County seeks volunteer for Open Space Advisory Committee

The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is seeking an individual actively involved in farming to serve on the Lewis County Open Space Advisory Committee.

The five-member Open Space Advisory Committee represents the region’s farming community and serves in an advisory capacity to the Lewis County Assessor. Its role is to provide guidance in implementing state assessment guidelines for open space, farm and agricultural lands, and timberlands, as outlined in RCW 84.34. The committee offers insight on topics such as land quality, typical crops and net cash rental assessments to help the Assessor determine accurate and fair current use values for qualifying lands.

The time commitment for the Open Space Advisory Committee is minimal – the group generally meets just once annually in Chehalis.

To apply, submit a completed application and a letter of interest by 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in one of the following ways:

• By mail at 351 N.W. North St., Chehalis, WA 98532.
• Via email at committees@lewiscountywa.gov (include Open Space Advisory Committee in the subject line).
• In person at the Commissioners’ Office in Room 210 of the Historic Courthouse at 351 N.W. North St. in Chehalis.

For the application, click here.

For a sample letter of interest, click here.

For questions about the committee, contact Property Control Specialist I Sarah McMillian at the Lewis County Assessor’s Office by phone at 360-740-1426 or via email at Sarah.McMillian@lewiscountywa.gov. For details about the Open Space programs, visit the Assessor’s website at https://lewiscountywa.gov/offices/assessor/open-space-act/.