Commissioners' Report

Opening the Wahkiakum County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, April 7, Commissioner and Chair Dan Cothren read a proclamation recognizing Public Safety Telecommunicators Week Sunday, April 12 through Saturday, April 18. Cothren recognized Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office Telecommunicators Vernon Barton, Jo Ann Barton, Aric Cothren, Dave Davis, Asia Robbins, Emily Davenport, Charli Dursteler, and Sophia Searles, as well as Raedyn Grasseth, Beau Renffro, Austin Smith, and Adam Vogt with the County’s 911 system. The board then approved liquor license and change of governing people to DG Strategic VII, LLC, doing business as Dollar General. The board then accepted the resignation of Robert Rendler from the Board of Equalization. Rendler, according to Commissioner Lee Tischer, had been serving on the board for 15 years. Clerk Beth Johnson then opened a sealed bid for 2026 roadside mowing. The bid will be looked over by Public Works Director Chuck Beyer before being brought back to the board.

After a brief discussion with Engineering Assistant Benjamin McClain, the board approved a reimbursable agreement, labeled #J D1793, with the Washington State Department of Transportation for the East Fork Deep River Connect and Flood Protection Project. According to the meeting’s packet, the Federal funds Bridge Grant “will cover the costs,” and if the County does not establish the account, “the state will not obligate the funds for the right of way acquisition and for the construction.” The board unanimously approved the agreement. The board then unanimously approved distribution of the PUD Privilege Tax to the Town of Cathlamet and the current expense fund. Deputy Treasurer Marissa Longtain notified the board $51,229.71 was received from the State of Washington for the PUD Privilege Tax and that she needed authorization from the commissioners before distributing it.

Health and Human Services Community Services Manager Julie Johnston brought before the board for their signature Amendment A to Contract #26-46108-33, otherwise known as the Consolidated Homeless Grant. The contract was signed in 2025, and the amendment adds $110,568 in funds “for the document recording fee to the 2027 fiscal year.” The money already being budgeted for in the Public Health Budget, the board unanimously approved the Chair’s signature on Amendment A. Emergency Technology Coordinator Beau Renfro requested the board’s approval on the Sheriff’s Office’s Service Level Agreement (SLA) between Wahkiakum County and Communications Northwest. Renfro admitted he had neglected to include a significant component of the radio system in the original agreement. The amended agreement, including the new amount of $33,302, was unanimously approved by the board.

Emergency Management Coordinator Austin Smith brought before the board an Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) awarded from the Washington State Military Department in the amount of $25,254. According to Smith, the grant is to help “pay for a portion of the County’s Department of Emergency Management (DEM) position.” As the grant is 50 percent matching, budgeted operating expenses will meet the match requirement, according to Tuesday’s packet.

Commissioner Mark Letham led a discussion regarding the proposed relocation of KM recycling facilities to Johnson Park. Letham said the board is “not ready to make hardline decisions.” As this was simply a discussion, no decisions were made by the board.

During his individual report, Tischer noted with the emails being temporarily down, he’s still waiting to hear back from the legislature and decided to “punt” his report to the following week. Letham reported the migration of the 360 security software is at about 35 percent. Letham invited all firefighters and fire chiefs to attend emergency preparedness meetings. "There will be a time that we will need to come together and we need to know what page we're on,” said Letham. “We all need to be on the same page."

Cothren discussed public access, mentioning that Fish and Wildlife “pay timber companies $1 an acre to have lands open to the public,” whereas those leasing land charge between $2 and $2.50. Cothren said he would like to see that eliminated to where there’s more access for the public to hunt and recreate. Cothren noted he has been proactive in trying to figure out a way “to get the legislature to help out.”