Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: BOCC - Board of County Commissioners

Directors' Update: Feb. 11, 2026

Business Meeting: Feb. 17, 2026

Summary:

Appoint individuals to the Distressed Counties (.09) committee

Publications:

Cover Letter To: Todd Chaput: todd@lewiscountyalliance.org Dolly Tardiff: dolly@lewiscountyalliance.org

Additional Copies To:

Resolution

WHEREAS, Lewis County qualifies as a Distressed County as per the definition under Section 5 of RCW 82.14.370; and

WHEREAS, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) established the policies and procedures for the Distressed Counties Fund Advisory Committee via Resolution 98-663 on December 28, 1998; revised them via Resolution 07-030 on January 22, 2007; and updated them via Resolution 23-225 on July 18, 2023; and

WHEREAS, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) established the Distressed Counties Fund via Resolution 02-472 on December 2, 2002; and

WHEREAS, as outlined in Resolution 23-225, membership on the Distressed Counties (.09) Fund / Rural Economic Development Public Facilities Advisory Committee is as follows:

• One representative of the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)
• One representative from the Port of Chehalis
• One representative from the Port of Centralia 
• One representative from the East Lewis County Public Development Authority (ELCPDA)
• One representative from large cities (population over 3,000)
• One representative from small cities (population under 3,000)
• One representative from the Industrial Commission.
• One representative from the Economic Alliance (EA, formerly known as the Lewis Economic Development Council [EDC]) to act as chair of said committee
• Up to one other member who may be appointed to fill an at-large position based upon economic conditions and organizational priorities

WHEREAS, in response to recommendations and outreach from the Economic Alliance and the BOCC, the following people have expressed interest in serving on the Lewis County Distressed Counties (.09) Fund / Rural Economic Development Public Facilities Advisory Committee for 2026:

 

NAME	REPRESENTING
Lewis County Commissioner Lindsey Pollock	BOCC
Port Commissioner Paul Ericson	Port of Chehalis
Port Commissioner Kyle Markstrom	Port of Centralia
East Lewis County Public Development Authority (ELCPDA) board member Fred Morton	ELCPDA
Centralia Councilwoman Kelly Smith Johnston	Large cities
Winlock Mayor Victoria Marincin	Small cities
Industrial Commission board member Kirk Vigre	Industrial Commission
Economic Alliance (EA) Chair Stuart Cavness	Economic Alliance (Committee Chair)
Shane Wood	At-large position

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the above-mentioned individuals are hereby appointed to the Distressed Counties Fund/Rural Economic Development Public Facilities Advisory Committee effective immediately for terms to expire December 31, 2026.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 17th day of February, 2026.