[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6397805,"mediaKeyId","2091252-ebcd44d057fc084d3cccc0f382e1b0c9","parentId",2091252,"title","County approves 14 resolutions, including road work plan, contract amendments and two utility franchises","audioSeconds",1057,"startMs",1832000,"endMs",2889000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2091252-ebcd44d057fc084d3cccc0f382e1b0c9&start=1832&end=2889","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2091252-ebcd44d057fc084d3cccc0f382e1b0c9/thumbnail_1832000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6397805/Lewis-County/Washington/County-approves-14-resolutions-including-road-work-plan-contract-amendments-and-two-utility-franchises","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397805-9d3e564ba84ceae535eed5a1fadb9532/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140601&Signature=J-PTxZ4uAfdOyqD2GQG8iMRu5My80rXjaX52OrzcdKNtJkuzbV3v2WDnglUGeuaPQRUuN2HvhjN8OEq0dsIk~wiWSEJm3KVsSQal3TEXAquAdSW4cgFTNlNPvgjU8Yn~wU~gBnlEtzQfuNVlWGFP6skx6bZc9xWpMTA1WY4ARblTdILZrnhAS~iKDM2YBkgwZrOdW5Qsd5r8yatKQM-CSmq8IZsB60yRZbefvWQ4RMEZpT6JGgEptNYzdlmxslQGj7dJ-2PMoEtFxTwDi5ONBegO~4YUfwMQnwz7bnxCGSjekrDi6Cp-cOqXBDyskS48X7M4yEeJlTtV-bw8-Okcsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lewis County WA","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 7 approved a series of resolutions covering road projects, administrative finance items, a contract amendment for homeless services and two nonexclusive 10-year utility franchises. All votes recorded during the meeting passed 3-0 unless otherwise noted.

Key approved items

- Resolution 25-001: Adopted the 2025 County Road construction plan to be completed by county forces. Public Works Director Josh Metcalf identified projects including a base-stabilization project on Bunker Creek Road (milepost 0.28–0.82), the countywide chip-seal program and a countywide safety and guardrail project. Total plan amount announced: $1,230,000. Motion moved and seconded; vote recorded as 3-0.

- Resolution 25-002: Approved warrants, payroll and the Dec. 17, 2024 meeting minutes. Auditor Grace Jimenez reported $4,200,124 in regular warrants and direct disbursements (742 regular county warrants) and payroll of $1,242,749 dated Dec. 24. During discussion a commissioner raised concern about two clothing-allowance invoices (invoice numbers 353817 and 354117) for $662.50 tied to a recently promoted detective who, the commissioner said, has a Brady letter and may be subject to decertification. Auditor Jimenez said the expenses fall under the collective bargaining agreement. Commissioners approved the resolution 3-0.

- Resolutions 25-003 through 25-004: Adopted the 2025 equipment rental and revolving fund (ER&R) rates used by Public Works for internal reporting and contracts, and approved a master interlocal agreement allowing Lewis County to provide labor or equipment support to cities (Chehalis, Mossyrock, Napavine, Toledo) on request. Both motions passed 3-0.

- Resolution 25-005: Appointed Jerry Villarreal as a voting member of the Veterans Advisory Board and removed George Dodd (now a county employee) plus two inactive members; passed 3-0.

- Resolution 25-006: Approved an amendment to the agreement between Reliable Enterprises and Lewis County Public Health and Social Services, funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce. The amendment extends the agreement to June 30, 2025 and adds $86,250 for a total contract value of $311,918, adding case management and administrative services for homeless housing. Motion passed 3-0.

- Resolution 25-007: Established a new enterprise fund (Solid Waste Utility Capital Reserve Fund No. 4020) to segregate capital from operating finances for the solid-waste utility; passed 3-0.

- Resolution 25-008: Authorized a cash-flow loan from the general fund to the Community Development Block Grant fund (No. 1400) to cover timing differences while awaiting grant reimbursements; passed 3-0.

- Resolution 25-009: Closed the Lewis County Auditor imprest account (a small bank account established in 1995) because the county’s new financial system can cut checks faster; passed 3-0.

- Resolution 25-010: Increased the District Court petty-cash fund to $1,220 to meet daily cash needs after State Auditor guidance; passed 3-0.

- Resolution 25-011: Approved a $100,000 financial contribution agreement to Timber River Connections (formerly Lewis County Seniors) for senior nutrition services in calendar year 2025; passed 3-0.

- Resolution 25-012: Set the county mileage reimbursement rate to 70 cents per mile effective Jan. 1, matching the IRS rate; passed 3-0.

Public hearings and franchises

- Resolution 25-013: After a staff report by Kimberly Edminster (Public Works), the board held a public hearing and granted a nonexclusive 10-year franchise to Newaukum Hill Water Association (transcript: Newacom/Newakkam Hill Water Association) to construct, operate and maintain water system facilities in county road rights-of-way. The staff report cited the governing franchise statute referenced at the hearing and Lewis County Code sections noted in the staff report. No public testimony was offered at the hearing. The motion to approve passed 3-0.

- Resolution 25-014: The board held a separate hearing and approved a nonexclusive 10-year franchise for Hampton Lumber Mills to construct, operate and maintain stormwater system facilities within Lewis County road rights-of-way; staff recommended approval and no public testimony was offered. Motion passed 3-0.

Votes and next steps

All resolutions presented during the Jan. 7 meeting were moved, seconded and passed with unanimous recorded votes of 3-0 where recorded. Several items had brief staff presentations; only Resolution 25-002 generated substantive commissioner discussion focused on payroll/warrant detail (the clothing-allowance invoices and the promoted deputy’s status). The board did not schedule additional public hearings on these resolutions during the meeting and did not take any roll-call or policy votes beyond the listed approvals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOCC Meeting Jan 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 7 approved 14 resolutions covering road projects, finance housekeeping, a contract amendment for homeless services, and two 10‑year utility franchises; all recorded votes passed unanimously.","taxTitle","Lewis County, Washington","taxId",51407,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6397811,"Packwood and Glenoma residents press county over large property assessment increases",718,766000,1484000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2091252-ebcd44d057fc084d3cccc0f382e1b0c9&start=766&end=1484","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2091252-ebcd44d057fc084d3cccc0f382e1b0c9/thumbnail_766000.jpg","/articles/6397811/Lewis-County/Washington/Packwood-and-Glenoma-residents-press-county-over-large-property-assessment-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397811-83af6a0bd72f48c0d9dceb589705f46a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140601&Signature=Vm~u238NHWeTrES97YpqkCZs0S-ToWhWQIWpl9Xk4bF1KT9p7wxRW3sxKyL~jkncLItKxIyqyVK2onBHK4pamhgCY8-Xu4YAeHeCKrjtp8APBATIxAHHIC0Q2kSP4L450lnbiBXIiYnhG9El6R5sK~-xtqD~fmGsyAoXiv7TFeIZP4gDpEnbC2uG-GfOKk8YO9uXOB1eFRxlDOeCoTn2rXYJPJwUiqWGozwyi~pM5ehI2glnfXExRUaJ~tcZ5yB6uDTyI0fo78W2yBrx52Z0YA8-j-FXGT5BYhgD6gOB6JbRygouSiTANv5wbfJ-MujuFLH2xqVqQ-pklSThZOWRqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents from Packwood and Glenoma told the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 7 that recent property-assessment increases are large, unexplained and creating financial hardship for retirees on fixed incomes.

Rob Mericle, who said his analysis used Lewis County parcel data, told commissioners commercial assessments have been relatively flat since 2022 while residential assessments rose an average 71% and short-term-rental assessments rose about 160% over that period; he reported larger percent increases since 2020 (residential +196%, short-term rentals +277%) and provided charts to commissioners. Mericle asked why his county portion of the tax bill rose 16% when he had been told the county could increase levy revenue only 1% year over year.

Lisa Stevens, a Packwood resident, said her land value rose 329.4% in five years and her total assessed value rose 129.3%, while she had made modest improvements (a $50,000 garage) that she said do not explain a $322,500 increase in improvement value. She said the new EMS levy and an upcoming school levy compounded her concern and said the timing of assessments and levy votes makes it difficult for taxpayers to evaluate impacts.

Mary Prophet, a Glenoma resident, said her assessment increased by $90,000 in the current year and by $153,000 the prior year, and that the new assessed value exceeds recent Zillow sale-price estimates by about $80,000. She said comparable properties she reviewed were substantially lower in assessed value.

A commissioner responded that the 1% limit refers to the levy rate (the taxing district’s rate), not assessed value changes, and offered to meet with individual residents after the meeting. Another commissioner asked that the assessor’s office provide a representative at county meetings between now and the distribution of tax statements so residents can raise questions directly.

All three statements came during the meeting’s public-comment period; commissioners did not take formal votes on assessment policy at this meeting. Residents said they had appealed or planned to appeal assessments and asked for clearer documentation of how valuations were calculated.","Three East Lewis County residents told commissioners they face steep property-assessment increases and asked for clearer explanations; a commissioner asked county staff to invite an assessor representative to future meetings.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6397816,"Resident urges county study after state reissues biosolids permits",246,272000,518000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2091252-ebcd44d057fc084d3cccc0f382e1b0c9&start=272&end=518","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2091252-ebcd44d057fc084d3cccc0f382e1b0c9/thumbnail_272000.jpg","/articles/6397816/Lewis-County/Washington/Resident-urges-county-study-after-state-reissues-biosolids-permits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397816-5ac0667d18a18648830f094ae7738351/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140601&Signature=Oe4t3cP7vd0EwmWgW0kt0DuYM17WNFSGYR28lJcS1qjQxaBYuA4kDsAmM8GSZ8CTOL~y2U5~QGUVfzDWe98BcXTcexVPI-72rPyfa5o8726QT-R1k9G5NrjZxsPuF1~a1zJei4QBNjxPFuS0s6Ul6yUrapNCs6rgLeYtl8WTV29gEw3gBGKji7AMn-R2j1GfrKd6nAmPTOw-pnI8uv3Z4RzwPQ5tg7jrMUC0lPGaGgu7TJVrdK6ziEFCn2k12vn6XGvYcF68pRgLiSEIl5p5Upi-~XybC8twZV5-SEu7JGMMGMyjiV6QAxf7exFFM2sbx~ZhN3zY73g8m1Kr09XPYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bob Gunther, a Packwood-area resident, told the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 7 that he believes the state’s renewed permits for land application of biosolids are contaminating local streams and shallow groundwater.

Gunther said he has raised the issue at county meetings for about 20 years and that the Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Ecology materials he provided to the commissioners identify “over 700 harmful chemicals” in biosolids from municipal waste plants. He said Lewis County previously joined litigation against the Department of Ecology and that a Pollution Control Hearings Board order led to testing requirements at application sites, but he said those rules are not being followed locally.

Gunther urged the county to investigate and offered to raise private funds for “a comprehensive study of what is in the ground” at lands that have received biosolids over the past two decades, saying tests the state now requires (including a minimum depth-to-groundwater restriction) are not always observed in the field. He identified application sites along State Route 508 and Napa Vine Forest Road as being on an aquifer recharge area that supplies the city of Chehalis.

The statement was delivered during the meeting’s public-comment period; commissioners did not take formal action during the meeting on Gunther’s request. Gunther referenced Senate Bill 6163 from the 2024 legislative session and material he said came from the EPA and Department of Ecology; he also described prior administrative and court filings he made against the Department of Ecology.

Because the remarks occurred during public comment, they represent citizen concerns and a volunteer offer to fund local testing rather than an official county directive. Gunther said he would help raise money to pay for sampling and testing but did not specify a timeline, sample locations, or a testing protocol at the meeting.

The matter involves multiple agencies named by the speaker (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington State Department of Ecology) and a state legislative action he identified by bill number; any formal county-led sampling, regulation, or enforcement would require future action by the Board of County Commissioners or county staff.","A longtime Packwood-area resident told the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners that newly reissued state permits allowing land application of biosolids risk groundwater and stream contamination, and offered to raise money for a local soil and groundwater study.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County approves 14 resolutions, including road work plan, contract amendments and two utility franchises

Packwood and Glenoma residents press county over large property assessment increases

Resident urges county study after state reissues biosolids permits