County commission covers light agenda

With two members attending via telephone, Tuesday's meeting of the Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners was short.

Commissioners Mike Backman and Blair Brady were out of town but on the telephone; Dan Cothren sat alone at the board's table and chaired the session.

--Cothren and Public Works Director Chuck Beyer reported that county consultants are still working with the Seattle and Portland offices of the US Army Corps of Engineers to complete permitting for dredge spoils deposits to protect eroding shorelines on Puget Island and Cape Horn. They're planning a meeting to discuss what to do about a section left out on Puget Island because of concerns of infilling of the ferry channel.

--In response to a comment from Cathlamet Planning Commissioner Prudence Diem, Cothren said money from the county's public works improvement fund was used to support a sewer line extension; the county is to be repaid from connection fees.

--County Engineer Paul Lacy said the road crew will move a gate closing the Elochoman Valley Road so that a resident living behind the current gate doesn't have to open and close it each time she leaves home. A meeting is planned for next Monday to discuss the slide threatening the road.