By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Ballots must be postmarked by today or hand-delivered before 8 o’clock tonight for the special election that includes measures for two fire departments and one for the Napavine School District.
The Mossyrock area’s Lewis County Fire District 3 is asking voter’s to approve up to $1.2 million in bonds maturing within 15 years to build a new station.
The main station downtown is too small and in a location without room to expand, according to Fire Chief Doug Fosburg. The district has five acres just outside of town where it would like to construct the new building, he said.
They need at least 60 percent yes votes, according to the the Lewis County Auditor’s Office election department.
Riverside Fire Authority which protects Centralia and the surrounding area is asking voters to renew an Emergency Medical Services levy for the next six years, which imposes 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value on property owners. Last year, voters passed a special maintenance and operation levy for the department which was put into place for just one year.
The top reason people call RFA for EMS help – according to numbers complied from 2010 to 2014 – are for fall victims and the age group with the largest number of calls are those 81 to 90 years old, according to Chief Mike Kytta.
A simple majority of 50 percent plus one vote will pass the levy.
The Napavine School District is asking for approval to issue $17,995,000 in bonds to expand and modernize school buildings.
Ballots were sent out earlier this month for the all vote-by-mail election.
Ballots can be dropped off at the Lewis County Auditor’s Office at 351 NW North St. in Chehalis or a drive-by ballot drop box at the Twin Cities Senior Center at 2545 N. National Ave. in Chehalis.
Watch for election results tonight at Lewis County Auditor’s Office: Election Department [1]