Wahkiakum County Commissioners report

The County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, during which they voted to rename the section of Steamboat Slough Road that runs through the Wildlife Refuge to White Tail Road. This change will reduce confusion for travelers and help emergency responders respond more effectively to calls on either road. During public comment, a resident from Eden Valley Road raised concerns about the overgrown grass along Eden Valley Road and inquired about the timing and frequency of mowing. The overgrowth has created potential safety hazards by limiting visibility for drivers entering the roadway or making turns. Chuck Beyer, Public Works Director, said that the area is mowed three times a year and will be mowed again in July.

The commissioners approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office and a Managed Care Organization (MCO) to provide care and support for inmate healthcare funded through the Washington State HealthCare Authority (HCA). Several residents expressed their concerns about the Eden Valley repaving project. One resident worries that raising the road at this particular spot could cause more flooding further down the road. Another resident asked whether this project would address the flooding issue and why the county would proceed if it doesn't solve the flooding problem. Paul Lacey, County Engineer, addressed these concerns: "We received a grant to fix this short piece of the [Eden Valley] road." Lacey said. Fixing all the flooding areas of the road would cost about $2 million or more, and the county doesn't have that budget. "We're hoping that this will alleviate the times that the road is closed... this spot is the lowest point of Eden Valley Road where most of the closures occurred," explained Lacey. The county engineer disagreed that raising this part of the road would cause flooding in other areas. "If anyone really thinks that's happening, I would like them to hire an engineer, licensed in the state of Washington, to come and disagree with me about it," said Lacey.

The County Commissioners are scheduled to go out to Eden Valley Road this week with County Engineer Paul Lacey to discuss concerns, and where the project will take place. Lacey also provided a timeline for the paving project, which shows paving to begin on Aug. 4 and end on Aug. 8. Lacey created a date for an on-site meeting with any citizens or residents who would like to attend and ask questions, as well as see the work that will be done, on Aug 1. More details to come.