County OK's funds for site studies

Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday authorized funding for initial studies for a potential housing project at Cathlamet.

County Mental Health Director Chris Holmes requested authorization to spend up to $10,000 on two studies whose findings could determine whether or not the county buys the site proposed for the development.

One study will assess wetlands on the site; the other analyze potential traffic impacts.

"We need these studies to be able to move forward with a recommendation to purchase the land," Holmes said Tuesday.

The potential site is owned by the Archdiocese of Seattle. County and church officials have been discussing a sale of the land for some time. The site is the high ground across SR 4 from the Main Street intersection.

Holmes said Public Works Department staff had inspected the grade of the access road, and "it looked good."

Public Works will develop an estimate of the cost to upgrade the rough, dirt road.

The traffic study is needed to work with the Washington State Department of Transportation.

"Things look pretty good, but we'll get some details," Holmes said.

Funding for the studies comes from the county's Affordable Housing and Ending Homelessness programs. Fees generate approximately $20,000 per year for the programs, Holmes said, and the county has $210,000 in funds for the two programs.