Commissioners OK a variety of proposals

Wahkiakum County commissioners took action on a variety of issues ranging from a ferry engine to changing the county's tax structure when they met Tuesday.

Commissioners Blair Brady, Dan Cothren and Lisa Marsyla approved a recommendation from Public Works Director Pete Ringen to use two days when the Puget Island ferry landing will be closed to replace an engine in the ferry Wahkiakum.

The landing will be closed February 15 and 16 while a contractor replaces the ramp at the landing, which is being expanded.

Ringen said the county has a rebuilt engine on hand, and he sought authorization to call for bids to change out the engine during the closure and then rebuild it so that it can be used again later.

The board also authorized Building Department Administrator Chuck Beyer to use a Washington Department of Agriculture grant to install a heating system in the T Building at the fairgrounds in Skamokawa.

Fair Manager Sarah Lawrence said there would be no financial match from the county; the county's contribution will be labor by staff.

The board approved a request from Undersheriff Jon Dearmore to contract with Sargent Engineers for a structural analysis of the county's radio facilities on KM Mountain. The analysis will focus on the existing antenna tower to determine if it meets structural standards. The firm quoted a cost of $2,982, Dearmore said.

The board also authorized Ringen to apply for A Coastal Counties Restoration Initiative grant to design a replacement bridge for the Elochoman Valley Road crossing over Clear Creek. Ringen said the design work would cost around $130,000; the grant would fund $96,000 and the county would pay the rest.

Commissioner Marsyla reported she had scheduled a meeting February 4 with representatives of the State Department of Revenue. Half the day will be spent explaining levy setting procedures to county staff; the afternoon will be spent reviewing the county's levies.

Some changes are in order, she said. State auditors have commented that the county needs to separate Veteran's Relief and Developmental Disabilities/Mental Health levies out of the Current Expense levy.

Commissioners Brady and Cothren said if the levies are separated, then the board needs to lower the Current Expense levy so that there is no increase to property taxes.