Commissioners' Report

During their Tuesday, March 10 meeting, Wahkiakum’s Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously approved a liquor license renewal for Angie’s Cathlamet Chevron (274 E SR-4, Cathlamet). The commissioners then approved Amendment No. 4 of the Agreement for Detention of Wahkiakum County Juveniles in Cowlitz County Juvenile Detention Facility. The amendment would increase the current contract price of $152 per juvenile detention bed to $250 per day. The commissioners then unanimously approved a letter of support for the PUD’s (Public Utilities District) request for Congressional funding with respect to a booster pump station “to serve Cathlamet after the Puget Island well is completed.” The commissioners unanimously approved yet another letter of support; this one regarding the request by Fire District No. 3 for grant funding “for turnout gear, equipment, and hydrant updates.”

Following a brief description by Public Works Director Chuck Beyer, the commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 41-26 for an easement over county property on Clover Street. According to Tuesday’s agenda, this easement would help “build and utilize a road on an undeveloped, county-owned parcel.” During the Aug. 26, 2025 BOCC meeting, residents Lajuana Winger and Don Wolcott requested to build a road on the parcel. During the Nov. 4, 2025 BOCC meeting, the Board “was in favor of granting an easement across the parcel.” Following the approval of Resolution 41-26, the commissioners unanimously approved entering into an intergovernmental cooperative agreement with neighboring Pacific County for “joint sharing of equipment.” Per this agreement, either party will be allowed “to rent certain pieces of equipment owned by the other county.”

The commissioners then moved to approve SECO County Equipment Contract SFY 2026/27 #E26-102 for $40,000 to “help pay for a new power generator for the Courthouse to support 911 and other emergency needs during an outage.” According to Tuesday’s packet, funding is “within the Capital Improvement fund,” with the reimbursement being paid back to the fund. Following a brief explanation by Emergency Technology Coordinator Beau Renfro, the commissioners unanimously moved to accept the bid presented by Communications NW in the amount of $28,775.91 for “spare parts for the emergency radio system.” Renfro explained this cost “will be paid through Fund 127” or “the Radio Communication fund.”

The agenda then shifted to representation for mediation proceedings regarding environmental litigation to take place in Seattle. Commissioner Mark Letham volunteered himself to be the Board’s representative.

During the commissioners’ individual reports, Letham noted he was contacted by three constituents regarding Pleasant Point Road. The residents met with Letham for “about four hours” and told him they lost their dock during a recent storm and, in order to replace it, “they need access through the county right of way.” Letham noted the individuals will be presenting at the Tuesday, March 17 meeting. Noting the road “has been an issue,” Commissioner Lee Tischer jokingly said, “I always thought that the road name should have been changed and put an ‘un' in front [of it]."

Discussing the legislation during his individual report, Tischer noted funding has been taken away regarding public defense, which will reduce county budgets by over $275 million. Recognizing all 39 of Washington’s counties “have given notice they’re against it,” Tischer said, "Counties have done their part and it's long past due the state pick up and do theirs." Relaying other legislative news, Tischer noted “no new unencumbered lands money has been added to the pot for purchasing timber, and no funding for the ferry tax miscalculation.” Tischer added the ferry issue will be "punted until next session.” Tischer mentioned an article that was the third in a series published by The Daily News with regards to problems hunters are having accessing timber lands in Wahkiakum County. In response, Commissioner and Chair Dan Cothren said, “I'm hoping more people will take attention to that because our lands are getting locked up more and more all the time....We're surrounded by forest lands. To not be able to walk those and recreate off those, it's not a good deal. That's not why we live here." The first of The Daily News’ three-article series has been included in this edition of The Eagle. Cothren noted he had been contacted by conservation timber holdings and they “want to meet in April.” Cothren noted this might be an opportunity to “purchase more” and “make a case for getting more funding.”