Board hears victim advocates, review comp plan

Advocates for crime victims are developing a presence in southwest Washington.

The state's Crime Victim Advocacy Program was started in 1990, but advocates continue to make their presence known in regional services.

Tuesday, advocates visited the Wahkiakum County board of commissioners for passage of a proclamation and discussion of further advocacy efforts.

The board did pass a resolution to proclaim and observe April 13-19 as National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

Advocate Linda Asher also asked the board to consider adopting a statement for Wahkiakum courts saying that victims' rights will be given the same weight and consideration as defendants' rights.

Commissioners said they would consider the matter and consult with the prosecuting attorney, for they don't have authority over court procedures.

Asher also said advocates have been working with Rep. Ed Orcutt to introduce legislation giving official recognition to victims' rights. Only Arizona, Florida and Connecticut have such a law, she said.

"My wish is that we would be the fourth state to have such a law," she said. "We (victims in Washington) are far behind the defendants in having their rights being heard."

The Crime Victim Advocacy Program provides services in Wahkiakum, Clark and Cowlitz counties. Services include a 24-hour crisis line, information and referral, and in-person advocacy. The services are free and confidential.

In other business Tuesday, county Commissioners George Trott, Dan Cothren and Blair Brady continued their review of the updated comprehensive plan draft. The board has been reviewing the plan in Tuesday afternoon workshops after concluding their regular meeting business.

The board met with representatives of Wahkiakum PUD to go over water and energy portions of the plan.

The board is trying to cut redundant sections and move informative but non-policy sections to appendices.

"This wonderful document is rather voluminous," Brady said. "We're trying to condense without hurting anybody."

With PUD Manager David Tramblie and Commissioners Bob Jungers and Larry Reese, the county board identified projects that were completed or rejected and edited accordingly.

PUD Commissioners noted that the plan should include reference to a possible hydroelectric project they're considering for the Grays River. The PUD, representatives of Snohomish PUD and other parties will tour the site in early May.

Reese said the PUD personnel will update their capital project needs and inform the commissioners so that section of the plan can be updated.