County commission opens the new year

Dan Cothren began the Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners meeting last Wednesday with a welcome to their new commissioner, Gene Strong.

During public comment, Wahkiakum resident Kay Walters asked the commissioners to consider reviewing ferry rates after a recent one way trip turned out to be more expensive than she had expected.

Walters said it cost her $28 to take her truck and trailer across the river. According to Walters, the truck and trailer were no more than two car lengths.

“It’s $6 for 22 feet and $28 for 32 feet,” Walters said. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense. I think it’s rather exorbitant. I think we should revisit this and make it more economical for poor people trying to cross.”

“We have the cheapest rates in the state,” Public Works Director Chuck Beyer said.

Cothren responded by saying that the ferry was very costly for the county.

One audience member suggested a more graduated rate.

“We’d like to support local farmers, we’re going to have to look at it,” Commissioner Mike Backman said.

Carrie Backman, the county director for the Wahkiakum WSU Extension Office, approached the board about increasing the county’s contribution to the extension program.

The minimum contribution suggested by WSU for Wahkiakum County is $19,742.

The commissioners approved $15,000 for 2019.

“Fifteen thousand dollars is a big step forward from what we were able to do in the last few years, so thank you very much,” Backman said. “It doesn’t increase my salary, it just helps WSU keep it going.”

Finally, there were no objections to a special occasion liquor license permit requested for an event at Rosburg Hall on January 26.