Commissioners' Report

During their weekly meeting Tuesday, Feb. 3, the Wahkiakum County Commissioners began their new business by unanimously approving Resolution 22-26. The resolution represents a funding agreement with the Town of Cathlamet to “assist the Town in operating and maintaining the Julia Butler Hansen Swimming Pool in 2026.” According to the meeting’s packet, the contract “is reduced from historical funding levels, providing up to $25,000 in matching funding for operational costs for the swimming pool.” The commissioners then approved Resolution 23-26, allowing $2,000 in funding to the library. According to Tuesday’s report, the $2,000 amount “is already budgeted in the 2026 budget.” Fairgrounds Manager Patty Dursteler then requested the board of commissioners’ approval for grants K6438 and K6439. In October of 2025, Dursteler applied for two grant agreements (K6438 and K6439) with the Washington State Department of Agriculture Fairs Program. Grant K6438, which is in the amount of $28,351.40, would go toward youth building doors, and Grant K6439, in the amount of $7,485.87, would go toward an arena groomer. The commissioners unanimously approved K6438 and K6439.

Wahkiakum County Auditor Nicci Bergseng then presented before the commissioners a proposal to approve a contract between TDJ (Teresa D Johnson) CPA, Inc. and Wahkiakum County “in assistance and preparation of the 2025 report.” According to the meeting agenda, the partnership between TDJ CPA, Inc. and Wahkiakum County “has been an essential support to the county over the past several years.” In light of the recent staff reductions, the professional support offered “has become even more critical,” according to Berseng. Tuesday’s agenda states, “Up to $50,000 is budgeted in the 2026 current non-dept professional expense fees.” Berseng noted last year, “it was up to about $20,000 and, last year, they spent about $10,000.” Berseng said she was hopeful it wouldn’t cost $50,000, but also added, “We need this.” The commissioners unanimously approved the contract for the report. Commissioner Lee Tischer said, “If we had a CPA on the payroll, it would be twice - if not more - maybe three times what this amount would be.”

Former Commissioner and Chair Gene Strong spoke with the commissioners regarding the replacement of the Grays River Covered Bridge sign. According to the agenda, the current sign is “dilapidated, discolored, peeling, and has holes in it.” Wahkiakum Conservation District Voluntary Stewardship Program Coordinator Brooke Bennett, as well as Strong, noted the Grays River Grange is doing some fundraising to help pay for the new sign. The commissioners noted money can be used from the tourism fund to help pay for the new sign and will see “where we’re at” once the Grange comes back to them with their numbers

During the commissioners’ reports, Tischer, discussing the legislative session, noted “over 1,200 bills have been introduced,” but “many will not make it out.” Tischer also mentioned House Bill (HB) 26-20, which would require the Forest Practice Board “to repeal and restart the new riparian buffer rule.” According to Tischer, “every timber owner, logger, and county that receives funds is against this."

During his report, Commissioner and Chair Dan Cothren mentioned attending a common ground workshop. The workshops, which represent a project of the Wahkiakum Marine Resources Committee and WSU Wahkiakum County Extension, are for the sake of learning about Wahkiakum County’s watersheds and making them more friendly to people and fish. Cothren noted a representative from the Chinook Tribe was present and “spoke on issues.” Presenting the notion that the workshops can be “an educational piece,” Cothren said, "At the next meeting, I want to give a little bit of history on Wahkiakum County and how we depend on the watersheds for revenue and those types of things and how we operate here and how some of this stuff came about with the trust lands and those types of things. A lot of them think that the public owns all these trust lands. That's not the case. They're county trust lands, and the revenue off that goes to the county. They need to know that. They're not getting that picture...Hopefully they'll clear up a lot of that stuff at the next common ground meeting and we can all get on the same page and know where we're coming from...our history and protecting the watersheds…There still has to be revenue off those watersheds for this county to survive.”