Cowlitz County Commissioner Open Public Meetings

The Cowlitz County Commissioners held an open public meeting on August 19, 2026, primarily addressing procurement and public works projects. Key procurement discussions included calls for bids on the Shadow Mountain Reservoir project, mobile heavy equipment maintenance and repair services for the landfill, and the Westside Highway slide repair project. The commissioners reviewed a training contract for the county corrections department with a budget cap of $40,000, noting past expenditures around $17,000-$18,000 annually, and discussed efforts to find alternative training solutions through the risk pool. They also addressed a drainage improvement district voucher for $36,491.77. Additionally, the meeting covered policy and community concerns related to wildlife management, state resource mismanagement, and designated forest land compliance audits. The commissioners approved the consent agenda, including the procurement items, and discussed potential advocacy actions such as drafting a letter opposing certain state wildlife commissioners and exploring legal support for fish restoration efforts.