Commissioners discuss varied issues

Wahkiakum County commissioners discussed a variety of issues at the January 23 meeting.

Commissioner Dan Cothren reported the state’s 19 counties with trust timber land are continuing discussion of a proposal to combine all trusts into a unitary trust with each county sharing in revenue.

Some counties won’t benefit as much as others, Cothren said, so it may take another year to craft a unified proposal for the state legislature.

“We have to get commitment from all 19 timber counties,” Cothren said.

The county’s timber trust has provided a major part of the county budget’s revenues. However, environmental restrictions have begun to curtail those revenues, and commissioners are starting to think a unitary trust may be the answer.

The board will also hold a series of workshops January 30, starting at 9:30 a.m. Topics are yet to be specified but may include a budget overview for new Commissioner Tom Doumit, priorities for 2007, Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic issues, and a discussion of the proposed revision of the county comprehensive plan.