Commissioners act on varied business

by Rick Nelson

Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday worked their way through a light agenda.

Commissioners approved resolutions fixing the 2015 county budgets, setting taxes for 2015 (see related story in this issue), and working on other business, including:

--Commissioners approved a contract extension for Wahkiakum on the Move's Medicaid Transportation Contract, which provides $55,000 to help fund the county's bus service.

Commissioner Blair Brady suggested that transportation managers look for ways to connect better with transportation systems in Pacific and Cowlitz counties so that bus riders have a more convenient service from the coast to the interior.

Health and Human Services administrative assistant Chris Holmes explained that Wahkiakum On the Move is connected with Pacific County buses in Naselle, but there is a limited number of runs there. Managers are looking at adding a night time run into Longview that would connect with a late afternoon Pacific County connection.

He added that the county each year applies for increased state funding to add more service in western Wahkiakum, but the funds have been limited.

--Health and Human Services Administrator Sue Cameron said the department is preparing to restart its family planning program in February, which has been idle for four years because of reduced funding.

"We will be doing a lot of work with whoever needs it," Cameron said. "I think we will be able to meet a need that hasn't been met."

County Health Officer Dr. Sarah Present said the region is experiencing flu season.

"Unfortunately, the flu vaccine isn't well matched to the strains that are present," she said.

The vaccine doesn't cover about 60 percent of the strains, she said, adding,"People should still get the vaccine for the other 40 percent."

--Commissioners received a request from a citizen wanting to purchase a small parcel of county property that is essentially wetland.

Commissioners said they would confer with the prosecuting attorney's office about the procedure for selling the property.

--Commissioners also approved their annual agreement with Washington State University providing $10,000 as the county's share of Extension Agent Carrie Backman's salary. The board had budgeted the amount last fall for the 2015 budget.