Commissioners act on business

, 2009

Wahkiakum County Commissioners Dan Cothren, Blair Brady and Lisa Marsyla acted on a variety of business at their meeting Tuesday, including:

--The board had seven firms present bids to rebuild the Fairgrounds area. Bids ranged from $336,033, Pacific Tech. Construction, to a high of $602,831. The contract will be awarded at the board's May 26 meeting.

--The board signed an access agreement with Hancock Forest Management, Inc., to store materials for the Puget Island Ferry Ramp construction project on the firm's sorting yard outside Cathlamet. There is no fee.

Last week, Puget Island resident Joel Warthen suggested it would be more costly to store material at Hancock than at a site on private property near the ferry landing.

Public Works Director Pete Ringen replied there might be a slight savings in hauling costs, but he was unable to reach an agreement with the owner of the Island property under the deadlines he had for project funding. And this week, the county learned that the cement contractor would store ramp slabs and haul them to the construction site, reducing the need for more handling.

The board also awarded a contract to Skyline Steel, LLC, for steel pipes for the project. The company will provide steel pilings at a cost of $290,093.75.