2nd NHA forum planned for the Westend

Wahkiakum County commissioners decided this week they would hold two public forums to gather input on a proposal to include Wahkiakum County in the proposed Columbia-Pacific National Heritage Area (NHA).

Commissioners have already scheduled a forum for 6:30 p.m. June 17 in the Wendt Elementary School Multi-purpose Room, and they decided Tuesday to hold another in western Wahkiakum County.

Commissioner Blair Brady, whose district includes the Westend, had previously said he saw no need for a forum in the Westend because residents of that area are overwhelmingly opposed to it.

However, Brady said that after talking to Cathlamet Mayor George Wehrfritz, who has spoken in favor of the proposal, he agreed to the mayor's suggestion to hold a meeting in the Westend to discuss issues and hear comment. Wehrfritz had offered to present the proposal at the meeting, he added.

"Then we can get a consensus of what the public wants," Brady said.

Commissioner Lisa Marsyla agreed that the commission should hold a forum in the Westend but said the commissioners, not the mayor, should run the meeting.

"I feel strongly we should have a public meeting in the Westend, but it's our responsibility, not George Wehrfritz's responsibility," Marsyla said.

She moved that the commission hold a forum in the Westend, and Commissioner Dan Cothren seconded the motion.

"Sounds fine to me," Brady said.

The motion passed.

The proposal to create a national heritage area came out of efforts of businesses and economic development groups to bolster tourism during the bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.

The NHA designation would allow businesses and individuals to apply for low-interest loans in a revolving loan fund to maintain and promote traditional commercial activities of the region. ShoreBank Enterprises Cascadia, a non-profit organization, would manage the revolving loan fund.

The proposal has drawn strong objection from people and land owner groups who say it will allow or enable local, regional and federal governmental bodies to impose strict land use controls on private property.

ShoreBank officials have said the legislation setting up the NHA would include language to prohibit it from supporting or financing any land use controls, and it would also allow private citizens to declare they want no NHA activities on their property.