2024-01-05 Mayors MeetingMayors’ Meeting
January 5, 2024
9 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Swope, County Manager Ryan Barrett, Pe Ell Mayor
Lonnie Willey, Mossyrock Planning Commission member Marcia Manley, Veterans Apprenticeship
Specialist Peter Lahmann, Mindy Brooks, Becky Butler, Ross Nielson, Eric Eisenberg, Centralia Mayor
Kelly Smith-Johnson, Vader Mayor Joe Schey, Napavine Mayor Shawn O’Neill, Stephen Dunk, Kristine
Rompa, Lee Napier, Graham Gowing, Paul Mason of WSDOT, Port of Centralia Commissioner Kyle
Markstrom, Sarah Kohout of Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s office, Chehalis Mayor Tony Ketchum, Toledo
Mayor Cherie DeVore
Guest(s): Unnamed guest
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Public comment: None.
Roundtable: Participants shared updates regarding projects within Lewis County, including:
• Centralia Port Commissioner Kyle Markstrom and Centralia City Manager Rob Hill discussed
growth in the Centralia area.
• Centralia Mayor Kelly Smith-Johnson invited the public to a Centralia town hall planned for Jan.
31 as well as an economic impacts meeting planned for February.
• Pe Ell Mayor Lonnie Willie discussed progress on the city’s water system.
• Sarah Kohout invited the group to subscribe to Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s grants newsletter.
• Peter Lahmann invited the group to reach out regarding the hiring of service men and women.
• Mindy Brooks urged area mayors to attend a Jan. 17 Planned Growth Committee meeting to
discuss the Comprehensive Plan.
• Becky Butler urged the county’s federal partners to support an extension for ARPA funds.
Levy training: Assessor Ross Nielson offered to provide levy training to any junior taxing district. He also
discussed the Senior Exemption program.
Stephen Dunk of Commerce discussed Comprehensive Update / Growth Management and climate
funding available as well as Department of Commerce assistance available.
Eric Eisenberg said work on the homeless shelter likely will be complete by March.
Small-city representation for the .09 Distressed Counties advisory committee: Rieva Lester said
Napavine Mayor Shawn O’Neill had expressed interest in serving on the committee and that Vader
Mayor Joe Shey had sent his regrets that he would not be available. The commissioners directed Rieva
to again reach out to the eligible mayors.
Meeting adjourned at 9:48 a.m.