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# 🌄 April 2025 Community Government Recap
- URL: https://skamania-dispatch.ghost.io/april-2025-community-government-recap/
- Published: 2025-05-05T18:47:57.000Z
- Updated: 2025-05-05T18:47:57.000Z
- Author: Dispatch Squatch

## Highlights from Stevenson & Skamania County Meetings

From sewer reform and housing discussions, to community conflict and capital investments, here's what happened in local government this month.

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## 🏛️ Stevenson City Council

**📅 April 17, 2025**

A divided public comment session dominated this month's meeting after **Councilmember Lucy Lauser’s** Trans Day of Visibility protest drew both **support and criticism**. Residents voiced strong opinions, and Lauser delivered a prepared statement defending the protest as a call for civil rights.

### Council Business:

- Reviewed a **draft sewer ordinance** that clarifies connection requirements and offers new financial flexibility.
- Approved personnel policy updates, fire department pay adjustments, and vouchers for city expenses.

📄 [Read the full City Council recap →](https://skamania-dispatch.ghost.io/stevenson-city-council-meeting-highlights-april-17-2025/)

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## 🏙 Stevenson Planning Commission

**📅 April 14, 2025**

Commissioners held a detailed workshop on the **proposed sewer and pretreatment ordinance** currently before City Council. The discussion focused on how to balance housing growth, septic infrastructure, and development costs.

### Key Takeaways:

- **Three classes of properties** were defined based on sewer proximity.
- The draft ordinance includes **7-year phased timelines**, **low-income incentives**, and new **lot design standards**.
- Public comment encouraged a greater focus on **DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion)** in planning decisions.

📄 [View the Planning Commission summary →](https://skamania-dispatch.ghost.io/stevenson-planning-commission-highlights-april-14-2025/)

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## 🧾 Skamania County Board of Commissioners

**📅 April 28–29, 2025**

### April 28:

- Interviewed **Dan LeSieur** for the Planning Commission. LeSieur spoke about fairness in land use and emphasized preserving Skamania’s rural character.

### April 29:

- Accepted a public apology from **Friends of the Columbia Gorge** for past social media comments critical of county planning staff.
- Approved:
  - **$1.05 million property purchase** in Stevenson
  - **2 new ADA vans** for Senior Services
  - **Behavioral health contract amendments**
- Heard updates on **affordable housing planning**, **youth forestry programs**, and **fire season preparation**.

📄 [Full Board of Commissioners recap →](https://skamania-dispatch.ghost.io/skamania-county-board-of-commissioners-april-28-29-2025/)

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## 🗓 Upcoming

Don’t miss the [public hearing on the sewer ordinance](https://www.ci.stevenson.wa.us/publicworks/page/proposed-sewer-ordinance?ref=skamania-dispatch.ghost.io)!  
🕕 Thursday, May 15th at 6pm – Stevenson City Council Chambers & [Zoom](https://us02web.zoom.us/s/85637388112?ref=skamania-dispatch.ghost.io)

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📬 Have questions or public comments?  
Reach out: **cityhall@ci.stevenson.wa.us** or **publiccomments@co.skamania.wa.us**

*Thanks for staying informed and active in our community.*