Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
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The Wahkiakum County Commissioners approved a number of recommendations in less than an hour Tuesday. First up, was the approval of $69,750 to repair a retaining wall at the Wahkiakum clinic. Next was the renewal of the Workforce Southwest Washington reimbursement contract not to exceed $90,000. This contract helps county residents find jobs, get training, and helps local businesses find workers. Health and Human Services also renewed a contract with the state of Washington Department of Ecology to provide solid waste enforcement activities...
The Cathlamet Town Council met Monday in regular session. County Commissioner Lee Tischer attended by phone and asked for an update on the high school sidewalk and the Erickson park skatepark. Mayor David Olson said that the planning and funding for the sidewalk is done and construction should begin by October. The effort to construct the sidewalk started three years ago. The mayor told the commissioners that a $95,000 grant had been approved for the skatepark but that they were still in the planning phase. Jonelle McCoy from Washington...
Commissioners were in session Tuesday as usual. Due to the Retirement of Kelly Patterson the county is planning to hire a new community outreach specialist. Julie Johnston presented to the board that the position has become increasingly difficult for one person to manage and asked the commissioners to approve a second full time position to assist with the work. The outreach specialist administers the PUD discount program, rental assistance program and works with the Area Agency on Aging and disabilities as well as coordinating with the area...
County commissioners began their Tuesday meeting by approving $5,000.00 for a CPA to help with the auditor’s annual report, appointing Jason Will to the real property rights board, and renewal of the liquor license for the Cathlamet Chevron. Chris Bischoff, director of health and human services detailed his search for a public health nurse. The current nurse is leaving the county for a job making double her current salary. He said that our salaries are roughly competitive with neighboring counties but we are not even close to the national a...
The Wahkiakum County commissioners discussed and approved several items in under an hour Tuesday. The District 1 (Puget Island) planning commission vacancy was filled by a unanimous vote with Ruby Wargnier. They also approved drafting an ordinance to prohibit unlicensed, unregistered or uninsured vehicles from parking within 10 feet of the fog line on county roads. The commissioners approved the closure of the Wahkiakum ferry July 26-27 for work on the ramp on the Oregon side and bumpers and lights on the Washington side. A 2-year agreement...
Commissioners met Tuesday to discuss and approve two issues that the commissioners have been working on for years. The increase in state funding for the ferry has been in the works for two years. As of July 1 house bill 1125 will be in effect and will increase funding of the ferry by the state from 80 to 85 percent. Another long awaited decision was the agreement for an opioid abatement council independent subcommittee. A subcommittee will be formed to allocate and oversee the use of funds to assist people addicted to opioid drugs. The county...
Wahkiakum County commissioners met briefly Wednesday to approve three expenditures. The first was the renewal of the county 911 contract. The commissioners approved the payment of $557,475 for the annual contract. The sheriff's office requested and the commissioners approved the hire of a corrections officer. Sheriff Howie was pleased that he was able to find a local person who is qualified for the job. The final approval was the reimbursement of $13,643 to United Healthcare for overpayments to the health department. Commissioner Strong said...
The Wahkiakum County commissioners met briefly Tuesday to approve various small expenditures and requests. After discussion and approval in past sessions Bill Sauters was officially appointed to the Workforce Southwest Washington board. Mr. Sauters is representing Wahkiakum organized labor at the board. The liquor license for Duffy's Irish Pub was renewed and a temporary license for the Wahkiakum County Fair was approved. The commissioners approved the contract for an after hours answering service for Health and Human Services, as required by l...
The Cathlamet town council met Tuesday and discussed speed limits and sewer rates again. The discussion about sewer rates began with connection fees for new developments. The city has not changed utility connection fees since 2013. The council discussed various methods of discount including the number of homes built or lower connection fees for less expensive housing but no decision was made. The port manager was the most recent water customer to ask for a larger reduction of their bill after a leak at the marina reached $2,800. The council...
This week's county commissioners meeting started with the approval of a letter of support for the PUD to the state Public Works Board. The commissioners endorsed funding proposals for four capital projects in the county. The projects include an alternate water source for Cathlamet, the extension of the Skamokawa mainline, the western Wahkiakum system Grays River and Hull Creek extension, and the replacement of 4,000 feet of mainline along State Route 4 in Grays River. Port #1 manager Todd Souvenir told the commissioners that he had applied for...
Commissioners met on Tuesday with Gene Strong attending via zoom. Much of the agenda had to be put off until a later date but some decisions were made. The commissioners approved a payment of $2,649.30 to the sheriff's office for cost overruns on the sheriff's department remodel. Commissioners praised the department for staying as close as possible to the 148,000 budget. The extra payment is only 1.8 percent of the total budgeted for the remodel. The board approved the contract with Cowlitz County for housing juvenile inmates, and requested...
Dan Cothren presided over the weekly commissioners meeting with the other two commissioners attending via zoom. In the public comment portion of the meeting a Westend resident expressed concern about new development on Altoona-Pillar Rock Rd. She said that a homeowner had counted seven vacation rentals on the road, leading to increased traffic. The homeowner was concerned that publicity about the road would further increase traffic. This started a wide ranging debate about timber companies selling land for development, new home projects not...
In their monthly meeting the Cathlamet Town Council met members of the Mecha Mules robotics club and proclaimed June as high school underwater robotics month in the town of Cathlamet. The Mecha Mules placed first out of 140 teams at the robotic competition in Maryland. Mayor David Olson briefed the council on artist Dan Westlind’s upcoming meeting with state representatives about the benefits of creating a creative arts district in Cathlamet. Next, tense discussion began on how to proceed with the Cowlitz/Wahkiakum comprehensive development p...
County commissioners met briefly in their regular Tuesday meeting. The commissioners heard from the fair board about the upcoming car show, the music festival in August, and the fairgrounds clean-up on May 20. Representatives from Johnson Park discussed the issue of high heating bills and said that they will install covers on thermostats so that only authorized personnel can access them. Law enforcement officers briefed the commissioners on the status of an abandoned RV on Elochman Valley road. The sheriff's department said that Fish and...
By Ian Brandon Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday heard procedural comments from the auditor's office, the WSU extension office grants coordinator and the public works department. However, the majority of the meeting focused on a proclamation declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services briefed the commissioners on their efforts to help Wahkiakum residents with mental health and substance abuse. The commissioners approved the proclamation unanimously and then began a...
Commissioners met in their regular Tuesday meeting to discuss issues large and small. In the public comment portion of the meeting a local resident expressed concern over the grant process that is funding an emergency source of water for island residents. The commenter felt that they neglected to assist West end residents when their water system was in trouble. Another citizen asked commissioners if there was anything they could do about trash at the wildlife refuge. The board members could not decide between two applicants to the Lower...
The board of Wahkiakum County Commissioners met Tuesday in a shorter than usual session. Building inspector Dave Hicks briefed the commissioners on the release of the remaining funds allocated for the shoreline master program update. The remainder of the grant funds, over $78,000 can now be reallocated to other projects. Public Works director Chuck Beyer told the commissioners that he will sign a contract with Elochoman Valley Partners for landscape maintenance. The contract would allocate $15,000 for maintenance at county properties....
Commissioners of Wahkiakum County Port District 2 met last Tuesday in Gray's River. Commissioners agreed to increase the port manager's salary to $67,400 per year; they also passed a resolution continuing delegation of authority for the port manager to act for the district in emergencies and in other specified circumstances. In new business, the commissioners approved just over $31,000 for new capital expenditures including $14,000 to replace the carpet in the new port district office. The board also agreed to pay the Wahkiakum Chamber of...
