Board okays offer for housing project site, sets 2017 levy amounts

Wahkiakum County commissioners covered lots of ground when they met Tuesday.

They approved an earnest money offer for potential housing project property and they set tax levies for 2017.

The county's Department of Health and Human Services has been negotiating with the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle for purchase of six acres of forest land adjacent to the Town of Cathlamet wastewater treatment plant on SR 4. The county wants to use the site for mixed use housing and possible location of the Health and Human Service Department and Family Health Center medical clinic.

Mental Health Director Chris Holmes said the $2,500 earnest money agreement would give the county a 60-day period in which to analyze the site's suitability for building.

"This agreement gives the county 60 days to carry out due diligence activities such as wetland and environmental studies," Holmes said. "Once studies are completed and the Housing Group reviews the findings, etc., they will return to the board of commissioners with their recommendations and request a final decision regarding purchase."

The county has raised approximately $230,000 in Affordable Housing and Ending Homelessness funds, Holmes said.

"We have made it clear from the beginning that our commitment is that we're not asking for any more taxes, any more load debt," Holmes said.

Commissioner Mike Backman wanted assurances that the county wouldn't get tied into a long-term expensive building project.

"I want to make sure we have outs along the way," he said.

Holmes explained that all construction would be covered by grants and existing fees.

"The reason for using housing funds is that this has been our priority all along," he said. "Housing needs continue to grow."

Commissioner Blair Brady commented that it is the county's long-term goal to have a "one-stop shop" of social and medical services which are now scattered in separate locations.

"We're thinking the long-term future," he said. "What we have now isn't working the way it needs to."

"I'm not against housing," Backman said. "I just don't want to see us borrow money for the one-stop. I'm all for people having a place to stay, not fancy offices."

Commissioners voted 3-0 to authorize the earnest money offer.

Commissioners also approved tax levy amounts for 2017.

Commissioners have approved 1 percent increases in county levies; the maximum allowed by state law. That amounted to an increase of $5,250.24 in the General Fund Levy.

The County Road Fund levy will increase a similar amount, $5,354.80. The Road Levy will raise $566,408, of which $441,6767.58 will be transferred to the General Fund Levy.

The General Fund Levy includes Regular Levy, Current Expense, $525.791.42; Road Fund levy shift, $441,676.58; Regular Levy, Mental Health, $8,000, and Regular Levy, Veterans' Relief, $4,000, a total of $979.468. From that, $2,763.07 will be deducted as an adjustment of an over collection two years ago.

The board also certified the Emgerency Medical Services Levy of $105,000, which had a 1 percent increase of $1,006.03.

A Puget Island resident told commissioners he felt people were being taxed out of their homes.

Brady responded that the county is limited in levy authority by the 1 percent limit.

"We don't have the capacity to keep up with the costs," he said. "Our employees' raises haven't kept up with Social Security. We've had to divert money from the Road Fund Levy to keep county government going, and we're still not solvent."