Members of the Toledo City Council convened on Monday, Nov. 3, for their first regular meeting of the month.
Among the agenda items discussed by the councilors and city staff was a new jail services contract with the Chehalis Tribal Jail, which councilors approved as Chehalis Tribal Jail services are cheaper than Lewis County Jail services.
Additionally, construction plans to improve drainage on Maple and South Sixth streets were announced, and a public hearing to review the draft 2026 budget was scheduled for Monday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m., at Toledo City Hall, located at 130 N. Second St. in Toledo.
In the draft 2026 budget, preliminary revenues are expected to total $1,458,165 while expenditures are expected to total $1,295,364.81.
To view the draft revenue and expenditure documents for Toledo’s 2026 budget, view the public hearing agenda on the city’s website at https://tinyurl.com/4tzy336v and scroll down.
Chehalis Tribal Jail contract
While the City of Toledo had previously been contracting with the Lewis County Jail to hold those arrested in town, the councilors approved entering into a contract with the Chehalis Tribal Jail instead to try to save money.
“We’re using about two to three beds a month right now for several nights, so we’re paying quite a bit, because it’s like $138 a night at Lewis County (Jail),” Toledo City Clerk Treasurer Rachel Campbell said to the councilors.
A night’s stay at the Chehalis Tribal Jail costs $85, with an additional $20 booking fee according to the contract in the council’s agenda report. If an inmate is held for less than four hours, then the city will only be charged the booking fee.
She added the city only has to pay when an inmate is actually being held in a jail cell.
The Chehalis City Council also recently approved an agreement to send inmates to Chehalis Tribal Jail, following a similar decision by the City of Centralia several years ago.
Maple and Sixth streets drainage improvements
In order to help address the problem of large puddles forming on Maple and South Sixth streets by the Kemp Olson Memorial Park and RV Campground, plans to install new biofiltration swale underdrains on the streets were announced.
Swale underdrains are shallow, open channels with gently sloping sides used to direct and contain rain runoff.
The swale channel is made of two layers, a drain rock layer with a perforated underdrain pipe running through the rock, and a biofiltration soil mix on top of the rocks — in which vegetation can grow in, letting the plant roots help soak up rain water as well.
According to construction plans, one swale will be installed on the south side of Maple Street just west of its intersection with South Fifth Street, while the other across from Kemp Olson Memorial Park on the east side of South Sixth Street.
“I know I had gone out and spoke with (residents) as well, when it was an issue and it was one of those things where I’m like, ‘This is something that needs to be addressed, we can’t have puddling here, it’s going to degrade the roads and be a huge issue with the flooding down there,’” Toledo Mayor Cherie Devore said.
Campbell added there were storm drains installed in the area as well, but that these spots in particular weren’t draining into them.
“It’s just pooling up there, it won’t catch at all,” Campbell said.
To view a recording of the full Nov. 3 Toledo City Council meeting along with previous meeting recordings, visit the City of Toledo’s YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@toledowashington8036.
The next regular meeting of the Toledo City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m., at Toledo City Hall.
