Commissioners review dredge project progress

Residents of Wahkiakum County's eroding shorelines continue to press county commissioners to expedite Columbia River dredging that would protect their property.

In the public comment period at the beginning of each commission meeting, residents of Puget Island's East Sunny Sands and the Little Cape Horn area ask commissioners for reports on the progress of the county-sponsored program to form dredge spoils disposal sites to protect the eroding property.

Almost every week, Commissioner Dan Cothren, who is coordinating the county effort, has little progress to report.

There is slow progress.

The county's technical consulting firm is proceeding with the studies needed for permit applications, Cothren said.

His US Army Corps of Engineers contact informed him that the agency's real estate division is working on the entry permits, tying each to a property parcel.

And next month, officials from the county and a coalition of upriver ports, who handle river dredging to benefit their shipping, will meet to discuss including Cape Horn and Island beaches in the list of long-term disposal sites.

However, residents are frustrated with slow pace.

Last week, James Bennett said a large chunk of earth sheared away and left the lip of the bank very close to their driveway.

This week, neighbor Trish Shroyer reported that erosion is undermining trees near her residence, and they may fall soon, with their roots taking another large chunk of land.

"I sympathize with you," Cothren said, "but sometimes you have to take the initiative on your own.

"Before you get that sand, you might have to do things to protect your property."

Shroyer also said she wasn't getting responses when she emailed Corps officials; Cothren said he often had the same problem.

"It is frustrating," he said.

Commissioner Blair Brady suggested copying members of the district Congressional delegation; they sometimes can generate a response.

Puget Island resident J.B. Robinson said Dina Horton, local staff of Senator Maria Cantwell would tour Sunny Sands shorelines yesterday (Wednesday) to assess the situation. Horton has already toured Cape Horn, Shroyer said.

In other business, commissioners voted 3-0 to allow Assessor Bill Coons to hire a part-time clerk to assist his office in catching up with their workload. Coons had previously asked to permanently increase the number of staff in his office, saying the current staffing level is inadequate to meet new standards for annual revaluation of county property.

Commissioners, however, voted to approve only a part-time clerk, 89.5 hours maximum per month, through 2016, with a possibility of continuing into 2017.

--The commission approved a working agreement with the courthouse employees' union, effective May 1, 2016, through December 31, 2017.

Employees will receive no wage increase this year; they will receive an increase in the county's share of health insurance premiums. They can bargain for a raise in 2017.

--Elochoman Valley resident Mike Mouliot read a letter to commissioners asking them to place a measure on the election ballot to set up a special levy to support the county sheriff's office. The department is understaffed and "cannot adequately protect our county," Mouliot said.

Commissioner Blair Brady said he agreed with the concept and he wants to see a financial analysis for such a measure. The voter approved 1 percent limit on annual county property tax increases limits county revenue growth, he said, so that counties can't keep up with expenses.

Puget Island resident Sylvia Costich, a former municipal services clerk, urged commissioners to carefully study the impacts such a tax measure would have on other tax collections.