Bonneville work will close Columbia

Wahkiakum County commissioners handled a variety of items of business when they met Tuesday.

Commissioners authorized a closure of Columbia Street at its intersection with SR 4, across from Boege Road, so that Bonneville Power Administration can do some maintenance work August 18 and 19.

Boyd Long, Bonneville's project manager, said the utility needs to replace a bad pole, and the affected high voltage electrical lines are too close to the road for safety and convenience.

Sue Cameron, director of county Health and Human Services, reported that the county has joined a coalition of neighboring counties as part of a realignment of government health care organizations.

The new organization is called the Cascade Pacific Action Alliance. The other counties are Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Grays Harbor and Thurston. Previously the county has been linked to Clark and Skamania counties.

Cameron added that the realignment will affect Timerlands Regional Support Network, which has channeled state mental health funds into county programs.

Commissioners held a work session with the board of directors of the Johnson Park/Grays River Valley Center.

The county owns the property, and the advisory board puts on the various programs in the former school facility.

Commissioner Blair Brady commented that the work session would cover fiscal management and related issues. A state audit has faulted the county for the way accounts have been established, he said, and the county and facility managers need to look for a way to reduce heating bills in the winter.