🏛️ July 2025 Skamania County City Government Round-Up
City councils in Stevenson and North Bonneville approved new hires, equipment upgrades, and summer events, while Underwood Park & Rec tackled wildfire safety, post office repairs, and community planning. Catch up on what’s happening in Skamania County this July.
A look at what city governments in Stevenson, North Bonneville, and Underwood have been working on this past month—from new hires and wildfire response to public works updates and summer events.
🏙️ Stevenson City Council
📆 July 17 – Regular Meeting
- Reviewed progress on the utility rate study, reaffirming goals to stabilize long-term rates and fund infrastructure.
- Staff and council discussed implementation of the Housing Action Plan, balancing feasibility with urgency for middle-income housing.
- Public Works update included waterline repairs and upcoming capital projects.
- Routine approvals: consent agenda that included a water bill adjustment for a customer, prior meeting minutes, grant updates, and planning reports.
📆 July 27 – Special Meeting
- Passed Resolution 2025-454 and 455, restructuring staffing with:
- A new Finance Director position, replacing the Deputy Clerk/Treasurer
- A new Facilities & Grounds Maintenance Worker (seasonal, part-time)
- Salary ranges: ~$89,000 + benefits for the Finance Director; $20–26/hour for maintenance
- Council debated staffing responsibilities, especially code enforcement, and confirmed that duties like public records had been reassigned to other staff.
- Emphasis placed on competitive hiring and urgency to post the roles.
🏘️ Stevenson & Skamania County Middle-Income Housing Overview
Editor's note: this section is included to provide historical context, but the report below was not specifically discussed during this set of meetings.
- A 2020 Skamania & Stevenson Housing Needs Analysis found that 45% of future housing demand in Skamania County (about 800–900 units) needed to be affordable to middle-income households (under $88K/year) . Yet over 80% of potentially developable land wasn’t zoned or served to support duplexes, townhomes, cottages, and accessory dwelling units.
- Stevenson currently only represents 8% of the county’s buildable residential land, indicating a need for code amendments and infrastructure investments if middle housing is to scale Stevenson Washington.
- Similar county studies (e.g. Snohomish) emphasize that middle housing types like garden apartments, small-scale multifamily, plexes, etc., are critical for addressing local market gaps and reducing cost burdens.
🏞️ North Bonneville City Council
📆 July 8 – Regular Meeting
- Approved:
- $10,400 contract with Mid Columbia Overhead Door for plant roll-up door
- High One LLC’s liquor license renewal (Good abstained)
- $5,000 consulting contract with Councilmember Joshua Good (Good abstained)
- Sheriff’s Office reported a 550% spike in search & rescue calls, praised July 4th parade, and announced Air Force PJ teams will support future rescues.
- Clerk introduced new admin/planning assistant, updated on Gorge Days and fire fuel cleanup.
- Planner reported new duplex and manufactured home development and work on the Critical Areas Ordinance.
- Held executive session under RCW 42.30.110 (no action taken).
📆 July 22 – Regular Meeting
- Approved $6,500 contract with H2O Solutions to clean both city reservoirs and the chlorine contact chamber at the well house.
- Reviewed the city’s Asset Management Plan (no formal action taken).
🔗 North Bonneville Agendas & Packets
🌲 Underwood Park & Recreation District
📆 July 9 – Regular Meeting
- Approved $13,246 in vouchers, reflecting active work on public facilities like the post office and Stillman Cottage.
- County Commissioner and Sheriff briefed on:
- Fire bans, rising wildfire risk, and Air Force PJ teams supporting rescues
- Weed control and brush clearing efforts around power lines and wineries
- Post office renovation continues (flooring selection pending)
- Approved up to $500 for Ice Cream Social on August 10
- Friends of Underwood announced updated event dates:
- Community Picnic: Sept 7
- Spaghetti Dinner: Jan 24
- Maintenance projects discussed:
- New water heater at Stillman Cottage
- Gravel work on park driveway
- Ongoing weed control around RC track
- Two candidates filed for open board seats: Martha Krouse and Matt Ryan
🔗 Underwood Parks & Rec Agendas
📅 Next Public Meetings
- 🏛️ Stevenson City Council: Check city calendar
- 🏞️ North Bonneville City Council: northbonneville.net
- 🌲 Underwood Park & Rec District: August 13, 6:00 PM, Community Center