Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: BOCC - Board of County Commissioners

Directors' Update: Sept. 27, 2023

Business Meeting: Oct. 3, 2023

Summary:

Approve $300,000 grant to Town of Pe Ell for its Lester Creek Personnel Access Walkway and Chehalis River Intake project

Publications:

Cover Letter To: Todd Chaput, Economic Alliance: todd@lewiscountyalliance.org Pe Ell Mayor Lonnie Willey: p-lmayor@centurytel.net

Additional Copies To:

Resolution

WHEREAS, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) wishes to approve grant funding in the amount of $300,000 for the Town of Pe Ell's “Lester Creek Personnel Access Walkway and Chehalis River Intake” project, a project that serves future demand and meets the definition of a “public facility” under RCW 82.14.370; and

WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a list of projects maintained by the Lewis County Economic Alliance as per RCW 82.14.370; and

WHEREAS, via prior resolutions and this resolution, the BOCC adopts the CEDS as Lewis County's officially adopted county overall economic development plan for the purposes of RCW 82.14.370; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Pe Ell’s application for funding of the “Lester Creek Personnel Access Walkway and Chehalis River Intake” project has been recommended for approval and listing in the CEDS by the Distressed Counties/Rural Economic Development Public Facilities Advisory Committee, the committee created to recommend projects for listing in the CEDS; and

WHEREAS, the Distressed Counties/Rural Economic Development Public Facilities Advisory Committee recommends approving a grant in the amount of $300,000; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Pe Ell’s application is supported by the attached Grant Agreement prepared by Economic Alliance pursuant to the CEDS, and the agreement is incorporated herein by reference; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the citizens of Lewis County that the funds requested by the Town of Pe Ell be authorized in order to allow completion of the “Lester Creek Personnel Access Walkway and Chehalis River Intake” project, a project that supports economic development in Lewis County.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the BOCC (1) approves the “Lester Creek Personnel Access Walkway and Chehalis River Intake” project as a public facility for purposes of RCW 82.14.370 and amends the CEDS list to include that project in the county’s overall economic development plan; and (2) authorizes Lewis County to enter into the attached Grant Agreement with the Town of Pe Ell for the “Lester Creek Personnel Access Walkway and Chehalis River Intake” project in the amount of $300,000 using monies from the “Distressed Counties Fund,” all in accordance with RCW 82.14.370 and applicable law.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 3rd day of October, 2023.