County officials continue planning remodel, public housing project

Wahkiakum County's Department of Health and Human Services continues to advance on two possible building projects.

Department staff have been working on a housing project, and they have also been evaluating their facilities to see if they could be used to consolidate their offices, which are split between the courthouse annex and their complex on the Elochoman Valley Road.

Department Administrator Sue Cameron said staff have been studying their space needs, and they have suggested remodeling a garage building at the Elochoman Campus to house offices now located in the courthouse annex.

Commissioners approved a recommendation from social services director Chris Holmes to apply to Architects Without Borders (AWO) for a free project assessment. AWO is a group of architects from different firms who volunteer their services to help groups and entities evaluate building projects. They do initial conceptual consultations but not project design and construction services.

The garage building now houses the Wahkiakum Food Bank and sheriff's office Search and Rescue Program equipment, and commissioners said they would have to plan new homes for them.

"We want to be proactive," said Commisioner Dan Cothren. "It (the food bank) is a real asset to the county. I'm not going to throw them out in the cold."

"Search and Rescue, too," said Commission Chair Blair Brady.

Cothren said the undeveloped Elochoman campus property is limited because of wetland issues, for a small creek flows through it. Other cleared, open areas are sites of septic system drainfields.

Cothren suggested a small pole building could be erected on the back of the property for the food bank; Holmes commented that that is where the Wahkiakum on the Move transit system parks its vehicles.

Cameron said the garage building, Building 3 on the campus, has advantages. The department could avoid trying to incorporate the courthouse annex offices into the two Elochoman Campus buildings, and there would be no need to dislocate anyone with a move while construction occurs.

Cameron said she had discussed with Cowlitz Family Health Center administrators the possibility of locating a new clinic with the consolidated Health and Human Services group, but health center administrators said they want to maintain a clinic in Cathlamet. The health center now rents from the county but would like more space, they said.

Brady said he would like to see the co-location of clinic and Human Services offices, and he would discuss the matter with health center administrators.

Holmes also updated the commission on efforts to negotiate a purchase agreement for land for a public housing project in Cathlamet. Holmes said he anticipated signing the agreement with the landowner this week.

That would start a 60-day period for the county to evaluate the site and either commit to purchase it or to back away from the purchase. The earnest money agreement would allow the county to recover all the money it offers if the county backs out of the deal, Holmes said.

Once the 60-day period starts, the county needs to hire a consultant for a site evaluation study. Holmes will also visit the Cathlamet Town Council to describe the project and consult with other groups such as the Longview Housing Authority and Treasurer Tammy Peterson about a bridge loan.

Commissioners Cothren and Mike Backman suggested asking the county property rights advisory committee to evaluate the proposal.

Holmes has said planners envisage a project with many houses built by occupants and a flexible mix of other housing.