The City of Centralia is focusing on litter cleanup and removal of noxious weeds as the city council approved three contracts Tuesday night to further those efforts.
The first such contract is an interlocal agreement between the city and Lewis County Solid Waste to support a city residential leaf collection program. This program is aimed to help reduce localized flooding caused by leaf litter plugging city storm drains. The county agreed to support the city’s efforts by providing financial assistance through grant funding and also by promoting the program to residents. Lewis County will pay up to $7,500 each year starting in 2025 and 2026, as long as grant funding is available, with the program running from Oct. 1 through Dec. 5 each year.
Centralia agreed to coordinate the distribution of leaf collection containers, advertise and promote the program on signing up its residents, report annual tonnage of leaves collected and invoice the county prior to the end of the year.
Lewis County Solid Waste and the City of Centralia also partnered on an interlocal agreement supporting litter cleanup efforts along Interstate 5 exits 81 and 82 in Centralia. The county agreed to support the city’s efforts to keep these areas free of litter from now through June 30, 2027.
The city agreed to hire an employee at 69 hours per month to perform the litter pickup focusing on the designated areas, track the total amount of garbage collected and provide the employee with the necessary resources including a vehicle, garbage bags and proper personal protective equipment.
The county will also pay monthly invoices for the employee’s efforts in picking up litter for a maximum of $1,555.95 each month as long as funding is available in 2025, with a not-to-exceed amount of $9,335.70. In 2026, the monthly maximum amount will be $1,624.26, with a not-to-exceed amount of $19,491.12. The rate of pay for 2027 will be at the pre-determined rate, with a not-to-exceed amount of $10,200. This program is annually contingent upon funding availability, but the county does have limited funds available through the Washington state Department of Ecology Community Litter Cleanup Grant and its litter program budget.
Finally, the Lewis County Conservation District received a grant from the Office of the Chehalis Basin to control knotweed in the Skookumchuck basin in Lewis County. The city council approved a landowner agreement with the conservation district to eradicate knotweed on the city-owned property at Bridge St. Park, behind Goodwill, at no cost to the city.
Knotweed is on the Lewis County Noxious Weed List and has a high potential for rapid spreading if left untreated. The conservation district will apply herbicide to the knotweed using backpack sprayers and/or injectors and in accordance with best practices and state law
