The Centralia City Council received a clean audit report and approved financial statements for the 2025 fiscal year at its regular meeting on Monday. The audit was performed by CJ Schloser and Co. and presented by Centralia city treasurer Jeremy Henderson. Henderson said the auditors gave an unmodified opinion, meaning no major issues were found.
Centralia’s net position is currently $23,092,926, and Henderson noted that number has been trending up for the past five years. The city issued debt of $15,502,070 during 2025 and paid off $646,740. Of the debt issued, $15,367,381 were applicable to the new water treatment plant. Major grants received in 2025 included $1,700,000 for the water treatment plant and raw water projects, and $600,000 for Fairview Park playground equipment.
In an engineering report, Mitch Hardiek with Milano and Grunloh Engineers said that work is in progress on applying for an ITEP grant, with the application due October 5. Engineering continues for sidewalks supported by Centralia’s most recent Safe Routes to School grant, and an application is in the works for the next grant cycle. An application for a fourth cycle of lead service line inventory has been submitted, and work has begun on applying for this year’s OSLAD grant, with the goal of funding improvements to Laura Leake Park.
The council also approved a resolution to amend the current CBA with the union representing the Centralia Fire Department to allow fire department employees to access all of the three health insurance plan options currently offered to other eligible city employees.
A service award was granted to water treatment plant operator John M. Wethington in recognition of ten years of service.
