hold a public hearing within 60 days after adoption of the emergency moratorium (Resolution 26-190) pursuant to RCW 36.70A.390; a hearing on 26-190 is set for July 28, 2026.

- The board set public hearings for Aug. 18, 2026 to consider five-year franchise renewals with High Valley Country Club and Skate Creek Terrace Community Club for water facilities in county road rights-of-way, citing Lewis County code and RCW 36.55 requirements.

- The Carr Road slide-repair project (milepost 0.26–0.28) was awarded to Northwest Construction General Contracting, which submitted the lowest responsive bid of $358,988.61. Jeff Soderquist (Public Works) said the county received five bids ranging from $358,988.61 to $501,590.44.

- A Department of Health contract amendment presented by Mija Hanlon (Public Health & Social Services) would add $1,835,074, bringing the total maximum consideration to $7,719,988 for the period Jan. 1, 2025–Dec. 31, 2027; Hanlon said some sector areas showed a prior reduction of $229,000 and that further amendments are possible as state dynamics change.

- The Office of Public Defense will receive $242,718.06 under an agreement presented by Becky Butler; Butler cautioned that state funding remains a small portion of total public defense costs.

- Distressed Counties funding: the board approved a $350,000 award to Economic Alliance of Lewis County (two-year period) for SEDS-related work, and a $250,000 grant to the City of Winlock for a project to repair an old hostel parking lot.

- Appointments: Leah Sizemore was appointed to the Public Facilities District Board to fill a vacated term (adjusted to three years to restore staggered terms). Lanae Langdon was appointed to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee through Dec. 31, 2027.

- Facilities and IT: the board approved a contract with B and R Sheet Metal LLC for repair/replacement of the Lewis County jail roof (old-jail side) using a King County Directors Association contract for $1,471,563.77; and approved a contract with CDW·G (using a Sourcewell contract) to provide virtual chief information security officer services through FR Secure.

- Transportation: Jeff Soderquist presented an amended federal-aid prospectus with the Washington State Department of Transportation to update the federal award estimate for the Davidson Road bridge rehabilitation (CRP 2198) and to rescind a prior prospectus.

Hearing on vacation 26Dash002

The board opened and closed a hearing on Vacation 26Dash002, which concerns an unimproved portion of Fagley Road (No. 609) near Centralia. Connor Womowski (Public Works) told the board the county engineer determined the right-of-way is not useful to the county road system and that the proposal does not abut a body of water; the recommendation reserves necessary access and utility easements pursuant to RCW 36.87.0.140. No members of the public offered testimony during the hearing; following the staff report the board voted 2-0 to approve the road vacation.

Votes at a glance

All recorded motions in the meeting were approved on a 2-0 vote in favor unless otherwise noted on the record.

Next steps and context

Several items set public hearings (family burial ground moratorium, franchise renewals) or are amendments that may return for further action; several contracts and grants authorized at the meeting will proceed under the terms described on the record. Commissioners adjourned without additional new business.