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# 🐔 Chickens Approved, Lift Station Failing & Short-Term Rentals: August Skamania City Round-Up
- URL: https://skamania-dispatch.ghost.io/chickens-approved-lift-station-failing-short-term-rentals-august-skamania-city-round-up/
- Published: 2025-09-16T18:33:49.000Z
- Updated: 2025-09-16T18:33:49.000Z
- Description: 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.
- Author: Dispatch Squatch
- Tags: Skamania County, Stevenson City Council, North Bonneville City Council, Stevenson Planning Commission, North Bonneville Planning Commission, Underwood Parks & Recreation District

## 🏛️ 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:

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### 🏙️ 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- The Commission also began modernizing **Title 16 - Land Division**, flagging outdated submission processes and conflicts in the code.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](https://www.ci.stevenson.wa.us/?ref=skamania-dispatch.ghost.io)

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### 🏞️ 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](https://northbonneville.net/planning/meetings/?ref=skamania-dispatch.ghost.io)

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### 🌲 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**

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### 🗳️ 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