Cowlitz County Commissioner Open Public Meetings

The Cowlitz County Commissioners held an open public meeting on May 6, 2026, covering a range of topics including flood protection updates from the Army Corps of Engineers, infrastructure projects, and budget considerations. Key procurement-related discussions included a $37 million project to raise a sediment retention structure to improve flood protection, and several capital improvement projects such as replacing inoperable roll-up doors at the Kelse County Event Center for $31,930, installing a sewer force main in Castle Rock estimated at $365,500 to alleviate capacity issues, and adding LED lighting to softball fields in Long View with a project cost of approximately $366,000. The meeting also addressed funding strategies, including exploring federal grant programs for aquatic ecosystem restoration and internal service fund changes to better allocate facilities costs across county departments. Additionally, the commissioners discussed a hiring freeze to save approximately $1.48 million in personnel costs. No formal votes were recorded during the meeting, but the board expressed support for pursuing funding opportunities and further developing project plans.