County: Existing district can handle local share of dredging expense

Wahkiakum County officials say an existing branch of local government will be able to handle the local share of projects to deposit dredged sand on eroding Puget Island shorelines.

County officials formed the Puget Island Flood Control Zone District a decade ago to incorporate local residents into efforts to address river bank erosion.

Once again, Island residents and county officials are working with the US Army Corps of Engineers to have sand dredged from the shipping channel placed along eroding shorelines.

One of the points to address is who will pay the local share of putting together a sand placement program. In the past, the county has found sources of funds to pay the cost of permits and engineering.

This year, commissioners have said the county's flood control fund is too low and money needs to come from local residents to pay at least some of the expense, estimated at $50,000 or more.

At a workshop meeting Tuesday, commissioners learned that the flood control district could be used to collect an assessment from property owners for the local share.

The district is divided into three sub-districts, Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bigelow said Tuesday. One, along Ostervold Road at the lower end of the Island, has its property boundaries properly set up to cover the area needing sand.

A second, along East Sunny Sands, is too short for all the property that would be benefitted by sand placement, Bigelow said.

The third, along North Welcome Slough Road, isn't well established, Bigelow said.

The board of county commissioners serves as the district's board of directors. There has been a committee of residents from the three sub-districts appointed as an advisory committee, but members say it has been inactive for several years.

Several things have to happen before the district could levy a property assessment, Bigelow said.

First, officials would modify the Sunny Sands sub-district to include all benefitted property.

Second, the county engineer would draft a proposed assessment scheme for the real estate parcels in the zones.

Third, the board of commissioners would send the proposed scheme to residents of the district and subsequently hold a public hearing to gather public input.

At the end of the process, Bigelow said, the commissioners have the authority to act as they desire, regardless of the input from the public or the county engineer.