Cowlitz County Commissioner Open Public Meetings

Cowlitz County Commissioners open public meeting, October 14, 2026. Commissioners approved the consent agenda, which included August 26 vouchers for drainage improvement districts and county vouchers totaling $6,594,796.87. They also approved a staff-presented budget amendment; the transcript provides no amount or further details. An auditor’s office representative said reimbursement requests for ARPA funds are audited against the agreed contract requirements. No new contract award or vendor selection was identified.

Discussion covered a grant for river-related work and escape-route planning, reportedly available only through the regional COG/Metropolitan District. Commissioners emphasized the need to expedite river assessment while water levels are low and discussed dam coordination, evacuation routes, and public warning methods; no grant award or spending decision was recorded. Public commenters raised privacy concerns about Kelso’s Flock automatic license plate reader cameras and urged state-level action, but commissioners said the county does not control city camera decisions. The elections department was congratulated for receiving a national award.