Tuesday Public Meeting - 09.01.2026

The Cowlitz County Commissioners held a public meeting on September 1, 2026, addressing several procurement and budget-related matters. The commissioners approved a call for bids for the Shadow Mountain water system project scheduled for late September. They also awarded contracts totaling $14,000 to two local fire districts for service funds and approved a $7,923 contract with Apollo for an investment grade audit funded by the Washington Association of Counties. Additionally, the board approved a recorded warranty deed and temporary construction easement for the Allander Road repair project and authorized construction for a spillway stoplog gate retrofit project. The consent agenda included vouchers totaling over $4.1 million. The commissioners discussed and unanimously approved updates to the county's critical areas code, including provisions to cap mitigation costs at 5% of improved land value and clarified vesting rights for existing permits, with an effective date set for December 1, 2026. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the preliminary 2027 budget presentation, highlighting a projected $3.6 million shortfall and departmental requests increasing the budget to $77.6 million. Commissioners debated the need for a new 0.1% sales and use tax dedicated to criminal justice purposes, ultimately approving it despite some opposition. Public works presented a proposal for a no-parking zone on Kama River Road to address safety and mail delivery issues, which was tabled for further information. The meeting included extensive public and commissioner discussion on budget challenges, tax impacts, and regulatory compliance.