Commissioners discuss issues, travel expense policy

Wahkiakum County discussed activities and acted on travel requests in a light meeting Tuesday.

After meeting with department heads in the afternoon to discuss vouchers, travel requests, courthouse hours and postal boxes, the board agreed to end a policy adopted last year to require commission approval of all travel outside the county. The measure was part of spending controls the board adopted to address a revenue shortfall.

However, Commissioner Blair Brady reported Tuesday, the board has noted that elected officials are doing a good job of limiting travel only to required meetings and looking for outside funds to cover the expenses.

In other business, the board approved a request from Cooperative Extension Agent Carrie Kennedy to create a new payroll line for an intern to handle some programs. The department had budgeted last fall to have a consultant do the work, but the consultant set up the work plan and then resigned to work elsewhere. The intern will take the consultant's place, Kennedy said.

Commissioner Dan Cothren reported that legislation to compensate the county for trust timberland locked up for endangered species critical habitat is proceeding through the legislature.

Cothren said he was surprised last week when Peter Goldmark, the new state commissioner of public lands, showed up at a legislative committee building to speak in favor of the bill.

"I'm optimistic about its chances," Cothren said of the bill.

He also reported meeing with Town of Cathlamet officials to discuss possible formation of a local improvement district (LID) in the Rosedale Heights area off Clover Street and Cochran Drive.

Councilmembers said they would research the possibility of finding a grant that would cover the construction cost, thus negating the need for an LID. However, people would still have to pay an $8,000 connection cost.

"It all boils down to money," Cothren said. "The hookup fee is the big deal. The cost to connect has to be reasonable."