🚧 Road Safety Reviews, Youth Programs Thrive - Skamania BOCC 10/7/25

🏛 Skamania County Commissioners Recap – October 7, 2025

📅 Meeting Overview

The Board of County Commissioners met Tuesday, October 7, at 9:30 a.m. in Stevenson. The session included routine approvals, multiple updates from regional partnerships, a WSU Extension presentation, and a workshop on the county’s geotechnical feasibility study for county property near the transfer station.

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💰 Consent Agenda & Vouchers

Commissioners approved:

• Vouchers totaling $33,083.15 (claims #20581–205933)
• Payroll for the period Sept. 16–30, totaling $704,694.25

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🚗 Commissioner Reports

Commissioners shared updates from several regional transportation, safety, and emergency management meetings:

• Highway 14 Safety Concerns:
  Commissioner Alex Juzeler reported that the regional Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) is reviewing crash data for SR-14, especially the west end of Skamania County, and revisiting the 2004 “Safety Corridor” program that successfully reduced collisions two decades ago. Discussion included the possibility of reviving similar traffic-calming measures.
• Winter Highway Coordination:
  Juzeler also attended the annual Snow & Ice Transportation Coordination meeting, which included WSDOT, ODOT, and county road crews. Agencies discussed response coordination when I-84 closures push freight traffic onto SR-14, and how to better control semi-truck detours that “plug up” local roads.
  ODOT reported winter budget cuts—limiting snowplow coverage on I-84 to “one pass in the morning, one in the evening”—raising local concern that Skamania could face spillover congestion and safety issues. Commissioners noted Washington crews are better resourced and “keep 14 dry” through proactive de-icing.
• CWPP Fire Planning:
  Commissioner Michael Johnson updated colleagues on efforts to wrap up the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) with partner agencies and to pursue local administration of new wildfire mitigation funding. He said building trust with local fire chiefs was the next step before finalizing the plan.
• Homeless Camp & Forest Coordination:
  Johnson met with Gifford Pinchot National Forest staff to share the county’s list of abandoned camp and trash sites and to explore winter plowing access near Curly Creek and Northwoods to maintain emergency routes. He also mentioned drafting letters to the U.S. Forest Service Chief and congressional offices on wildfire funding and Secure Rural Schools (SRS) reauthorization.
• Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board:
  Commissioner Durgan reported on salmon population trends—some runs like the Lower Columbia chum and steelhead are rebounding, while Snake River and Puget Sound Chinook remain in crisis. He noted ongoing advocacy to keep the Washougal Hatchery operational and commended strong coordination between agencies.

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🌾 WSU Extension Report

WSU’s Extension Coordinator, Kaitlyn, provided a detailed update on 4-H programs and community partnerships:

• The 2025 Skamania County Fair had one of its strongest showings in years, with 1,300 exhibit entries and $266,000 raised at the youth livestock auction.
• 4-H participation remains strong, with 10 families (about 20 kids) currently on a waitlist; volunteer recruitment and training are underway.
• Programs include the Green Team food rescue initiative at Carson Elementary, diverting cafeteria waste to local farms, and One Prevention Alliance, which just launched a new high-school program on fentanyl awareness called Song for Charlie using opioid settlement funds.
• Commissioners discussed pursuing new grants through BNSF, Weyerhaeuser, and Green Diamond for youth and community development programs.

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🏗 Workshop: Geotechnical Feasibility Study

Assessor Gabe Spencer led a discussion on geotechnical site assessments for the county-owned parcel near the transfer station, intended to inform a “best use of land” study:

• Three proposals were received, ranging from $2,500 to $6,000.
• The cheaper option provides a general footprint and slope analysis; the higher tiers include detailed soil borings and hydrology but would still require a full report later if the site is developed.
• Commissioners agreed that the $2,500 limited report offered the best value-giving a baseline of what can be built without overcommitting funds.
• Funding will come from existing county reserves, not grant sources.

They voted unanimously to contract with Klassen Engineering for the $2,500 study.

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👥 Executive Session

The Board entered a closed session to discuss personnel under RCW 42.30.110(1)(g).
After reconvening, they voted unanimously to appoint Roni Emerson as Clerk of the Board, filling the position permanently.

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📝 Additional Notes

• Commissioners discussed tracking expiring cannabis and liquor licenses, acknowledging the county receives routine notifications from the Liquor & Cannabis Board, which will now be included in meeting packets for transparency.
• They also discussed circulating a new letter supporting reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools, with staff to draft language by next week.

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🗓 Join the Next County Commissioners Meeting

💻 When: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 9:30 AM
🏛 Where: Skamania County Courthouse, Room 18 (Stevenson)
🌐 Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88906321210
📞 Call-in: 1 (346) 248-7799 | Meeting ID: 889 0632 1210

🗣 Public Comment:
Send comments by noon on Monday, October 13 to
📧 commiss@co.skamania.wa.us.
Comments received on time are acknowledged during the meeting and entered into the public record.