🐔 Chickens Approved, Lift Station Failing & Short-Term Rentals: August Skamania City Round-Up
Sewer repairs, a new city administrator, backyard chickens, and vacation rental reform—August was a busy month for Skamania’s city governments. Catch up on key decisions from Stevenson, North Bonneville, and Underwood in this month’s civic round-up.
🏛️ August 2025 Skamania County City Government Round-Up
August brought new staff hires, major sewer repairs, fire equipment upgrades, and neighborhood chicken coops across Skamania’s cities and districts. Here’s your end-of-month civic digest:
🏙️ Stevenson City Council & Planning Commission
🗓️ August 11 – Planning Commission
- Hosted a community listening session on vacation rentals, where residents voiced growing frustration over absentee owners, trash complaints, and housing availability.
- Planning staff will return with draft policy updates later this fall.
- The Commission also began modernizing Title 16 - Land Division, flagging outdated submission processes and conflicts in the code.
🏛️ August 21 – City Council
- Wesley Wootten was hired as the new City Administrator.
- Council accepted $873,000 in USDA loan funds and $70,600 in grants for utility upgrades.
- Approved a $535,420 Class A fire engine purchase from Toyne Inc.
- Updated:
- Sewer billing policy (billing starts after inspection)
- Business license fees (raised to $25)
- Small Works Roster contracting process
📌 Also approved: a short plat adjustment near Rock Cove and a $157.60 water leak credit for a resident.
🔗 More details in full meeting packet
🏞️ North Bonneville City Council & Planning Commission
🗓️ August 12 – City Council
- Council authorized:
- $6,450 for tree clearing near Hamilton Creek
- $9,000 for sewer line jetting with Drain Pro
- Participation in 2026 budget prep by Councilmembers Good, Baxter, and Norris
- Continued discussion of Lift Station #2 failures, which prompted emergency action later in the month.
🐔 August 19 – Planning Commission
- Approved a conditional use permit for seven backyard hens at 828 Celilo Street.
- Conditions included:
- Chickens must stay 20 feet from neighboring homes
- Permit is non-transferable and revocable if complaints arise
🗓️ August 26 – City Council
- Approved emergency sewer repairs for Lift Station #2 - a $20,815 contract with RMS Pump
- Adopted Ordinance 1170, updating business license regulations
- Approved a water bill reduction of $236.12 for a resident with a confirmed leak
📌 Sheriff reported continued rise in calls and pending radio upgrade funding
📌 Planner confirmed new SEPA notices for the Cascade Business District and continued permit activity
🔗 More details in full meeting packet
🌲 Underwood Park & Recreation District (UPRD)
🗓️ August 13 – Regular Meeting
- Approved $22,693.12 in vouchers — one of the district’s largest monthly expenditures this year.
- Updates included:
- Post Office renovation progress
- Weed removal, baseball backstop repairs, and planned fencing work
- Cook-Underwood sign facelift moving ahead
- Awaiting RCO grant status
- County Commissioner and Sheriff provided updates on:
- Fire safety
- Public access issues
- Summer rescue operations
- Friends of Underwood and garden committees shared updates, and candidate filing was discussed.
📌 Next meeting scheduled for September 10 at 6:00 PM
🗳️ Civic Engagement Reminders
- All three governments discussed budget planning and infrastructure maintenance as key fall priorities.
- Residents are encouraged to:
- Attend upcoming Planning Commission meetings on housing and land use
- Watch for fall grant opportunities and construction notices
- Provide input on policy updates, especially around housing and public utilities