Board reports progress on dredging issues

Dredging, fairgrounds improvements, and office space allocations occupied the Wahkiakum County commissions on Tuesday.

County efforts to set up dredge spoils deposits on eroding beaches are making progress, officials reported.

Beaches at Cape Horn and East Sunny Sands have sustained erosion, and residents have been pressing county officials to work with the US Army Corps of Engineers to set up the beach nourishment.

Consultants are working on project designs and necessary permits, and commissioners have been working with Corps officials to obtain right-of-entry easements that would allow dredging crews to work on the private property along the river.

Many Cape Horn residents have signed the easements, but some Sunny Sands residents refused to sign, saying the ambiguous wording in the easement would have allowed the dredging crews unlimited access to the property. Commissioners sent the easements back to the Corps, and agency attorneys have been re-writing the documents.

Without the easements, there will be no beach nourishment, and residents and county officials have been trying hard to have them in order for the time when dredging will occur.

"Commissioner (Dan) Cothren talked with the Corps and was told the right-of-entry permits would be here at the end of this week or early next week," commission Chair Blair Brady reported.

In response to a question, Brady added that people who have already signed an easement won't have to sign the new one.

In other business:

--Public Works Director Chuck Beyer said his department is moving ahead on infrastructure improvements at the county fairgrounds in Skamokawa.

Installing a new electricity transformer has been identified as a high priority for the 2017 budget, Brady said.

Beyer added that workers are marking utility locations in advance of construction. The county road crew will work with Wahkiakum PUD on the project.

"When," asked Skamokawa resident and fair program supporter Kay Walters. She added that she didn't want the county to lose a grant to help cover the project to expire before the work was done.

"Right now, I can't say exactly," Beyer said. "Sooner rather than later."

Work on restroom improvements should occur in early 2017, officials said.

--Commissioners continued their search for a new location for the county noxious weed control office.

Weed control personnel share quarters in the lower floor of the River Street Building, and commissioners want to give the space for the county's information technology officer.

Commissioners asked Sheriff Mark Howie if there would be room for weed control in his department's office at the Johnson Park/Grays River Valley Center in Rosburg.

No, Howie replied. The office includes materials for deputies, emergency services and other programs, he said, and officers do use it for interviews and housing confidential documents.

However, he added, he had spoken with Johnson Park officers and learned that there are other quarters that might be suitable.

That report pleased commissioners. Commissioner Mike Backman said he would discuss the possible use at a meeting this week with Johnson Park officials.

Brady commented that it is a time sensitive issue: The new IT manager is at work and needs to have his own office.