Council of Governments connects Wahkiakum and Cowlitz counties

In a recent interview with The Eagle, Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG) Executive Director Bill Fashing distinguished between the monthly board meeting of CWCOG, held on the fourth Thursday of every month in Cowlitz County, and the regional information forum meeting that takes place at the Wahkiakum County Courthouse. Fashing noted the informational forum is “a chance for various agencies to get together around a table, no formal agenda and just talk about the issues that are out there, and not necessarily fix anything but build better understanding of the challenges that the various organizations have, the opportunities they might be exploring, and what they're thinking.” Fashing added a big thing for that kind of personal networking is “to make sure that people are talking in a less stressful environment and working together to build things that will benefit the residents and taxpayers across the board.”

Regarding the monthly board meeting, Fashing noted it “addresses a variety of issues on a regional level; specifically, transportation and economic development.” Fashing said, “We do things sometimes at that level that the Town of Cathlamet or Port District 1 or 2 aren't going to or don't want to or can't look at or address on their own individual authority. We're trying to remind people that we're all in this together on the regional level and we're trying to bring us together when we can and make sure everyone is hopefully generally paddling in the same direction and not working crossways with each other.” Fashing acknowledged Wahkiakum is “a little slimmer in membership” than Cowlitz, which includes various water, sewer, fire, and school districts.

As far as the most relevant, and, perhaps, important theme between the two counties, Fashing said, “Without SR4, there's no connection. We do have a five-county reach on transportation. We actually reach into Pacific, Grays Harbor, and Lewis County for transportation work. That brings in a whole new dynamic. From an economic development perspective, a lot of folks come this direction for jobs from Wahkiakum County. Some go into Columbia County, some work in the county, but I think there are some economic ties. I'm sure there's a few who live in Cowlitz County who work in Wahkiakum County. There's good economic connections between the two. I think the economic development goals of Cowlitz and Wahkiakum may differ a little bit in what they're prioritizing, but what they're all trying to do is enhance the tax base, make sure there's jobs for the people living there who want to live there, and there's good economic opportunity across the board…As one county goes, the other goes, to some degree, economically.”

Fashing noted a broadband activation plan a few years ago in which CWCOG stepped in to help get the upgrade, adding the group’s purpose is to sometimes “help local governments access local funding opportunities they may not have the capacity to do on their own.” Admitting he looks at things “as a glass half full,” Fashing said, “We're always looking for input from the public…There's always ways to build on what we have.” Specific to those within CWCOG, Fashing said, “Any time one of the member agencies has something that they're having trouble getting done in house, I think they should call us and say, ‘Can you help?' I will either say, 'Here's how we can design something to maybe move that forward,' or 'No, that's beyond us,’ and tell them they need to look at a bigger consultant.” Pointing out CWCOG is more of a “convener” or a “catalyst,” Fashing said the group “doesn't have all the answers or all the resources but are there as a partner.”