Commissioners work on business

At their meeting Tuesday, Wahkiakum County commissioners handled a variety of business, including:

--The board reappointed Mike Backman, Mike Clark, George Exum and Jeff Rooklidge to the county Marine Resources Committee.

--The board approved an expenditure of $8,250 for replacement of old radios for the Public Works Department and the car used by the county assessor. The old radios won't be adaptable to the new narrowband radio communications to which the county is moving.

Commissioners said they would approve the expenditure, but they would decide next week from which fund it would be paid.

--Commissioners authorized Public Works Director Pete Ringen to complete a Public Assistance Grant Agreement with the Emergency Management Division of the Washington State Military Department.

The county was included in a declaration of disaster for January storm damage. County expenses were relatively low, Ringen said, with $1,500 needed to cover debris removal and $5,000 for work on the West Valley Slide. Wahkiakum PUD experienced storm damage costing $8,000 or more, and this is included, Ringen said.

--Commissioners approved a proclamation for Public Safety Telecommunications Week. The proclamation honors telecommunications officers of sheriff's and police departments who respond to citizens' calls for aid and who are "radio lifelines" for police officers, fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who respond to emergencies.

--At their April 3 meeting, commissioners approved a proclamation recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The proclamation noted that one in five women will have experienced sexual assault by the time they complete college, and it calls on the community to learn what can be done to prevent sexual assault and how to support survivors.